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Do you have a 144Hz display monitor but don’t have a potent GPU to push frame rates as near as 144FPS? Since a 144Hz display monitor refreshes the screen 144 times in a second, getting a GPU that produces 144 frames per second is important. Why? To enjoy a smooth and buttery display for your games without a lag.
So I know that it’s difficult to find a GPU that offers good FPS for 1080p gaming and that is why I headed towards finding. During my research, I considered a lot of different factors and came up with the following list.
Quick Comparison Chart of Best Graphics Cards for 1080p 144hz
| Graphics Card | VRAM | CUDA Cores | Boost Clock Speed | Base Clock Speed | Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI GAMING AMD RADEON RX 6700XT | 12GB GDDR6 | 2560 | 2581 MHz | 2321 MHz | 384 GB/Sec |
| ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti | 8GB GDDR6 | 4864 | 1695 MHz | 1410 MHz | 448 GB/Sec |
| GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming OC 8G | 8GB GDDR6 | 1,024 | 1815 MHz | 1500 MHz | 448 GB/Sec |
| Zotac Gaming GTX 1660 Super | 6GB GDDR6 | 1408 | 1785 MHz | 1530 MHz | 336 GB/Sec |
Our Picks for the Best GPU for 1080p 144Hz
144Hz at 1080p is the new sweet spot for gaming, and here we are with our detailed guide.
1. MSI GAMING AMD RADEON RX 6700XT
Editor’s Pick
Reasons to Consider
RX 6700 XT is the game changer for anyone looking to uplift their gaming experience. Not only that, but its specs are also enough for 3D artists and media editors. And the thing that made me add this GPU to the list is its price. It will provide premium features that you expect from a high-end GPU but without a pricey tag.
Specifications
- Ram: 12GB GDDR6
- Video Output: 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI
- CUDA: 2560 Stream Processors
- Boost Clock Speed: 2581 MHz
- Base Clock Speed: 2321 MHz
- Bandwidth: 384 GB/Sec
- Memory Interface: 192-bit
When I was searching for the best GPU for 1080p 144Hz gaming, I was skeptical about adding RX 6700 XT to the list. Why? Because some 6700 users said that this GPU is not for gaming, but when I tested it, this GPU benchmark was surprising.
Since this GPU 12 GB VRAM is made for prompt processing, its CUDA cores are not enough for a 12GB VRAM card. So they can improve here. But its ray tracing capabilities are amazing, and you will enjoy life-like graphics for the games.
In addition, for the games like Call of Duty and Warzone, this GPU does offer stead 100FPS for 1080p gaming. In fact, this VR-ready GPU was my favorite for the 144Hz game at 1080p, owing to its amazing graphics.
Another catchy feature that made me add it to the list is its dual fan design. For most 12 GB VRAM GPUS, you will see a triple fan or gigantic dimensions, but that is not the case with RX 6700 XT. If you have a small PC case like me, don’t worry it will easily slide in.
But remember, when you get this GPU onboard, don’t forget to tweak the MSI afterburner settings. Why? Becuasduring our tests, it ran 100C at stock settings with a messy curve setting, but I overcame this problem by adjusting the curve, and I came down as low as 70C. So if you ask me about my favorite GPU for 1080p gaming, I will say RX 6700 XT with my eyes closed.
2. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti
Value Pick
Reasons to Consider
The GeForce RTX 3000 series has proven to be a game-changer for many players, and this 3060 Ti is no different. While I was aiming to add only budget units to my list but I can resist adding this NVIDIA’s iconic creation to my list owing to its features. Its 8 GB VRAM might sound less to you, but you get butter-smooth graphics at as high as 125 FPS for 1080p. Moreover, its raytracing is so intricate that you see life-like graphics in games.
Specifications
- Ram: 8GB GDDR6
- Video Output: 4 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1
- CUDA: 4864 cores
- Boost Clock Speed: 1695 MHz
- Base Clock Speed: 1410 MHz
- Bandwidth: 448 GB/Sec
- Memory Interface: 256-bit
If you ask me why I choose a 3060 Ti and not a 3070 for a few more bucks, I will say that the balance it offers for the price and performance is unrivaled. In fact, it leaves 2080 of the previous gen far behind performance-wise and still stays within your budget. Speaking of its price, yes, I know it’s more expensive than most RDNA architecture GPUs, but its 8 GB VRAM performs way better than what 12 GB VRAM of AMD can do. So don’t fret about spending on this one.
