Guide to choosing the best graphics cards that are suitable for beginners in both gaming and creative fields.
Choosing your first graphics card can feel overwhelming. There’s a lot to consider, from performance to price to compatibility. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a tech expert to find the perfect card for your needs. We’ve compiled this list of the 7 best graphics cards for beginners, taking into account both performance and value. Whether you’re building your first gaming PC or upgrading your current system, we’ve got you covered.
These cards will let you enjoy the latest games with smooth frame rates and stunning visuals. We’ll also guide you through understanding the key specs to look for, so you can make an informed decision. No matter your budget or gaming preferences, there’s a great graphics card on this list for you.
We’ve chosen cards that offer a balance of performance and affordability, ensuring you get the most bang for your buck. These cards are perfect for newcomers to PC gaming, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience without breaking the bank.
So, whether you’re excited to dive into the world of PC gaming for the first time or simply looking for an upgrade, read on to discover the best graphics cards for beginners. Let’s get started!
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Item | Image | Where to buy | Rating | Read More | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | N/A | Jump to Review | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AMD Radeon RX 6600 | ![]() |
4.5 out of 5 stars | Jump to Review | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER | ![]() |
4.6 out of 5 stars | Jump to Review | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | ![]() |
4.7 out of 5 stars | Jump to Review | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
A solid entry-level graphics card for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings.
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Specifications :
- Memory: 4GB GDDR5
- Core Clock: 1485 MHz
- Boost Clock: 1665 MHz
- TDP: 75W
Reasons to buy :
- Affordable price
- Good performance for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings
- Relatively low power consumption
Reasons to avoid :
- Limited VRAM for newer games
- Not suitable for high-resolution gaming or demanding titles
What you need to know :
Buy it if:
- You're on a tight budget
- You're looking for a card to play most games at 1080p with decent settings
- You want a low-power card that won't strain your power supply
Don't buy it if:
- You want to play the latest games at high settings or 1440p resolution
- You need a card with more VRAM
- You're looking for a card that can handle demanding tasks like video editing
Bottom Line:
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a great entry-level graphics card that offers good performance for the price. It's a solid choice for gamers who want to play most games at 1080p with decent settings without breaking the bank. However, if you're looking for a card that can handle high-resolution gaming or demanding titles, you'll need to look at a more powerful option.
AMD Radeon RX 6600
A solid mid-range graphics card that offers excellent performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming.
Specifications :
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- Core Clock: 2044 MHz
- Boost Clock: 2491 MHz
- TDP: 132W
Reasons to buy :
- Powerful performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming
- Good value for money
- Supports AMD FidelityFX features like FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution)
Reasons to avoid :
- Not as powerful as higher-end cards
- May struggle with demanding games at 4K resolution
What you need to know :
Buy it if:
- You want a card that can handle most games at 1080p and 1440p with high settings
- You're looking for a good balance between price and performance
- You want to take advantage of AMD FidelityFX features
Don't buy it if:
- You need a card that can handle 4K gaming at high settings
- You're looking for a top-of-the-line card
- You have a limited budget and want the most affordable option
Bottom Line:
The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is a powerful mid-range graphics card that offers excellent performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming. It's a good value for money and supports AMD FidelityFX features like FSR, which can help improve performance and image quality. However, it's not as powerful as higher-end cards and may struggle with demanding games at 4K resolution.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super
A solid mid-range graphics card that offers good performance for 1080p gaming and can handle some 1440p games.
Specifications :
- Memory: 6GB GDDR6
- Core Clock: 1530 MHz
- Boost Clock: 1785 MHz
- TDP: 125W
Reasons to buy :
- Offers good performance for 1080p gaming at high settings
- Can handle some 1440p games at medium to high settings
- Relatively affordable price
Reasons to avoid :
- Limited VRAM for demanding games at 1440p resolution
- Not as powerful as higher-end cards
What you need to know :
Buy it if:
- You want a card that can handle most games at 1080p with high settings
- You're looking for a good balance between price and performance
- You need a card that can handle some 1440p games
Don't buy it if:
- You want to play demanding games at 1440p resolution with high settings
- You need a card that can handle 4K gaming
- You're looking for a top-of-the-line card
Bottom Line:
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super is a solid mid-range graphics card that offers good performance for 1080p gaming and can handle some 1440p games. It's a good value for money and a decent choice for gamers who want to play most games at 1080p with high settings. However, if you're looking for a card that can handle demanding games at 1440p resolution or 4K gaming, you'll need to look at a more powerful option.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
A powerful mid-range graphics card that offers excellent performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming.
