Introduction: The Budget Gaming Choice
For Indian gamers building a PC on a tight budget, three graphics cards stand out for 1080p gaming: the reliable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, the powerful but flawed AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, and the feature-rich newcomer, the Intel Arc A380.1 This guide gets straight to the point, comparing their specs, gaming performance, and special features to help you decide which one is the right fit for your build in 2025.
At a Glance: Technical Specifications
On paper, each card tells a different story. The RX 6500 XT boasts the highest clock speed, but is held back by a narrow memory bus and a limited PCIe interface. The Arc A380 offers more VRAM and modern media features, while the GTX 1650 presents the most balanced, no-compromise design.4
| Feature | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (GDDR6) | AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT | Intel Arc A380 |
| GPU Architecture | Turing (TU117) | RDNA 2 (Navi 24) | Alchemist (ACM-G11) |
| Manufacturing Process | 12 nm | 6 nm | 6 nm |
| Shader/Cores | 896 CUDA Cores | 1024 Stream Processors | 1024 Shading Units (8 Xe-cores) |
| Boost Clock | ~1665 MHz | ~2815 MHz | ~2050 MHz |
| VRAM | 4 GB GDDR6 | 4 GB GDDR6 | 6 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 64-bit | 96-bit |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 75 W | 107 W | 75 W |
| Ray Tracing Hardware | No | Yes (16 RA) | Yes (8 RTU) |
(Source: 1)
1080p Gaming Performance: The Real-World Test
In gaming, performance depends heavily on your PC and the game you’re playing. The RX 6500 XT often leads in raw frame rates on modern PCs, but the GTX 1650 provides the most consistent and reliable experience across all systems, especially older ones.9 The Arc A380 shows promise, particularly in newer titles that support its XeSS technology.3
| Game Title (Settings) | NVIDIA GTX 1650 | AMD RX 6500 XT (PCIe 4.0) | AMD RX 6500 XT (PCIe 3.0) | Intel Arc A380 (ReBAR On) |
| CS:GO (High) | ~180 FPS | ~200 FPS | ~190 FPS | ~170 FPS |
| Valorant (High) | ~190 FPS | ~210 FPS | ~200 FPS | ~185 FPS |
| GTA V (High) | ~75 FPS | ~80 FPS | ~75 FPS | ~70 FPS |
| God of War (Original) | ~45 FPS | ~50 FPS | ~42 FPS | ~48 FPS (XeSS) |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (Medium) | ~50 FPS | ~55 FPS | ~45 FPS | ~58 FPS (XeSS) |
| The Witcher 3 (High) | ~65 FPS | ~70 FPS | ~65 FPS | ~60 FPS |
(Source: 12)
Critical Limitations: Read Before You Buy
Raw performance isn’t the whole story. The two newer cards come with major compatibility requirements that can be deal-breakers.
- AMD RX 6500 XT: Its performance is severely crippled on older motherboards that only support PCIe 3.0. The limited x4 interface creates a data bottleneck, causing frame rates to drop by as much as 50% in some games, making it slower than the GTX 1650.5
- Intel Arc A380: This card is heavily dependent on Resizable BAR (ReBAR), a feature found only on modern motherboards. Without ReBAR enabled in the BIOS, performance drops significantly, making some games unplayable.3
- NVIDIA GTX 1650: It has no such limitations. Its full PCIe 3.0 x16 interface ensures it works reliably on virtually any system, old or new, making it the safest choice for upgrades.
Beyond Gaming: Content Creation & Streaming
If you plan to do more than just game, the choice becomes much clearer.
- Best for Streaming: The Intel Arc A380 is the undisputed champion here. It is the only budget card with a dedicated AV1 hardware encoder, which provides superior video quality at lower bitrates—a huge advantage for streaming and video editing.15
- Good for Streaming: The NVIDIA GTX 1650 includes the reliable NVENC hardware encoder. While not as advanced as the Arc A380’s AV1, it’s still very capable for streaming and recording gameplay with minimal performance impact.18
- Not for Streaming: The AMD RX 6500 XT is a non-starter. It has no hardware video encoder at all.4 Attempting to stream would rely on your CPU, causing a massive drop in gaming performance.
| Feature | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT | Intel Arc A380 |
| Hardware Encoder | Yes (NVENC) | No | Yes (QSV) |
| AV1 Encode Support | No | No | Yes |
| Recommended for Streaming? | Yes (Capable) | No | Yes (Excellent) |
(Source: 4)
Power, Price, and Practicality
In a price-sensitive market like India, the total cost and ease of installation are key.
- Power Efficiency: The GTX 1650 is the most efficient, with a 75W TDP. Many models don’t require an extra power connector from the PSU, making them the perfect “plug-and-play” upgrade for pre-built office PCs with basic power supplies.1
- Power Draw: The RX 6500 XT is the most power-hungry at 107W and requires a 6-pin power connector and a decent PSU (at least 400W recommended).7
- Total Cost: While the RX 6500 XT might sometimes be cheaper, the potential need to buy a new power supply can make it the more expensive option overall. The GTX 1650’s compatibility saves you from these hidden costs.
Final Verdict: The Best Budget GPU for You
There is no single “best” card; the right choice depends entirely on your needs and your PC.
- For the “Plug-and-Play” Upgrader (Upgrading an old PC):
- Winner: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- Why: It’s the only card guaranteed to work in older, pre-built systems without needing a new power supply or a modern motherboard. It’s the safest, most hassle-free upgrade.
- For the Pure 1080p Gamer (Building a NEW PC):
- Winner: AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- Why: If you are building a new PC with a modern PCIe 4.0 motherboard, the RX 6500 XT often delivers the highest raw frame rates for the price. Just remember, it’s a one-trick pony with no streaming capabilities.
- For the Ambitious Streamer/Creator:
- Winner: Intel Arc A380
- Why: Its AV1 hardware encoder is a game-changing feature for content creation, offering quality and efficiency that its competitors can’t match at this price point.
- For the All-Rounder Budget Builder:
- Winner: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
- Why: It’s the most balanced and versatile choice. It delivers consistent gaming performance, has a capable encoder for streaming, and works on any system without issue. It has no major flaws, making it the best default option if you want a card that does a little bit of everything well.