We all love graphics cards, but ever since the pandemic started, that conversation has been a lot less fun. Rising prices and limited availability were major issues until recently. Now that graphics card prices are getting back on track, spring 2022 is the best time in over a year for those looking to buy. To help you make the best purchase, we’ve put together a list of some of the best graphics card deals and models out there, so your upgrade feels worth it in 2022.
Graphics card pricing is still all over the place, and it’s hard to say when everything will properly even out. But we’re in a much better place now than we were in 2021. This list includes everything from entry-level cards that are perfect for cheaper builds to high-end models that can push the boundaries of gaming performance (and your budget).
You’ll notice we’ve left out poor cost-to-performance options like the 3080 Ti, 3090, 3090 Ti, 6800, 6800 XT, and the 6500 XT since the market prices are still high and the value just isn’t there right now. But even then, there are certainly a lot of choices right now so let’s get right into the best graphics card prices for spring 2022. Plus, if you need to pair a card with a good power supply, be sure to check out our best PSUs for PC gaming list.
Entry-level cards for cheaper builds
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050
Nvidia’s low-end option for graphics cards is a solid pick for 1080p 60 fps gaming in 2022. Pricing for most models still has a ways to fall before hitting the $249 MSRP, but it’s slowly becoming a viable option for entry-level builds. Due to the average performance, it’s not a great choice as an upgrade over older cards like the 1660 Super, but it does pack in some new features including support for DLSS, ray tracing, and more. All in all, it has some staying power for future demanding games, in part because of the 8GB of VRAM and DLSS support. The RTX 3050 is also an energy-efficient card with a TDP of just 130W. Since it doesn’t require a large cooler, it’s particularly attractive as an option for compact system builds such as the ITX and mini-ITX form factors.
Pictured is the EVGA RTX 3060 XC Gaming. (Image credit: EVGA).
EVGA XC Gaming – Find it at EVGA for $249.99
EVGA cards are reliable picks in most cases due to the good build quality and reliability. Its site also has some of the best prices going for graphics cards at the moment in 2022. This dual fan model is just a basic version of the RTX 3050, but it’s the cheapest way to get an RTX 30 Series card and it’s at MSRP. Just note you may need to tweak the default fan curves. With EVGA, you’ll get a three year warranty. EVGA’s customer service is also well regarded, so you should have support if you need it.
MSI Ventus – Find it at Newegg for $329.99
This is a good quality card that does have a slightly higher price than some others at the moment. It’s built well, stays cool, and runs quietly too. However, at this price it would probably be a better idea to spend a bit more on a 3060. This isn’t a bad card to go for if you have no other choice though. In fact, this is an ideal card for smaller builds that require lower power consumption and where you’ll have less space to work with. This card has a TDP of 130W and measures at 235mm, so it should fit inside smaller cases. It comes with a three year warranty.
ASUS Phoenix – Find it at Newegg for $299
If you want something that’s really compact, then this can do the job. ASUS’s 3050 is perfect for mini-ITX builds where low power consumption components are key for managing heat. This is only a single fan graphics card though, so it won’t be as effective at cooling and will be louder than other options on the market. But it’s unique design does give it a special edge over the competition. It comes with three year warranty.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
The RTX 3060 is a quite a big step up from Nvidia’s lower-end option. It’s able to handle 1440p gaming with ease, and can even manage to run some games like Apex Legends at 4K 60 fps with lower settings. Oddly enough, it features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory. That’s a whole story in of itself, but this card will keep up with newer games that use larger textures thanks to the large VRAM capacity. Overall, the RTX 3060 is an efficient card with a 160W reference TDP, making it a good consideration for smaller cases and lower budgets. You’ll see that a lot of listings start above the MSRP of $329, but prices are slowly coming down. You don’t want to overpay for this card, but as long as you can find a good deal, the 3060 is one of the best graphics cards to drive your gaming PC for an affordable price in 2022.
Pictured is the ASUS RTX 3060 Dual. (Image credit: ASUS).
ASUS Dual – Find it at Newegg for $409.99
This dual fan model from ASUS is a great if you’re looking for something that’s cheaper but still performs and has good looks. ASUS doesn’t list the TDP, but this card does feature an OC mode, so expect a slight power increase. The Dual model is compact at 200mm in length, so it’ll work brilliantly for smaller builds. It also sports fans that we can attest are almost entirely silent under load. Plus, it features an aluminum backplate for frame rigidity and heat dissipation. ASUS also threw in a touch of RGB lighting so you can give your PC that extra flair. You get a three year warranty with this card.
EVGA XC Gaming – Find it at EVGA for $429.99
This is one of the cheapest RTX 3060 models on the market right now, but it’s still an excellent design. We tested this model for several months in 2021 and found the build quality to be seriously impressive, though the fans do create some audible noise under load on the default fan curves. We suggest disabling the zero RPM mode. This model has a slight factory overclock that pushes the power consumption up to 170W to get slightly better performance. Since the card is only 201mm in length, it makes for a good option in smaller PC cases. With the three year warranty on top of EVGA’s well-regarded customer service, you also get plenty of peace of mind as well.
