The wide and easy availability of 4k graphics card content has made people opt for 4k machines. Be it a computer, laptop, or even a TV; everyone seems to be excited about this Ultra HD revolution. Anyhow, it’s the gaming enthusiasts who seem quite excited because of newly launched 4k Graphics Card of gaming titles. So now, to build a quality gaming pc, they often search for cheap 4k graphics cards.
There are so many types of 4k graphics cards available out there. Therefore, more and more people seem interested in figuring out what are the best cheap graphics cards. Well, don’t worry; this guide is all about these affordable 4k graphics cards. So, let us get into it!
Best Cheap 4k Graphics Card – Our Top Picks!
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
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Editor's Choice
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NVidia GTX 1080i
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NVidia GTX 1080i |
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View on Amazon |
Easy to Carry
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Gigabyte AORUS GeForce 1090 TI
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Gigabyte AORUS GeForce 1090 TI
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View on Amazon |
Top Notch Quality
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ASUS GeForce GTX 1080Ti Turbo
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ASUS GeForce GTX 1080Ti Turbo
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View on Amazon |
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070
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Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070&Prime
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View on Amazon | |
MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
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MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
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View on Amazon | |
AMD Radeon RX 5700XT
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AMD Radeon RX 5700XT
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View on Amazon | |
Best Product
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
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View on Amazon |
EVGA GeForce GTX 1080Ti
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EVGA GeForce GTX 1080Ti
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View on Amazon | |
1: NVidia GTX 1080i– 4k graphics card
Let us be honest; finding high-quality graphics cards at affordable rates is not easy. But, anyhow, we managed to find the best of the lot. So, at first, we have the all-new NVidia GTX 1080i.
This cheap 4k graphics card has all the guts to help you play almost every modern 4k game at reasonable frame rates. |
From the outside, this card looks like any other graphics card. However, despite the affordable price, the design here is pretty reasonable. Now, let us talk a bit more about its technical specifications. This particular graphic card has 11 GB of VRAM.
Further, your get over three thousand Cuda cores. We all know how important Cuda cores are for a graphic card. With 1480 MHZ, this graphic card is no short in terms of quality performance. The bus width here is around 352 bits.
In addition, you can expect a solid all-around performance from this graphic card. However, some experts claim that for constant 60fps gaming, this card may not be the best choice. Apart from this, there is hardly anything to complain about here.
Pros
- Solid gaming performance
- High-quality graphics
- Efficient cooling
- Power efficiency
Cons
- Limited availability
- Size and space requirements
- Future-proofing
2: Gigabyte AORUS GeForce 1090 TI-4k graphics card
Next up, we have the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce 1090 TI graphics card; this particular graphic card has all the bells and whistles to be claimed as one of the cheapest 4k graphic cards of this year.
Like the GTX 1080i from NVidia, this graphic card also comes with VRAM. Now, we think that’s a good amount of VRAM to deal with. With 11GB of VRAM, you can play almost every famous video title out there.
The base clock speed here is 1632 MHZ which isn’t bad at all for a cheap GPU 2022. However, note that the boosted clock speed is 1756 MHZ, which is very impressive for a budget graphic processor |
We cannot forget the 12+2 super high-quality cooling system. With this three-fan cooling system, nothing should harm your gaming experience with this GPU.
Moreover, this card is also backed by the NVidia PASCA technology. Now, that’s something very special. In addition, this card is also VR-ready, so you can play VR-ready games at crisp resolutions.
Last but not the least, the RGB fusion 2.0 lets you make your whole gaming PC look great apart from the extreme gaming performance. All in all, we are really surprised by the performance of Gigabyte AORUS GeForce 1090 TI. It is definitely one of the best cheap 4k graphic cards out there.
Pros
- Performance
- AORUS Design
- Cooling
- VRAM and Memory Speed
Cons
- EOL and Successor
- Limited Editions
- Overclocking Potential
3: ASUS GeForce GTX 1080Ti Turbo-4k graphics card
Anyhow, let us talk a bit more about the actual performance of this card. The ram here is the same (11 GB of VRAM). Now, almost most of these graphic cards have 11 GB Of ram. Therefore, this card also delivers good gaming performance.
The ASUS GeForce GTX 1080Ti Turbo is an excellent GPU for 4k Gaming. Compared to the base variant, the company here claims that this card will perform 35% better. Now, only real-world testing could show whether that claim is true. |
You can connect this card to the PCLe 3.0 slot of your motherboard. Now, let us talk a bit about the clock speed here. You get the base clock speed of around 1480 MHZ. At the same time, the turbo boost speed here is around 1582 MHZ.
