Rating of the TOP 15 gaming video cards for PCs: review of the best models in terms of price-quality ratio

A budget, and even a gaming video card in 2021 is a complex concept due to the sharp rise in prices against the backdrop of mining demand. As a result, even outdated chips of previous generations are becoming more expensive, so you can forget about price tags in the region of 10,000 rubles, which were relevant a couple of years ago. Today, the segment of cheap video cards for games has risen to 25,000 rubles, and some experts even stretch it to 30,000 rubles. We will limit ourselves to the first figure, within which it is still possible to choose a good option for building an inexpensive PC that can run the latest games at least at minimum wages.

Market leading companies for low-cost gaming video cards

All manufacturers of graphics adapters offer their budget cards, but you should still look for the best options in the lineup of the following brands:

ASUS

. A tech giant with extensive experience in developing video cards for gaming PCs. Asus doesn't have many budget options left, but almost all of them are perfectly adapted to gaming, have reliable cooling and use only proven and energy-efficient components.

GIGABYTE

. This brand also continues to produce reliable and inexpensive models based on last-generation chips, so there is time to get a budget-level card, otherwise in a year or two you will have to significantly overpay.

MSI

. A company founded to produce gaming solutions in all areas, including video cards. Of course, all models of this brand receive the maximum possible adaptation to intense gaming, i.e. ready to withstand temperature loads and allow GPU overclocking.

Palit

. A good alternative to offers from the Big Three. The price of this company's solutions is often a little more affordable, but the quality is in no way inferior.

NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2080TI

GPU – TU102 | CUDA Cores – 4,352 | Memory – 11GB GDDR6 | Bus – 352-bit

pros:

• Serious Gaming – 4K/60fps
• Faster than the $3,000 Titan V
• All the delights of ray tracing and AI

Minuses:

• Conservative price tag

Here it is, the true nextgen. GPU based on Turing architecture, an ultra-modern and unsurpassed “king of graphics”, easily taking the title of the best video card. While the RTX 2080 and 2070 Super are capable of GTX 1080 Ti-level performance, this card leaves them in the dust, giving you 4K/60fps in all but the most demanding of modern games.

No matter how you feel about the new-fangled (for PC gaming) ray tracing technology, there's no escaping it in the future, and the RTX 2080 Ti is ready for it. With the release of PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles that support ray tracing, there will be more and more games with corresponding graphical effects, and sooner or later you will have to upgrade.

What parameters to consider when choosing a cheap video card for gaming?

The segment of budget video solutions for gaming is very limited and the models presented in it are largely similar to each other both in technical terms and in price, but some points may differ, so we recommend that you take a closer look at the following three parameters:

Video memory

. The required minimum for comfortable gaming in 2021 is 4 GB of GDDR5 standard with a 128-bit bus. If you need to choose the most budget option, then you can choose models with 2 GB of memory, but in this case you will have to lower the graphics settings to the very minimum.

Graphics chip

. In the segment of inexpensive video cards, the best option is the GTX 1050 Ti chip, which is time-tested and perfectly adapted to gaming needs. Note that the version with the “OC” index indicates factory overclocking, which increases the operating frequency.

Additional food

. In general, the need for additional power is rare among cheap graphics cards, but some models do use it, so make sure your power supply has the appropriate cables.

Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550

Price: ~ 9500 rub.

Another simple model in which there is absolutely nothing superfluous. An excellent option for all fans of online games and simple projects. The series is initially budget-friendly, but ideal for mini and midi cases. Several features are of particular interest:

• Memory capacity 4 GB;
• No additional power required;
• Quiet operation;
• Heat dissipation is only 50 W;
• Small size.

The card has a bus of only 128 bits and is aimed at leisurely gameplay, with a minimum of dynamic scenes and complex locations. Fast MMOs and shooters can lead to freezes and lags, and along with it a spoiled experience. Therefore, you should buy it for older games or for connoisseurs of leisurely gameplay.

Top 10. GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC Low Profile

Rating (2021): 4.40

92 reviews taken into account from resources: Yandex.Market, DNS

Low Profile Design This video card is the best in the budget segment among models using the Low Profile form factor, which makes it possible to build a PC in a narrow case.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 22,500 rub.

