By Robin Owens 21 days ago, SD and Graphics Cards
The best GPUs under 200 dollars from famous brands.
It might be challenging to choose a decent GPU if you are on a budget. Besides, you need to understand what is the main difference between AMD or Nvidia graphics cards. You will find plenty of options on the market, however, if you want to buy the best GPU under 200 dollars, make sure to check if a model of your choice is affordable, has high clock speed and a set of extra features.
Your final choice will largely depend on your budget and the hardware configuration you need to use. While cheap graphics cards are less powerful, they still deliver decent performance, which allows you to solve basic tasks in no time. There are several things that you need to take into account to pick a good GPU. Read on to learn more about the best models available on the market and the features you need to consider.
Stream Processors: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | Core Clock: 8000 MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 1280 Gbps | Power Connectors: 350 W | Outputs: DisplayPort, HDMI
This GPU delivers pro-level performance and allows you to play recent action-packed games. You will enjoy high resolution, 360-degree gaming, HDR and stereo images.
This is the best graphics card under 200 dollars since it allows you to use the most advanced software. NVIDIA Creator Ready drivers ensure that this GPU will deliver stable performance. This way, you will cope with any creative task in no time.
Stream Processors: AMD Radeon RX 470 | Core Clock: 7000 MHz | Memory: 8 GB | Memory Clock: 2048 Gbps | Power Connectors: 600 W| Outputs: DVI, HDMI
Some graphics cards are impossible to overclock because of hardware configurations. The XFX’s True Clock allows you to optimize the performance of this GPU and select the best speed for your needs. All the graphics cards from the RX Series that have an OC+ rating are factory-tested to confirm that they can be overclocked even higher than it’s possible with the help of XFX’s True Clock. You can select one of the factory-tested speeds by using the AMD Wattman utility that allows you to make the most out of your GPU.
Manufacturers put their hearts and minds into creating the revolutionary VRM and Memory cooling technology. Thanks to it, they have reduced the VRM temperatures by 30°C and GDDR temperatures by 20°C. The dB noise was also reduced by 5%.
Stream Processors: AMD Radeon RX 550 | Core Clock: 1500 MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 1220 Gbps | Power Connectors: 600 W | Outputs: DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI
If you need to find a cheap GPU that supports HDMI and DisplayPorts connection, look no further. This GPU is based on the DVI-D standard, which is perfect for older affordable monitors. The newest AMD graphics cards lack this option.
You will need to purchase a 400 Watt PSU to power it. Besides, you need to use a case that has a dual-slot bay for ATX GPUs.
Stream Processors: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | Core Clock: 1695 MHz | Memory: 4 GB | Memory Clock: 1280 Gbps | Power Connectors: 600 W | Outputs: DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI
Most recent graphics cards are based on Turing architecture. Nvidia released a series of affordable cards with the most advanced features. The GTX 1650 Super and AMD’s recent Radeon RX 5500 XT GPU are pretty similar in terms of performance. Besides, an AMD $200 graphics card comes with comparable specs.
The main difference between them is that AMD’s GPU has better clock speeds and more impressive memory bandwidth. After testing it, I can confirm that this GPU can run AAA titles at maximum settings. Since the GTX 1650 Super is an affordable card, its clock speed is lower.
Stream Processors: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | Core Clock: 12000 MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 1280 Gbps | Power Connectors: 600 W | Outputs: DisplayPort, HDMI
What makes it the best $200 GPU is that it is fitted with the WINDFORCE cooling system that consists of 2x 90mm blade fans, a single alternate spinning fan, a 3D fan and a heat pipe made of composite copper. It accounts for highly effective heat dissipation.
Thanks to the alternate spinning fan, you won’t face any issues with turbulent airflow that might reduce the efficiency of the cooling system. When two adjacent fans rotate in one direction, heat dissipation is slow. To avoid this, manufacturers have fitted this system with fans that rotate in the opposite direction. This way, the airflow direction between two fans remains the same, which accounts for better pressure and reduced turbulence. Besides, triangular edges of the fans split airflow and direct it through the 3D stripe curve on the surface, which makes cooling more effective.
