Best GPU for 1080p 144Hz (Guide 2023)

A good-quality graphics card boosts the rig’s power to play games effectively, do content creation and 3D modeling, and more. But every card is suitable for a particular gaming resolution with some specific refresh rate and frame rate. Most of the time, players are impressed by the 1440p quality with a 144Hz refresh rate; however, 1080p with 144Hz is the best-valued gaming mode for a good gaming experience. Since the card plays a crucial role in achieving your expectations, you must have the best GPU for a 1080p 144Hz gaming monitor. Further, this HD quality gives an impressive frame rate and image quality.

Usually, you can pair any card with a processor, and it’ll work. However, if you really want to fetch the peak output from the graphics card, CPU, and other connected components. In that case, you need to have a compatible card according to the system’s specifications. The tech market is full of hundreds of cards from many brands promising impressive performance, which is good news. But some users get confused when they see so many graphics cards. Therefore, we have tested several current-era graphics cards and selected some perfect for 1080p 144Hz resolution. You must read this post until the end before selecting one.

Quick shopping tips

Size compatibility: What if you just purchased a card and now cannot fit it into the PC case? Definitely very heartbreaking. To make you remember the compatibility regarding size, we have kept the compatibility factor at the top of our guide. Every card comes with a particular dimension, and every case has a specific socket to accommodate a card. Before spending valuable bucks on the item, ensure to match the size and dimensions of every corner.

G-sync or Free-sync: The G-sync and Free-sync terminologies are related to the monitors. So, a monitor may support either G-sync or Free-sync, depending upon its build type. You can go for Nvidia’s graphics card if you’re looking for a GPU to pair with G-sync enabled. In contrast, the AMD cards work best with the Free sync monitor. However, the cross-platform support allows a wide range of cards to deal with both syncing types effectively.

FPS limits: You must be well aware of FPS frames per second rate. It’s the ability of a component to show a certain number of pictures or frames on display in one second. If you’re playing games at a 144Hz refresh rate, I suggest you go for a graphics card capable of delivering 144fps during gameplay. Remember, it’s your personal choice, and you can go with less if you want. But keep it as high as you can manage.

Performance: Why are you buying a graphics card? To improve the load-taking capability of the system and enhance the graphics quality. Remember, performance is an essential factor of any computer component. An incompatible GPU, according to the CPU, can cause bottlenecks, disturbing your gaming experience. So, this is the reason why you should always check all the required factors a card must have needed to perform well in practical gaming sessions.

Cooling: Cooling is the most crucial pillar for overclocking, and overclocking is an essential performance component. In short, if you want an improved-performance version of a graphics card, you must ensure it can cool down correctly. Mostly, cards come with two or three fans, but one-fan cards are available. You must go for at least a dual-fan GPU to avoid worrying about cooling and thermal issues.

Design: The overall design of a card also plays a pivotal role in being a perfect choice for some users. If you’re the one who wants to have a good-looking gaming rig, you must consider these factors. The rule of thumb is to match the card’s color combination, design, and aesthetics with the rest of the system’s elements. Suppose you’re building a simple all-black computer. Ensure that the card’s look complements the rest of the system.

The Best GPU for 1080p 144Hz You Can Buy Today

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 Windforce OC 12G

Award	Best	Retailer
Best Mid-range GPU for 1080p 144Hz	MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X	View
Best Cooling GPU for 1080p 144Hz	Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 Windforce OC 12G	View
Best Entry-level GPU for 1080p 144Hz	Zotac Gaming Geforce RTX 2060	View
Best powerful GPU for 1080p 144Hz gaming	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Founder Edition	View
Best flagship GPU for 1080p 144Hz	Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super OC	View
Best Budget GPU for 1080p 144Hz	AMD Radeon RX 5700	View
Best overall GPU for 1080p 144Hz	NVIDIA Geforce RTX 2060 Super Founders Edition	View
Best High-end GPU for 1080p 144Hz	XFX RX 5700 XT Thicc III Ultra	View

MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X

Best Mid-range GPU for 1080p 144Hz

REASONS TO BUY

✓Best for mid-range users

✓RDNA 2 architecture

✓Excellent performance

✓Adequate cooling

✓Attractive look with RGB

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Narrower 192-bit memory bus

✗Lacks USB-C port

Who doesn’t need a card enough to dominate during intensive gaming sessions with performance and current-era good specs? Being from the RX 6000 series, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is powered by RDNA 2 architecture featuring real-time Ray Tracing technology and AI-based graphics features. We know that valuable stats play a crucial role in buying a graphics card. Well, we have tested this card for numerous games and got an impressive list of discoveries. In the case of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Metro Exodus at 1080p, it manages to deliver 120fps; however, it was able to reach only 60fps with ray-tracing for RDR2.

The 12GB of GDDR6 type memory is based on a 192-bit memory interface with 16Gb/s of memory speed. It seems the 192-bit memory bus is on the narrower side and a downside to the memory structure. Other card specs include a game boost clock of 2514MHz, 40 powerful computing units, 2560 stream processors, 40 Ray Accelerators, 160 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and AMD on-die 96 MB infinity cache. Regarding connectivity, there are three DisplayPort v1.4 ports and 1 HDMI 2.1 port supporting 4k at 120Hz and 8k at 60Hz refresh rate.