• Country: Taiwan
• Maximum operating frequency: 1442 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 4 GB, 128 bit
• Computer processors: 768
• Rasterization units: 32
• Texture processing units: 48

Narrow PC cases have seen a resurgence in popularity in 2021, increasing demand for low-profile graphics cards. Among the inexpensive options, one of the best is the GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC Low Profile gaming card. It is based on a popular and field-proven video chip operating at 1303 MHz in base mode and 1442 MHz in turbo mode. The memory, as in most models in the range of 10,000-25,000 rubles, is only 4 GB, but it is enough to confidently run top-end games at medium graphics settings. We also note that this video adapter is capable of working simultaneously with four monitors, while most of the participants in the rating can handle only three. On the other hand, reviews contain complaints about possible “glitches” when working with multiple monitors at once, so this advantage is important more on paper than in practice. It is this fact that affected the final rating of the GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC Low Profile.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Low profile form factor for thin chassis
• Working with 4 monitors simultaneously
• Reliable video chip

• There may be problems when connecting multiple monitors

Which budget video card is better to buy?

If you have a limited budget, you need to correctly understand the purpose of the device. The Radeon R7 240 and GeForce GT 1030 models are suitable for the simplest tasks that integrated graphics cannot handle. The modification of the Radeon RX 560 graphics adapter has an average level of performance, which is enough for games 2 years ago, but there is a significant lack of power in new applications. For modern games, it is better to choose more advanced solutions Radeon RX 570 and GeForce GTX 1050 Ti.

Recommendations for choosing video cards:

• For mining and easy entry into the gaming niche, we recommend the Sapphire Nitro + Radeon RX 570 1340MHz PCI-E 3.0 8192MB 7000MHz 256 bit DVI 2xHDMI HDCP.
• For those looking for an inexpensive video card for light gaming or simple photo and video processing, the MSI Radeon RX 560 1196MHz PCI-E 3.0 4096MB 7000MHz 128 bit DVI HDMI HDCP AERO ITX OC is suitable. Its performance is quite enough to run GTA V at maximum settings, but at maximum it does not run all new games.
• When looking for a graphics adapter for an office PC or when performing trivial tasks (surfing the Internet, watching FHD videos, etc.), it would most likely be wise to save money and purchase an Asus Radeon R7 240 730MHz PCI-E0 2048MB 1800MHz 128 bit DVI HDMI HDCP.
• As a balanced video card for both work and simple games, you can take the PowerColor Radeon RX 560 1176Mhz PCI-E 3.0 2048Mb 6000Mhz 128 bit DVI HDMI HDCP Red Dragon V2. This is an inexpensive, quiet and productive model that allows you to play even new games, but at low settings.
• If you need an inexpensive but gaming video card for all modern games, then the best option is MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 1379MHz PCI-E 3.0 4096MB 7108MHz 128 bit DVI HDMI HDCP GAMING X, the power of which will be enough for 2021.
• For people who like to play tanks, Counter Strike and other online games (undemanding), and for those who need an inexpensive model for work, the ideal option is the Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 1252MHz PCI-E 3.0 2048MB 6008MHz 64 bit DVI HDMI HDCP Low Profile.
• If you are on a limited budget, but want to play equally with friends, we can recommend the Palit GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 1290MHz PCI-E 3.0 4096MB 7000MHz 128 bit DVI HDMI HDCP StormX.

Despite the popular belief that inexpensive means bad, the best cheap video cards still cope with more than just watching high-definition videos. Among them there are many models that are quite suitable for mining and gaming. The purpose and capabilities of the graphics adapter directly depend on its technical parameters. Among the most important characteristics of such devices are bus width, operating frequency, type and amount of memory.

Top 9. AFOX Radeon RX 560

Rating (2021): 4.45

11 reviews from resources taken into account: Yandex.Market, Ozone

Graphics chip from AMD This card is one of the few representatives of the budget segment based on AMD video chips. The card is very reliable in operation, well optimized and offers everything you can get for such a price.

