I'm planning to build a PC but can't afford a dedicated graphics card right away, so I'd like to use the APU's integrated graphics temporarily. I'm considering a Ryzen 5 5600G—or possibly the 3600G, if available—and would eventually like to add an affordable GPU. I mainly want to play games such as Valorant, Counter-Strike, and other non-AAA titles. What graphics card would be a good value when I'm ready to upgrade?
5 Answers
A used RX 6700 XT or RX 6750 XT can also be excellent value if you find one around the equivalent of €230–€260. These cards offer noticeably more performance and are a good match for 1080p gaming, though the 5600G’s reduced cache can limit performance in some CPU-heavy games.
The right GPU depends on the games and resolution you plan to use. For Valorant, Counter-Strike, and similar games, a midrange card such as an RX 6600-class model is already plenty. A much stronger card like an RX 7700 XT can work, but it may be unnecessary for this type of gaming and could expose the 5600G’s CPU limitations at high frame rates.
For affordable 1080p gaming, a used Radeon RX 6600 XT is a strong option. It usually has 8GB of VRAM and is powerful enough for esports games and many more demanding titles. Buying used may be the best way to keep the total cost down.
The Ryzen 5 5600G is the better choice for using integrated graphics while you save for a GPU. It won’t deliver an amazing experience, but it should handle lighter esports games at playable settings. Once you have the money, buy the newest card that fits your budget rather than choosing one too far in advance.
Don’t focus too heavily on picking the perfect future GPU yet, since prices and availability can change. Build around the 5600G for now, and make sure the system has dual-channel 3200–3600 MHz RAM and a decent NVMe SSD. The integrated graphics use system memory, so faster dual-channel RAM helps.
Since the games are mostly esports and non-AAA titles, I’d prioritize a good-value used card instead of spending on a high-end GPU. The RX 6600 or 6600 XT should be more than enough for 1080p.