It’s all about the games
Are you building a PC for playing games like Apex Legends or Roblox? Or are you building a multi-monitor flight simulation machine? Knowing what games you are targeting and the type of experience you want, applies across all budgets.
A good first step is to determine the minimum specifications required for the games you want to play. Typically, games list these system requirements, which help narrow down the components you will need. Many of the most popular games today run great on an entry-level gaming PC.
Key Components of an Entry PC Build
CPU/Processor – Important for overall system performance, and the wrong processor can be a gaming bottleneck. AMD Ryzen™ 5 and AMD Ryzen™ 7 CPUs are the best entry level gaming options from AMD.
Motherboard – The main framework that all PC components connect to, and can affect graphics card bandwidth. For entry PCs an AMD B550 (Ryzen 5000 series - PCIe Gen 4) or AMD B650 (Ryzen 7000 Series - PCIe Gen 5) are your choices from AMD.
Memory – 16GB in dual channel (2 identical sticks of 8GB) is recommended as a minimum.
Graphics Card – The main component responsible for framerates and visual quality. AMD Radeon™ RX 6000 Series graphics cards have several great options for entry PCs, which we will go into detail about below.
AMD Radeon™ Graphics Under $250
MODEL | COMPUTE UNITS | MEMORY SIZE |
28 | 8 GB | |
16 | 8 GB / 4GB | |
12 | 4 GB |
When considering an entry level Radeon™ RX graphics card, your target resolution is typically 1080p for gaming. Memory size (VRAM) will determine your card’s ability to handle higher quality settings. With 4GB of memory, this will enable most mainstream games and AAA games to run at medium or even high graphics settings. With 8GB, you’ll be able to dial up to the highest in-game settings at 1080p.
Compute units, or CU’s, handle the graphics computations for your game. The more Compute Units, the more performance the GPU has to drive framerates. For most games, the target framerate to hit will be above 60 frames-per-second (FPS). And, if you get a monitor that supports AMD FreeSync technology[1], this will further enhance your experience by reducing choppy-looking gameplay and broken frames for a more fluid, artifact-free performance.
AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™
The AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition™ platform provides users with a range of powerful tools and features designed to enhance their gaming experience. This includes:
- AMD Radeon™ Boost technology: Extra performance & responsiveness through dynamic resolution adjustments.[2]
- AMD Radeon™ Anti-Lag technology: Reduces input lag for a more responsive gaming feel.[3]
- AMD Radeon™ Super Resolution technology: Works with thousands of games to increase your gaming performance using in-driver upscaling. If you can't get above your preferred FPS minimums, turn this technology on in Adrenalin to boost your games FPS to up 3X.[4]
With continuous improvements, the latest version of AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and the 23.2.1 driver update bring some incredible performance uplifts for gamers:
Performance Gains from Launch Driver to 23.2.1[5]
Putting it all Together
AMD Radeon™ has several offerings below $250 to consider. Whether you’re jumping into Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V or climbing the ranks in Valorant, there are some great options for you no matter the budget.
Game Performance (FPS) at 1080p Native Resolution
Performance on a few of the top played titles[6]
Radeon™ delivers superior performance in its class and more performance-per-dollar than other options when buying a new GPU.
Performance-Per-Dollar (Higher is Better)
Average FPS across 7 games: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Ultra); Grand Theft Auto V (Ultra); Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Ultra); Dota 2 (Ultra); PUBG (Ultra); Valorant (High); Red Dead Redemption 2 (High); and Cyberpunk 2077 (Medium). Based on average market price on newegg.com as of February 15, 2023.[7]
From flagship performance with AMD Radeon™ RX 7000 Series GPUs, to incredible price/performance with the Radeon™ RX 6000 Series graphics cards, AMD has you covered. With the recommendations above, you can jump into some great gaming with an entry GPU starting at $129.
For more information on where to buy AMD Radeon™ RX 6000 Series graphics, visit our Where to Buy Radeon RX 6000 Series page.
And for more information on AMD Software, visit www.amd.com/adrenalin and discover what else you can do with our software.
Matthew Hummel is a Product Marketing Manager for Radeon™ graphics cards at AMD. Matt is a passionate gamer who loves the Halo series and is currently playing through Metroid Prime Remastered.
Endnotes:
1) AMD FreeSync™ technology requires AMD Radeon™ graphics and a display that supports FreeSync technology as certified by AMD. AMD FreeSync™ Premium technology adds requirements of mandatory low framerate compensation and at least 120 Hz refresh rate at minimum FHD. AMD FreeSync™ Premium Pro technology adds requirements for the display to meet AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compliance tests. See www.amd.com/freesync for complete details. Confirm capability with your system manufacturer before purchase. GD-127
2) Radeon™ Boost is compatible with Windows 10 and 11 in select titles only. Hardware compatibility includes RX 400 and newer consumer dGPUs, Ryzen™ 2000 and newer APUs, including hybrid and detachable graphics configurations. No mGPU support. Radeon™ Boost VRS compatible with AMD Radeon™ RX 6000 Series Graphics exclusively. For a list of compatible titles & APIs see https://www.amd.com/en/technologies/radeon-boost. GD-158
3) Radeon™ Anti-Lag is compatible with DirectX 9, DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 APIs, Windows 10 and 11. Hardware compatibility includes Polaris and newer consumer dGPUs Ryzen™ 2000 and newer APUs, including hybrid and detachable graphics configurations. No mGPU support. GD-157
4) Radeon Super Resolution works with games that support exclusive and borderless full-screen modes. AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 22.5.2 or newer is required. GD-197
5) Testing conducted by AMD as of February 13, 2023, on test systems configured similarly with AMD Ryzen™ 5 7600X CPU, 32GB DDR5-6000 memory, and Windows 11 Pro, across AMD Radeon™ RX 6600, RX 6500 XT (4GB), and RX 6400 GPUs with AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 23.2.1 and 22.11.2 on. The following games were tested at 1080p resolution: Dying Light 2, God of War, World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, Sniper Elite 5. Performance may vary. System manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results. RX-891
6) Testing done by AMD performance labs February 13, 2023, on test systems configured similarly with a Ryzen™ 5 7600X CPU, 32GB DDR5-6000 memory, and Windows 11 Pro, across AMD Radeon™ RX 6600, RX 6500 XT (4GB), and RX 6400 GPUs with AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 23.2.1. The following games were tested at 1080p resolution: Grand Theft Auto V (Very High), Valorant (High), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Ultra), and Overwatch 2 (Epic). System manufacturers may vary configurations yielding different results. RX-892
7) Testing done by AMD performance labs February 13, 2023, on test systems configured similarly with a Ryzen™ 5 7600X CPU, 32GB DDR5-6000 memory, and Windows 11 Pro, across AMD Radeon™ RX 6600, RX 6500 XT (4GB), and RX 6400 GPUs with AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 23.2.1 vs. a similarly configured test system with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 8GB, GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6 and 1630 4GB GDDR5 graphics cards (Driver 528.24), in the following games and settings at 1080p: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Ultra); Grand Theft Auto V (Ultra); Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Ultra); Dota 2 (Ultra); PUBG (Ultra); Valorant (High); Red Dead Redemption 2 (High); and Cyberpunk 2077 (Medium). System manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results. Performance per dollar calculated using average Newegg USD pricing for individual AMD and NVIDIA GPUs as of February 13, 2023, over the average FPS scores in the titles above. RX-893
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