The largest number of processors and texture processing units This graphics adapter has a chip that offers the largest number of computing modules: 896 processor units and 64 texture processing units.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 18,400 rub.

• Country: China
• Maximum operating frequency: 1275 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 4 GB, 128 bit
• Computer processors: 896
• Rasterization units: 16
• Texture processing units: 64

Reliable and inexpensive video cards for games, created on AMD chips, are a rarity in 2021, since this graphics accelerator manufacturer has practically stopped producing old chips, switching to new and mid-budget ones. Therefore, our rating included only one cheap gaming video card based on the RX 560 chip, and even then from a Chinese brand. However, the origin of the AFOX company should not be particularly confusing; this company produces products of very high quality. Capabilities of the AFOX Radeon RX 560 – playing the best AAA projects at low settings and playing top hits from two or three years ago at medium settings. The memory here is 4 GB GDDR5, there is support for three monitors and 8K resolution, there is a reliable cooling system and proprietary resistance of AMD chips to heat. In general, we get a stable “average” budget segment for not particularly demanding gamers.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Reliable graphics chip from AMD
• Heat resistance
• 896 computing processors

• A total of 16 rasterization units
• Maximum bus frequency – 1275 MHz

See also:

• 5 best AMD graphics cards

AMD RADEON RX 5700 XT

GPU – Navi 10 | RDNA Cores – 2,560 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Bus – 256-bit

pros:

• Slightly inferior to RTX 2070 Super
• Cheaper than RTX 2070 Super
• Beats RTX 2060

Minuses:

• The reference card is noisy and gets hot

Thanks to aggressive pricing, AMD has created a real monster that can not only make the RTX 2070 Super tense, but also allow you to save money. Yes, the Nvidia card is more powerful, but the difference is incredibly small.

The best part about this is that for the money, the RT 5700 XT almost takes us to the promised land of high-end GPUs, challenging the green gang. If only it (in its reference form) wasn’t so noisy and burning.

Top 8. AFOX GeForce GTX 750Ti

Rating (2021): 4.50

31 reviews taken into account from resources: Yandex.Market, Rozetka

A minimal entry into the world of medium graphics settings. The capabilities of this gaming video card are quite limited, but in a number of popular projects it can provide comfortable gaming at medium graphics settings.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 11,300 rub.

• Country: China
• Maximum operating frequency: 1085 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 2 GB, 128 bit
• Computer processors: 640
• Rasterization units: 16
• Texture processing units: 40

A cheap gaming video card from a Chinese brand with a price tag slightly exceeding 10,000 rubles. Its capabilities are extremely limited and it is clearly not suitable for the best game projects of the last couple of years. The key problem is only 2 GB of GDDR5 video memory and a maximum operating frequency of 1085 MHz. With such a “kit” you almost have to forget about even medium graphics settings. And this is not yet talking about the number of rasterization and texture processing units, where everything is also very sad. At the same time, AFOX should be praised for its choice of component base - the card uses Samsung memory chips, which are characterized by a high level of reliability. The cooling is also well designed, so it will be difficult to overheat the card. Let's add that in most online games this inexpensive video card behaves quite well, for example, World of Tanks with medium settings simply flies without any hint of lag.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Reliable DDR5 memory from Samsung
• Good cooling design
• Affordable price

• Outdated graphics chip
• Poor performance

Video card GIGABYTE GeForce 210 1GB (rev.1.0) (GV-N210D3-1GI)

The GIGABYTE GeForce 210 [GV-N210D3-1GI] graphics card is a low-profile blue PCB solution for installation in HTPC systems or upgrading office computers. The graphics accelerator operates at a processor frequency of 590 MHz with one gigabyte of video memory, with a bandwidth of up to 9.6 GB/sec. For cooling, there is an active cooling system with one axial fan built into an aluminum radiator.

PCI-E second generation is used as the connection interface. It is possible to transfer an image to two monitors at once with a maximum resolution of 2560×1600 pixels. At the same time, power consumption is at the level of 37 W. GIGABYTE GeForce 210 is an excellent combination of performance and quality.

