Best GPU Under $300 in 2026: Complete Buyer's Guide

The sub-$300 GPU market in 2026 is incredibly competitive. Whether you're building your first gaming PC or upgrading an older system, there are excellent options from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel.

Top Picks Under $300

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 remains a strong contender at $299, offering solid 1080p and respectable 1440p performance with DLSS 3 support. AMD's Radeon RX 7600 at $269 provides excellent value for pure rasterization, while Intel's Arc B580 at $249 has emerged as the budget champion with 12GB VRAM.

What to Look For

At this price range, prioritize: 8GB+ VRAM for longevity, good 1080p performance (this is your target resolution), and features like ray tracing support and modern video encoding for streaming.

Our Recommendation

For most buyers, the Intel Arc B580 offers the best bang-for-buck with 12GB VRAM at $249. If you need NVIDIA's ecosystem (CUDA, NVENC, DLSS), the RTX 4060 is worth the premium.