Overview
You could be drawn to a $1,000 graphics card that has the best features when you're looking for one. But not everyone has the money to purchase a premium graphics card.
Although that's a significant investment, the more costly GPUs often have greater power, making them future-proof for several years.
Don't worry if your budget is tight. Many of the features that you must be anticipating are still available to you. I have chosen the 5 best graphics cards under $200 in this thorough buyer's guide. Isn't it amazing?
With these cheap graphics cards, you can play the majority of games at medium to high settings. My decision is mostly influenced by aspects like graphics RAM, clock speed, ports, and other crucial components. Let's get going!
Top Picks
If you're in a rush, take a look at the fast selection of our favorites, or scroll down to read our whole list with in-depth reviews of the best graphics cards under $200 in 2024:
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Best Overall: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
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Most Powerful: MSI GeForce GTX 1650 Super Ventus
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Best Budget: MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Gaming X
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Best Performance: ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 OC Edition
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Best Value: Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 580
What to Consider when Choosing the Best Graphics Card Under $200?
It can be difficult to choose the best graphics cards, especially if you don't know what to search for. Not to worry! I'm here to assist. I took the effort to list the top characteristics you ought to look for in a graphics card.
1. Which Company Produces Better GPUs?
If your final objective is a high-end GPU and you don't want to promote a particular company, you should think about the manufacturers of well-known graphics cards. It's unquestionably a key element in helping you make the best decision.
NVIDIA currently, in my opinion, provides better value GPUs across the board. However, there are many performance levels and more frequent price changes for video cards. NVIDIA-based graphics cards provide you an improved price to performance on some tiers.
On other tiers, AMD-based visual cards could provide the best performance. Which manufacturer of graphics cards is the best choice? No one can say for sure. It mostly depends on your needs, your budget, and the bargains that are offered when you choose to get the chosen GPU.
2. Resolution
The most demanding games in 4K can only be played with a select few graphics cards. This is typically a premium function, and you would have to pay a one-time fee of $1,000. However, there are still a lot of graphics cards available that let you play your favorite games at 1080p.
They will typically run at 60FPS. You may do so with the majority of the graphics cards on our list in less than 200. Owning a graphics card that renders your graphics in 4K could result in significant financial savings. Additionally, purchasing a card with less power at a reasonable price is a wise move.
3. Length
It is typically regarded as the biggest entry obstacle. In most cases, length is measured in millimeters. Make sure your graphics card fits inside the computer enclosure. This poses a special problem for many prebuilt PC customers.
Before making a purchase, be sure to compare the measures to the dimensions inside the framework. With the majority of regular ATX and Micro ATX cases, you are more likely to be alright. However, for a secure investment, I advise you to double-check the dimensions.
4. Width
An additional important factor for consumers of prebuilt systems. The framework measures width in PCI Express slots, with two slots being the norm for most GPUs. You are doing okay as long as there are two spaces available in the chassis.
5. Power
Another crucial factor in this pricing range is power. Make sure the graphics card you choose performs adequately and uses the least amount of electricity possible. This can occasionally become even more difficult because a prebuilt office PC's power supply cannot be changed.
Every graphics card specification includes information on the power connectors and PSU watts needed. An available PCI Express lane can be used to power GPUs that don't require a connection.
6. Mind Your Monitor
While examining the specifications of graphics cards and selecting the one with the highest numbers may result in significant money loss. Be sure to take the refresh rate of your display into account. The clock speed of a GPU is one important determinant of price.
You are more likely to waste every bit of additional speed that your GPU has if your monitor cannot refresh more quickly than your graphics card. You don't have to get a card that runs slower than your monitor, on the other hand. It might have jerky images at the end.
7. Overclocking
No graphics card has the capacity to increase its clock speed by two or three times. Your ability to overclock will let you render more demanding visuals. Purchasing a high-end graphics card is usually a good idea if you want additional graphic power.
