As a fellow Indian who grew up in a lower middle class family, I understand that a lot of Indian can't afford to spend more than ₹10,000-15,000 on a graphic card. I'm also aware that if you don't live in certain cities then Amazon is cheapest store that can actually deliver to you.
So I'll rate various budget GPUs that are in stock and help you make informed choices. Let's begin:
GPUs under ₹5,000
I'll clear something first, most GPUs in this segment should only be used for Video Output or to play really old or easy to run games if the integrated graphics of your ultra cheap PC is struggling in them. Also, I'm only listing products with "Fulfilled by Amazon" tag for buyer safety. Still you should follow my tips on online shopping safety.
So here are the contenders:
- Nvidia GT 710 2GB DDR3 - Strictly NO, GT 730 cost about the same and are much better. Only buy them if you're getting them under ₹2700.
- Nvidia GT 730 2GB DDR5 - To be used with old and cheap processors like Core 2 Duo/Quad or first gen Core i3 processors. Also keep in mind that there are 4GB variants of this card, don't blindly go for them, make sure they aren't DDR3. Type of games you can play on this GPU - Minecraft, CSGO, Valorant, GTA 5, or older games from early 2000s. Only suited for 720p gaming.
Also keep an eye out for Radeon R5 230 like GPUs if they ever come in stock under ₹5,000.
GPUs under ₹10,000
Now that's the price segment where you can get some decent value for your money. Once again, these GPUs are not suited for gaming so shouldn't be considered for a new build. Use them for 2nd/3rd/4th gen Intel builds.
So here are the contenders:
- Nvidia GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 - Once again, 4GB variant also available but beware of DDR4 VRAM variants. This is more suitable for somewhat recent games but it is still 720p low territory category. But you can have competitive 120+ FPS experience in games like CSGO, Valorant and Fortnite.
- AMD RX 550 4GB - It also comes with 2GB VRAM models but unlike Nvidia, they're not plagued by slower VRAM. You'll get GDDR5 with all models. And it is definitely better than GT 1030.
Also keep an eye out for rare listings of GTX 1050 Ti or RX 560 under ₹10,000.
GPUs under ₹15,000
Now we're in proper 1080p gaming territory. You'd still be needed to drop the graphics to low-medium in some games but you can enjoy smooth 1080p gaming in this budget.
- Nvidia GTX 1630 - As a GT 1030 successor, it surely is impressive, but not so impressive if you factor the price tag. If it wasn't for GPU shortage, you could've gotten your hands on a RX 570 or GTX 1650 GDDR6 models. Both provide better performance. In fact it loses clearly to AMD's similarly priced RX 6400, the only advantage 1630 has is the included NVENC encoder. Which can allow you to record or stream your gameplays without sacrificing much performance.
- AMD RX 6400 - While it received a lot of backlash for using PCIe 4.0x4 and 64Bit bus(it is fine if you don't understand what it means), it still managed to match(and occasionally outperform) a GTX 1650. So if you use your PC for gaming only, it will be perfect choice considering the current GPU prices.
- Nvidia GTX 1650 - While it loses to RX 6400 when considering price to performance, it is still better choice if you record or stream your gameplay. The GDDR6 variant may be slightly over ₹15,000 but as you may have guessed by now, faster memory also gives slightly better FPS.
Keep an eye out for RX 570 4GB, RX 580 4GB and GTX 1650 Super(if it ever comes back to market).
So, I hope the above information was useful. If you come across a deal that seems great but you're not really sure, feel free to ask my opinion in the comments(for Indian readers only, can't keep track of GPU prices all over the world).
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