We think that’s a good enough clock speed for a cheap 4k graphic card. Furthermore, you get 3585 Cuda cores here.
One interesting thing about ASUS GeForce GTX 1080Ti Turbo is that you can customize its back logo with a multicolor light. All in all, we think the ASUS GeForce GTX 1080Ti Turbo is a value-for-money graphics card.
Pros
- Performance Powerhouse
- Blower-Style Cooling
- Overclocking Potential
- VR-Ready Experience
Cons
- Price
- Heat and Noise
- VRAM Limitation
4: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070-4k graphics card
The NVidia GeForce RTX 2070 is also an excellent value-for-money graphics card. Now, this is an offering by a reputable brand name. Therefore, the performance of this graphic card remains top-notch.
It costs under a thousand-dollar mark (which is a good amount for a quality HD graphic card). In addition, it comes with 8 GB of onboard Ram. Now, we will say that don’t go after the numbers only. That’s because NVidia is the brand that’s behind this GPU.
Anyhow, the base clock frequency of this card is 1605 MHZ, and the turbo-boosted clock speed is 1770 MHZ. Similarly, the NVidia GeForce RTX 2070 has 2560 Cuda cores. Further, this card requires 215W of power to be able to run smoothly.
Unlike some expensive options, you only get two cooling fans here. In short, the NVidia GeForce RTX 2070 may not offer the most impressive specifications. However, this card delivers decent gaming performance. |
If you are a newbie or have a limited budget, we recommend going with NVidia GeForce RTX 2070.
Pros
- High Performance
- Real-time Ray Tracing
- DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling)
- Dual Fan Cooling
Cons
- Power Consumption
- Limited VRAM
- Availability
5: MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti-4k graphics card
If you want a gigantic graphic card with excellent gaming capability, the MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is for you. Unfortunately, this particular graphic card is quite bulky. That’s because it has three dedicated heat-sinking fans.
The internal specifications are quite impressive. For some smooth 4k gaming, you have to bear this size. The base clock speed of this card is 1569 MHZ, and the boosted clock speed is over 1600 MHZ. |
Like other best cheap 4k gaming cards, you also get 11 GB of VRAM (enough to run most 4k gaming titles). With these specs, you shouldn’t have a tough time running almost any modern-day game. We recommend coupling up some good gaming processors to further increase its gaming performance.
One thing we forgot to mention is that this gaming card also has dedicated cooling pipes. So, which is gigantic size, the brand also has a decent cooling system to ensure everything runs smoothly. In short, the MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is an excellent gaming card.
Pros
- Powerful gaming performance
- High-quality graphics
- Efficient cooling
- Overclocking potential
Cons
- Power consumption
- Size and space requirements
- Limited availability
6: AMD Radeon RX 5700XT-4k graphics card
AMD is known for high-quality yet affordable processors and GPUs. Even this time, AMD hasn’t disappointed us. That’s because their third-generation GPU range seems quite impressive. The Radeon RX 5700T is quite affordable. But that doesn’t mean this GPU doesn’t deliver good performance.
With 8 GB of VRAM, you can play most of the demanding games of this year. Our cheap 4k graphic cards review found only a few GPUs with 8 GB of VRAM. However, surprisingly both of them performed pretty great. |
Anyhow, let us specifically talk about the Radeon RX 5700T. This card has 40 AMD computing units (referred to as Cuda cores). Now, on paper, they may seem on the lower side, but the performance here isn’t that bad.
The turbo-boosted frequency of this graphic card is 1905 MHZ which we think is more than enough given the affordable price tag. With these specifications, this card can run most of today’s gaming titles for up to 60 seconds (in 4k resolution).
On the downside, you only get a single cooling fan. This cooling fan does get noisy. So, that’s something you should know before buying this graphics card.
Pros
- Strong gaming performance
- Efficient 7nm architecture
- AMD RDNA architecture
- High video memory capacity
Cons
- Potential driver issues
- Limited ray tracing support
- Power consumption
7: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080-4k graphics card
In the heart of RTX 2080 is an 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Now, there are a lot fewer GPUs that actually have GDDR6-compatible ram.
The GeForce RTX 2080 is a special graphics card with a lot to like. With this card, nothing stops you from 4k 60 FPS gaming. Obviously, there is a cost, too, but this card is an ideal option for high-end gaming. |
In addition, the RTX 2080 has 3072 Cuda cores which are enough for running any game in 4k up to 60 FPS. An interesting feature added to this GPU makes it different from the rest of the cards.
