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Disclosure: We may earn money from the products mentioned in this post.
For every new generation of GPUs there becomes an older generation with a reduced price and amazing bang for buck. So if you're looking for the best graphics card under $100 then you've come to the right place.
Whilst you might hear stories of people spending in excess of $1,000 for a single graphics card, don't knock a sub-$100 GPU as you can get some pretty stellar performance out of them these days.
We will be covering both AMD and NVIDIA GPUs so if you have a preference for either brand then we will have an option for you.
Whilst the performance of sub-$100 GPUs is outstanding we will say that if you're looking to game at a 4K resolution then you might be disappointed.
So without further ado, let's get started!
Best GPUs Under $100
1. Gigabyte Radeon RX 550
| Technical Specification | |
| Memory | 2GB GDDR5 |
| Input | DVI-D, HDMI, Display Port |
| Form Factor | ATX |
Here it is, the best single GPU under $100 that money can buy, the Gigabyte Radeon RX 550. Starting off with the juicy tech spec, this card packs a solid 2GB of GDDR5 which allows this card to support up to 4K@60Hz through the HDMI and 8K@60Hz through the Display Port.
Just think about that for a second, a sub-$100 GPU that can support up to 8K resolution, it's a great time to be alive.
Now, before we go promoting this card further we would like to clarify that it's not going to be able to play new games on the max settings. However, it will allow you to play new games on low-medium at reasonable resolutions without too much of an issue.
Like previous entries in our list, the best graphics card under $100 also features a simple one-click ‘Super Overclocking' feature that will help get the most bang for your buck.
It also features a unique 90mm fan blade that produces a noticeable amount of cooling at a low decibel level. The fan will even go into a low RPM state if it detects that your PC is idling or not using the GPU much, how crazy is that!
There's not really much that we can complain about this card when it comes in under $100. If you're looking for a suitable replacement GPU for an old desktop PC then this has to be your go-to choice for everyday tasks and light gaming on the side.
2. Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030
| Technical Specification | |
| Memory | 2GB GDDR5 |
| Input | DVI-D, HDMI, Display Port |
| Form Factor | ATX |
The Gigabyte GeForce 1030 is a formidable GPU in the sub-$100 market quite simply due to the power it provides which is why we have made it our second best graphics card under $100.
Whilst we couldn't confidently recommend a GPU for playing newer games, we can with the GT 1030. It even supports resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz. The cooling solution is fairly discreet and for those who are environmentally aware you'll be happy to hear that it has a low power draw.
Similar to the previous entry on our list, the GT 1030 also comes with its own one-click overclocking via the AORUS graphics engine.
Relatively new GPU compared to previous entries so expect a few more years of driver updates and support.
In summary, another solid entry in our top 5 GPUs under $100 and one that will provide exceptional entry-level gaming performance. Not only that but it's perfectly suitable for everyday tasks along with multimedia processing.
3. ASUS AMD Radeon R7 250 1GB DDR5
| Technical Specification | |
| Memory | 1GB GDDR5 |
| Input | D-Sub, HDMI, DVI-D |
| Form Factor | ATX |
Coming in at the number 3 spot is the ASUS AMD Radeon R7 250 1GB. Sporting a small fan as its cooling solution, this simple yet powerful entry-level GPU is nothing to laugh at.
Whilst it only comes with a total of 1GB GDDR5 memory, it does support resolutions up to 2K and will run DirectX 12 without any issues. The fan is also dust-proof which has been known to increase the lifespan of the GPU by a whopping 25%! As gamers ourselves, we can appreciate the annoyance and issue of having dust get inside of your GPU on a regular basis.
Moving on to the software, this card comes with ASUS' own GPU Tweak II which allows you to customise the performance dynamically. If tinkering isn't your thing then you can simply opt for their famous one-click gaming booster which will improve performance on the spot.
There's not really much else to mention say about this card as it's a pretty basic entry-level gaming GPU that will provide you with the performance you need for a very affordable price.
4. AMD Radeon HD 7450
| Technical Specification | |
| Memory | 1GB GDDR3 |
| Input | Display Port and DVI-I |
| Form Factor | SFF |
Here's an interesting sub-$100 graphics card that we wanted to include just because we aren't solely about gaming GPUs.
The slim AMD Radeon HD 7450 provides a suitable and efficient solution for anyone that needs a GPU for home or the office.
It features a typical 0dB cooling solution, ideal for anyone who likes their peace and quiet. One quick thing to note is that it does not have a typical form factor. So this means that you will likely need to find a particular case to house it.
Where this card really stands out is its ability to support resolutions up to 2560 x 1600. It also supports multi-monitor setups for maximum productivity.
In summary, it's a nice break from the typical powerhouse gaming GPUs. It's also great if you want a GPU for everyday tasks such as web browsing or light media processing.
5. Gigabyte GeForce GT 710
| Technical Specification | |
| Memory | 1GB GDDR5 + 1GB comparted memory |
| Input | HDMI, Dual-link DVI-D and D-Sub |
| Form Factor | ATX |
Coming in at our number 5 spot is the Gigabyte GeForce GT 710 which is a worthy contender.
Rocking a discreet cooling solution which doesn't use a fan, this 2GB memory GPU will deliver all of the entry-level performance that you require.
Whilst it does come with a marketed ‘2GB' of memory, please note that only 1GB of this is actual GDDR5 memory and the other 1GB is comparted.
For those wanting a multi-monitor setup, you'll be happy to know that a measly sub-$40 GPU can actually support up to 3 monitors.
In short, it's a great first GPU to get your kids into building their own PC and some light gaming but don't expect miracles.
Well, that about wraps up our top GPUs for less than $100 list, we hope you've enjoyed it and if you have any questions feel free to leave them below and we'll be in touch!
If you found this post helpful then why not check out our other ones:
– Best PSU 2019 Under $100
– Best PC Case Under $100 2019
– Best RAM for Gaming
– Best Gaming Keyboards 2019
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