Graphics card prices have come a long way and it can be overwhelming to find a powerful GPU for under $200. The general perception is that there are no good options available in this range as most high-performance GPUs cost $500.
But because of how the supply chain, price drops, and deals work, you can still find some well-worth GPUs at this price. For instance, you can grab AMD Radeon RX 6600 for only an additional $10, and trust me, it’s the best bang for the buck.
That said, the GPUs in this range should cater to the typical users who engage in casual gaming, graphic designing, or video editing. With that in mind, I have some recommendations that are capable of punching above their weight.
Contents
- 7 Best Graphics Cards Under $200 in 2023
- 1. Best Overall: ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
- 2. Best Runner-Up: PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- 3. Best Low Profile GPU: Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 6400
- 4. Super Compact GPU: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1650 OC
- 5. Best with Twin Frozr Cooling: MSI GeForce GTX 1650
- 6. Best Value for Money: PNY GeForce GTX 1650
- 7. Cheapest Option: VisionTek Radeon 7750
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Verdict
7 Best Graphics Cards Under $200 in 2023
In this article, I have ranked & reviewed as many as seven different GPUs priced below $200. These are not just basic and functional options, instead, some of them are capable of pulling off AAA gaming as well as 3D rendering at utmost ease.
I have also taken into account some professional AAA gamers who may be running tight on the budget but seek solid performance. Worry not, I have got you covered!
1. Best Overall: ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
- Digital Max Resolution:7680 x 4320
- New nvidia pascal architecture delivers improved performance and power efficiency
- Classic and modern games at 1080p at 60 fps
- Fast, smooth, power efficient gaming experiences; Memory clock: 7008 mhz.Avoid using unofficial software
- Plug and play design requires no pcie power connectors for easy graphics upgrade
If you’re looking for a GPU that fits in PC cases like mini ITX, ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is a robust option that’s ideal for gaming and multimedia purposes.
It boasts impressive features like 4GB GDDR5 memory, 768 CUDA cores, and a boost clock speed of 1392 MHz. Its compact connectivity and low power consumption make it a highly efficient graphics card below $200.
Performance
With support for DirectX 12 and a dual-fan cooling system, it ensures optimal performance and temperature regulation. This graphics card delivers a seamless gaming experience and exceptional visual quality, making it a favored option among gamers on a budget.
Among the prominent features is its support for DirectX12 which ensures compatibility with new-age gaming and support for visual enhancing programs.
It also gets NVIDIA Ansel support where users can capture and share in-game screenshots in great detail and create 360-degree screenshots for a more immersive experience & to share it on social media.
It also gets support from in-game streaming features like GameStream and ShadowPlay.
It has a substantially low TDP of 75 watts, which means low power consumption. This makes it suitable for a wide range of PC builds, including those with limited power supply capacities or small form factor builds.
Its energy efficiency allows for efficient performance without excessive heat generation or high electricity costs.
Connectivity & Warranty
It has a very impressively compact size which makes it a popular choice for smaller PC owners. You get ample airflow and the installation, needless to say, is very easy. The smaller build also has a smaller footprint on energy consumption.
In terms of connectivity, the card gets VR support along with standard DisplayPort, DVI-D, and HDMI connectivity. It gets ASUS’s standard software GPU Tweak II which allows you to customize and fine-tune various graphics card settings such as clock speeds, voltages, fan profiles, and more for optimal performance.
Conclusion
Overall, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is the best-performing GPU you can get for under 200 dollars. It has all the latest connectivity standards and software support from ASUS. With a substantially lower power consumption, its success is to nobody’s surprise.
Pros
- Energy efficient
- VR ready
- Good 1080p performance
- Compact form factor
Cons
- No SLI support
- Limited overclocking headroom
2. Best Runner-Up: PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- Memory Speed:18.0 Gbps.Digital Max Resolution:7680×4320
- Country Of Origin : China
- Stream Processor: 1024
- Game Clock: 2650Mhz
- Boost Clock: 2820Mhz
The PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is yet another sub $200 graphics card designed for gaming and content creation. Its compact design and efficient cooling system make it an ideal choice for compact gaming rigs.
Performance
It gets AMD’s support for features such as FidelityFX, Radeon Anti-Lag, and Radeon Image Sharpening, enhancing visual quality and reducing input lag.
It also gets AMD FreeSync, in which the card synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the GPU, reducing screen tearing and providing smoother and more fluid gameplay.
Other features involve dual BIOS support which allows users to switch between different BIOS profiles for dual profiles for overclocking and performance-oriented settings.
AMD’s Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition, along with the Radeon Software suite, offers a comprehensive set of features for performance tuning, streaming, and gameplay recording.
