Ranking of the best PowerColor graphics cards in 2022

For games, it is not necessary to purchase a monitor with a high resolution, Full HD (1920 × 1080) will be enough. But to set the highest graphics performance, you need a powerful video card with at least 2 GB of memory. In this ranking of the best PowerColor graphics cards, only mid-range models and above will be considered. This is due to the fact that inexpensive video cards have very low performance, so they are not suitable for gaming graphics.

The main criteria for choosing a video card

First of all, you should pay attention to the dimensions of the video card, since the most powerful of them are large. This is justified by the fact that only large radiators and coolers can protect the board from overheating and reduce the level of noise emitted. The most common cause of video card failure is its overheating, due to insufficient cooling at maximum loads. Therefore, it is almost impossible to inexpensively assemble a high-performance gaming PC that will be compact in size, reliable and relatively quiet.

There are video cards on the market not only with active cooling, but also with passive cooling. They are designated - Silent and SL. Their price is slightly lower, but they will most likely not function for long. This is explained by the fact that there is an insufficient level of ventilation inside the system unit, which is why the video card without proper cooling operates in extreme temperature conditions. The advantage of a GPU with active cooling is the complete absence of noise at low loads and operation in optimal temperature conditions.

Budget models are most often equipped with small coolers that operate at high speeds. This leads to their rapid wear and accompanied by a characteristic unpleasant sound during operation. Therefore, in order for a video card to be reliable, quiet and durable, it is necessary to focus on models with a large cooler.

Models with designations OverClock, OC, O are overclocked. These are powerful video cards that operate at higher frequencies. At the same time, their productivity grows by small values, but the service life can sharply decrease.This is due to the fact that almost all components of the video card work at maximum speed. It is recommended to overclock the GPU only if there is a good ventilation system. If it is rather weak, it is better to purchase a card with a more efficient chip. So it will last much longer than overclocked and operating at maximum allowable temperatures.

Rating of the best PowerColor graphics cards

Powerful graphics cards under $200

Radeon RX 550

The model is a lightweight version of the Radeon RX560 accelerator and belongs to the budget category. Its main difference from other video cards in this series is that the RX 550 has no predecessors. The manufacturer positions these cards as a good option for eSports and a home media center. Radeon RX550 has a relatively compact size and a fairly low level of power consumption. This accelerator with a memory capacity of 2 gigabytes can be used even for "heavy" games, but in this case, you will have to reduce the graphics quality to a minimum. For other needs, a two-gig model is also suitable. The overclocking video card has an active cooling system, but rather simple. The noise level is low and occurs only under heavy loads.

Estimated price in Russia: 6,730 rubles.

• compact dimensions;
• relative noiselessness.

• under heavy loads, it heats up more than other models from competitors.

Radeon RX 560OC

The RX 560 GPU is the youngest, so there are not so many video cards based on it yet. The best are overclocking models with 4GB of RAM. One of them is the Radeon RX 560 OC.This model has the highest operating frequencies and has an excellent cooling system. Another distinguishing feature of the PowerColor accelerator is the presence of a special connector that controls an external fan.

In terms of performance, the model is slightly better than the GTX 1050, but slightly inferior to the GTX 1050 Ti. The video card is great for functioning in Full HD resolution, but in higher formats some discomfort will be felt.

Estimated price in Russia: 9,690 rubles.

• the cooling system is highly efficient and at the same time almost silent;
• special connector for external fan regulation;
• quality components.

• support for a small number of interfaces.

Powerful video cards costing from $300 to $500

Radeon RX 570 4G

To date, PowerColor has released only two accelerators based on the Radeon RX570 graphics chip. The oldest of them is considered a modification from the Aorus line, which is a game one. The GPU is equipped with a highly efficient cooling system, which consists of 4 heat pipes. This, in turn, ensures stable operation of the video card even at higher frequencies. The price of the Radeon RX 570 also attracts attention. In Russia, its price is lower than that of the usual one.

If we take into account all the new video cards based on Nvidia, then this accelerator has no competitor. But the three gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 graphics processor can boast about the same performance. At the price, of course, you can notice a big difference, but you should take into account the element of novelty, as well as the peculiarity of pricing in Russia. The video card is equipped with some interesting new technologies.For example, it allows you to adjust the frame rate depending on the speed of the cursor. Due to this, the heating and noise of the video card is significantly reduced. And most importantly, the accelerator consumes energy economically.

Estimated price in Russia: 13,590 rubles.

• equipping with new interesting technologies;
• cooling system with excellent efficiency.

• overpriced.

Radeon RX 580 X8G

AMD-based accelerators only in the 400 line focused on energy efficiency. And in all other lines, including new ones, high performance along with relatively low cost is in the first place. However, fans of this company have long been accustomed to the fact that accelerators have a high level of power consumption and, of course, the resulting heating. However, thanks to the branded cooling system, video cards do not suffer from overheating and even work almost silently.

To date, there are dozens of modifications of video cards that are based on the RX580 processor. However, the PowerColor Radeon RX 580 X8G deserves special attention. This is primarily due to the fact that other 4GB accelerators have much lower memory bandwidth. Another argument in favor of the rating hero is that the Armor series is not so stable when overclocking a video card. Even the "X" in the name is its advantage, because overclocked memory is a pretty real thing, but the increased operating frequency of the processor in the "+" models is the theoretical maximum.

