Introduction
Graphics cards are often the most expensive component in a gaming PC PC build, and while the cost of building a PC isn’t exactly falling, there are still a wide range of options for those looking to purchase a reasonably powerful graphics card without having to break the proverbial piggy bank.
The GPUs that we’ve listed below offer some of the best performance at their given price points, striking a great balance between price and performance. In this buyers guide, we’ll be taking a look at a number of budget cards that come in under the £250 mark (at the time of writing). All of these GPUs offer promising performance metrics at 1080p with the in-game settings cranked up to high, and impressive frame rates..
Suggested Article: Best Graphics Cards to Buy Under $700
Our Recommendations
1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
👑 The best NVIDIA graphics card under £250.
NVIDIA’s RTX 3050 is a truly good entry level GPU for those happy with playing Esports titles, and in need of a little legroom in modern games. Although this card can handle some of the more modern titles that we’ve seen release within the past few years, you will have to tune down in-game settings to ensure you can still enjoy smooth framerates. It is worth noting that while this GPU is fairly cheap at the time of writing, there are a number of alternative options that come in at a similar price point, offering better performance. It has become clear that Nvidia’s interest isn’t really in the lower-end GPUs like this one, and that as such they aren’t exactly bending over backwards to be uber competitive within this space. With this in mind, it’s only really a card we can recommend if you are specifically seeking the benefits of NVIDIA solution, with tech like Reflex, Ray Tracing and DLSS that come with the 3050.
Key Specs
| Spec | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 |
|---|---|
| Base Clock (GHz) | 1.55 |
| Boost Clock (GHz): | 1.78 |
| Memory Size: | 8GB |
| Memory Type: | GDDR6 |
| NVIDIA Architecture: | Ampere |
| NVIDIA DLSS: | DLSS 2 |
| NVIDIA Frame Generation: | No |
| NVIDIA Ray-Tracing: | Yes |
| PCI Express Gen 4: | Yes |
| Graphics Card Power (W) | 130 |
| Required/Recommended System Power (W) | 550 |
Things We Like
Excellent price point: While on sale, this GPU sits below £250 which can be fairly compelling. If you’re being a bit more conscious about your budget, the RTX 3050 should provide you with some relief when it comes to build cost.
Solid performance in Esports titles: While not the most up-to-date card on the market, the NVIDIA RTX 3050 is a very capable GPU in titles like Apex Legends, Fortnite, CS:GO and Overwatch,
Things We Don’t Like
Not ideal for modern games: This GPU is considered to be budget and leaves much to be desired when playing triple-A titles. While it can handle newer games at medium – high settings, it may not be the best choice for those looking to play more demanding games on Ultra, especially if high frame rates are of concern.
Overshadowed by the competition: The GPU in question is overshadowed by cards from AMD, but also NVIDIA’s own RTX 3060, which performs much better than the RTX 3050.
Summary
The RTX 3050 is a budget GPU for gamers looking to seek out the NVIDIA feature set. Capable of running most games at medium – high settings, it functions OK for it’s price point. 8GB of VRAM is sufficient for 1080p gaming, and while the 128-bit bus width lacks bandwidth it is to be expected at this price point. The 3050 is undoubtedly a card overshadowed by it’s more powerful sibling the RTX 3060, a GPU which performs significantly better for little extra cost.
Features: 3/5
Design: 3.5/5
Performance: 3/5
Value for Money: 3/5
Pros
- Solid entry-level graphics card.
- Compelling budget price point.
- Lots of board partners to choose from.
Cons
- Overshadowed by newer models.
- Can’t run modern AAA titles particuarly well.
Where to Buy
Buy the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 on:
2. AMD Radeon RX 6600
👑 The best budget graphics card under £250.
AMD GPUs have been extremely popular in the budget space for as long as we can remember. AMD’s Radeon RX 6600 is a particularly strong competitor in this space, offering solid performance metrics with the latest rounds of Radeon drivers. While there are better GPUs within the 6000 series, this graphics card offers nearly unparalleled price to performance metrics.
The RX 6600 serves as AMD’s answer to NVIDIA’s RTX 3060 and while NVIDIA‘s alternative offers a better 12GB of VRAM, AMD’s 6600 is much cheaper, and offers similar performance when compared to the 3060 on all counts aside from the VRAM. The 6600 is extremely power efficient and offers an amazing 1080p gaming experience at higher settings.