8. Form Factor
The majority of pricey and powerful graphics cards simply cannot be accommodated in a tiny computer case. Look for the physical restrictions of what you are currently utilizing if you are not interested in purchasing a new PC gaming case. The GPU-shopping can be changed to suit your preferences.
9. PCIe Connectors
What kind of PCIe connector the power supply has and what kind of PCIe connector port the graphics card has are two more crucial factors you should think about when purchasing a graphics card. The majority of GPUs must be connected directly to the power source.
The power supply can be readily connected to the graphics card via a PCIe power connector. Remember that each graphics card has a different set of connector ports. In general, the GPU requires more pins on the PCIe power connector the more powerful the graphics cards are.
Typical connection specifications include 6-pin, 6+2 pin, 8-pin, and 2 x 8-pin. A 6-pin connector is required for a GTX 1060, a mid-range graphics card. Two 8-pin PCIe connectors might be required for a high-end GPU like a GTX 1080 Ti.
Make sure the power supply you choose has the appropriate PCIe connector(s) to perfectly accommodate your graphics card before choosing a graphics card and power supply. This information is readily available on the specification lists for the graphics card and power supply.
10. Budget
Each graphics card I've listed is top-notch. Even if not all of them are suitable for serious gaming, they are wise choices for non-professional users. Remember that there are graphics cards of every quality available on the market.
If you are not careful when choosing, you are more likely to spend your money in vain. A budget-friendly card is functional for practically all jobs and strong enough for long-term use.
A low-quality graphics card, on the other hand, is probably going to be frail and have hardly any safeguards that keep it from malfunctioning over time. Be careful to take the GPU, V-RAM, clock speed, and cooling capabilities into account.
11. AMD or Nvidia?
Each graphics card I've listed is top-notch. Even if not all of them are suitable for serious gaming, they are wise choices for non-professional users. Remember that there are graphics cards of every quality available on the market.
If you are not careful when choosing, you are more likely to spend your money in vain. A budget-friendly card is functional for practically all jobs and strong enough for long-term use.
A low-quality graphics card, on the other hand, is probably going to be frail and have hardly any safeguards that keep it from malfunctioning over time. Be careful to take the GPU, V-RAM, clock speed, and cooling capabilities into account.
Detail Reviews Of Top 5 Best Graphics Cards Under $200
1. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
(Best Overall)
Product’s Specifications
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CUDA Cores: 768
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GPU Clock: 1392 / 1506 MHz
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Memory Clock: 7008 MHz
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Memory Size: 4GB GDDR5
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Memory Interface: 128-bit
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Bus Interface: PCI Express 3.0
Reasons to buy
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Modifiable Xtreme engine.
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Featuring Wind Force 2X cooling.
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Operates 60FPS 1080p gameplay.
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Powerful for most recent games.
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Efficient performance and solid build quality.
Reasons to avoid
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Sometimes, a program loading problem occurs.
Product Summary
The Strix 560 unit and the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti are quite comparable, however the latter has somewhat higher power. For die-hard gamers, this graphics card is a fantastic choice. It comes with an outstanding collection of features that help with maximum performance and runs at 1468MHz with 4GB of V-RAM.
The GTX 1050 unit enables you to comfortably enjoy contemporary titles at 60FPS in 1080p while the Strix 560 had to struggle to play the most demanding games. You could play the hardest games at 4K on it. Furthermore, you may watch them in 1080p. In this pricing range, that is an excellent deal. Is it not?
The unit utilizes Wind Force 2X fans to maintain an effective cooling system. The fans move air in opposing directions, forming an air tunnel that dissipates heat. There won't be any problems with overheating.
Additionally, the GTX 1050 comes with the Xtreme engine utility, which is accessible, if you want to tune it. You can completely optimize the unit as per your preferences with only one click.