For games like Call of Duty and Warzone, the card benchmarked at around 120 Fps at 1080p. And I’m sure you can hit the 1440p threshold by adjusting game settings. And for single players gaming, you can even get the best gameplay if you have a 144hz display.
Although this card has a lot of bells and whistles but one thing that disappointed me was its temperature issues. Yes, you can overclock this GPU, but it will heat up massively and lead to thermal throttling. And yes, the fans are loud. The fan noise will disturb you even if you run GPU at normal settings.
But on the whole, if you want an affordable, powerful, and compact GPU, then the 3060 Ti is a good choice. However, if you want to be future-proof for your gaming, consider getting at least 3070 or 3080.
3. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming OC 8G
Mid-Range Pick
Reasons to Consider
So as I said earlier, if you want to be future-proof for your 1080p gaming, I suggest better versions than 3060Ti. And here is 3070 for your best gaming experience. And as in the previous gen cards, overheating was an issue. It’s not anymore in this triple-fan design.
Specifications
- Ram: 8GB GDDR6
- Video Output: 2x DisplayPort 1.4a, 2x HDMI 2.1
- CUDA: 1,024 Stream Processors
- Boost Clock Speed: 1815 MHz
- Base Clock Speed: 1500 MHz
- Bandwidth: 448 GB/Sec
- Memory Interface: 256-bit
I was planning to add a future-proof card to my list, and here it is, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming OC 8G. This card had a lot of bells and whistles, so I can’t resist adding it to my list.
I tried a lot of games, and this GPU benchmarked well off for 1080 gamin at 44Hz monitor. AAA games, like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Cyberpunk, benchmarked at amazing FPS of 100+ at 1080p, and I can even achieve 1440p display for 70-90 FPS with a little tweaking. And that’s for demanding AAA games.
Moreover, this VR-ready card performs well for all Esports `titles and open-world games well. Trust me, you won’t regret spending on this one. Not only performance, but I was also impressed with its aesthetics owing to its RGB hues, on top of that, the 3070 fixed the overheating issue as well that was with its previous-gen GPUs.
4. Zotac Gaming GTX 1660 Super
Budget Pick
Reasons to Consider
Finally, I wanted to conclude my list with a budget pick for 1080p gaming, and that’s why 1660 Super is here. While costing less than 200 bucks and offering steady 1080p gaming, I was impressed by how amazing this GPU is. Its looks are amazing, its performance is great, and the price is low, which is why this is the best budget GPU for 1080p 144Hz gaming.
Specifications
- Ram: 6GB GDDR6
- Video Output: 3x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x DVI-D
- CUDA: 1408 Stream Processors
- Boost Clock Speed: 1785 MHz
- Base Clock Speed: 1530 MHz
- Bandwidth: 336 GB/Sec
- Memory Interface: 192-bit
When I first tested this GPU, I was amazed at how far you can go with this one. I threw almost all demanding titles on this one this GPU did not disappoint me for my target 1080p gaming. Although this GPU is a bit old and will not make for good gaming after a few years, it’s every penny worth an investment. Speaking of 1660, it makes me wonder if previous gens like Nvidia GTX 1060 run 1080p 144Hz? Yes, but with a little tweaking.
Budget buyers can be happy with this purchase. Its 6GB VRAM and amazing overclocking profile can let gamers like us achieve amazing FPS. In addition, I was surprised to see that this GPU works with my VR headset as it’s VR-ready.
For titles like Fortnite, Valorant, Overwatch, and League of Legends, I achieved a a higher frame rate than 144Hz; however, for demanding titles like Warzone and CoD, I had to tweak the in-game settings a bit for 144Hz.
So if you are like me, who is more inclined to budget picks than premium ones, this GPU is worth considering.
