Overview
Do you need a graphics card to play the latest video games?
Graphics cards are the most important piece of hardware in any computer system. They are what make your computer capable of playing the latest games and watching high-definition videos.
But graphics cards can be expensive. So, if you are on a budget, you might wonder whether you can get a good graphics card without breaking the bank.
If you’re a gamer, you’ll know that there is nothing worse than spending a lot of money on a game only to find out that it can’t run at full resolution.
You’re probably already aware that your graphics card is responsible for rendering the images that you see on your screen. But what you might not know is that there are many different types of graphics card. This means that there are many different types of graphics cards that you can buy for your PC.
In this article, we have reviewed some of the best graphics cards under $400. You’ll find that each one of these products offers high performance, a great price, and the ability to play all of the latest games.
Top Picks
You can find models in this price range that offer super graphics settings at FHD resolution or even higher, together with a high FPS count. To uncover such excellent deals, a thorough search is necessary, but you may avoid the time-consuming task by using this list:
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Best Overall: ZOTAC GeForce RTX 2060
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Lowest Noise Output: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660
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Best Value: Sapphire Radeon RX 5600 XT
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Best Performance: ASUS TUF Radeon RX 5600XT
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Easiest installation: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
Detail Reviews Of Top 5 Best Graphics Card Under $400
1. ZOTAC GeForce RTX 2060
(BEST OVERALL)
Product’s Specifications
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Stream Processors: 1920 CUDA Cores
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Core Clock: 1365 MHz ( 1680 MHz boost)
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Memory: 6 GB
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Memory Clock: 14 Gbps
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Power Connectors: 1 x 8-Pin
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Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b
Reasons to buy
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Easy to install.
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Excellent for gaming.
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Excellent materials
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External aesthetics.
Reasons to avoid
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Inadequate cooling.
Product Summary
It may be the greatest graphics card available for less than $400. Its abilities are pretty remarkable, even matching those of more expensive versions. With the most recent Turing architecture and a Twin Fan configuration, it can generate complex images while keeping temperatures below normal limits.
Real-time ray tracing and AI should function at their peak levels for gamers. Additionally, the card contains some updated algorithms that enhance visuals and can be used with VR apps. Variable Rate Shading, Multi-View Rendering, and VRWorks Audio are supported.
2. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660
(LOWEST NOISE OUTPUT)
Product’s Specifications
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Stream Processors: Nvidia Turing TU116
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Core Clock: 1785 MHz ( 1830 MHz boost)
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Memory: 6 GB
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Memory Clock: 12 Gbps
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Power Connectors: 1 x 8-Pin
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Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort
Reasons to buy
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Produces 1080p visuals.
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Power and cost go hand in hand.
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Extremely silent.
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Reasonable price.
Reasons to avoid
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Temperatures start to rise when under stress.
Product Summary
With this specific model, you have access to a fantastic photo mode that may capture the finer aspects of your combat glory. With capabilities like 360-degree, HDR, and stereo support, every photograph will have the highest resolution possible.
Although it is a popular card, the graphics are as close to spectacular as you can wish for. The AAA games are playable in FHD at 60 FPS, and even faster for some esports games.
3. Sapphire Radeon RX 5600 XT
(BEST VALUE)
Product’s Specifications
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Stream Processors: AMD Radeon Navi
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Core Clock: 1615 MHz ( 1750 MHz boost)
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Memory: 192 bits
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Memory Clock: 14 Gbps
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Power Connectors: PCI
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Outputs: 3 x DP, 1 x HDMI
Reasons to buy
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Great value for this price class.
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Efficient heat dissipation.
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The Boost algorithm runs smoothly.
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Powerful enough for 1080p gaming.
Reasons to avoid
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Awkward frame.
Product Summary
Another contender for the best $400 GPU title that can compete. With a 7nm gate length and the most recent RDNA architecture, this GPU has 2304 processors. It can run on either the 1615 MHz Game Clock or the 1750 MHz Boost Clock.
When playing AAA games, it has the capacity to output a 60 FPS rate. Although it can't be said to be faultless, the testing results are better than the maker had predicted. The card is really capable of competing with some of the marginally more powerful cards on this list.
4. ASUS TUF Radeon RX 5600XT
(BEST PERFORMANCE)
Product’s Specifications
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Stream Processors: 2304
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Core Clock: 1660 MHz ( 1615 MHz boost)
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Memory: 6 GB
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Memory Clock: 12 Gbps
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Power Connectors: 1 x 8-Pin
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Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b
Reasons to buy
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Pushed up to 1660 MHz.
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Dual-fan cooler.
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Excellent temperature control
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2304 stream processors.
Reasons to avoid
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Pricey.
