Don't want to spend a fortune on your new graphics card ? For less than €200 , are you wondering which are the best graphics cards ? In this article, we will present to you the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the best low-cost graphics cards on the market.
If you have a little more budget. We invite you to read our article: The best graphics cards under €300
Comparisons of graphics cards under €200
Now that you know why choose a graphics card for less than $200 in 2023, you may be wondering which are the best low-cost graphics cards on the market.
1. AMD Radeon RX 6600: the most powerful and latest
The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is the most powerful and newest graphics card in our selection. It was launched in October 2023 and is part of the Radeon RX 6000 based on the RDNA 2 architecture. It offers high performance for a reasonable price.
| AMD Radeon RX 6600 | |
|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 2 |
| Ray tracing | Yes |
| DLSS | No |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Power | 10.6 TFLOPS |
| Base frequency | 2044 MHz |
| Boosted frequency | 2491 MHz |
| Consumption | 160W |
| power supply connector | 8 pin |
| Ports | 3x DP, 1x HDMI |
| Dimensions | Dual-slot |
| Weight | NC |
| Full HD performance | Excellent |
| FPS or IPS | 79 to 175 |
| Temperature | NC |
| Cooling | Axial fan |
| Price | 210 € |
Strong points :
- It offers excellent graphics power , capable of running the latest games in Full HD or QHD with high settings.
- It benefits from advanced technologies of the RDNA 2 architecture , such as ray tracing, FidelityFX Super Resolution or Smart Access Memory.
- It consumes little energy in relation to its performance, which allows it to remain cool and silent.
User and expert reviews :
- Users are generally satisfied with the AMD Radeon RX 6600, which they consider efficient, quiet and energy efficient. They appreciate its ability to run the most recent games with optimal graphics quality.
- Experts are also positive about the AMD Radeon RX 6600, which they consider to be a high-performance, balanced and innovative graphics card. They highlight its computing power, its compatibility with ray tracing and FidelityFX Super Resolution, and its energy efficiency.
2. AMD Radeon RX 580: the oldest but still powerful
The AMD Radeon RX 580 is the oldest but still powerful graphics card in our selection. It was launched in April 2021 and is part of the Radeon RX 500 based on the Polaris architecture. It offers honest performance for a very low price.
| Graphics card name | AMD Radeon RX 580 |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Polaris |
| Ray tracing | No |
| DLSS | No |
| Memory | 8 GB |
| Power | 6.2 TFLOPS |
| Base frequency | 1257 MHz |
| Boosted frequency | 1340 MHz |
| Consumption | 185W |
| power supply connector | 8 pin |
| Ports | Depending on the models |
| Dimensions | Dual-slot |
| Weight | Depending on the models |
| Full HD performance | Honest |
| FPS or IPS | Depending on the games |
| Temperature | Depending on the models |
| Cooling | Axial or radial fan depending on the model |
| Price | Very low |
Strong points :
- It offers respectable graphics power , capable of running games in Full HD with high settings or in QHD with medium settings.
- It has generous memory , which allows it to handle high resolutions and textures.
- It benefits from a very attractive price , which makes it a good deal for small budgets.
User and expert reviews:
- Users are generally satisfied with the AMD Radeon RX 580, which they consider efficient, reliable and affordable. They appreciate its ability to run games in Full HD or QHD with good graphics quality.
- Experts are also positive about the AMD Radeon RX 580, which they consider to be an honest, robust and accessible graphics card. They highlight its computing power, its generous memory and its attractive price.
3. Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super: the most balanced and versatile
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super is the most balanced and versatile graphics card in our selection. It was launched in November 2022 and is part of the GeForce GTX 1600 based on the Turing architecture. It offers decent performance for an affordable price.
| Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super | |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing |
| Ray tracing | No |
| DLSS | Yes |
| Memory | 4 GB GDDR6 |
| Power | 3 TFLOPS |
| Base frequency | 1530 MHz |
| Boosted frequency | 1725 MHz |
| Consumption | 100W |
| power supply connector | 6 pin |
| Ports | Depending on the models |
| Dimensions | Single-slot or dual-slot depending on the model |
| Weight | Depending on the models |
| Full HD performance | Good |
| FPS or IPS | Depending on the games |
| Temperature | Depending on the models |
| Cooling | Axial or radial fan depending on the model |
| Price | 175 € |
Strong points :
- It offers good graphics power , capable of running games in Full HD with medium or high settings.