Key Specs
| Spec | AMD Radeon RX 6600 |
|---|---|
| Base Clock (GHz): | 1.62 |
| Boost Clock (GHz): | 2.49 |
| Memory Size: | 8GB |
| Memory Type: | GDDR6 |
| AMD Architecture: | RDNA-2 |
| AMD FSR: | FSR 2 |
| AMD Super Resolution: | Yes |
| PCI Express Gen 4: | Yes |
| Graphics Card Power (W) | 132 |
| Required/Recommended System Power (W) | 450 |
Things We Like
Ideal for 1080p gaming: The AMD RX 6600 is the epitome of great budget 1080p gaming, able to handle games such as Fortnite, Valorant and Apex Legends at 1080p, while achieving strong double and triple-digit framr rates. More modern AAA titles, like Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, may suffer as the card is slowly becoming outdated.
Power Efficient: Compared to the 6600 XT, the base 6600 is incredibly power efficient as it trades out clock speeds for less power consumption. It reduces its speeds by 300MHz, in turn reducing gaming horsepower and power consumption to a modest 132W.
Things We Don’t Like
Not great for 1440p gaming: If this GPU is pushed to a 1440p resolution, consumers are likely to see performance falter. 1440p is generally 50-60% more intensive than 1080p, and thus it requires a stronger graphics card.
Slightly VRAM constrained: The 8GB of VRAM that this GPU offers is sufficient for 1080p gaming, but falters beyond that. We’re seeing increasing trends towards higher VRAM amounts, which is something to keep in mind if you’d like to try and future proof your gamign PC build.
Summary
In summary, the AMD 6600 is an awesome GPU that prioritizes efficiency, yet still offers strong 1080p gaming performance. While you won’t want to push this card with 1440p gaming, the price for the AMD RX 6600 is certainly very reasonable – brilliant for gamers and hardware enthusiasts on a budget!
Features: 3.5/5
Design: 4/5
Performance: 3.5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Great 1080p gaming potential.
- Very power efficient.
- Solid boost clock speeds.
Cons
- Not great for 1440p gaming.
- Becoming slowly outdated.
Where to Buy
Buy the AMD Radeon RX 6600 on:
3. AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
👑 The best budget AMD GPU under £250.
The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is naturally better than the RX 6600 it sits above. Built to compete with the NVIDIA 3060 series of cards, it holds up well at 1080p, while still offering efficient power consumption and great thermal performance.
While it’s predecessor is a little weaker due to efficiency, the XT retains it’s lower power draw, while also offering strong 1080p gaming performance. You may even be able to occasionally indulge in the 1440p without a problem. The 6600 XT also comes with Fidelity FX Super Resolution (FSR), a similar, but not identical, technology to Nvidia’s DLSS allowing for smoother frame rates by upscaling of images. In some modern titles, such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Death Stranding, this GPU can even offer comparable performance to higher-end NVIDIA cards with Ray Tracing disabled.
Key Specs
| Spec | AMD Radeon RX 6600 |
|---|---|
| Base Clock (GHz): | 1.96 |
| Boost Clock (GHz): | 2.58 |
| Memory Size: | 8GB |
| Memory Type: | GDDR6 |
| AMD Architecture: | RDNA-2 |
| AMD FSR: | FSR 2 |
| AMD Super Resolution: | Yes |
| PCI Express Gen 4: | Yes |
| Graphics Card Power (W) | 160 |
| Required/Recommended System Power (W) | 450 |
Things We Like
Great Thermal Performance: Having looked at comparisons between 6600 and the 6600 XT, the XT tens to run at lower temperatures and operates fairly quietly under load. The specific cooler you choose will have a large bearing on noise and thermals.
AMD Fidelity FX: Maximising framerates is a key metric for consumers playing their favourite games. Turning on FSR can take these framerates one step further, allowing you to enjoy your games without stutters or tearing at higher frame rats than you’d otherwise be able to achieve.
Things We Don’t Like
Only 8GB VRAM: As we’ve started to see with the modern performance demands of Triple A titles, 8GB of VRAM isn’t really enough to play these games smoothly – especially at higher resolutions.