Stream Processors: NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 | Core Clock: 1600 MHz | Memory: 2 GB | Memory Clock: 1280 Gbps | Power Connectors: 300 W | Outputs: VGA, DVI, HDMI
This graphics card supports NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology, which accounts for amazing image quality, ensures a seamless watching experience and close-to-life colors. With this GPU, image scaling is on the top level as well. The GeForce Experience application sends you notifications about the newest Nvidia drivers releases, which allows you to regularly update them.
The GPU features a low-profile bracket. Thanks to its compact design, this graphics card will be a perfect option both for small and big computers. The GeForce GT delivers stable performance at high speed thanks to Nvidia drivers. You can always overclock it for a better gaming experience.
IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | |
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Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650
Our Choice
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CHECK PRICE → | ||
XFX Radeon RX 570 RS
High quality
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CHECK PRICE → | ||
Biostar Radeon RX 550
Powerful
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CHECK PRICE → |
While some people believe that it’s important for a graphics card to come with a warranty, the best GPU under 200 bucks is unlikely to fail in the first few years. Since cryptocurrency mining has become less popular, manufacturers are less worried about RMAs. However, if you want to buy an expensive graphics card, it’s crucial to check if it comes with a warranty. While most companies release GPUs with one or two-years warranty, you can find graphics cards that come with up to 4-year warranties. Some brands, such as EVGA, offer you to pay for a 2 or 7-year extension within 30 days of the purchase date.
Before making a purchase, it might be worth checking if a manufacturer has decent customer support. You won’t face any difficulties when using AMD or Nvidia drivers for lag-free performance. However, you need to understand what steps you will have to take if your hardware fails. Some companies can replace a GPU pretty quickly while others will make you waiting for weeks. If you are wondering how quickly your graphics card will be replaced, it might be worth browsing the Web to learn more about other users’ experiences.
If you prioritize a good design, you need to decide if you want to buy a GPU with RGB lighting. However, it will be a decisive factor only if you have a computer case with transparent sides. Otherwise, you won’t be able to see your GPU. Graphics cards support various lighting types, come in different styles and colors. If you want to build a stylish gaming rig, there are several factors you need to pay attention to in the first place.
You need to decide on lighting. Some GPUs come with a colored logo, such as the famous green GeForce logo that can be seen on Nvidia Founders Edition graphics cards. There are models with RGB logos and RGB fans. To customize the lighting effects, you will need to use special software released by a manufacturer. If you want to synchronize lighting across various hardware components, it’s better to buy a GPU and motherboard of the same brand. However, you can buy components released by different brands and use special utilities that allow you to customize RGB lighting.
When choosing a graphics card that will allow you to play action-packed games and enjoy an immersive viewing experience, you need to understand that all GPU chips nowadays are released by two main manufacturers, Nvidia and AMD.
These brands were present on the GPU market from the start, but Nvidia has gained an upper hand recently. While Nvidia is still considered to be the market leader, AMD also released several decent graphics cards that made it a worthy contender. This is why you need to take a closer look at AMD $200 GPUs if you are on a budget.
If you are looking for a graphics card, you will need to choose between models released by such popular brands as Asus, MSI and Gigabyte. However, all of them release GPUs based on Nvidia and AMD chips. While graphics cards have many specifications you should pay attention to, it’s important to pay attention to the GPU model in the first place. It will allow you to understand what performance a GPU can deliver. Keep in mind that GPUs within one model can deliver different performance, which depends on other parameters you need to consider.
Before making your decision, check if a GPU fits in your computer case, is compatible with your PSU and supports a video connector of your choice. If you want to build a new gaming rig, it’s better to buy a 500W power supply unit.
It’s better to purchase a dedicated Nvidia graphics card. If you want to run a certain game on a GPU, you will need to go to 3D Settings, pick the option “Manage 3D Settings”, click on the “Program Settings” and select a game you need to play. Then, you can select a GPU you want to use. To select your Nvidia graphics card, pick the option “High-performance Nvidia processor.”
The Nvidia RTX 2080 is a more powerful GPU that delivers speedy performance and supports recent technologies. The GTX 1080 Ti is more expensive and its performance is slightly less impressive. While some games are better compatible with the GTX 1080 Ti, the difference is not worth several hundreds of bucks.
Nowadays, you will need to have at least 4 GB of dedicated video memory for your GPU to deliver seamless performance. However, it’s better to opt for a graphics card with 8 GB video memory as it will serve you for years to come and allow you to watch videos on a 1440p or 4K display.