Last Updated on
Finding the best GPUs under $200 can be a challenge, especially in a market where high-end GPUs often grab the spotlight with their premium pricing and advanced features. However, there is still a variety of options available that provide satisfactory performance. This article aims to guide you through some of the top contenders in this bracket, ensuring you can still enjoy a good gaming or content creation experience.
Graphics cards in the sub-$200 category are typically designed for entry to mid-level gaming, capable of running many modern games at decent frame rates on medium settings. While you may not be pushing ultra-high resolutions or the max settings on the latest AAA titles, these GPUs are more than sufficient for popular e-sports titles, video playback, and everyday creative work.
-
BEST GPU UNDER $200PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6600 – 8GB
- GPU: Navi 23
- Stream processors: 1792
- VRAM: 8GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 224.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 1626 MHz
-
BEST NVIDIA GPU UNDER $200ASUS Dual Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 – 4GB
- GPU : TU117
- CUDA cores: 896
- VRAM: 4GB
- Bandwidth: 128.1 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 1485 MHz
-
BEST GPU UNDER $200 FOR OVERCLOCKINGASUS TUF GeForce GTX 1660 Super Overclocked
- GPU: TU116
- CUDA cores: 1408
- VRAM: 6GB
- Bandwidth: 336.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Base clock speed: 1530 MHz
-
PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT ITX
- GPU: Navi 24
- Stream processors: 1,024
- VRAM: 4GB
- Memory bus width: 64-bit
- Bandwidth: 143.9 GB/s
- Base clock speed: 2310 MHz
How we picked the best GPUs under $200
In picking the best graphics card under $200, we meticulously scoured through publicly available benchmarks and user reviews to determine which cards deliver the best performance and value for their price.
Furthermore, we considered the long-term viability of each card, taking into account factors such as the manufacturer’s reputation for durability and customer service. Although we didn’t conduct the benchmarks ourselves, we relied on the consensus from trusted industry experts and real-world user feedback.
Shopping for the best GPU under $200 is a smart move, especially for smaller gaming PC builds, and it’s worth noting that many GPUs in this price range can also be used to revive old office PCs and prebuilts to turn them into proper gaming PCs. You can also check out our guide to the best GPUs for under $100 right here, or the best GPUs for under $400 if you’re able to stretch a little further. Of course, for those with an even higher budget, take a look at the overall best graphics cards to weigh in on the best across the board from AMD and Nvidia.
Best GPUs under $200 in 2024 – Our top choices
- GPU: Navi 23
- Stream processors: 1792
- VRAM: 8GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 224.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 1626 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2491 MHz
- Low power consumption
- Respectable performance despite the price
- Contains the necessary specs for modern gaming
- Will require upgrading sooner than other GPU
- More impressive GPUs on the market overall
- Just under $200 price bracket
Our top choice for the best GPUs under $200 is the RX 6600. In short, scoring the PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6600 for under $200 has always been an amazing steal. This graphics card packs a punch for 1080p gaming; built with AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, it delivers smooth performance and keeps power consumption low. Plus, the 8GB of GDDR6 memory ensures you can crank up the graphics settings in your favorite games without stuttering. And the dual fan cooling keeps everything running chill during intense battles. If you can snag it at this price, it’s a fantastic option to dominate the 1080p gaming world.
If you can snag it at this price, it’s a fantastic option to dominate the 1080p gaming world.
PC Guide
- GPU : TU117
- CUDA cores: 896
- VRAM: 4GB
- Bandwidth: 128.1 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 1485 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 1665 MHz
- Compact and fits well in small cases
- Quiet performance
- Not suited for 1440p or higher gaming
- Lacks RTX features
The GTX 1650 comes with 4GB GDDR6 memory and is built on Nvidia’s Turing architecture, despite not having RTX features like real-time ray tracing. The card’s compact size and power efficiency make it a good option for smaller builds or systems with limited power supply.
This model is designed for gamers and general users who want a graphics performance boost without the additional cost associated with higher-end GPUs. It’s capable of running most games at medium to high settings in 1080p, ensuring a quality gaming experience. Furthermore, the card’s low power consumption means it can easily be integrated into pre-existing systems without needing to upgrade the power unit.
The GTX 1650 is best for entry-level and casual gamers, or for those looking to improve their home office PCs for better performance in graphics-related tasks. It’s particularly appealing for individuals who favor compact PCs, as the card’s size is conducive to smaller cases.
This model is designed for gamers and general users who want a graphics performance boost without the additional cost associated with higher-end GPUs
PC Guide
- Overclocked for enhanced performance
- Sturdy build quality with TUF standards
- Great for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming
- Slightly higher price point within its tier
- No real-time ray tracing
- Requires additional power connector
The ASUS TUF GeForce GTX 1660 Super Overclocked edition boasts 6GB of GDDR6 memory, leveraging the strength of the Turing architecture without the cost of the RT cores found in the RTX series. It’s a card that’s designed for gamers who want a solid 1080p performance with the headroom to push into 1440p in some titles. With overclocking out of the box, users get a performance boost for a smoother gaming experience.
ASUS’s TUF lineup is known for its durability and reliability, and this GTX 1660 Super is no exception. It’s built with DirectCU II cooling technology and a robust backplate that prevents PCB flex. The card ensures consistent performance even during long gaming sessions. Its Auto-Extreme manufacturing technology also improves reliability by reducing the thermal strain on components.
This graphics card is an excellent choice for mid-range gamers who prioritize longevity and stability in their hardware. It’s also well-suited for individuals who enjoy tweaking their system’s performance, as the card’s overclocking potential is substantial when coupled with ASUS’s GPU Tweak II software.
