It’s no surprise that graphics card prices have shot up recently, even the so-called budget options aren’t cheap anymore. But what if you’re on a tight budget or just need a basic card to display an image on your screen? I’ve done some digging and found the best graphics cards you can get for under $100. Here are our top picks (via: XDA-Developers).
Best GPUs Under $100
The GPUs below are quite affordable and allow users to start with their PC builds without integrated graphics. While some of them are there just for the sake of generating images, others can even allow some gaming with moderate settings. While the most advanced users and hardware enthusiasts wouldn’t rely on sub $100 GPUs, some of them are a good starting point for those who want to have fun with PC gaming. So let’s dive into these GPUs.
Radeon Rx580
The Radeon RX 580 stands out as a strong option for a GPU under $100. It offers decent performance for gaming within this price range. Originally released during the cryptocurrency mining surge, it was AMD’s top-performing GPU at the time. It delivers solid performance at 1080p and even 1440p. Numerous variants of the RX 580 are available for less than $100. It is one of the best accessible options for budget-conscious users.
A key feature of the RX 580 is its 8GB of GDDR5 VRAM, which allows it to handle higher texture sizes compared to many other GPUs in the same price bracket. It also includes 2,304 stream processors and a 1,424 MHz max boost clock, ensuring smooth gameplay at 1080p. Additionally, AMD’s recent driver update for this GPU has improved its OpenGL performance, with Minecraft seeing up to an 81% increase in FPS.
Most RX 580 models feature dual-fan designs for effective cooling and use a single 6-pin supplementary PCIe power cable, making them compatible with most modern PSUs. The GPU is equipped with one DVI-D, one HDMI 2.0, and three DisplayPort 1.4 ports, allowing it to support up to five displays without the need for adapters, a capability that even some modern GPUs lack. The RX 580, though no longer cutting-edge, still offers a reliable performance for its price point.
The GPU can still do wonders in 2024 running demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, Spider-Man, Horizon Forbidden West, and even Black Myth Wukong. Through the use of modern technologies like AMD’s FSR tech, it was possible to play Black Myth Wukong with low graphics settings and a decent frame rate. Unfortunately, some games like Alan Wake 2 are impossible to play.
NVIDIA GeForce 210
The MSI GeForce 210 is a practical choice for a spare GPU, particularly for basic tasks like displaying an image on screen during troubleshooting. Its low-profile design and minimal 20W power draw make it suitable for OEM workstations that lack additional PCIe power cables or space for full-sized graphics cards.
This graphics card is equipped with 1GB of DDR3 VRAM, which is sufficient for running Windows but not much else. While it can be overclocked using MSI Afterburner, any performance gains will be limited due to its low power.
Despite its modest capabilities, the GeForce 210 is useful for breathing life into older PCs for web browsing or preventing a computer from being discarded. With a sub-$50 price tag, it’s an economical option. Additionally, MSI’s use of military-grade components, including long-lasting capacitors, suggests that this card could remain functional for years, even after being stored for an extended period.
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Yeston Radeon RX550
Many popular games don’t require expensive graphics cards. A modest GPU can deliver high frame rates on some competitive games like Counter-Strike 2 or Overwatch. The AMD Radeon RX 550 from Yeston is a great option! It features a single-slot, low-profile design with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM, which is sufficient for esports gaming.
The RX 550’s 512 stream processors also make it suitable for home theater PCs. With a 40W power requirement, it can be powered directly from the PCIe slot, making it ideal for OEM towers needing a replacement graphics adapter. This GPU supports FreeSync for reducing screen tearing with compatible monitors and offers a range of outputs, including HDMI 2.0 (supporting 4K at 60Hz), VGA, and DVI-D. It also handles HEVC codec encoding and decoding efficiently. Its low-profile design and unique pink color make it a good fit for smaller cases. Overall, the RX 550 is a solid choice for home theater setups or a starter PC for esports enthusiasts.
It is worth noting that the Radeon RX550 is cheap in general. You can find different versions of this GPU from different brands with higher profiles. They will float towards the same price or will be even lower. In general, the RX550 is a good option for cheap PC builds.
GeForce G710
The GT 710, initially released as an affordable option to add display outputs, remains a budget-friendly choice. With 192 CUDA cores and 4GB of DDR3 memory, it supports 4K60 output via HDMI or DVI-D and has a VGA port for older monitors.
Its low-profile design is ideal for small chassis. Hence, it is a solid option among the budget graphics cards for home theater PCs or ITX builds. With a 19W power draw, it runs off the PCIe slot’s power and includes a cooling fan.
However, it’s important to note that the GT 710 isn’t suited for gaming. It can handle less demanding titles at 1080p or 720p, but performance will likely hover around 30 FPS.
AsRock ARC A310
The ASRock Intel Arc A310 is the most advanced budget graphics card on this list. It boasts 4GB of GDDR6 memory and a modern feature set. It offers one HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 2.0 output. Both are capable of 8K60 and come with a dual-fan cooler to manage their 75W TDP. Its low-profile design is ideal for tight spaces, though its dual-slot thickness requires clearance checks.
The GPU is powered by the Intel ACM-G11 processor with 6 Xe cores and 4GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit memory interface. The GPU is excellent for media encoding, including AV1 support. While it’s not designed for budget gaming, it’s a great choice for basic GPU tasks, light graphics work, or media PC use.
Conclusion
In summary, budget graphics cards under $100 offer good options for various needs. From basic display tasks to handling esports games. Cards like the RX 580, GeForce 210, RX 550, GT 710, and Intel Arc A310 provide solid performance for their price. Therefore, they are good options if you’re trying to start PC gaming, or even if you just need a GPU for video output.