It also gets support from AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) which is a visual upscaling technology that enhances performance and visual quality in games, offering a smoother gaming experience.
Connectivity & Warranty
In terms of its exterior, it comes with a protective backplate, providing additional rigidity to the card and helping with heat dissipation. Speaking of which, the cooling includes multiple heat pipes and strategically positioned fans.
This design helps dissipate heat effectively from the GPU, VRAM, and other components. The advanced fan control technology adjusts fan speeds based on load and temperature, providing efficient cooling while minimizing noise levels.
The fans also have a zero RPM mode where the fans stop spinning during idle or low load situations, ensuring silent operation and reducing power consumption.
Conclusion
PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT offers an excellent gaming performance with features like efficient cooling, advanced RDNA 2 architecture, and support for AMD’s advanced technologies like FidelityFX Super Resolution & Radeon Adrenalin Edition.
The card provides an immersive gaming experience, making it a compelling choice for gamers looking to elevate their gameplay to new heights.
Pros
- Good 1080p gaming
- Efficient cooling
- AMD’s latest software and features support
Cons
- Limited VRAM
- Limited overclocking capabilities
3. Best Low Profile GPU: Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 6400
- Memory Speed:16 Gbps.Digital Max Resolution:7680×4320
- Boost Clock: Up to 2321 MHz
- Game Clock: Up to 2039 MHz
- Memory Interface: 64-bit DDR6
- Form Factor: Single slot, Low-Profile
Sapphire Radeon RX 6400 is positioned as an entry-level graphics card that incorporates a more recent configuration. It utilizes AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, granting access to high-end features and software support. However, it offers a modest 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM, keeping it within the entry-level range.
Performance
In addition to its other capabilities, this GPU includes AMD FidelityFX support, allowing for adaptive contrast and image sharpening without compromising quality.
Furthermore, the inclusion of DirectX Raytracing enhances the gaming experience by providing more realistic and immersive visuals, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to gameplay.
Despite its compact size, this GPU still delivers excellent 1080p gaming performance, thanks to Sapphire’s TriXX Boost software, which significantly improves frame rates.
While the 4GB VRAM may seem modest, it benefits from a sufficient bandwidth of 16 GBPS and is further supported by AMD’s infinity cache technology. This combination ensures smooth and efficient gameplay, even with the limited VRAM capacity.
Connectivity & Warranty
The compact and low-profile design of this graphics card, featuring red accents that are indicative of the PULSE range, makes it an ideal choice for PCs with smaller cases, such as Mini ITX configurations.
It is specifically designed to fit well in compact setups while maintaining the distinctive aesthetics associated with the PULSE range.
To maintain optimal GPU temperatures, Sapphire has incorporated the innovative Axial Fan Cooling technology, which utilizes a fan with seven blades. The cooling performance is commendable, and the dual ball bearing axial fans efficiently dissipate heat, ensuring effective cooling for the graphics card.
The Fuse Protection feature safeguards the entire cooling system of the graphics card. By incorporating an external PCIe power connector, this feature becomes an integral part of the circuit, providing protection not only to the graphics card but also to its components. This ensures the safety and integrity of the GPU during operation.
Conclusion
Overall, the Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 6400 is an excellent GPU for new gamers or those with smaller PC setups. Sapphire has successfully packed impressive features into a compact design.
The only noticeable omission from the feature list is the ability to overclock the GPU, as it is locked and not available for customization in that aspect.
Pros
- Great 1080p gaming
- Fuse protection against power surge
- Compact form factor
Cons
- No overclocking
- Smaller VRAM
4. Super Compact GPU: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1650 OC
- New Turing Architecture
- 4GB 128-bit GDDR6
- Super Compact 5.94-inch Card, Fits 99% of Systems
- Dual slot, 4K Ready, PCI Bus Powered.Avoid using unofficial software
- DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b, DL-DVI-D
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC, as suggested by its name, is aimed at solid gaming performance and supports modern technologies, making it a suitable choice for 1080p gaming and multimedia applications.
A compact form factor, high-quality dual-fan cooling that efficiently dissipates heat while maintaining optimal temperatures, and NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience software support are a few key features of it.
Performance
OC in the name ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC stands for overclocking. This GPU comes factory overclocked & is designed with headroom for users to increase the core clock speed, memory frequency, and power limits to achieve higher performance levels.
Users can fine-tune their clock speeds with the help of ZOTAC’s FireStorm software.
Gaming Performance
Among other features, you get NVIDIA Ansel which enables users to capture great in-game screenshots from various angles. It also supports NVIDIA Highlights, which automatically captures and saves epic gaming moments.
