Picking out a graphics card to buy under $300 can be a mighty task at times. With the rising prices over the past couple of years, NVIDIA, AMD, and more recently Intel, are competing head to head to provide the best value option on the market. And for the average consumer this can make finding a graphics card under $300 with the best value-proposition quite complicated. So how are you to choose?
In order to figure out which is the best graphics card under $300 we’ve put together an in-depth buyers guide covering a range of GPUs under $300. We’ve put all of the cards in this roundup through a full suite of testing, while taking a number of different considerations into account, such as modernity, gaming performance, architectural features, and pricing.
Best Graphics Card to Buy Under $300: Intel ARC A750
The Intel ARC A750 is our pick as the best graphics card to buy under $300. For gamers seeking great value and solid performance, the Arc A750 is unmatched, making it the clear winner for budget-conscious buyers in 2024. Its improvements since launch make it ideal for those looking a t gaming at 1080p, as well as 1440p on some of the latest titles.
Our Recommendations
1. Intel ARC A750
The Intel Arc A750 sets a precedent for what gamers should expect from a sub-$300 graphics card. With its MSRP of $249, it not only makes 1080p gaming accessible but also pushes in terms of performance and value at 1440p. Intel’s foray into the graphics card market with the Arc A750 is noteworthy, featuring enhanced driver support that boosts performance not just in traditional 1080p setups but also in more demanding gaming environments.
Boasting 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, and clock speeds ranging from 2.05GHz base to 2.4GHz boost, the Arc A750 is equipped to tackle a variety of gaming demands. Its architecture includes 448 Xe Vector Engines and 28 Ray Tracing Units, so is well equipped for gaming, especially at 1080p. Intel’s commitment to driver optimisation, significantly improved gameplay smoothness and responsiveness across DirectX 9, 10, 11, and 12 titles since its release, which makes it a very strong option for entry level PC gaming.
| Key Specs | Intel ARC A750 |
|---|---|
| Video Memory Capacity | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Bus Width | 256-Bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.05GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.4GHz |
| Xe Vector Engines | 448 |
| Ray Tracing Units | 28 |
| Power Draw | 225W |
| MSRP | $249 |
The card’s performance can vary, showing exceptional prowess in many titles but occasionally facing challenges with certain games, which may result in inconsistent frame rates. This performance volatility is an important consideration for gamers who prefer stability across a diverse gaming library.
Pros
- $249 MSRP
- Ideal for modern games
- Constant updates
Cons
- Not good for first-time builders
- Volatile performance
Suggested Article: Best AMD GPUs to Buy in 2023
2. AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT
For those shopping in the sub-$300 GPU market, the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT stands out as an excellent choice, especially appealing to gamers who demand high performance in 1080p settings. Despite being an older generation card, it is still more than capable of offering excellent performance, and holds up very well, even when compared to more modern alternatives on the market.
The RX 6650 XT comes equipped with 8GB of GDDR6 memory, utilising a 128-bit bus, and showcases base and boost clock speeds of 2.05GHz and 2.63GHz, respectively. This specification, along with 2048 stream processors and 28 ray accelerators, positions the RX 6650 XT as a solid contender in its price bracket. The card’s ability to support latest features such as Fluid Motion Frames and FSR 3 indicates its readiness to deliver fluid, high-frame-rate gameplay. This performance, coupled with the RDNA 2 architecture’s proven reliability, outlines the RX 6650 XT’s capability to offer a top-tier 1080p gaming experience on a budget.
| Key Specs | AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT |
|---|---|
| Video Memory Capacity | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Bus Width | 128-Bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.05GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.63GHz |
| Stream Processors | 2048 |
| Ray Accelerators | 28 |
| Power Draw | 180W |
| MSRP | $249 |
One aspect to consider is the RX 6650 XT’s availability. As an end-of-life (EOL) product, launched in May 2022, its production has ceased, making existing stock finite.
Pros
- Competitive price
- Utilises FSR3
- Competes with newer cards
Cons
- EOL card
- 8GB VRAM
3. AMD Radeon RX 7600
The Radeon RX 7600 has been a mainstay in the budget gaming space since its release in 2023, and in the face of rising prices, the RX 7600 seems like an absolute dream. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 emerges not just as a formidable 1080p gaming GPU, but as a remarkable contender at 1440p too, all at an MSRP of $259.
With 8GB of GDDR6 memory across a 128-bit bus, and clock speeds soaring from 2.25GHz to 2.6GHz, the RX 7600 caters to those demanding high performance without the premium cost. It features 2048 stream processors and 32 ray accelerators, yet remains optimised for a modest power draw of 165W. With ability to punch well above its weight in terms of performance, cements itself as a standout choice to buy under $300.
| Key Specs | AMD Radeon RX 7600 |
|---|---|
| Video Memory Capacity | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Bus Width | 128-Bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.25GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.6GHz |
| Stream Processors | 2048 |
| Ray Accelerators | 32 |
| Power Draw | 165W |
| MSRP | $259 |
However, prospective RX 7600 buyers should be aware of a few considerations. The GPU’s 8GB of VRAM, while sufficient for current titles, may not be as future-proof in the long term, especially as games continue to demand more memory.
Pros
- Excellent 1080p and 1440p gaming performance.
- The best value-proposition card.
- Very thermally capable.
Cons
- Lacking on the VRAM front.
- Only a few MSRP options.
- Not entirely future-proofed.
Our Ratings:
Features: 4.4/5
Performance: 4.6/5
Value for Money: 4.6/5
Our Verdict: 4.5/5
How We Tested the Best Graphics Cards Under $300
Figuring out which is the best graphics card under $300 involved a collaboration between our in-house benchmarking and written team. Each of the GPUs within this roundup were tested thoroughly within a plethora of gaming benchmarks to see how they fare in the latest and greatest titles. We did all this while comparing them to current market entrants to determine which GPU offers the best value-proposition. There are also a range of factors that we take into account when testing, such as:
- GPU Generation
- Architectural Bonuses (DLSS/FSR)
- Gaming Performance
- Stocking Volatility
- Power Efficiency
- Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DLSS or FSR Better?
DLSS is generally better as the latency and visual quality reduction is much less in comparison to FSR. Although AMD’s FSR has come a long way, DLSS still have better support and is stronger for the most part.
Is Ampere Better than RDNA 2?
I would say yes for the most part, but due to the driver optimisations that we’ve seen over the past year, RDNA 2 is a very solid architecture and is a strong competitor to RTX 3000 options.
Can I Play Ray-Traced Games with these Cards?
You can technically, but we wouldn’t recommend it. The hardware on all of these GPUs isn’t realistically strong enough to handle Ray-Traced gaming.
