A quiet launch leaves budget gamers looking elsewhere

AMD has recently introduced the Radeon RX 7400 GPU, targeting entry-level gamers who want smooth Full HD gaming. While the specs—28 Compute Units, 1,792 cores, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, and a low 43W power draw—sound decent for a budget card, the catch is that it’s likely OEM-only. This means you probably won’t find it on retail shelves; instead, it will appear in prebuilt PCs from brands like Dell. For gamers building their own systems, this makes the RX 7400 far less appealing as an upgrade option.

Why the AMD RX 7400 may not meet budget gaming needs

Despite AMD’s marketing spin about “advanced gaming and streaming,” the RX 7400 remains a modest card from the older RDNA 3 generation. Limited VRAM and its low-end positioning mean it won’t handle demanding modern titles at high settings. With availability restricted to prebuilt systems, DIY PC builders and budget-conscious gamers may find themselves priced into configurations they don’t need, just to access this GPU.

Intel B380 GPU rumors spark interest among budget gamers

While AMD’s offering may disappoint, the rumor mill hints that Intel could be preparing a more enticing alternative—the Intel B380 GPU, reportedly based on the Battlemage architecture. If true, it could target the same budget segment but with improved performance and potentially broader availability. For gamers frustrated by the lack of affordable, standalone GPUs, this could be the competition the market needs.

The budget GPU market needs fresh competition

The launch of the AMD RX 7400 highlights a broader issue: the scarcity of truly affordable, capable standalone graphics cards. If Intel’s B380 materializes with solid performance and competitive pricing, it could pressure AMD and Nvidia to rethink their low-end strategies. Until then, many gamers may find waiting the smarter move, rather than settling for OEM-only options.