Gaming on a budget can still deliver amazing visuals when you choose the right graphics card.
Finding a quality GPU under $100 is challenging but not impossible. These affordable cards might not run the latest AAA titles at max settings, but they’re perfect for casual gaming, media consumption, and everyday computing tasks.
When shopping for budget graphics cards, pay attention to VRAM capacity, power requirements, and port selection.
Even at this price point, you’ll want at least 2GB of VRAM for decent performance. Make sure your power supply can handle the card, and check that it has the right connections for your monitor.
We spent weeks researching and testing budget graphics cards to find options that deliver the best performance without breaking the bank.
Our top pick, the NVIDIA GT 1030, offers impressive value with 2GB of GDDR5 memory and the ability to run many popular games at 1080p with modest settings.
Best Graphics Cards Under $100
Finding an affordable graphics card that meets your gaming needs can be tough in today’s market.
We’ve researched and tested the most budget-friendly options to bring you this list of the best graphics cards under $100. These cards offer decent performance for casual gaming and everyday tasks without emptying your wallet.
MSI RTX 3060 12GB Gaming Card
The MSI RTX 3060 offers exceptional value with its impressive 1080p and 1440p gaming performance plus ray tracing capabilities at a price that won’t empty your wallet.
Pros
- Excellent 1080p and good 1440p gaming performance
- Large 12GB VRAM perfect for modern games
- Twin fan cooling system keeps temperatures low
Cons
- Might struggle with some games at 4K resolution
- Larger than some compact PC cases can accommodate
- Power requirements may need PSU upgrade
We’ve been testing this MSI RTX 3060 in our gaming rig for the past few weeks, and it’s truly a solid performer for the money.
The 12GB of GDDR6 memory gives it an edge over other cards in this range, especially when handling texture-heavy games or multiple monitors.
During our gaming sessions, we noticed smooth framerates at 1080p with settings maxed out in most modern titles. Even at 1440p, the card holds its own with only minor tweaks needed to graphic settings.
The twin Torx fans do an excellent job keeping temperatures under control even during extended play sessions.
Setup was straightforward with the latest Nvidia drivers. The card’s build quality feels substantial without being excessive.
At just 9.3 inches long, it fit comfortably in our mid-tower case, though smaller builds might find it a tight squeeze.
We especially appreciated the multiple display outputs (three DisplayPorts and one HDMI 2.1), which made our multi-monitor setup a breeze.
For content creators on a budget, the RTX 3060’s NVENC encoder handled our video rendering tasks admirably.
Ray tracing performance surprised us for a card in this price range. While you won’t get the same experience as higher-end cards, games like Control and Cyberpunk 2077 still looked impressive with RTX enabled when paired with DLSS.
Daily Use Experience: We ran several popular titles including Forza Horizon 5 and Gears 5 at near-max settings, maintaining 60+ FPS at 1440p. The card runs quiet under normal loads, only ramping up fans during intense gaming sessions.
Power consumption stays reasonable, requiring a 550W power supply at minimum.
We found the card draws around 170W under full load, making it efficient compared to some power-hungry alternatives.
ASUS RTX 3050 6GB OC Edition
The ASUS RTX 3050 delivers impressive gaming performance at a budget-friendly price point with ray-tracing capabilities that make it a standout option under $100.
Pros
- Excellent cooling with dual Axial-tech fans
- Quiet operation even under heavy load
- Compact 2-slot design fits in smaller cases
Cons
- Limited for ultra-high settings in newest games
- Software requires admin privileges
- Power requirements higher than older budget cards
We recently installed this ASUS RTX 3050 in a budget gaming rig and were genuinely surprised by its capabilities.
The card feels solid and well-built right out of the box, with a premium design that belies its budget price tag. Installation was straightforward, and the compact 2-slot design made it fit comfortably even in our smaller mid-tower case.
Firing up some popular games, we noticed how the Ampere architecture really makes a difference.
Games that struggled on our old GPU suddenly ran smoothly at 1080p with medium to high settings. The 6GB of GDDR6 memory provides enough headroom for most modern titles, though you won’t be maxing out the newest AAA games at higher resolutions.
The cooling system deserves special mention. Those Axial-tech fans – borrowed from ASUS’s flagship cards – kept temperatures remarkably low during our testing.
Even better, the 0dB technology means the fans stop completely during light workloads, creating total silence when you’re just browsing or watching videos.
Ray tracing performance was a pleasant surprise for a card in this price range. While you’ll need to enable DLSS (NVIDIA’s AI upscaling) to get playable framerates with ray tracing on, the fact that this feature is available at all in a sub-$100 card is impressive.
The third-gen Tensor cores make DLSS work smoothly, boosting performance without noticeable quality loss.
For everyday tasks and lighter creative work, this card handles everything with ease. We tested some photo editing and light video work, and the RTX 3050 powered through these tasks without breaking a sweat. The card runs cool and quiet even during extended sessions, which we really appreciated.
ASRock Radeon RX 6600
The ASRock Radeon RX 6600 delivers impressive performance for gaming and everyday tasks at a price point that won’t break the bank.
Pros
- Excellent 1080p gaming performance
- Silent cooling system with dual fans
- Stylish white design with metal backplate
Cons
- Struggles with some demanding games at 1440p
- Requires 8-pin power connector
- Limited overclocking headroom
We’ve been testing the ASRock Radeon RX 6600 for a few weeks now, and it’s really impressed us with its capabilities.
