Best GPU Under £500 (2026) — United Kingdom
£500 is the most popular price point for a reason: it's comfortably enough for 1440p gaming at high settings across most modern titles, with enough performance headroom to handle a game or two above their recommended specs.
The default recommendation for 1440p gaming at high settings, and a strong 1080p choice for anyone chasing very high refresh rates.
Prices updated September 14, 2026
New
Highest benchmark performance among in-stock new GPUs priced within £500. Ties break on value score.
Radeon RX 6800 XT16 GB GDDR6 · Performance 37/100
£423
GPU Name | Price |
|---|---|
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GBNVIDIA | |
Used
Highest benchmark performance among in-stock used or refurbished GPUs priced within £500. Ties break on value score.
GeForce RTX 308010 GB GDDR6X · Performance 35/100
£419
GPU Name | Price |
|---|---|
GeForce RTX 3080NVIDIA | |
GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GBNVIDIA | £449Used£400 |
Almost in budget
These cards are a bit over budget right now, but have recently, genuinely sold in this range — worth a look if you can be flexible on timing.
Radeon RX 9070 GRE
£501
Typically available around £493 over the last 90 days — sometimes in this range
See current listings →GeForce RTX 3080
£540
Typically available around £447 over the last 90 days — sometimes in this range
See current listings →Frequently Asked Questions
Is £500 the best value tier for GPUs right now?
It's typically the most contested tier — several manufacturers compete hard here, which tends to produce strong Value Scores. Check the live ranking above rather than assuming any one card holds the title for long.
Can a £500 GPU handle ray tracing?
Entry-to-mid ray tracing effects are usually playable at 1080p/1440p with upscaling (DLSS/FSR) enabled; full path tracing at native resolution generally needs a higher tier.
Should I wait for a sale instead of buying now?
If the top pick's current price is below its typical 12-month price (see its GPU detail page for the price-history verdict), it's usually not worth waiting — UK sale events don't always beat the best day-to-day pricing.