We have all played games, whether it be on our phones, gaming consoles or computers. Although, to be able to play recent games on computers we would require a dedicated graphics card. Most users go above and beyond to get the best of the best and play the most high-end games on high settings with no holding back on performance.
Sometimes, users prefer a mid-range card that gives average performance but also the capability to run desired games. The logic is simple, the higher the settings, the more the performance and hence, a stronger dedicated graphic card. Depending on the types of games we want to play these can be quite expensive.
However, for playing games at medium or even high settings at 720p we do not need a graphics card that costs more than $100. Such cards provide the ultimate experience for optimum gaming, all within the restraints of your budget or pocket money. This article will help you choose which card would be best suited not only for your needs but your requirements as well.
Nvidia and AMD both provide some decent graphics cards at or below $100 that can handle the latest games at 720p or even 1080p if the settings are lowered significantly. They may not run AAA titles well but for popular e-sports titles like DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive they are quite sufficient. GT1030 Combined with an affordable CPU like the Pentium G4560 these cards can provide the best value for money for gaming on a tight budget.
Top 8 Best Graphics Card under 100
1. NVIDA GeForce GT 1030 – View on Amazon
Most of what G Force offers is usually features that would suit everyday gamers. The 1030 series is no different, but even though it may be the lowest-spec graphics card in the GTX 10 series, but it definitely doesn’t compromise when it comes to performance and giving users the features they paid for.
It comes with a 2GB GDDR5 64 – bit memory. This graphic card allows gamers to play more demanding games but at lower frames and reduced settings, mostly low to medium settings depending on the type of game.
The graphic card supports HDMI 4k at 60 Hz and comes with 6008 MHz of memory speed. With a 2GB RAM, the card runs on 300W power supply making it perfect for mid ranged gamers looking to find the best money can buy under 100.
2. EVGA GeForce GT 710 – View on Amazon
Another inexpensive solution for everyday gamers, the GT 710 with 192 CUDA cores and 1 GB of DDR3 memory clears out the fact that the card wasn’t made for high-end gaming and high performance, but still provides the best features for its price rather than its speed. The card has the capability of rendering up-to 3 monitors simultaneously.
But the fan-less design ensures silence and hence provides long term reliability and endurance as compared to other fanned counterparts. The size of the card also helps it fit in just about any case, making it not only easy but convenient as well for less tech savvy gamers.
However, the card isn’t recommended for users looking for higher performance, but if you have low expectations and want to run less demanding games on lower settings, then it’s the best on the market.
3. AMD Radeon R7 240 – View on Amazon
This card provides 2GB DDR3, which allows you to run your common casual games on a steady rate at 720p. It will run the games smoothly on without any hitches, however, might cause lag if you want to play the games on higher or ultra-settings.
The card itself comes with a large fan in order to keep it at optimum temperature. Regardless, the R7 240 is perhaps the best choice on the market for users who want to play casual games on medium settings and still keep it under 100.
The card is clocked at 900 MHz and runs on 400W. Benchmarking proved that it can run games without any lag or FPS drops on medium settings but however can cause trouble on higher end performance settings.
4. AMD Radeon MSI HD 6450 – View on Amazon
Another AMD card on the list that serves the purpose for being one of the best cards you can buy under a 100. This series comes with 2GB, clock speed of 625 MHz and can run on 400 W power supply or greater. The card can be clocked at 1066 MHz and with no noise performance, it’s definitely an all-time favourite for most users that are looking for a high-performance card under the 100 dollar budget.
It also has the ability to run games on older or outdated computers, which makes it a convenient choice for those gamers who aren’t particularly looking to go all out on their builds. The card is also compatible with both Linux and Windows, but lacks the updates for drivers and proper support. But for a low range GPU, the 6450 series can go a long way.
5. AMD Radeon R7 250 – View on Amazon
Lastly, we have yet another R7 series product on the list. It’s the next card after the 240 and can reliably perform well at higher resolutions as compared to other cards under 100 which perform better at medium to lower resolutions. The card provides 384 stream processors and clocks at 1.05 GHz. An added advantage is the PCI Express x16, making it convenient and easy.
Therefore, not requiring any additional power connections. Also with 128-bit memory interface, and a dust proof fan, the card really stands out when it comes to buying the best money can get. The card was benchmarked to even run higher end games, although at lower settings and less frames, but running nevertheless. The R7 250 is a solid choice for gamers who want not only performance but elegance and convenience as well all under $100.
6. NVIDA GeForce GT 740 – View on Amazon
Keeping in mind that this card costs just a little over 100, it is nevertheless a great choice for gamers looking to play most top games smoothly, and with steady FPS on medium to higher settings. The device itself has a very high base clock speed, at 1033 MHz, and with 5 GHz memory speed.
The 2GB card comes with 384 cores and 5000 MHz memory speed. Although it can run higher-end games but it would be on a steady rate of 30 frames. With 32 texture units, it promises to provide what gamers are looking for within a constrained budget. Promising not only speed but performance as well.
7. AMD Radeon RX 550 – View on Amazon
When it comes to what Radeon has to offer, they don’t leave anything to chance either and make sure users get the best within a small budget. the RX 550 is based on the Lexa Chip, which is somewhat of a newer version of chips present in previous series but with fewer cores and a higher clock rate.
The standard clock for the RX 550 is 1100 MHz, with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, but is also available in 4 GB. Even though the card uses a PCI Express 3.0 x8 connection and not x16, this does not alter or decrease the overall performance of the card.
The card, however, is aimed at less demanding games, which can be run on medium to lower graphics while providing a steady FPS rate. It isn’t targeted for users who aim to play AAA games with high resolution or graphics.
Nevertheless, it has been benchmarked to provide steady average performance on most casual and mid-ranged games.
8. NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 – View on Amazon
The Nvidia GeForce GT 730 is a graphics card with Nvidia’s old Maxwell architecture but it is still a good replacement for most of the graphics that come integrated with CPUs.
The card features 2GB of DDR3 memory, however, a newer version which features the faster DDR5 memory has been released. There is also a 1GB version but most recent games require a minimum of 2GB for smooth gameplay.
This card only consumes 49 watts and is low profile, which means that no external power cables are needed and the PCI Express slot on the motherboard is enough to provide it with sufficient power.
However, this isn’t a dedicated gaming card so don’t expect it to be running high end games on full performance. It’s clocked at 902 MHz with memory speed of 1.8GHz. But with 384 cores, it can be an ideal choice for mid-range games all under 100.
Conclusion:
There you have it, a list of the top most recommended graphic cards to buy in case you’re tight on budget or want to spend you cash elsewhere on other parts while building your perfectly customized desktop.
Depending on whether you want high-end performance, or medium resolution or perhaps just decent rates on lower settings, this list will give you all the answers you need and are looking for.
Running AAA titles can be tricky and therefore require higher end cards, but if you don’t have the budget for it and still want to try out all those games, go ahead and choose what would suit you best.
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