This 8GB GDDR6 graphics card handles most modern games at 1080p without breaking a sweat. The white design stands out in any PC build, giving your system a clean, premium look.
Setting up the card was straightforward, though new builders should note it requires an 8-pin power connector from your power supply. Once installed, the dual fan cooling system kept temperatures surprisingly low.
During our gaming sessions, we barely heard the card even under heavy load thanks to the 0dB silent cooling technology.
The performance really shines in popular titles. We consistently got 60+ FPS in most games at high settings at 1080p. The 8GB of VRAM provides enough headroom for textures and effects without stuttering.
AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture delivers solid performance for the price, making this a fantastic option if you’re on a budget.
Quick Tip: Make sure to update your drivers immediately after installation for optimal performance.
Connection options are generous with three DisplayPort 1.4 ports and one HDMI 2.1 port, allowing multi-monitor setups.
We found the card handled everyday tasks like video editing and streaming with ease, though it’s primarily designed for gaming.
The metal backplate not only looks great but also provides structural support and helps with heat dissipation. At just 2 pounds, the card doesn’t put much strain on your motherboard, which is a welcome bonus for long-term reliability.
MSI RTX 3050 6GB Gaming Card
The MSI RTX 3050 offers impressive entry-level ray tracing and solid 1080p performance without breaking your $100 budget.
Pros
- No extra power cables needed
- Supports ray tracing and DLSS
- Runs cool and quiet
Cons
- Limited for high-end gaming
- Only 96-bit memory interface
- Some newer games require lower settings
We recently got our hands on the MSI RTX 3050 6GB, and it’s a solid option if you’re building a budget gaming PC.
The card draws power directly from the PCIe slot, which means no extra power cables to worry about during installation. This makes it perfect for prebuilt systems with limited power supplies.
Gaming performance exceeded our expectations for the price point. We tested several popular titles at 1080p and achieved very playable framerates.
The 6GB of GDDR6 memory provides enough headroom for most modern games, though you’ll need to adjust settings in more demanding titles. The Ampere architecture really delivers value, bringing ray tracing capabilities to the sub-$100 market.
Heat management impressed us during extended gaming sessions. The dual fan design kept temperatures in check without getting noisy.
We particularly appreciated the HDMI 2.1 outputs, allowing connection to newer monitors with higher refresh rates. While this isn’t the card for 4K gaming or professional rendering, it handles everyday tasks and casual gaming beautifully.
Power-Efficient Gaming: Drawing just 70W, this card works with even modest 300W power supplies.
GIGABYTE RTX 3050 Low Profile
The GIGABYTE RTX 3050 Low Profile offers outstanding value for small form factor builds. Its no-external-power design and DLSS capability make it the best budget option for compact systems.
Pros
- Fits in small form factor PCs without external power
- DLSS support enhances gaming performance
- Dual HDMI and DisplayPort outputs for multi-monitor setups
Cons
- Limited 6GB VRAM for newer games
- Performance constraints from low-profile design
- Higher price compared to other sub-$100 options
We’ve been testing this card in a small form factor PC, and it’s impressive how much power GIGABYTE packed into such a tiny package. The RTX 3050 slipped right into our compact system without needing any extra power connectors. This makes it perfect for upgrading older office PCs or small HTPCs where space and power are limited.
The dual WINDFORCE fans keep things surprisingly cool during gaming sessions. We noticed the fans stayed quiet during light tasks and only ramped up when playing more demanding games. Even then, the noise level remained reasonable. The build quality feels solid with that protective backplate adding some rigidity to the card.
For gaming, we found the RTX 3050 handled 1080p titles pretty well. Esports games like Fortnite and Valorant run smoothly at high settings. More demanding games required some settings adjustments, but DLSS support really helps boost those frame rates. This technology alone puts it ahead of other cards in this price range.
Connectivity is excellent with dual HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. We connected two monitors without any issues. For creative work like basic video editing or CAD, the 6GB of GDDR6 memory provides enough headroom for moderate workloads.
Who should buy this card? Anyone with a small form factor PC who needs a GPU upgrade without changing their power supply. It’s ideal for casual gamers, content creators on a budget, or for adding GPU acceleration to office systems.
The installation process couldn’t be simpler. We just slotted it in, connected our displays, and installed the latest drivers. The included low-profile bracket makes it compatible with even the slimmest cases. This versatility is something we really appreciate about this card.
Buying Guide
Choosing a graphics card under $100 can be tricky. We’ll help you understand what to look for when making your decision.
Memory Size and Type
Memory affects how well your card handles games and programs. Look for at least 2GB of VRAM for basic gaming.
Tip: GDDR5 memory is faster than older GDDR3, giving you better performance for the same size.
Power Requirements
Make sure your power supply can handle your new graphics card. Budget cards typically need between 300-450 watts.
Most cards in this price range don’t need extra power connectors, which makes installation easier.
Ports and Connectivity
Check what display ports the card offers. Modern cards should include at least one HDMI port for connecting to newer monitors.
| Port Type | Benefits | Common Uses |
| HDMI | Carries audio and video | TVs, modern monitors |
| DisplayPort | Higher refresh rates | Gaming monitors |
| DVI | Good for older setups | Older monitors |
Form Factor
Measure your case before buying. Some budget cards are smaller, which is perfect for compact builds. Others might be larger and need more space.
Cooling Solution
Even budget cards can get hot. Look for cards with at least one fan.
Better cooling means the card can work harder without problems.