A very good choice as a budget video card for an inexpensive computer build.

Top 7. ASUS Phoenix GeForce GTX 1050 Ti

Rating (2021): 4.53

218 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, DNS, iRecommend, Otzovik

Shortened board The manufacturer was able to fit everything necessary on the board, the length of which was reduced to 192 mm with an average of over 200 mm.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 22990 rub.

• Country: Taiwan
• Maximum operating frequency: 1392 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 4 GB, 128 bit
• Computer processors: 768
• Rasterization units: 32
• Texture processing units: 48

A very good video card for the budget price segment. Based on the GTX 1050 Ti chip, delivering 1290 MHz operating frequency in standard mode and 1392 MHz in boost. Yes, auto overclocking is not the most efficient, but in games the card performs very well, allowing you to enjoy at least medium graphics settings, i.e. You can build a quite decent and inexpensive gaming PC based on it. The use of just one “turntable” for cooling is alarming, but in general it copes with its responsibilities, so the risk of overheating is minimal, especially since the TDP of the model is only 75 W. Otherwise, this is a typical representative of cheap video cards with a price tag on the verge of moving into the mid-budget segment: 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory, no backlights or other features, output to three monitors, and no ray tracing or other advanced technologies.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Proven graphics chip
• No need for additional nutrition
• Card length reduced to 192 mm

• Only one cooling cooler
• Reduced bus frequency

NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1660TI

GPU – TU116 | CUDA Cores – 1,536 | Memory – 6GB GDDR6 | Bus – 192-bit

pros:

• GTX 1070 level framerate
• GTX 1060 level price
• All the delights of Turing architecture

Nvidia's consumer graphics card takes advantage of all the shader benefits of the Turing 20xx series architecture, but lacks the ray tracing and intelligent processing that set the RTX line apart from other GPUs. However, given the small number of games that effectively use ray tracing, this loss is not so significant. And it becomes even smaller if you remember at what cost to PC performance all this beauty comes.

The GTX 1660 Ti took first place due to the fact that it has just enough power to justify the cost difference with the RX 580. Overclocked cards like the STRIX GTX 1660 Ti are too expensive, closer to the RTX 2060 and RX 5700, but at the RRP The GTX 1660 Ti has no rivals.

Top 6. GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC

Rating (2021): 4.53

206 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, DNS, Citylink, Otzovik

First-class cooling performance Reliable graphics adapter with a detailed cooling system that ensures that temperatures are effectively kept within a safe range at any level of GPU load.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 22990 rub.

• Country: Taiwan
• Maximum operating frequency: 1455 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 4 GB, 128 bit
• Computer processors: 768
• Rasterization units: 32
• Texture processing units: 48

A relatively inexpensive video card with good implementation of the potential of the GTX 1050 Ti graphics chip. The base frequency of the model is 1316 MHz, but in boost mode it can be overclocked to 1455 MHz, i.e. This card is quite capable of medium graphics settings in games, especially since it claims to support 8K resolution and simultaneous output of images to three PC monitors. Everything is in perfect order in terms of cooling: heating up to 97 degrees is not a problem for the GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC; two “turntables” confidently cope with organizing air flow through a massive aluminum radiator. We also note that there is no need to provide additional power, which was appreciated by owners of old computers where there are simply no extra wires on the power supplies. The key problem with this model is that you have to catch it in stores, because they are sold out very quickly.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Efficient cooling system
• No need for additional nutrition
• Resolutions higher than 4K available

• Possible noise during prolonged use
• Small volumes of supplies to stores

MSI GeForce GT 740-OC-2GD5

Price: ~ 3000 rub.

The video card is simple and unpretentious, with a small radiator and only one fan. Suitable exclusively for undemanding old games, and is installed mainly in outdated system units, where the built-in video core does not support Full HD. The item made it to the top due to several criteria:

• Low cost;
• Power consumption is only 64 W;
• Confidently continues online projects and games until 2014;
• Easily installed in any enclosure.