These features come really handy when you stream your gaming sessions and explore opportunities to monetize your gaming.
This GPU also gets the GTX 1650 OC support. HDCP 2.2 allows secure playback of high-definition content on HDCP-compliant displays and streaming devices. This secures your data while you stream or play high-definition content.
Design & Warranty
It is based on NVIDIA’s Turing architecture which is designed to provide efficient performance and power consumption for mainstream gaming.
All the GPUs based on NVIDIA’s Turing architecture benefit from features like NVIDIA CUDA cores, concurrent execution of floating-point and integer operations, and improved memory compression.
Conclusion
Apart from all these fancy features, one feature that makes headlines is its single-slot installation. The GPU has an impressive compact design and a single-slot profile. This makes it suitable for small form factor builds and systems with limited space.
Pros
- Compact design and single-slot installation
- NVIDIA features like Ansel & GeForce Experience
- Factory overclocked
Cons
- Limited VRAM
- Cost
5. Best with Twin Frozr Cooling: MSI GeForce GTX 1650
- Memory Speed:12 Gbps.Digital Max Resolution:7680x4320
- Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- Boost Clock: 1620 MHz
- Video Memory: 4GB GDDR6
- Memory Interface: 128-bit
The MSI GeForce GTX 1650 128-Bit is a great choice and a robust setup designed for gaming enthusiasts. Its powerful GPU and solid performance in 1080p resolution offer smooth gameplay and impressive visuals.
The GPU has a fine balance between modern gaming technologies and software utilities for customization and optimization.
Performance
MSI overall is best known for its solid build quality across its product range. This GPU is made with MSI Armor Design and is designed to withstand the demands of gaming and provides a robust and stable performance over extended periods of use.
The build quality extends to the PCB (Printed Circuit Board), the cooling solution, and the overall construction of the card.
Gaming Performance
Based on NVIDIA’s Turing architecture, the GTX 1650 from MSI utilizes the TU117 chip, which is designed to provide efficient performance and power consumption for mainstream gaming.
The architecture supports modern-day gaming features like GDDR5 memory and above, DirectX 12, and NVIDIA Ansel that allows users to capture impressive in-game screenshots from a multitude of perspectives and angles.
Design and Warranty
To aid the solid build quality, MSI allows users to customize the aesthetic with the RGB lighting with the help of their Mystic Light technology.
Among other features, you get MSI Afterburner, which is a popular overclocking utility that allows users to fine-tune performance settings and monitor GPU statistics.
For efficient heat dissipation, ensuring optimal temperatures and improved performance, this GPU uses MSI’s Twin Frozr Cooling with a twin fan setup. It is equipped with two fans strategically positioned over the heatsink.
Conclusion
Overall, the MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 128-Bit offers a balanced combination of affordability, performance, and features for gamers seeking a dependable graphics card costing less than $200. You get a long run with the durability of MSI Armor Design and perhaps the best RGB setup under $200 with this GPU.
Pros
- Strong build quality and materials
- RGB customization
- Zero fan / silent fan
- Overclocking potential
Cons
- No ray tracing
- Small VRAM
6. Best Value for Money: PNY GeForce GTX 1650
- NVIDIA Turing architecture, with 1410MHz core clock and 1590MHz boost clock speeds to help meet the needs of demanding games.
- 4GB GDDR6 (128-bit) on-board memory, plus 896 CUDA processing cores and up to 192GB/sec of memory bandwidth provide the memory needed to create striking visual realism.
- PCI Express 3.0 interface - Offers compatibility with a range of systems. Also includes DisplayPort and HDMI outputs for expanded connectivity.
- Turing Shaders - concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations, adaptive shading technology, and a new unified memory architecture enable awesome performance increases on today’s gamesAvoid using unofficial software
- NVIDIA GeForce Experience - Capture and share videos, screenshots, and livestreams with friends. Keep your drivers up to date and optimize your game settings. It's the essential companion to your GeForce graphics card.
The PNY GTX 1650 is a cost-effective graphics card designed for budget gamers. It caters to the needs of entry-level gamers who seek an affordable GPU that offers satisfactory performance while being mindful of their budgetary constraints.
Performance
One advantage of having modest specifications is the minimal thermal impact it generates. The GPU in question boasts a low TDP of just 75W, making it one of the most energy-efficient graphics cards available.
Its power consumption is solely drawn from the PCIe slot, which significantly contributes to lower electricity bills.
Gaming Experience
The inclusion of overclocking is a pleasant surprise considering the absence of an auxiliary power connector on this card. Its target audience comprises new gamers or those seeking budget-friendly GPU options.