What Were Our Criteria for Choosing the 1080p 144hz GPU?
So when I first jumped to get a short list of the best GPUs for your 1080p gaming on 144Hz display, I had a few considerations in mind. and believe I did compromise on those points when looking for GPUs. And that we conducted extensive research on GPUs specifically designed for 1080p 144Hz gaming and considered factors like:
Performance
Since we want a sweet spot for gaming, so, performance was my first consideration. I used different benchmarking testing to check if GPU can play different titles. Almost all GPUs listed here can play AAA, esports, and open-world titles. Although their FPS differ from model to model, they suffice for 1080p gaming.
Value for Money
I always prefer to stay on budget and find bang for the buck, and I did the same for my GPUs here. My preference was the best models with good value and performance. The GPUs that don’t overheat and have agood overclocking profile while not costing much were my ideal GPUs. And gladly, all GPUs here fall below the 500 threshold, and you can also get one for below 200.
Popularity
When it comes to GPU, I always trust word of mouth. Gamers never lie to each other for performance, so I researched the popular chips in the gaming community. And yes, they are popular for a reason, as they produce a good price-to-performance ratio.
User reviews
A GPU user can tell you best about the chip’s working, and thats why I always have to the user review and Amazon ratings. I only choose GPUs that have above 4.7-star ratings, and users have good to say about them. We compared different models and brands to identify the top choices and bring you here.
Performance Factors
Overclocking, raytracing, and power efficiency were the most important things. If you are able to hit the limits to GPU, you need a good cooling system as well. So my focus was to pick a chip that offers raytracing for life-like graphics and amazing cooling for overclocking profiles.
However, note that when you go and choose a GPU, make sure it connects to your motherboard and fits inside the PC case. In short, you should consider your PCIe needs and the dimensions of the GPU as well.
On top of all this, we also evaluated the overall build quality and durability of each GPU t make sure it would last a long time.
Frames per Second
Since we are on the page to find a GPU for a 144Hz display so our main target is to get a chip that goes hand in hand with our display’s capacity. So any GPU that renders 100 FPS is good. During our test, we analyzed the GPU’s ability to consistently deliver high frame rates at 1080p resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. Well, not all GPUs can make for it, and you have to lower your expectation a bit. But still, we compared benchmark results and real-world gaming performance of most design titles and sorted our list to GPUs that deliver 100+fps for most demanding games at best settings.
Cooling
After conducting an extensive evaluation of various GPUs for 1080p gaming, I discovered that some models have exceptional cooling solutions that prevent overheating and maintain optimal performance, while others just overheat a lot. So when I was sorting my list, I considered factors like the number of fans, heat pipes, and thermal design of each GPU to make sure they stay below 70C. Additionally, I ensured that the noise generated by each cooling system was taken into account to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable gaming experience. Based on my assessment, I listed the above-mentioned GPUs that meet these criteria and would be ideal for you to optimize your gaming setup.
Dimensions
Whenever you choose a GPU, make sure it fits inside your PC case. So when we were looking for what gpu can run 144hz, we took GPU’s dimension into account to ensure it fits inside your ITX PC case. However, still, when you choose a GPU, make sure it snuggly fits in case while leaving some space for the airflow. In addition to size, we also considered the number of slots occupied by the GPU to ensure compatibility with other expansion cards.
VRAM
Our analysis clearly demonstrates that there is a significant variance in VRAM offered by different GPUs. Furthermore, we cannot overstate the critical role played by VRAM in gaming, especially when playing at higher resolutions and graphical settings. Based on our findings, we confidently recommend that opting for GPUs with sufficient VRAM is essential to ensure a smooth and seamless gaming experience for modern games at 1080p and 144Hz.
Conclusion
Want to enjoy the new sweet spot for gaming, which is 1080p 144hz? We know that hitting 144 FPS is a bit difficult, but we came up with this list that can go hand in hand with your gaming needs.
Know that all the GPUs on our list can meet your needs as we spent a lot of resources to test them. And yes, they benchmark well at even most demanding AAA titles. So if you get the best 144Hz 1080p gaming GPU choose a GPU from our list.