Not as fast as competitors: While we do appreciate the 6600 XT’s compelling price and performance, this card’s overall speeds don’t quite hold up to that of the NVIDIA RTX 3060. While this is disappointing, consumers can still expect solid 1080p gaming performance with legroom for 1440p too.
Summary
The Radeon RX 6600 XT provides some of the best performance a budget card can offer, especially when AMD’s FSR is enabled. There are some caveats when it comes to Ray-Traced performance, along with 1440p gaming, but based on the strong price of this GPU, AMD are likely to continue selling these cards in decent volumes in the months to come.
Features: 3.7/5
Design: 4/5
Performance: 3.5/5
Value for Money: 3.8/5
Pros
- FSR provides better framerates, especially at higher resolutions.
- Amazing thermal performance.
- Runs quietly while in use.
Cons
- Weak Ray-Tracing capabilities.
- Isn’t as fast as competitors.
- Only 8GB VRAM.
Where to Buy
Buy the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT on:
Why Buy AMD over NVIDIA?
AMD has been in the GPU space for quite some time, entering the market officially in 2006. However, NVIDIA has a decade more experience in comparison, making them an extremely strong competitor. Both manufacturers have their merits, advantages and setbacks when it comes to their GPUs and pillar technologies. This makes choosing a particular brand much harder when picking out a GPU for your PC build, so how do you choose?
AMD has been one of the most reliable PC brands for price conscious gamers, producing some of the most capable hardware on the market, especially for budget and mid-range systems. Their graphics cards boast an array of solid features and technologies, such as FSR, SAM and, more recently, Ray-Tracing capability. AMD graphics cards are also generally smaller in form factor, especially at the top end, when compared to NVIDIA’s most recent offerings, and hold up well as a far as straight rasterisation is concerned. The biggest standout area where AMD thrive is pricing. Much of AMD’s Radeon 6000 and 7000 options undercut NVIDIA significantly, making them a compelling option for price conscious buyers.
NVIDIA is also a brand with it’s own strengths. Historically, drivers have been more stable, and provided better performance out the gate – though this is an area that AMD have provided rapid performance in recent years. You’ll also find more mature Ray Tracing and DLSS tech, with both offering better performance and efficiency than AMD’s own FSR and RT counterparts. NVIDIA GPUs also typically come available with a wider range of coolers, due to the higher market share making more SKUs of each GPU chip feasible for brands like MSI, ASUS and Gigabytte.
How We Tested the Best Graphics Cards Under £250
In order to test and evaluate the best GPUs under £250, there are a number of factors that we take into account, these are:
- Performance
- Thermals
- Architecture
- Pillar Technologies
- Value for Money
Our team of passionate PC hardware and gaming enthusiasts are always on hand to test and evaluate a wide range of products. The GeekaWhat team are always testing and reviewing the latest and greatest hardware to provide our most honest thoughts and opinions to our audience with the best advice possible. For those wanting to learn more about the GeekaWhat team, check the ‘About Us‘ section where you’ll find more information about our people and editorial promise.
Conclusion
Best Graphics Under £250: AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
While this GPU runs hot under pressure, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is your best choice for a budget graphics card under the £250 price mark. This GPU offers the best value, priced competitively in comparison to other options. Being power efficient and offering a strong 1080p performance makes this a solid entry-level card for years to come.
You can read our full read our AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT review, or buy the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT on Amazon to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are GPU prices dropping?
GPU prices are dropping in accordance with the rest of the market, and a surplus of supply within the market. This makes the present time a potentially great opportunity to nab a budget GPU bargain.
How much VRAM do you need in a budget gaming PC build?
If you’re on a budget and looking for a capable GPU for gaming, 8GB of VRAM tends to be sufficient. While higher VRAM quantities, like 10GB and 12GB, are advantageous for 1440p gaming, it will push the cost of your chosen GPU.
How much GPU power do you need for 4K gaming?
Presently, you need to spend around £500 to £600 as a minimum on a next-gen GPU for 4K gaming, making the budget cards in this roundup insifficuent for high resolution, 4K gaming.
What are the benefits of AMD FSR?
FSR reduces GPU overhead by rendering in-game frames. This allows consumers to enjoy a smoother and less taxing gaming experience in their favourite titles, while also minimising the stress on your hardware at higher resolutions.
