The State of the ‘Low-End’ GPU Market in 2025: Is It Still Low-End If It Costs £350?
Let’s face it - the idea of a “low-end” graphics card has changed dramatically. Just five years ago, you could grab a budget GPU for £200. Now? You’re lucky to find anything remotely capable under £330. And no, the Nvidia GT 1030 still doesn’t count - it's basically just a glorified HDMI port.
But here's the good news: things are finally shifting. Intel and AMD are putting real pressure on Nvidia in this space. So what should you actually buy?
What to Avoid
Before we get into real recommendations, here’s what you should skip:
- Anything with 4GB or 6GB of VRAM - These cards are already obsolete for gaming in 2025.
- GPUs under £200 - Most are recycled tech with outdated performance.
- 8GB VRAM GPUs over £250 - These will not age well. You’ll feel the stutter in big games sooner than you think.
Decent Picks Under £250
Intel Arc A750 (8GB) – £190
Still a decent pick for 1080p gaming, especially in indie or mid-tier games. Modern encoders (like AV1), decent driver support, and low cost make it great for HTPCs (home theatre PCs) or casual gaming. For AAA titles, though, it’s beginning to show its limits.
The Game Changer: Intel Arc B580
Intel Arc B580 (12GB) – £249
Now we’re talking. The B580 just launched and it’s a proper budget gaming card. With 12GB of VRAM, a wide memory bus, and improved “Battlemage” drivers, this GPU delivers surprisingly solid performance at both 1080p and 1440p.
It competes directly with Nvidia’s 5060, but with more VRAM and stronger performance in texture-heavy and modern titles. For under £250, this is the most exciting GPU on the market right now.
What About Nvidia?
Looking for a solid Nvidia gaming card under £250?
Not gonna happen.
Nvidia RTX 5060 (8GB) – £270
The 5060 is the first proper Nvidia gaming card by price, but it only offers 8GB of VRAM. That’s a problem in 2025.
Games are more demanding, and even at 1080p, some titles will push past that memory limit. You’ll notice stutters, low 1% frame rates, and inconsistent performance in newer AAA titles. At this price point, 8GB just isn’t cutting it anymore.
AMD Enters the Ring
AMD RX 9060 XT (16GB) – £330
This is AMD’s answer to the 5060, and frankly, it's the better choice. With 16GB of VRAM, better memory bandwidth, and solid 1440p performance, the 9060 XT is the most balanced card in this range.
Early benchmarks show it outperforming the 5060 in most modern games, especially where VRAM matters - which is most games now.
And the 5060 Ti?
Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti (16GB) – £420
Sure, it finally gives you 16GB of VRAM - but it doesn’t give you much more performance than the AMD 9060 XT. That extra £90-£100? You’re mostly paying for Nvidia’s ecosystem, not extra frames.
Unless you need Nvidia's encoder tech or CUDA support for work, it’s just not worth it.
Final Thoughts: A “Low-End” Market That Starts at £330?
Here’s the honest truth:
If you want to game at 1440p, use higher settings, and play modern titles without running into VRAM walls, the real low-end starts at £330 now. That used to be mid-range. But in today’s market, if you want usable longevity, these are your options:
- ✅ Intel Arc B580 (12GB) – £249 - best sub-£250 card right now.
- ✅ AMD RX 9060 XT (16GB) – £330 - best value overall.
- ❌ Nvidia RTX 5060 (8GB) – £270 - outclassed by both options above.
- ❌ Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti (16GB) – £420 - overpriced for what it delivers.
How Do You Feel About That?
What we used to call "budget" now starts at over £300. Two or three years from now, even these will be borderline. If you’re buying a card in 2025, buy enough VRAM or buy again soon.
So, what did you end up choosing?
Thanks,
Tarl @ Gamertech