If you’re new to the PC gaming ecosystem, building an entire rig from scratch is one of the most daunting tasks. The project can be expensive, but your PC components could last years, making it imperative that you pick the right internals. Your graphics card, or graphics processing unit (GPU), is one of the most important pieces of your gaming PC, responsible for rendering animations, images, video, and more. Thankfully, there are entry-level graphics cards on the market from both AMD and NVIDIA. These cards will give you great performance without breaking the bank, which is especially important for your first gaming PC.
For this list, we’ve compiled a list of GPUs that factor in cost and performance. You won’t see anything above an NVIDIA 3070 on this list, as those cards are typically reserved for gamers who are upgrading their current GPU or have been around the PC gaming space for some time.
In no particular order, here are the best entry-level graphics cards you can buy now on StockX.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
NVIDIA kicked off the new year with a new line of budget-friendly GPUs, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050. At a sub-$300 price point, the 3050 is the most affordable 30-series GPU by NVIDIA, meaning you get ray tracking capabilities, with some compromise. Don’t expect 4k gaming performance with the 3050, but the card is completely capable of 1080p and 1440p gaming while maintaining above 30fps on demanding titles.
As demand has slacked recently, prices for the 3050 have dropped to near-MSRP. When the card was first released, it would be difficult to recommend spending up to $500 on an entry-level graphics card, but at $300, you’re getting a great card for your first rig.
NVIDIA 3060 Ti
The NVIDIA GeForce 3060 Ti is the “best” GPU on this list, as it’s been described as the jack of all trades, delivering great 1080p and 1440p performance with ray tracing enabled, offering more than enough performance for most gamers and hobbyists. But even with those qualities, an argument could be made that the price point is a bit high for an entry-level choice. It’s a tricky GPU. On one hand, it’s a natural upgrade for people with older gaming PCs, but it’s also a great graphics card for new gamers, as it will undoubtedly perform at a high level for many years to come.
For those waiting for the prices to come down to Earth, now is the time to cop. According to our data, prices are hovering just above MSRP, making this the best entry-level graphics card on this list if you have the budget.
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is AMD’s answer to the popular NVIDIA RTX 3060, and for a retail price of just $50 more, you’re getting a better GPU for your dollar. The caveat is of course pricing due to chip shortages, but you can secure an AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT on StockX for around $400 and some change.
The 6600 XT is an amazing performing card for 1080p and 1440p gaming, which is one of the main metrics for this list. You’ll comfortably hit over 60 fps on even graphically intense games at 1080p, making this a solid option for most gamers.
Like other cards on this list, it would have been hard to recommend these GPUs at the height of the shortage, when the 6600 XT was trading at over $600. The value proposition at those price points is a hard sale, but today is a different story. Sure, the chip shortage is still very much an issue across the industry, but the price point of the 6600 XT currently makes it a great entry-level GPU to build your gaming PC. Don’t sleep on AMD — they make great cards.
Summary
While there are certainly other cards that are more affordable than the NVIDIA RTX 3060, 3050, and AMD 6600XT, older generation cards won’t have ray-tracing capabilities. For example, the AMD 6500 XT technically supports ray tracing, but reviews point to non-existent ray-tracing capabilities and a GPU that offers subpar 1080p gaming performance, which is arguably the bare minimum for gamers in 2022. Older generation cards inevitably age faster, especially as new games continue to require more powerful GPUs.
Entry-level graphics cards don’t have to be bad performers. After all, your first gaming PC is special — leading you down a road filled with enjoyment. Gaming is a hobby that is meant to bring joy. Older generation cards can deliver sub-optimal performance on the latest and greatest games, which could lead to a frustrating experience. With the GPUs listed above, you’re getting solid, current-generation performance, for around $400 or less.