Product Summary
If you're putting together an AMD setup to play games with FHD images, this model is a good choice. 6 GB of GDDR6 VRAM is available to you. The 7nm RDNA design in combination with it produces incredibly smooth graphics. Even in VR apps, you can anticipate solid performance. The cooling of the model is also fantastic.
You first receive a set of two quieter but more effective fans that have longer blades and a barrier ring. Additionally, they only function once the card reaches a specific temperature. This means that, until the sights get really vivid, you may always appreciate its quiet performance.
5. ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
(EASIEST INSTALLATION)
Product’s Specifications
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Stream Processors: 1536 CUDA Cores
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Core Clock: 1770 MHz ( 1860 MHz boost)
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Memory: 6 GB
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Memory Clock: 12 Gbps
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Power Connectors: 1 x 8-Pin
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Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b
Reasons to buy
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A good balance exists between cost and performance.
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Effective overclocking.
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Simple to setup.
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Temperature control.
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Value for money.
Reasons to avoid
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Nothing to discuss.
Product Summary
It's another worthy contender for the title of best graphics card under $400. This model is a "Super" update of a year-old design, a practice that the brand seems to enjoy doing particularly well.
It does boast the fastest GDDR6 memory unit and the strongest Turing architecture. This model will be adequate to upgrade the visuals if you have an FHD monitor.
How to Choose the Best Graphics Card under $400?
Building a new gaming PC is an expensive endeavor. Finding a well-balanced deal is critical when it comes to such important components as the video card.
First off, graphics card costs are generally steady, with sales only occurring just before the release of newer versions.
Additionally, if a good model is on sale, it sells out almost immediately.
Finding a model that gives the most for the least money is a more sensible strategy than searching for such hard-to-find bargains.
Graphics Card Variants
So, after deciding on the GPU model you wanted to install, you were surprised to learn that there were many different versions available. The secret is that AMD and NVIDIA produce the cards directly, and a number of middle brands then outfit them with extras.
For instance, NVIDIA produced the GTX 1650. Soon, industry giants like Gigabyte and numerous other big and small businesses released their own versions with cooling, overclocking, illumination, and other bells and whistles in various configurations.
In this way, the market is well-supplied with options, but choosing the best graphics card under $400 becomes an exhausting process of comparison. To make it simpler, you can see below which of these features should take precedence over others and how to prioritize other ones.
Who Are the Big Guns in GPUs? AMD vs. Nvidia
Regular machines are made to heavily rely on the CPU and RAM combination, according to market research on constructed PCs. You won't find a graphics card in a gadget unless it's designed with gaming in mind. They typically have an integrated graphics-acceleration silicon device that serves this purpose and considerably reduces the cost.
For routine tasks and even some more visually demanding ones, integrated units function quite well. Regular users and businesspeople regularly depend on laptops and desktops with this build without ever experiencing any issues. However, because games and applications require a dedicated graphics card to function, they are unsuitable for gamers and creative workers.
Target Resolution
This number essentially represents the total number of pixels on your screen that the graphics card will need to process. This value determines how powerful a GPU must be and, as a result, how much money you will need to invest. However, as dedicated GPUs are able to produce 4K images for common uses, it will also rely on the intended use.
Since the refresh rate is pushed up dramatically, much more from the hardware is needed to provide a satisfying gaming experience. In addition, the GPU does various calculations in real-time, such as those related to the geometry and lighting of the scene. The more precise the elements of a fast-paced game must be maintained, the more powerful a device is required.
FAQs
Does GTX outperform RTX?
In every way, the RTX 2080 model is superior. Compared to the GTX 1080 Ti, it is more modern, cheaper, and more efficient. The latter performs better than it in a few games, but not enough to account for the price difference.
RTX 2060: Is it future-proof?
The newest games are starting to tax this concept more and more, hence it can only be loosely referred to as "future proof." The Radeon 5700XT model, which costs approximately the same but performs on par with the RTX 2070 Super instead, is a much superior option that will last the test of time.
Why are RTX graphics cards so pricey?
The Ray Tracing capabilities of the 2070 GPU are relatively lacking, especially when compared to the 2080 Ti, but the 2060 GPU doesn't support it at all. Technically, the only difference between the RTXs and the previous 10xx series is in their naming conventions. The fact that these GPUs are brand-new, however, maintains their costs higher.
Final Thought
In 2024, purchasing a GPU won't be nearly as simple as it once was. The procedure has become rather discouraging due to new technologies, evolving marketing methods, and extraordinary world occurrences. In addition to the exorbitant prices, customers will also have to understand esoteric keywords and naming standards.
These are our selections for the 16 best graphics card under $400. By expressing our opinions, we hope to have made you feel less anxious about—or at the very least more informed about—the potentially intimidating expense of purchasing a GPU that can meet both your gameplay and financial needs.