Whether you're building your first gaming rig or upgrading an older setup, finding a graphics card that balances performance and affordability can feel like searching for a needle in a silicon haystack. With GPU prices finally cooling down, there’s never been a better time to snag a great deal. In this guide, we’ve rounded up the top 5 budget graphics cards that deliver solid 1080p performance, smooth frame rates, and impressive value—without breaking the bank. Let’s dive into the GPUs that prove you don’t need to spend big to game hard.
ASUS DUAL GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
The ASUS DUAL GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is a fantastic graphics card to start with when building your first gaming pc.
The RTX 3060 Ti might have launched back in late 2020, but in 2025, it's still holding its ground as one of the best bang-for-buck GPUs out there. Built on NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture, it offers 8GB of GDDR6 memory, 4864 CUDA cores, and supports ray tracing and DLSS—features that keep it surprisingly relevant in modern gaming.
In terms of real-world performance, the 3060 Ti handles 1080p and 1440p gaming like a champ, pushing high frame rates in most AAA titles and dominating esports games. While newer cards have entered the scene, the 3060 Ti is often priced well below the latest-gen equivalents, making it a great pick for gamers who want strong performance without paying top-tier prices.
Whether you're upgrading from an older GTX card or building a mid-range PC, the 3060 Ti continues to be a rock-solid option—especially if you can grab it on sale or refurbished. the RTX 3060 Ti graphics card remains a cost effective option for gamers. Its performance closely rivals newer mid-range cards, often at a more accessible price point. This makes it an attractive choice for those building or upgrading a gaming PC on a budget.
Recent benchmarks highlight the RTX 3060 Ti's capabilities:
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty: At 1080p with high settings, the card achieves approximately 70 FPS, providing a smooth gaming experience.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2: Delivers around 85 FPS at 1440p on medium-high settings, showcasing its strength in handling graphically intensive games.
Monster Hunter Wilds: Maintains over 100 FPS at 1080p, ensuring fluid gameplay in fast-paced environments.
These figures demonstrate the RTX 3060 Ti's continued relevance for gamers seeking high-quality visuals without compromising frame rates.
Personally, I find the RTX 3060 Ti graphics cards is definitely sufficient for games in 2025. I still use it to this day and am very satisfied with its performance, even after having for ~3 years.
MSI GeForce RTX 4060
The MSI GeForce RTX 4060 is a compelling choice for budget-conscious gamers seeking solid 1080p performance in 2025. Built on NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace architecture, this GPU offers a notable performance uplift over its predecessor, the RTX 3060, while consuming approximately 30% less power.
With a boost clock speed of 2595 MHz, the MSI Gaming X variant surpasses the reference model by 3 to 4% . It delivers impressive 1080p gaming results, averaging triple-digit frame rates in many titles, and offers decent 1440p performance with the aid of DLSS 3 and Frame Generation technologies.
The card's Twin Frozr 9 cooling solution ensures low temperatures and quiet operation, making it suitable for compact builds . However, its 8GB VRAM may limit future-proofing for more demanding games at higher resolutions.
In benchmark tests, the RTX 4060 Gaming X 8G delivers impressive results:
1080p Gaming: Achieves an average of 100+ FPS across various modern titles, providing smooth gameplay experiences.
1440p Gaming: Maintains an average of 71 FPS, with 1% lows around 49 FPS, ensuring consistent performance even at higher resolutions.
Compared to its predecessor, the RTX 3060, this card offers approximately 20% improved performance at 1080p.
Overall, the MSI RTX 4060 Gaming X 8G stands out as a power-efficient and capable GPU for 1080p gaming, offering modern features and solid performance at a reasonable price point.
AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT continues to be a compelling choice for gamers seeking strong 1440p performance without venturing into the high-end price bracket. Built on the RDNA 3 architecture, it features 12GB of GDDR6 memory and a boost clock of up to 2544 MHz, delivering a balance between performance and efficiency.
In recent benchmarks, the RX 7700 XT demonstrates impressive capabilities:
Fortnite: At 1440p, it achieves an average of 77 FPS, outperforming the RTX 4060 Ti by approximately 21%.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Delivers between 8% to 13% higher frame rates compared to the RTX 4060 Ti across various resolutions.
Total War: Three Kingdoms: Exhibits a performance lead of 15% to 23% over the RTX 4060 Ti, depending on the resolution.
These figures highlight the RX 7700 XT's strength in handling demanding games at 1440p, offering a smooth and responsive gaming experience.
While the RX 7700 XT supports ray tracing, its performance in this area is modest. For instance, in F1 22 at 4K with ray tracing enabled, it averages around 29 FPS without upscaling. However, AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) technology can help boost frame rates in supported titles, enhancing playability when ray tracing is active.
Priced around AUD$900, the RX 7700 XT offers a favourable performance-to-cost ratio. It is the most expensive option in this list but it competes closely with NVIDIA's RTX 4060 Ti, often surpassing it in raw performance, especially at 1440p. However, potential buyers should note that AMD's own RX 7800 XT, priced approximately $50 higher, delivers even better performance, which might influence purchasing decisions.
In 2025, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT stands out as a strong contender for gamers targeting high-quality 1440p gaming. Its combination of ample VRAM, solid performance in popular titles, and competitive pricing makes it a worthwhile consideration for those looking to upgrade their gaming experience without breaking the bank.
Intel ARC B580
The Intel Arc A580, launched in late 2023, continues to be a noteworthy option for budget-conscious gamers in 2025. Priced around $180, it offers commendable 1080p performance, positioning itself as a viable alternative to NVIDIA's RTX 3050 and AMD's RX 6600.
In various gaming benchmarks, the A580 demonstrates solid capabilities:
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty: Outperforms the RTX 3050 by 31% at 1080p and 42% at 1440p, and slightly surpasses the RX 6600 at 1080p. TechSpot+1Tom's Hardware+1
Resident Evil 4: Delivers 75 FPS at 1080p with high settings, outperforming the RTX 3050 by 17% and trailing the RX 6600 by just 10%. TechSpot
Hitman 3: Achieves 75 FPS at 1080p, matching the RX 6600 and surpassing the RTX 3050. TechSpot+1Tom's Hardware+1
F1 23: Reaches 121 FPS at 1080p and 95 FPS at 1440p, comparable to the RTX 3050 and slightly behind the RX 6600. TechSpot
These results indicate that the A580 is well-suited for 1080p gaming, delivering smooth performance in many modern titles.
The A580 supports real-time ray tracing and Intel's XeSS upscaling technology. In ray-traced scenarios, it performs better than the RTX 3050 and RX 6600 in certain titles. For example, in Resident Evil 4 with ray tracing enabled, the A580 achieves 66 FPS at 1080p, outperforming the RX 6600 by 6% and the RTX 3050 by 18%.
Intel has made significant strides in improving driver stability and compatibility since the A580's release. Recent updates have addressed many initial issues, resulting in a more stable gaming experience. However, some users have reported that the A580's performance can be CPU-dependent due to driver overhead, which may impact systems with lower-end processors.
The A580 has a TDP of 175W and requires dual 8-pin power connectors. While actual power consumption is lower, this requirement may necessitate a compatible power supply unit (PSU) and sufficient case space, which could be a consideration for budget builds.
In 2025, the Intel Arc A580 stands as a strong contender in the budget GPU market, offering solid 1080p performance, ray tracing capabilities, and competitive pricing. While driver improvements have enhanced its appeal, potential buyers should ensure their systems can accommodate its power and compatibility requirements.