2. MSI GeForce GTX 1650 Super Ventus
(Most Powerful)
Product’s Specifications
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GPU Interface: PCIe x16
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Chipset: GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER
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Memory Size: 4GB
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Memory Type: GDDR6
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Memory Interface: 128-Bit
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Clock Rate: 1530MHz
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Boost Clock Rate: 1740MHz
Reasons to buy
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Great value.
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Outstanding OC potential.
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Cooler and quieter operation.
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Power-efficient.
Reasons to avoid
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No factory overclocks.
Product Summary
Another excellent GPU option is the MSI GeForce GTX 1650 Super Ventus, which impresses me greatly with its developing unified memory architecture and adjustable shading technology. Modern video games can perform very well thanks to Turing shaders.
For a cooler and quieter gaming experience, you may easily attain 1.4x power efficiency over the previous generation. Additionally, this graphics card has ultra-fast GDDR6 memory, which boosts performance two times over the previous 10 series GPUs and by a significant margin over the original GTX 16 series.
Additionally, the metal heat sink increases the area that is in direct contact with the graphics card and memory to help dissipate any extra heat. A streamlined airflow is used to transport the heat dissipation. Time to improve your gaming performance!
3. MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Gaming X
(Best Budget)
Product’s Specifications
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Stream Processors: 768 CUDA Cores
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Boost Clock Speed: Silent Mode: 1392 MHz and Gaming Mode: 1468 MHz
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OC Mode: 1493 MHz
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Base Clock Speed: Silent Mode: 1290 MHz and Gaming Mode: 1354 MHz
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OC Mode: 1379 MHz
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Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x16
Reasons to buy
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Provide ultra HD video resolution.
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Easy and simple setup.
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Quiet operation.
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Very energy-efficient and cool card.
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Ergonomic design.
Reasons to avoid
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Not very compatible.
Product Summary
One of the attractively designed graphics cards that you can readily find for under $200 is the MSI GTX 1050Ti Gaming X. The GPU has a CPU running at 7008 MHz, which performs best for the majority of AAA games. You also receive a staggering 4 GB of GDDR5 VRAM.
The 4 GB memory seems quite appealing given the pricing. Additionally, the overclocked clock speed is 1493 MHz, ensuring optimal performance even under heavy load. The GPU is a sturdy piece of equipment backed by a reputable company with years of expertise making high-caliber products.
The graphics card's front panel has a number of outputs, including HDMI 2.0b, DVI-D Dual-Link, and DisplayPort 1.4 output. With the 768 cores available, this GPU is mainly focused on high-resolution gaming with demanding applications that leverage CUDA and other APIs to accelerate processes.
It has a Twin Frozr VI cooler, which circulates air back into the case using two large fans. When there is unobstructed airflow, the GPU performs at its peak. The front and side LEDs can also be adjusted to fit your setup.
When it comes to operational capabilities, it provides exceptional efficiency, earning it the top spot on the list.
4. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 OC Edition
(Great Performance)
Product’s Specifications
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CUDA Cores: 896
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Texture Units: 56
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ROPs: 32
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Boost Clock (MHz): 1695
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Base Clock (MHz): 1485
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Memory Type: 8 Gbps GDDR5
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Memory Bandwidth (GB/s): 128
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VRAM: 4GB
Reasons to buy
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Operates quicker than the GeForce GTX 1650's original, non-super model.
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Great for 1080p and 1440p gaming.
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Runs quietly.
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Small and compact.
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Reasonably priced.
Reasons to avoid
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Less-efficient on some games.
Product Summary
The Turing architecture, which includes the basic shading engine, lies at the core of the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 OC. The graphics card has a 4GB GDDR5 memory capacity and operates on a 128-bit wide bus. 896 active shader processors are present on this 70 Watt GPU.
A boost clock in the 1.665 GHz range is simple to obtain. The graphics card runs cool thanks to TU117 silicon. You'll be astounded to learn how energy-efficient the unit is. The cooler is made with a dual-slot design in mind.