ASUS Phoenix – Find it at Amazon for $469.99
This pricing is a bit steep, but that’s unfortunately the case for some models still. The single fan ASUS Phoenix 3060 is another fantastic card for small scale desktops due to its 177mm length. The form factor is the main selling point, so you will need to accept that it won’t cool as efficiently as dual fan designs. The fans ASUS uses in its modern GPUs are impressively quiet though, so this card is a good pick for the right application. Also note that this card will perform slightly worse than dual fan designs for the mentioned cooling limitations, but we’re only talking a few percentage points at best. The ASUS Phoenix comes with a three year warranty.
AMD Radeon RX 6600
AMD dropped the ball when it came to the 6500XT. On the contrary, the RX 6600 is actually a very good graphics card. If all you want is a solid 1080p gaming graphics card, then this is a good one to buy. It rivals the RTX 3050 in performance in many titles, while oftentimes coming in at a similar price to some of the more expensive AIB models. The official MSRP is $329, and some offerings are nearly at that price already. The reference TDP from AMD is 134W, so this card is also very efficient and shouldn’t require any power delivery changes in your system. The drawbacks to the 6600 are that it won’t perform well past 1080p, and it’s not a great option if you want to play games with ray tracing on. It’s one of the best graphics cards value-wise to consider getting in 2022 though.
Pictured is the Gigabyte 6600 Eagle. (Image credit: Gigabyte).
MSI Mech – Find it at Newegg for $339.99 ($324.99 after rebate)
MSI’s RX 6600 is a good card with a clean look. This dual fan design is pretty standard, but it’s also affordably priced. At 235mm in length, most cases won’t have an issue housing it. Modern MSI fan tech is fairly quiet, so you shouldn’t notice much noise while using this graphics card. There’s no factory overclock, so you can expect performance to match AMD’s official numbers. This card comes with a 3-year warranty.
Sapphire Pulse – Find it at Newegg for $359.99
Sapphire is one of AMD’s top partners for Radeon graphics cards and is known for its quality. The Pulse comes recommended and has a very clean aesthetic to blend in. It’s features a dual fan design that will help the components stay cool, and doesn’t produce much noise under load. This model measures to just 193mm in length and is a dual slot design. For performance, you can expect about the same numbers as the AMD reference design. It doesn’t feature any factory overclock. The Pulse is a little more pricey than other options at the moment, but it’s still worth considering.
Gigabyte Eagle – Find it at Newegg for $339.99
At last, a triple fan design that only costs a small upgrade fee. In exchange for that, you get a small overclock performance boost and a card that runs cool and quiet. This is the best current option for the money. As a triple fan card, it measures 282mm, but is still a two slot design. Just check to make sure it will fit in your case. Gigabyte emphasizes that this card is built to last, and the card comes with a 3-year warranty.
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
This card is a small step up from the standard 6600 and oftentimes the RTX 3060 as well. It offers high refresh 1080p gaming performance with high/ultra settings and should keep up with future titles for at least a couple years. It’s able to hold its own in 1440p gaming too, while still keeping the action at 60 frames per second. Some listings aren’t too far away from its MSRP of $379, but there a few that still overshoot that price by quite a bit. If pricing continues to drop for this graphics card throughout 2022, it could soon be a better value proposition. When it comes to power efficiency, this card uses 160W, so most won’t need to upgrade their PSU if opting for this model. If the 6600 XT is all you can afford, it’s a good choice. However, spending a little bit more for a midrange card is worth considering.
Pictured is the Sapphire 6600 XT Nitro+. (Image credit: Sapphire).
ASRock Challenger D – Find it at Newegg for $388.99 ($373.99 after rebate)
This 6600 XT from ASRock is a good buy if you want to save a bit of money. It’s not too far away from that $379 MSRP, and it’s a lot cheaper than some other listings. In terms of its build, this is a bit of a large card with a length of 269mm, so make sure your case can accommodate it. On the aesthetic side of things, it looks pretty plain, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. Additionally, it features a metal backplate for improved heat dissipation, and a default fan profile that supports a zero RPM mode when temperatures permit. This card comes with a 3-year warranty.
Sapphire Nitro+ – Find it at Newegg for $419.99
Like we mentioned before, Sapphire tends to make some of the best Radeon graphics cards. This one here is no exception, though the price is slightly higher. For that extra cash, this model features a noteworthy overclock that pushes the power consumption up to 180W. It’s just a two fan card, but the 240mm length means reasonable case compatibility. Aesthetically, it has a striking design with the two-tone silver and black coloring. All in all, this is a very nice card and worth the premium cost. The downside is that it only has a 2-year warranty.
XFX Speedster SWFT210 – Find it at Newegg for $379.99
This is the cheapest 6600 XT we can recommend, but this price will only last until May 15. The SWFT210 from XFX has a sleek, low-profile design and won’t break the bank. The default clock speeds are stock, so it comes with the standard TDP and performance. The card is a two fan design with a length of 241mm. XFX advertises a zero RPM mode for quiet idling, but you can also overclock this card and crank the fans up if you want. All in all, this is a decent choice that will get the job done, look good, and save you some money. XFX offers a three year warranty.
Gigabyte Eagle – Find it at Newegg for $399.99
Additionally, you might want to go for the Gigabyte 6650 XT Eagle. It’s a great price for a triple fan design, and you get the minor benefits of the faster memory and factory overclock. This card will only perform about 2-3% better compared to a standard 6600 XT though. This model uses at least 180W, measures to 282mm in length, and takes up two slots. At this size, it should operate with little to moderate noise. You get a three year warranty from Gigabyte.
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Published: May 2, 2022 02:00 pm