Although a graphics card is one of the most expensive components of any gaming PC, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time without spending a lot of money. Each of these graphics cards is under $200 and will provide excellent 1080p PC gaming performance.
8GB Sapphire RX 580
The fantastic RX 580 8GB is a pretty nice investment if you want a little more power from your cheap AMD gaming PC. It’s an attractive graphics card with a stylish backplate, and the HDMI and DisplayPort interfaces are ideal for multi-monitor setups. Under load, the boost clock is 1366MHz, and the dual-fan cooler will keep things cool.
4 GB ASUS Cerberus GTX 1050Ti
This graphics card has been thoroughly tested for popular esports titles such as League of Legends, Overwatch, and PUBG, and it comes with built-in software that monitors performance and provides a boost when needed. ASUS has a nice twin-fan cooler to keep things cool, and you’ll be ready for the latest display standards with HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4.
8GB XFX RX 570
The RX series from AMD is known for producing high-quality graphics cards at affordable costs, and this one is no exception. It has 8GB of GDDR5 RAM and an XFX twin-fan cooler, as well as HDMI, DVI-D, and three DisplayPort ports, making it ideal for multi-monitor setups. You’ll also get crisp, tear-free 1080p gaming if you pair it with a Freesync display.
2GB Gigabyte GTX 1050
The GTX 1050 won’t produce ultra-high visuals or frame rates, but it’s a good option if you’re on a limited budget or creating your first gaming PC. This one is perfect for lighter games like CS:GO, Overwatch, and Fortnite, and it has HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI-D connectivity for multiple monitors.
If we had to make a decision…
It’s not necessary to spend a small amount to build a decent gaming PC (though some of the best graphics cards are), and this is due in part to AMD and NVIDIA’s recent advancements in their respective GPU technology.
Depending on which brand you like to use and what type of PC you’re going for, we’d recommend a GTX 1050 Ti or an AMD RX 580 8GB as a sub-$200 GPU right now. For a similar price, the RX 580 8GB will give significantly better overall gaming performance, with better graphics and higher frame rates at 1080p.
NVIDIA, on the other hand, has recently put a lot of effort into its NVENC video encoding engine, which is critical for filmmakers and streamers in particular.
Zephyr Lee, a writer with a deep passion for science and a talent for explaining complex ideas in an accessible and engaging way. I believe that writing is not just about expressing oneself, but about educating and enlightening others. I strive to create stories that are both informative and engaging, that educate readers and inspire them to think differently about the world around them. I believe that writing has the power to change the way we see the world, and I am honored to be a part of that tradition.