It offers satisfactory performance for 1080p gaming. However, due to the lack of a DisplayPort and limited VRAM, it is likely that as your gaming skills improve, the card may experience increased heat generation.
Design & Warranty
Apart from not needing external power, the graphics card has several other advantages. It is lightweight and has a compact form factor, which simplifies installation and mounting.
Additionally, its compact size facilitates proper airflow and ventilation within the system, ensuring optimal cooling for the graphics card.
Based on FinFET technology, this GPU offers support for FP32 instructions and INT32 operations. However, it lacks NVIDIA’s ray tracing and DLSS features. Given its specifications, the optimal resolution for smooth performance is 1080p, as higher resolutions may strain the GPU and result in performance issues.
Conclusion
One potential limitation is the presence of only two HDMI ports and the absence of a DisplayPort on this GPU. However, the single-fan cooler performs adequately in maintaining thermal performance.
PNY provides this card with a factory overclocked configuration, and for further customization and visual enhancements, PNY offers its own Velocity X software.
Pros
- Small form factor
- Lower TDP and energy consumption
- Good 1080p gaming
Cons
- No DisplayPort
- Runs hot under heavy workload
7. Cheapest Option: VisionTek Radeon 7750
- The cutting-edge AMD Radeon HD 7750 lets you experience video games with realism
- With increased scalability, PCI Express x16 delivers high speed of data transfer
- With GDDR5 memory technology get efficient data transfer rate and enhanced computer's performance
- Plug-in Card form factor for your convenience and simplicity of usage
- 2 GB on-board memory renders detailed images in a flash
The Radeon 7750 offers moderate graphics performance suitable for casual gaming and multimedia tasks. It can handle popular games at medium to high settings on 1080p resolution, although demanding AAA titles may require lower settings for smooth gameplay.
It’s placed at a price point where it aims at users who want to upgrade their graphics capabilities for gaming or multimedia applications without requiring top-of-the-line performance.
Performance
In terms of features, it supports the 11th version of Microsoft DirectX. This feature is a collection of APIs for handling multimedia and gaming tasks on Windows. DirectX enhances overall graphical stimulation and enhances performances.
It also gets OpenGL which is an open standard for rendering 2D and 3D graphics across different platforms.
Gaming Experience
What adds to its potential is AMD’s CrossFireX support. It is a feature that allows you to have multiple compatible graphics cards to work together for increased gaming performance. This scales up your graphics capabilities by adding additional Radeon 7750s or other compatible cards.
Design & Warranty
It has a compact form factor that makes it a good fit for PCs with small cases, making it ideal for HTPCs (Home Theater PCs) and small form factor PCs. The card is equipped with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, offering decent gaming and multimedia performance.
It supports multiple monitors with its dual-link DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort outputs. The design emphasizes efficient cooling and quiet operation, ensuring reliable performance while keeping noise levels low.
Conclusion
Overall, while the VisionTek Radeon 7750 can handle gaming to a certain extent, it is not designed for high-end gaming or running the latest graphically demanding titles at maximum settings.
The performances can be considered moderate at best but if coupled with similar GPUs through CrossFireX, it can act as a great alternative as an inexpensive entry-level or mid-range GPU.
Pros
- Price
- Low power consumption
- Compatible with almost all PCs
Cons
- Inadequate full HD gaming
- Old architecture
Frequently Asked Questions
The best is surely the ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti which is just under $200. It has a better hardware setup than most under $200 GPUs and has the brand and software support of ASUS as well.
The overclocked (OC) version of ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 is the best GTX version under $200. It has NVIDIA’s top features like NVIDIA Ansel & GeForce Experience and it comes factory unlocked as well.
The ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is really a clear winner even in the GeForce segment under $200. It gets all the GeForce features on very capable hardware. It is VR-ready and offers one of the best 1080p gaming among GPUs under $200.
That entirely depends on your proficiency as a gamer or your purpose. If you are a leisure or entry-level gamer then there are plenty of decent GPUs available under $200. If you are a professional though, then you might want to loosen up some pocket strings.
Verdict
Those looking for GPUs below $200 are either casual gamers or graphics designers. However, if you use multiplying techniques and add multiple GPUs in your PC then you’ll have a whole different perspective towards the rather humble lineup.
If you want to go for the most powerful GPU around that price bracket then you must go for established brands like ASUS or MSI. You get durability with apt software support. ASUS GTX 1050 Ti really kills it under $200 in terms of its capabilities.
Another smart option would be to have two identical Radeon 7750 from VisionTek set up with the help of the CrossFireX feature. This is a cost-effective solution that works well if paired well.
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