Of particular interest is the presence of all popular DVI-D, D-Sub and HDMI outputs. Thanks to this, even modern monitors can be connected without unnecessary complications. If you do not assign impossible tasks to the video card, then it confidently copes even with professional applications.

Top 5. MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC

Rating (2021): 4.56

386 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, DNS, Citylink, Otzovik, Onliner

The best factory overclocking This model implements factory overclocking of the graphics chip as efficiently as possible, which guarantees stable operation under load and minimal risks of overheating.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 23,000 rub.

• Country: Taiwan
• Maximum operating frequency: 1455 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 4 GB, 128 bit
• Computer processors: 768
• Rasterization units: 32
• Texture processing units: 48

A very interesting option from MSI with a factory overclocking of the base operating frequency to 1341 MHz and the ability to boost it to 1455 MHz, which is one of the best results in turbo mode among all participants in the rating. The video card is originally a gaming card, albeit a budget one, so it runs absolutely all PC games, but the top hits of 2021 will only run at minimum or in some cases at medium graphics settings. We note the well-developed cooling system, the efficiency of which is supported not only by two “turntables”, but also by the well-thought-out design of the casing, which reflects air flows in the right directions to improve the quality of radiator airflow. As a nice bonus, the manufacturer provides a three-year official warranty, plus it claims to support 8K resolution and allows heating up to 97 degrees.

Advantages and disadvantages

• High cooling efficiency
• High-quality factory overclocking of the video chip
• Three years warranty

• Increased dimensions: 215×112 mm
• High price

GIGABYTE Radeon RX 550 D5 2G (rev. 1.0/1.1) (GV-RX550D5-2GD)

The powerful GIGABYTE AMD Radeon RX 550 graphics card is suitable for building a work computer. Its 2 GB memory is enough to run games with simple settings. The memory operates at 7000 MHz, the processor at 1183 MHz and 1195 MHz in Boost mode. The card is equipped with a PCI-E 3.0 interface and supports DirectX 12/OpenGL 4.5 technology. If you install it on a computer, you will be able to provide a maximum image resolution of 7680 x 4320.

The video memory bus width is 128 bit. Three ports of different types allow you to simultaneously connect a corresponding number of monitors to the GIGABYTE AMD Radeon RX 550 video card. There is an active cooling system that is able to maintain a safe temperature. To install equipment, you will need to use two slots.

Advantages

• Price, at the time of writing - the cheapest RX 550.
• The board is entirely from the Gaming version, the element base is the same, VRM according to the “3+1” scheme.
• Quite a quiet cooler, even when overclocked.
• The acceleration itself. 1410 MHz on the chip, 1920 on the memory. The limit is for a specific instance, but certainly not the limit for the model as a whole.
• Performance sufficient to play AAA titles in FullHD at medium settings. You don’t even have to talk about online projects - FPS is enough even if you turn the settings all the way down.

Flaws

• At extreme overclocking, power consumption and heating increase noticeably.
• Controversial price compared to the RX 460 2gb.

Top 4. ASUS Phoenix GeForce GT 1030 OC

Rating (2021): 4.57

242 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, DNS, Otzovik

Best price Phoenix GeForce GT 1030 OC from ASUS is the most affordable video card on the Russian market, suitable for more or less comfortable gaming at least on minimum graphics settings.

Lowest power consumption If the vast majority of participants in this rating consume 75 W at maximum load, then this video card only needs 30 W.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 9000 rub.

  Read also:  Rating of the best wireless headphones under 3,000 rubles
• Country: Taiwan
• Maximum operating frequency: 1531 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 2 GB, 64 bit
• Computer processors: 384
• Rasterization units: 16
• Texture processing units: 24

A gaming video card with a price below 10,000 rubles is an unaffordable “luxury” for 2021. For that kind of money, unfortunately, you can’t even count on normal performance, and therefore the ASUS Phoenix GeForce GT 1030 OC is a cheap PC for old or browser games. In addition to the outdated graphics chip, which by modern standards is more prone to office software, there is also only 2 GB of video memory, connected via a 64-bit bus. The problem is partially mitigated by the high operating frequency in bus mode, but this still won’t allow you to enjoy games at settings above the minimum. According to reviews, the card is very quiet, although only one “spinner” is used here. In general, a good budget option for those who need an inexpensive gaming solution for a while before purchasing a normal video card.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Cheapest in 2021
• High component reliability