- It benefits from Turing architecture technologies , such as DLSS, NVENC or G-SYNC.
- It consumes little energy in relation to its performance, which allows it to remain cool and silent.
User and expert reviews:
- Users are generally satisfied with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super, which they consider efficient, quiet and economical. They appreciate its ability to run games in Full HD with good graphics quality.
- Experts are also positive about the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super, which they consider to be a balanced, versatile and accessible graphics card. They highlight its computing power, its compatibility with DLSS and NVENC, and its energy efficiency.
4. ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660: the best for small budgets
The ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660 is the best graphics card for small budgets in our selection. It was launched in March 2022 and is part of the GeForce GTX 1600 based on the Turing architecture. It offers modest performance for a very low price.
| Graphics card name | ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660 |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing |
| Ray tracing | No |
| DLSS | No |
| Memory | 6 GB GDDR5 |
| Power | 5 TFLOPS |
| Base frequency | 1530 MHz |
| Boosted frequency | 1785 MHz |
| Consumption | 120W |
| power supply connector | 8 pin |
| Ports | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DP |
| Dimensions | Dual-slot |
| Weight | NC |
| Full HD performance | Modest |
| FPS or IPS | Depending on the games |
| Temperature | Depending on the models |
| Cooling | Axial fan |
| Price | Very low |
Strong points :
- It offers sufficient graphics power , capable of running games in Full HD with medium settings.
- It has decent memory , which allows it to handle medium resolutions and textures.
- It benefits from a very low price , which makes it a good option for users who are on a tight budget.
User and expert reviews:
- Users are generally satisfied with the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660, which they consider efficient, compact and affordable. They appreciate its ability to run games in Full HD with acceptable graphics quality.
- Experts are also positive about the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660, which they consider a modest, simple and accessible graphics card. They highlight its computing power, its decent memory and its low price.
5. XFX Radeon RX 6500 XT: the most recent from AMD but with drawbacks
The XFX Radeon RX 6500 XT is the most recent graphics card from AMD but with drawbacks from our selection. It was launched in September 2023 and it is part of the Radeon RX 6000 based on the RDNA 2 architecture. It offers average performance for an average price.
| Graphics card name | XFX Radeon RX 6500 XT |
|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 2 |
| Ray tracing | Yes |
| DLSS | No |
| Memory | 4 GB GDDR6 |
| Power | 7.4 TFLOPS |
| Base frequency | 2310 MHz |
| Boosted frequency | 2815 MHz |
| Consumption | 130W |
| power supply connector | 6 pin |
| Ports | 1x DP, 1x HDMI |
| Dimensions | Dual-slot |
| Weight | NC |
| Full HD performance | Average |
| FPS or IPS | Depending on the games |
| Temperature | Depending on the models |
| Cooling | Axial fan |
| Price | AVERAGE |
Strong points :
- It offers decent graphics power , capable of running games in Full HD with high settings or in QHD with medium settings.
- It benefits from advanced technologies of the RDNA 2 architecture , such as ray tracing, FidelityFX Super Resolution or Smart Access Memory.
- It consumes little energy in relation to its performance, which allows it to remain cool and silent.
User and expert reviews:
- Users are generally mixed on the XFX Radeon RX 6500 XT, which they consider efficient, quiet and energy efficient, but also limited, expensive and rare. They appreciate its ability to run games in Full HD or QHD with good graphics quality, but they regret its lack of memory, its high price and its reduced availability.
- Experts are also mixed on the XFX Radeon RX 6500 XT, which they consider to be an average graphics card, innovative and efficient, but also disappointing, expensive and unobtainable. They highlight its computing power, its compatibility with ray tracing and FidelityFX Super Resolution, and its energy efficiency, but they criticize its limited memory, its poor quality/price ratio and its chronic shortage.