The GeForce RTX 2080 is backed by a DLSS 2.0 technology, the purpose of using this technology is to enhance the frame rate by 1.5 percent. Further, this graphic card requires 250W of power.
The overall cooling performance of this card is also on-par with the other similar options. You get two cooling fans here. All in all, the GeForce RTX 2080 is an excellent high-performance graphic card for 4k Gaming.
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Ray tracing technology
- Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS)
Cons
- Limited availability
- Power consumption
- Size and space requirements
8: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080Ti-4k graphics card
Some gamers may not be familiar with EVGA GeForce GTX 1080Ti. However, it is one good performing graphic processor. This card also has pretty much the same specifications as the previous generation cards.
The EVGA GeForce GTX 1080Ti is a high-performance graphics card with 11GB of GDDR5X memory, 3584 CUDA cores, and a boost clock speed of 1582MHz. It features EVGA’s iCX technology for improved cooling and RGB lighting for customization. The GTX 1080Ti is capable of running games in 4k at high settings and is also suitable for VR gaming. |
Its price, solid performance, and decent cooling performance are what make this card unique. You won’t be disappointed if we talk about the performance side of things. That’s because you can easily overclock this card.
The base clock speed is also not bad at all. You get around 1420 MHZ base clock speed. So, in short, the EVGA GeForce GTX 1080Ti is also a very capable gaming card. Sure, it’s cheap, but it is also 4k-ready.
Pros
- Powerful performance
- High-quality graphics
- VR-ready
- Efficient cooling
Cons
- Power consumption
- Size and space requirements
- Limited availability
How to Buy the Best Cheap 4k graphics card?
Once you know the cheap gaming cards for 4k gaming, it’s time to buy them. Again, we recommend opting for high-quality gaming cards. In case you are a bit unsure, here is our brief buying guide:
1: Resolution
First and foremost, you have to choose the resolution of the graphic card. Usually, it is quite easy to choose as you are familiar with your monitor’s resolution. But in some cases, users often buy a graphic card that doesn’t match their monitor’s resolution.
Well, it’s good practice in general. That’s because you must buy a graphic card matching your gaming monitor’s resolution. For example, a 1080p GPU is good for a 1080p display. We recommend opting for a 4k graphic card only if you have a dedicated 4k display.
2: Refresh Rate Also Matters
Apart from the monitor’s resolution, the refresh rate is also something you should never compromise. Most of people have 60 GHz displays these days. So, a 1080p GPU is all you need for that monitor.
However, if you have a 120 HZ monitor, you may opt for a high-end gaming card since these cards offer high-resolution gaming at higher frame rates.
3: Video Memory
Video memory is an important component in a GPU as it stores data used to display images on a monitor. The larger the video memory, the more graphic data can be stored and processed. This leads to better graphics quality, smoother gameplay, and faster application performance.
Furthermore, Video memory also helps reduce stuttering or lag time when playing games or running applications with high-resolution textures. For those seeking maximum graphical performance, having more video memory is essential for running modern PC games at higher settings and resolutions with minimal latency.
4: FreeSync vs G-Sync
FreeSync and G-Sync technologies provide a significant advantage when paired with a GPU, delivering smoother visuals and eliminating stuttering. FreeSync is an adaptive synchronization technology developed by AMD that matches your monitor’s refresh rate to your graphics card’s render rate, eliminating tearing and stuttering as the two work in tandem.
G-Sync is Nvidia’s proprietary version of this technology, offering similar benefits. Both are designed to eliminate screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag. So, you should also look for this aspect while choosing the best cheap 4k gaming card.
FAQ’s
Q1: What is the best cheap 4k graphics card?
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super is considered the best cheap 4k graphics card, offering excellent performance at a reasonable price.
Q2: How much does the GTX 1660 Super cost?
The price of the GTX 1660 Super varies depending on the brand and model, but it typically ranges from $230 to $300.
Q3: Can the GTX 1660 Super handle 4k gaming?
Yes, the GTX 1660 Super is capable of running games in 4k, although you may need to lower some settings to achieve optimal performance.
Q4: What other features does the GTX 1660 Super have?
The GTX 1660 Super has 6GB of GDDR6 memory, 1408 CUDA cores, and a boost clock speed of 1785MHz. It also supports ray tracing and DLSS technology for improved graphics and performance.
Final Thoughts!
So, now you know the best cheap 4k graphics cards of 2023. According to our testing, it’s the NVidea GTX 1080i. This cheap 4k graphics card has all the guts to help you play almost every modern 4k game at reasonable frame rates.
Anyhow, there are other good gaming cards too. Our buying guide will also help you a lot in this regard.