• Outdated technology
• Low video memory

See also:

• 5 most powerful video cards in the world 2021

Video card GIGABYTE GeForce GT 730 LP 2GB (GV-N730D5-2GL)

The GigaByte GeForce GT 730 LP [GV-N730D5-2GL] video card is an entry-level model from a well-known manufacturer. The device has characteristics that will satisfy the requirements of a considerable number of users. The video adapter will allow you to use games that are not oversaturated with highly detailed 3D graphics.

The advantage of the video adapter is low power consumption: the peak value of this indicator is 25 W.

Installation of the device requires only one free expansion slot. The length and thickness of the video adapter are 149.9 and 14.6 mm, respectively.

The GT 730 delivers up to 3x the gaming performance of integrated graphics, with the reliability and stability of GeForce Experience.

Top 3. Palit GeForce GTX 1050 Ti STORMX

Rating (2021): 4.63

624 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, DNS, Citylink, Otzovik, Onliner

The most compact dimensions Among the “full-size” video cards, this model has the most minimal overall dimensions: length 166 mm, width 112 mm and thickness 38 mm.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 22990 rub.

• Country: Taiwan
• Maximum operating frequency: 1392 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 4 GB, 128 bit
• Computer processors: 768
• Rasterization units: 32
• Texture processing units: 48

A popular video card in high demand on the Russian market. The price for 2021 is quite budget-friendly, a reliable and time-tested gaming graphics chip is used, plus there are no frequent complaints in reviews about problems with startup or quick failure, i.e. The card earns its value. Note that the Palit brand has been gaining weight in the gaming solutions segment in recent years, offering cheaper analogues to video cards from leading manufacturers, but without loss of quality and with a three-year warranty. One of the additional advantages of the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti STORMX model specifically is its compact dimensions: length 166 mm, width 112 mm and thickness 38 mm. At the same time, the card is equipped with a very reliable and efficient cooling system, which eliminates the risk of overheating.

Advantages and disadvantages

• 4K resolution available
• There is support for CUDA 6.1
• Three years official warranty

• Delivery without software disc
• Occupies two slots

See also:

• 20 best video cards

Video card ASUS GeForce GT 710 Silent LP 2GB (GT710-SL-2GD5)

The ASUS NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 video card model is considered a reliable and high-performance component for gaming computers. This device is perfect for increasing the capabilities of played video.

The main difference is the special mode of the cooling system. Here all the work is carried out by the radiator, which is located on the surface of the device. Due to this, the total thickness of the model is 17 mm. There is also the added benefit of low power consumption.

All work of the ASUS NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 video card is performed under the control of a powerful graphics processor, which guarantees high accuracy of the transmitted image and maximum comfort during the game.

Top 2. ASUS Cerberus GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC

Rating (2021): 4.65

137 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, DNS, Otzovik, Onliner

Best design According to most users, this card has the nicest design in the budget segment in terms of aesthetic suitability for the system unit of a gaming PC.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 24990 rub.

• Country: Taiwan
• Maximum operating frequency: 1480 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 4 GB, 128 bit
• Computer processors: 768
• Rasterization units: 32
• Texture processing units: 48

Only one representative of the Cerberus line of gaming video cards from ASUS in 2021 fit into the budget price range. The Cerberus GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC model is nothing special, but in turbo boost mode it is capable of accelerating the operating frequency to 1480 MHz, which is one of the best results in the segment, second only to the card from MSI. Otherwise, this is a typical hard worker with 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory, a classic set of technologies from three years ago, support for three monitors and the declared ability to work with resolutions of 4K and higher. It is quite possible to build a good, but cheap gaming PC based on this video card, but, of course, you can’t count on high graphics settings. It is also worth considering that the model is oversized, its length reaches 203 mm and its width is 115 mm.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Proven graphics chip
• High bus level
• Gamer design

• Massive dimensions
• There is a risk of overheating

See also:

• AMD Radeon or NVIDIA GeForce - comparison of the best gaming video cards of 2021

Key features of gaming video cards

Working with heavy graphics programs, which, of course, includes computer games, requires the use of high-performance video cards based on the most modern and advanced GPUs (graphics processing units).