Specifications :
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6
- Core Clock: 1320 MHz
- Boost Clock: 1777 MHz
- TDP: 170W
Reasons to buy :
- Excellent performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming with high settings
- Supports ray tracing and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) for enhanced visuals
- Good value for money, especially considering its performance
Reasons to avoid :
- May struggle with demanding games at 4K resolution
- More expensive than other mid-range cards
What you need to know :
Buy it if:
- You want a card that can handle most games at 1080p and 1440p with high settings
- You're looking for a card that supports ray tracing and DLSS
- You want a powerful card that offers good value for money
Don't buy it if:
- You need a card that can handle 4K gaming at high settings
- You're looking for a top-of-the-line card
- You have a limited budget and want the most affordable option
Bottom Line:
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 is a powerful mid-range graphics card that offers excellent performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming. It's a good value for money and supports ray tracing and DLSS, which can enhance visuals and improve performance. However, it's not as powerful as higher-end cards and may struggle with demanding games at 4K resolution.
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
A budget-friendly graphics card that offers good performance for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings.
Specifications :
- Memory: 4GB GDDR6
- Core Clock: 2610 MHz
- Boost Clock: 2815 MHz
- TDP: 107W
Reasons to buy :
- Affordable price
- Good performance for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings
- Relatively low power consumption
Reasons to avoid :
- Limited VRAM for newer games
- Not suitable for high-resolution gaming or demanding titles
What you need to know :
Buy it if:
- You're on a tight budget
- You're looking for a card to play most games at 1080p with decent settings
- You want a low-power card that won't strain your power supply
Don't buy it if:
- You want to play the latest games at high settings or 1440p resolution
- You need a card with more VRAM
- You're looking for a card that can handle demanding tasks like video editing
Bottom Line:
The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is a great budget-friendly graphics card that offers good performance for the price. It's a solid choice for gamers who want to play most games at 1080p with decent settings without breaking the bank. However, if you're looking for a card that can handle high-resolution gaming or demanding titles, you'll need to look at a more powerful option.
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
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A mid-range graphics card that is still relevant for 1080p gaming and can handle some 1440p games.
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Specifications :
- Memory: 6GB GDDR5
- Core Clock: 1506 MHz
- Boost Clock: 1709 MHz
- TDP: 120W
Reasons to buy :
- Still offers good performance for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings
- Can handle some 1440p games at medium settings
- Relatively affordable price
Reasons to avoid :
- Older architecture
- Limited VRAM for demanding games
- Not as powerful as newer cards
What you need to know :
Buy it if:
- You're on a tight budget
- You want a card that can handle most games at 1080p with decent settings
- You're looking for a good value for money
Don't buy it if:
- You want to play the latest games at high settings or 1440p resolution
- You need a card that can handle demanding titles
- You're looking for a card with ray tracing or DLSS support
Bottom Line:
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB is a solid mid-range graphics card that is still relevant for 1080p gaming and can handle some 1440p games. It's a good value for money, especially if you can find it at a discounted price. However, it's an older card and not as powerful as newer options. It lacks features like ray tracing and DLSS, and its VRAM may be limited for demanding games.
AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB
A mid-range graphics card that is still capable of handling 1080p gaming at high settings.
Specifications :
- Memory: 8GB GDDR5
- Core Clock: 1340 MHz
- Boost Clock: 1340 MHz
- TDP: 185W
Reasons to buy :
- Good performance for 1080p gaming at high settings
- Can handle some 1440p games at medium settings
- Relatively affordable price
Reasons to avoid :
- Older architecture
- Not as powerful as newer cards
- Limited features compared to newer cards
What you need to know :
Buy it if:
- You're on a tight budget
- You want a card that can handle most games at 1080p with high settings
- You're looking for a good value for money
Don't buy it if:
- You want to play the latest games at high settings or 1440p resolution
- You need a card that can handle demanding titles
- You're looking for a card with ray tracing or DLSS support
Bottom Line:
The AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB is a solid mid-range graphics card that is still capable of handling 1080p gaming at high settings. It's a good value for money, especially if you can find it at a discounted price. However, it's an older card and not as powerful as newer options. It lacks features like ray tracing and DLSS, and it may struggle with the latest games at high settings or 1440p resolution. If you're looking for a card that can handle demanding titles or offers the latest features, you'll need to look at a newer model.
Choosing the right graphics card for your needs can be a daunting task, especially if you're new to PC gaming. But remember, there's no single "best" card for everyone. The ideal choice depends on your budget, the games you want to play, and your desired performance level. The cards we've highlighted in this article offer a fantastic starting point for beginners, providing a great balance of affordability, performance, and future-proofing.
Remember, your graphics card is just one piece of the puzzle. A good CPU, enough RAM, and a solid power supply are equally crucial for optimal gaming experiences. As you delve deeper into the world of PC gaming, you'll learn more about the intricate relationship between these components and how they work together.
And don't be afraid to explore the options beyond this list. The world of graphics cards is constantly evolving, with new models and technologies emerging all the time. Keep an eye on reviews and benchmarks to stay informed and make informed decisions.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the experience. So, choose the card that best suits your needs and budget, and start playing!