6. XFX Speedster SWFT105 Radeon RX 6400: the best price/performance ratio from AMD
The XFX Speedster SWFT105 Radeon RX 6400 is the graphics card that offers the best price/performance ratio from AMD in our selection. It was launched in August 2023 and it is part of the Radeon RX 6000 based on the RDNA 2 architecture. It offers high performance for a mid-range price.
| Graphics card name | XFX Speedster SWFT105 Radeon RX 6400 |
|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 2 |
| Ray tracing | Yes |
| DLSS | No |
| Memory | 6 GB GDDR6 |
| Power | 9.4 TFLOPS |
| Base frequency | 1923 MHz |
| Boosted frequency | 2321 MHz |
| Consumption | 150W |
| power supply connector | 8 pin |
| Ports | 1x DP, 1x HDMI |
| Dimensions | Dual-slot |
| Weight | NC |
| Full HD performance | Excellent |
| FPS or IPS | Depending on the games |
| Temperature | Depending on the models |
| Cooling | Axial fan |
| Price | AVERAGE |
Strong points :
- It offers excellent graphics power , capable of running games in QHD with high settings or in 4K with medium settings.
- It benefits from advanced technologies of the RDNA 2 architecture, such as ray tracing, FidelityFX Super Resolution or Smart Access Memory.
- It offers good value for money , because it is less expensive than other more efficient or more recent graphics cards.
User and expert reviews:
- Users are generally satisfied with the XFX Speedster SWFT105 Radeon RX 6400, which they consider efficient, quiet and affordable. They appreciate its ability to run games in QHD or 4K with excellent graphics quality.
- Experts are also positive about the XFX Speedster SWFT105 Radeon RX 6400, which they consider to be a high-performance, innovative and accessible graphics card. They highlight its computing power, its compatibility with ray tracing and FidelityFX Super Resolution, and its advantageous quality/price ratio.
Not to be missed : Nvidia RTX 3080 vs 4070-Ti: Who wins the match?
The different types of graphics cards
There are different types of graphics cards:
- Integrated graphics cards : they are directly integrated into the central processor (CPU) or motherboard of your computer. They are inexpensive , but also inefficient . They are suitable for basic tasks such as web browsing, watching videos or office automation.
- Dedicated graphics cards : they are independent of your computer's central processor or motherboard. They are more expensive , but also more efficient . They are suitable for more demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing or 3D modeling.
- External graphics cards : they are connected to your computer via a cable or an external box . They are very expensive , but also very efficient . They are suitable for users who want to turn their laptop into a workstation or gaming machine.
Criteria to take into account
To choose a graphics card, you must take into account several criteria:
- Power : it is measured in teraflops (TFLOPS), which represent the number of floating point operations that the card can perform per second. The higher the power, the smoother and more detailed images the card can display.
- Memory : it is measured in gigabytes (GB), which represents the amount of data that the card can temporarily store. The higher the memory, the higher resolutions and textures the card can handle.
- Consumption : it is measured in watts (W), which represent the amount of energy that the card consumes. The higher the consumption, the hotter the card is and requires a good cooling system.
- Cooling : it is measured in decibels (dB), which represent the noise level of the fan or radiator which cools the card. The quieter the cooling, the more pleasant the card is to use.
- Compatibility : it is measured according to the PCI Express port, the format and the connectors of the card. You must check that the card is compatible with your motherboard, your case and your power supply .
Why choose a graphics card for less than €200?
You may be wondering why choose a graphics card for less than €200 in 2023, when there are more efficient and newer models on the market. Here are some reasons that may convince you:
- Advantages :
- You save money : you don't need to spend a fortune to have a good graphics card. You can find models that offer good value for money and meet your needs.
- You are versatile : you can use your graphics card for several types of activities, such as gaming, office automation or multimedia. You are not limited to just one area.
- You are upgradeable : you can change your graphics card more easily if you want to improve the performance of your computer. You are not blocked by too large an investment or by planned obsolescence.
- The inconvenients :
- Limits in terms of resolution : a graphics card costing less than €200 will not allow you to play in very high resolution , such as 4K or 8K. You will have to settle for a more modest resolution , such as Full HD or QHD, or even compromise on graphics quality to maintain a good refresh rate.
- Limitations in terms of ray tracing : A graphics card for less than €200 will not allow you to take full advantage of ray tracing, unless you have an Nvidia card compatible with DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), which is a technique optimization that uses artificial intelligence to improve image quality without significantly impacting performance.
- Limitations in terms of VR : A graphics card for less than €200 will not allow you to fully enjoy VR, unless you have a headset compatible with Oculus Link, which is a feature that allows you to connect your headset Oculus Quest to your PC via a USB-C cable and thus enjoy PC VR games.