Such devices allow the PC to cope with the complexity of geometry, ray tracing, textures with a realistic display of simulated conditions and objects.

Keep in mind! When choosing a game card, consider the following:

• Video card type. Built-in (integrated) graphics platforms have low power consumption, support for modern software interface functions, but modest computing resources. Integrated solutions will not cope with most modern computer games; complex tasks will require a discrete card. This is a separate device connected via the PCI-E (Express) port on the motherboard. Such modules have a large number of computing cores, support for modern technologies, serious cooling and their own power bus. Discrete cards have dedicated high-speed video memory on board.
• Performance. As a rule, the higher the number in the name of a specific model within one generation, the more powerful the hardware. For example, the RTX 2080 will be more productive and faster than the RTX 2060. Sometimes increased performance (within the line) is indicated by an additional letter designation in the model name, such as the Ti suffix in GeForce cards.
• Video memory. The more memory on board the card and the higher the bandwidth, the more efficient the model will be overall. To run the most modern AAA games, 4-8 gigabytes of memory may not be enough.
• Innovative technologies. In addition to traditional cores for working with graphics, this includes RT cores for ray tracing and tensor cores for neural networks. Innovations redefine hardware acceleration for realistic lighting and shadows, provide anti-aliasing for increased image quality and detail, use AI (artificial intelligence), and improve overall performance.

Top 1. MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GAMING X

Rating (2021): 4.68

629 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, DNS, Citylink, Otzovik

Optimal price/quality ratio GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GAMING X from MSI entered the market in 2021 and continues to remain relevant due to the high reliability of the component base, competent cooling organization and effective use of the capabilities of the graphics chip.

The most popular This model enjoys the highest consumer demand in Russian stores. Moreover, the MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GAMING X video card receives the most reviews on specialized online platforms among all participants in our rating.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 23990 rub.

• Country: Taiwan
• Maximum operating frequency: 1493 MHz
• Video memory: GDDR5, 4 GB, 128 bit
• Computer processors: 768
• Rasterization units: 32
• Texture processing units: 48

Once upon a time, this video card cost a little more than 10,000 rubles, but the realities of 2021 have pushed its cost to the edge of the segment of inexpensive graphics adapters. However, the card pays off its price in full; after all, MSI knows how to make high-quality gaming components for assembling a good gaming PC. By squeezing the chip to its maximum, MSI engineers raised the boost frequency to 1493 MHz, which allows for a significant increase in performance in demanding AAA games. Yes, you won’t have to count on maximum graphics settings, but the card will definitely provide acceptable picture quality. Among other things, we note the ability to work with 8K resolution, the presence of a modest LED backlight, a fairly low TDP of 75 W, and the need to provide additional power via a 6-pin cable. According to user reviews, this model provides the best value for money in the budget segment.

Best Budget Nvidia Graphics Cards

The leading manufacturer of video cards produces economical, quiet and cool adapters. Nvidia technologies are ahead of AMD, but the price of the products is slightly higher. In the budget niche, both companies create good and competitive models, but Nvidia focuses on more productive solutions. The rating includes 3 “folk” options.

MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 1379MHz PCI-E 3.0 4096MB 7108MHz 128 bit DVI HDMI HDCP GAMING X

This model tops the ranking of the best budget video cards for gaming, as it has frequencies of 1379/7108 MHz, and reaches 1493 MHz in gaming and accelerated modes. High gaming performance is the result of a modern type of GDDR5 memory with a large capacity of 4 GB. The device is equipped with two large coolers and is manufactured using a 14 nm process technology, so there will be no problems with overheating. It runs most games, including modern ones, at medium or maximum settings. AAA projects are not included in their number.

