Best 1440p Gaming GPUs Under €500 in 2026
ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Dual 8GB GDDR7
Great Alternatives
These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs
MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Ventus 8GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell-based RTX 5060 Ti delivers 19.18 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 8GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, leveraging DLSS 4 for smooth high-refresh 1080p gaming. The triple-fan VENTUS 3X cooler maintains the 180W TDP reliably within a compact 2.9-slot design, offering a solid build quality for its class. This card is best for 1080p gamers seeking strong ray-traced performance in modern titles without exceeding mainstream power supply requirements.
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The RDNA 3 architecture and 12GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus drive smooth 1440p gaming with high settings, aided by a 2584MHz boost clock. Its compact 266mm dual-fan design fits smaller cases while maintaining quiet operation through 0dB silent cooling. This card is best for 1440p gamers seeking strong rasterization performance and AV1 encoding without exceeding a mid-range budget.
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5060 Twin Edge 8GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4 drive strong 1080p ray tracing performance in a compact, SFF-ready 221mm card that fits into tight builds. Its dual 90mm fans and pass-thru airflow keep the 450W TDP in check, while the metal backplate adds rigidity uncommon at this size. This card is best for small-form-factor gamers who want modern features like AV1 encoding and 8K display support without sacrificing desk space.
MSI G5060-8GC
Sapphire 11350-04-20G
XFX Radeon RX 6650 XT SPEEDSTER SWFT210 8GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The RDNA 2 architecture and 2635MHz boost clock deliver consistent 1080p gaming performance from a compact 241mm dual-fan card. Its 8GB GDDR6 buffer and PCIe 4.0 interface provide solid throughput for its class, while the dual-slot design fits easily into smaller builds. This GPU is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers who want reliable frame rates in esports titles without upgrading their 500W power supply.
XFX Radeon RX 7600 Speedster 8GB GDDR6
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3050 Twin Edge OC 6GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The compact 162mm dual-fan design and 70W TDP allow for easy integration into small form factor builds without external power connectors. It provides modern features like DLSS and AV1 encode on a 6GB GDDR6 framebuffer, though its 96-bit memory bus limits high-resolution texture performance. This card is best for budget-conscious users upgrading older office PCs for 1080p esports gaming and media playback.
MSI GeForce RTX 3050 GAMING X 6G
EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 KO ULTRA GAMING 6GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The Turing-based RTX 2060 chip with 6GB of GDDR6 memory and a 1755MHz boost clock delivers entry-level ray tracing and DLSS in a compact 202mm dual-fan card. Its all-metal backplate and dual-fan cooler provide effective heat dissipation with low noise, while the pre-installed backplate adds structural rigidity uncommon at this tier. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers who want ray tracing features without upgrading their 500W power supply.
EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB GDDR5X
Why we recommend this ▼
The EVGA GTX 1080 FTW stands out with its 1860MHz boost clock and 10-phase power design, delivering reliable 1080p and 1440p gaming from the 8GB GDDR5X memory. The ACX 3.0 dual-fan cooler and dual-BIOS switch provide practical thermal headroom and a safety net for tuning, backed by EVGA's build quality. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers seeking strong used-market value for esports and older AAA titles.