The graphics card doesn't even have a power port. DCI and HDMI DisplayPort are excellent solutions for compatibility. This Turing 117 graphics card is equipped with a great selection of features that enable it to continue functioning efficiently even when under stress. The compact and small card is built using an OC model that you would greatly value.
5. Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 580
(Best Value)
Product’s Specifications
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Chip: Polaris P20
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Manufactured: 14 nm
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GPU Base Clock: 1,257 MHz
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GPU Boost Clock: 1,340 MHz
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Memory Bus: 256 Bit
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Memory Bandwidth: 256 GB/s
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Memory Size: 4 GB / 8 GB
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Power (Watt): 185 W
Reasons to buy
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Superior to Radeon RX 480 in speed and effectiveness.
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Power consumption during video playback.
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Low multi-monitor.
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Affordable option.
Reasons to avoid
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Compared to the previous unit, there is a somewhat higher power consumption.
Product Summary
The upgraded 500-series of graphics cards cannot be disregarded! The improved device provides performance worthy of your money with 14nm FinFET technology and the 4th Gen GCN architecture. You will undoubtedly benefit from the sturdy graphics card in the long term.
This is one of the factors in my decision to rank Sapphire RX 580 as the best option. Compared to the reference RX 480 cards, your base clock speed will be increased. The RX 580 has base and boost clocks of 1,257MHz and 1,340MHz, respectively.
Another positive aspect is the memory system. With 8GB of GDDR5 and a full 256GB/s of memory bandwidth, you have a better chance of playing demanding games without any problems. You may also get variants with 4GB and 8GB of storage.
Sapphire's awesomely revamped Nitro+ branding perfectly captures a particular aesthetic. And how could I not notice the RGB LEDs at the top? Even still, I think the PCIe power ports should be at the card's very end. Other than that, it's wonderful!
FAQs
Can I play games with a 4GB graphics card for under $200?
You can definitely get a graphics card around $200 if you want to play recent games at 4K or 1440p and the highest graphics settings. Although it permits all ray tracing effects that support the capability, which makes them a reasonable alternative, it is mostly overloaded for 1080p gaming.
You can get the graphics card in this price range that is most appropriate for your mid-range gaming PC design. The Turing architecture serves as the foundation for Nvidia's mid-range cards, which have recently received super versions that can dramatically increase the price-to-performance ratio.
Can the current game titles be run on GPUs under $200?
Definitely, yes! The majority of high-end 1080p video games released in 2022 may be played on many inexpensive graphics cards priced under $200. In this price range, there are some great options from AMD and Nvidia. All you need to do is confirm that they satisfy your specific needs.
You may easily purchase a graphics card that is capable of running current game titles if you take into account the key factors covered in this article and the top GPUs examined.
Which under $200 graphics card is the best?
You can easily buy a graphics card for 1080p if you spend less than 200 dollars on it. The best products are those from MSI and GTX, which in the most advanced games run at maximum settings at 60 frames per second.
You can enjoy gaming considerably more when using common resolutions and medium settings. Don't forget to take into account the elements listed above. You may get a $200 card with these features and top performance.
Final Thought
You are more likely to become familiar with the top five best graphics cards under $200 on the market if you have read this far. One of the greatest graphics cards for beginning gamers is without a doubt the GeForce GTX 1050.
Although high-end cards may be preferred by gamers, the GTX 1050 is still capable of giving new players a better understanding of what PC gaming is all about. You can also choose the Zotac product, which is another top graphics card on this list. $200 is an appropriate investment for it.
The GPU may be installed in practically any desktop computer due to its small size. Additionally, it has a variety of delicacies packed inside its tiny shell. Additionally, MSI units are an option that are more affordable and provide superior streaming than any other graphics card I have tested.
In the end, if you're looking for the best graphics card under $200, you may have a look at my top selections or make your decision based on the criteria I've covered. Good luck with your purchases!