Advantages

• Passive cooling is enough up to 60°C, that is, the cooler is turned off outside of games;
• Possibility of overclocking to 2000/9000 MHz;
• Small dimensions;
• Modern design;
• In terms of performance, it outperforms all other models in the rating.

Flaws

• There is no VGA input, so an adapter is needed to connect older monitors.

For full participation in high fps gaming, this graphics card is the best you can find on the market. Due to overclocking and high operating frequency, it can also be used for video editing in FullHD quality.

Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 1252MHz PCI-E 3.0 2048MB 6008MHz 64 bit DVI HDMI HDCP Low Profile

This is the best choice for the office. The lack of power and modest design are fully covered by the cost of about 5,000 rubles. This model has acceptable video memory (2 GB) and a frequency of 1252/6008 MHz. The listed characteristics allow you to comfortably use it not only for games and mining, but also for work and for comfortable surfing. In fact, it is an analogue of the no longer relevant GTX 750 Ti model. This is a low profile graphics card that fits into any case. The device has 2 outputs: HDMI and DVI.

Advantages

• Doesn't heat up;
• Minimum noise;
• DirectX 12 support;
• Can work with two monitors in parallel;
• Low heat dissipation – 30 W.

Flaws

• Lack of attractive design;
• I would like to see a wider memory bus than 64 bits.

This is one of the cheapest and most current discrete video cards from the Nvidia series today. It is great for upgrading older computers, from the 8th generation and above. The model allows you to breathe new life into an old PC for a reasonable price.

Palit GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 1290MHz PCI-E 3.0 4096MB 7000MHz 128 bit DVI HDMI HDCP StormX

This model is considered one of the best budget video cards; it can perform all the tasks of the average user. The lack of performance can only be felt in the most modern games at maximum graphics settings. This option is compact in size and has one large cooler. 4 GB of GDDR5 memory combined with 1290/7000 MHz is the optimal combination for new games. It also produces 8k resolution, but only processes 4k video at a comfortable fps. In games at medium and maximum settings, the device usually supports over 40 frames per second.

While building a PC for my child, I decided to try a simple and powerful Palit GeForce GTX 1050 Ti card. In standard situations it shows its best side, but for the sake of experimentation I decided to run demanding games on it. Test results: in Dirt Rally FHD it produces 55 fps, in Alien: Isolation FHD – 85 fps, in GTA V FHD – 66 fps. After switching to 4k, performance drops sharply: 21, 26 and 21 fps, respectively.

Advantages

• Good cooling – does not heat up above 75°C even under stress tests;
• Compact dimensions, thanks to which it can be built into any case;
• No need for additional nutrition;
• The normal amount of video memory is 4 GB;
• It is cheaper than analogues from other manufacturers.

Flaws

• There is not enough power for 4k games, but you shouldn’t expect this from a budget video card;
• No VR support.

A novice gamer will not be able to find anything better than this video card, because it runs all games with acceptable fps without having to sacrifice graphics.

Price range up to 15,000 rubles

In this interval, the most advantageous option looks like NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 . An excellent card that is still relevant today:

For a couple of thousand cheaper you can find a GTX 980Ti - its performance is approximately equal to 1070, the only difference is a slightly smaller amount of video memory (6 GB versus 8). True, it is quite possible to run into chip failure - after 3-4 years of use this is a fairly common occurrence. At this point, decide for yourself how much you are willing to risk and save a little.

For AMD, the situation is a little worse - the best choice would be the Radeon RX 590 . The price range is quite wide. You can find an option for both 12-13 and 16 thousand. Almost all cards will have a residual guarantee, which is good for the inexperienced buyer. But the problem is that the 590 is about 20% slower than the GTX 1070. A card from the “green” ones will be preferable, even if you have to overpay a little for it.

AMD Radeon HD 7970 or Radeon R9 280X

The Radeon R9 280X (renamed Radeon HD 7970) will be even faster than the Radeon R9 380 in some games. The disadvantage is high power consumption. Three gigabytes of video memory is still enough for games in Full HD. There is support for DirectX 12. This is still the GCN architecture. But you can actually get a card at a flea market for 6-7 thousand rubles.

Radeon HD 7970 is from the same opera.