Estimated price in Russia: 15,540 rubles.

• solid potential for overclocking;
• excellent gaming performance even at high resolutions;
• the possibility of downclocking (significant reduction in operating frequencies).

• high price;
• high energy consumption.

Video card PCI-E PowerColor Radeon RX 570 AXRX 570 8GB

This model boasts not only a large amount of memory, but also the presence of a cooling system with two fans. The video card can be recommended to users who use the components of the system unit for a long time and do not upgrade it. Indeed, in a couple of years, the requirements of games will become even higher and, who knows, it is possible that 6 gigabytes will become the minimum that can support new developments. From relatives based on the GTX 1050 processor, the accelerator differs in the presence of powerful rear protection. The video card is not overclocked to the maximum, so you can further increase the performance yourself.

Estimated price in Russia: 15,400 rubles.

• a solid amount of memory;
• small dimensions;
• the presence of a powerful backplate.

• high price;
• DP interface has only 1 connector;
• not rich equipment.

Video card PCI-E PowerColor Radeon RX 570 AXRX 570 8GBD5-DMV3 8GB GDDR5

PowerColor brand graphics processors with a cooling system will be an excellent gaming solution if the buyer is financially limited. Unlike more "fancy" video cards, they heat up, of course, a little more. However, given that the energy consumption of the new chips is lower and they are made using a 16-nanometer process technology, this difference can be ignored.

This video card also has advantages over the leader of this rating.It is equipped with three Display Ports. However, the video card also does not support the VGA interface. In addition, the back of the board is protected by a special plate, thanks to which the design acquires additional rigidity, which protects it from external influences.

There are cheaper lines, for example, OS and D5. However, they are equipped with a simpler graphics core and one Display Port, and they also lack the protection of the video card from bending (Backplate).

Estimated price in Russia: 15,343 rubles.

• relatively quiet cooling system;
• three DP ports;
• the presence of a backplate;
• good acceleration.

• the ability to connect only 2 monitors at the same time.

AMD (ATI) Radeon RX 590 PowerColor Red Devil graphics card

The graphics chip of this video card is more in line with the previous category of this rating. However, the price does not allow placing it there. Most often, users are interested in this video card, seeking to get a powerful accelerator that the manufacturer has already overclocked. The card is equipped with a cooling system of three fans, so overheating due to operation at extremely high frequencies does not threaten it. Another feature of the video card is the proprietary FanConnect technology, thanks to which you can adjust the blowing power from two external fans at once. There is, of course, a minus in such a design - a large size.

Estimated price in Russia: 22,000 rubles.

• control of two external fans;
• two HDMI connectors;
• decent overclocking from the manufacturer.

• high price;
• large dimensions.

Powerful graphics cards from $500 to $900 (High-end)

PowerColor Radeon RX Vega 64 graphics card

First of all, this model is a reference, which immediately catches the eye. The video card has a proprietary cooling system, thanks to which the graphics processor warmed up to 78 degrees begins to function in more gentle conditions. A special cooling system also reduces the level of noise emitted during the operation of the accelerator.

However, all these advantages result in one big drawback - the dimensions of the video card are too large. It does not even fit in every system unit without any hassle. The video card has a significant margin of potential, so it will not be considered obsolete even after a couple of years. However, this does not mean that modding fans will not be interested in it. The video card has another enticing detail - the pulsing of the accelerator backlight to the beat of the music, as well as the ability to change the brightness of the glow depending on the temperature.

Estimated price in Russia: 37,890 rubles.

• highest performance;
• low heating level even at maximum loads;
• the presence of intelligent lighting.

• very large size.

Video card PowerColor Radeon RX Vega 56 8192Mb

The best graphics processor is the Radeon RX Vega 56 8192Mb from PowerColor. Even at maximum loads, the temperature of the accelerator does not rise above 72 degrees Celsius, and the noise level is so low that it is barely audible. The manufacturer equipped the model with an 8-phase power supply circuit, thanks to which even a voltage drop is completely excluded. In some reviews of this model, there are complaints about the whistle of chokes.

However, there is no reliable data on this. It may be that several copies somehow received such a defect. But the manufacturer clearly noted that only super ferrite chokes (SFC) are used as components of the video card, which are highly efficient. The rest of the accelerator components are Class 4, which indicates their reliable performance even under extreme loads.

It is worth noting that the board has two power connectors, and its back is protected by a metal plate. The video card is equipped with a functional management utility and supports virtual reality devices.

Estimated price in Russia: 37,895 rubles.

• high performance even at the maximum graphics settings;
• noiselessness of work;
• practically does not heat up under loads.

• high price;
• according to reviews, in some models chokes squeak.

To date, the most popular of course are tablets and sophisticated smartphones. However, their gaming resource cannot be compared even with the lowest performance card. Only thanks to powerful accelerators, gamers will be able to experience all the realism of the game that its developers wanted to convey.

When choosing a video card, the most important argument in its favor should be reliability. Therefore, you should not buy accelerators with a passive cooling system or a small cooler, as well as overclock models with insufficient ventilation.