This graphics card is an excellent choice for mid-range gamers who prioritize longevity and stability in their hardware.
PC Guide
- GPU: Navi 24
- Stream processors: 1,024
- VRAM: 4GB
- Memory bus width: 64-bit
- Bandwidth: 143.9 GB/s
- Base clock speed: 2310 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2610 MHz
- deal for small form factor PCs
- Adequate 1080p gaming performance
- Supports latest AMD technologies
- Limited to 4GB VRAM
- Not suitable for high settings in newer games
- May struggle with future titles
PowerColor’s AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT ITX is a compact powerhouse, fitting the latest RDNA 2 architecture into a small form factor suitable for mini-ITX builds. With 4GB GDDR6 memory and support for PCIe 4.0, this card is engineered for gamers who want to experience 1080p gaming in a tiny package.
The RX 6500 XT ITX model, in particular, is tailored for systems where space is at a premium. Despite its size, it doesn’t skimp on performance, delivering adequate frame rates for most modern games at medium settings. It also benefits from AMD features like FidelityFX Super Resolution, which helps to boost performance in supported games without a noticeable loss in quality.
Ideal for those building a small gaming rig or upgrading a compact pre-built PC, this PowerColor card provides a balance between form and function. It’s perfect for casual gamers or for those who prefer a discrete gaming system without the bells and whistles of larger, more powerful GPUs.
Considerations for the best GPUs under $200
In case you didn’t understand the specs thrown around in the reviews above, or still don’t know which card to choose, we have you covered. In this section, we’ll go through some of the most important considerations you should consider when purchasing the best GPUs under $200.
Performance
When you’re buying a GPU for $200 or less, you’re primarily buying a graphics card for 1080p gaming. From $100 to $200, most cards are built to perform well at 1080p and high/max settings at 60 FPS in modern games. Compared to the lower-fidelity graphics on console (generally equivalent to mixed medium settings on PC) and common resolution/FPS compromises, you’re already getting a much better gaming experience.
AMD cards in this price range will perform better than Nvidia cards in most scenarios but at the cost of a larger size and increased power consumption.
A few of the higher-end cards in this section – those straining against that self-imposed $200 cap and more VRAM – are also well-suited for gaming at higher resolutions. We’ll dive into that below. Find all our recommended budget graphics cards right here.
VRAM
Quite a bit under certain circumstances. More VRAM doesn’t generally contribute to raw performance, in the same way that more RAM in your PC doesn’t. VRAM is used for streaming textures, managing post-processing effects, and managing high resolutions.
In short, the more VRAM you have, the better your card will be able to handle higher resolutions like 1440p, 1800p, and 4K. The rest of the card still needs to keep up, though, and GPUs in this price range generally aren’t suited for playing modern games at a native 4K, regardless of VRAM. For this price range, though:
- 4GB of VRAM is ideal for 1080p gaming at max settings and 1440p games with reduced settings.
- 8GB of VRAM is ideal for 1080p gaming at max settings, VR games, and 1440p games with high-resolution textures. With higher-end GPUs, this amount of VRAM is also suitable for tackling 1800p and 4K gaming scenarios.
Size
Now, let’s talk about compatibility. This is especially important in this budget price range, so we’ve actually added a power spec to our reviews for this article.
- Length – This will generally be the greatest barrier to entry. Length is measured in millimeters and is the most likely reason a graphics card won’t fit inside your PC. For users of prebuilt PCs and refurbished office PCs, this is especially a concern. Be sure to compare our measurements to the dimensions inside your chassis before making any buying decisions. You should be fine with most standard ATX and Micro ATX cases, but it’s still better safe than sorry.
- Width – Less important but still relevant for prebuilt users specifically is width. This is measured in PCI Express slots in your chassis with 2-slot being the standard for most graphics cards. This won’t be a concern for any user-built PC (except certain slimline HTPCs and SFF ITX builds), but it can be a problem for certain prebuilt. You should be fine if you have at least 2 slots open in your chassis.
Manufacturer
Have difficulty choosing from our list above? This should help.
Pick AMD:
- You want the most performance in this price range.
- You have ample power and room to spare in your PC.
- You want the best performance per dollar in this price range.
Pick Nvidia if:
- You need a smaller, more power-efficient GPU.
- You don’t mind sacrificing a little bit of power to do it.
- You’re playing mostly Nvidia-favored games (Fortnite and most modern emulators).
Cost
While we are confined to the $200 price cap here, it is still important to get the best deal on your graphics card. To get the best deal possible, track your product’s price history using a tool like Camelcamelcamel. This website shows you price fluctuations over time, allowing you to jump on a deal when the price dips.
Additionally, consider buying during seasonal sales like Amazon Spring Sale or Black Friday to maximize your savings.
Our verdict
In wrapping up our exploration of the best GPUs under $200, it’s clear that each option caters to a specific type of user, balancing performance with price. Leading the pack is the PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6600, with its impressive blend of power and efficiency, making it a top pick for those seeking the best possible gaming experience under $200. Its commendable performance in both 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming positions it as a standout choice for gamers looking to get the most bang for their buck.
The other contenders, like the ASUS Dual GeForce GTX 1650 and the ASUS TUF GeForce GTX 1660 Super Overclocked, offer reliable performance and are excellent for users who want to game without breaking the bank or who appreciate the added stability of a TUF-grade card. The PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT ITX stands out for those with space constraints, providing a decent gaming experience in a compact form. Overall, whether you’re building a new rig or upgrading an existing one, these cards promise to elevate your gaming.