If we compare the performance-to-price ratio and features set, it becomes the best mid-range GPU for 1080p 144Hz gaming. Look-wise, the card has many positive reviews, and buyers were happy to put these into the custom-build rigs. It has a sleek black metal backplate bearing carrying the MSI Dragon logo. The heat dissipation process intensifies when the much-thicker heatsink comes into play. Further, the card features a dual-fan cooling system where both fans have Dragon logos at their centers. The cherry on the top is the RGB lighting, like other MSI Gaming X lineups, which makes it dominant when fitted in the rig.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 Windforce OC 12G

Best Cooling GPU for 1080p 144Hz

REASONS TO BUY

✓Impressive performance

✓Perfect for 1080p 144Hz gaming

✓Pre-overclocked

✓Excellent cooling system

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Tri-fan system is slightly noisy

As mentioned earlier in the post, Gigabyte is famous for advancing the previously available technologies and bringing something more-advanced into the market. This time, we have the RTX 2060 Windforce gaming on our list, featuring all-required technologies that a graphics card must have for impressive graphics quality. It’s based on the most-famous NVIDIA Turing architecture loaded with Ray Tracing cores, Tensor cores, advanced shading functionalities, and more in one pack. We have practically tested the card and received positive feedback from the researchers and gamers regarding performance.

The heart of the product is Nvidia’s RTX 2060 chipset which is absolutely adequate for 1080p graphics excellence. According to the testing benchmarks, it generally works 100-150 FPS or sometimes lesser with a 144Hz refresh rate in the case of 1080p; however, the fps reduced when we shifted to 1440p graphics depending upon the game. The specs sheet conveys that the card has 12GB of GDDR6 memory based on a 192-bit memory interface having 14000MHz of memory clock and 336GB/s of bandwidth. Other specs include a 1680MHz core clock, 42 RTX-OPS, 2176 CUDA Cores, and a 16-lane PCIe 3rd-generation bus. It pretty much has everything needed for enhanced graphics.

If you look at the name and try to guess the most-highlighted feature of the component, I’m sure you will say cooling. Yes, it is the best cooling GPU for 1080p 144Hz gaming having impressive cooling performance. The card is all about keeping the temperature low and performance and overclocking at peak. It comprises three 80mm fans spinning in an alternative direction and four composite copper heat pipes directly touching the die. On top of that, a larger heatsink speeds up the overall heat dissipation along with cooling memory and VRMs due to having a direct touch.

Zotac Gaming Geforce RTX 2060

Best Entry-level GPU for 1080p 144Hz

REASONS TO BUY

✓Affordable

✓Pretty-good for 1080p

✓Fit into 99% case with the smaller size

✓Excellent cooling

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Lags in 1440p at higher settings

We are well aware that not all customers have rich-bucks pockets, and we have this Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 on our list. It offers good-quality gaming performance with numerous features and technologies at a pretty affordable price. The card is powered by cutting-edge NVIDIA Turing architecture merged with the all-new RTX platform. Moreover, the Ray Tracing technology creates more-realistic in-gaming scenes with the help of AI-based practices and programmable shading. If you’re really into gaming and want an affordable graphics card, this best entry-level GPU for 1080p 144Hz is the best option.

You get 6GB of GDDR6 memory based on a 192-bit interface with 14Gb/s of memory clock. Other card features include a 1680MHz boost clock, 1920 CUDA Cores, and PCIe 3.0 support. The card can accommodate four displays with multi-display support with the help of three DisplayPort 1.4 ports and one HDMI 2.0 port; both support can provide 4k graphics at a 60Hz refresh rate. Performance-wise, it can run Battlefield V and Far Cry 5 at 1080p 144Hz at appropriate settings but not at everything maximum.

You must have heard “big performance doesn’t need big hardware”; this line exactly fits this GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card. It provides excellent graphics capabilities in a compact size and can be worked into 99% of PC cases. Finally, we have reached the most highlighted feature of this card, the cooling. It uses the Ice Storm 2.0 cooling system, the most advanced and powerful hardware that comprises numerous mini-specs. Those specs include three 6mm copper heat pipes, two 90mm fans, an aluminum heat sink, and a wraparound backplate to support the card’s cooling management further.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Founder Edition

Best powerful GPU for 1080p 144Hz gaming

REASONS TO BUY

✓8GB of GDDR6 memory

✓Ray Tracing

✓Cooling efficiency

✓Support up to 4k

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Slightly less energy efficient

We know that a graphics card is crucial as it enhances overall gaming performance and graphics quality. The NVIDIA RTX 2080 Super is, in short, a perfect combo for 4k and 1440p 144Hz gaming. Hence, if it goes insanely well with FHD visuals, it would definitely excel as the best GPU for 1080p 144Hz gaming. Well, that said, if we compare it with the RTX 2080 Super, we have found it to provide 7-8% better efficiency and speed during the testing sessions. The cherry on the top is its PhysX Engine, which guarantees dramatically increased rig power while minimizing power usage even at higher overclocking speeds.

The NVIDIA Turing GPU architecture powers up the graphics card beside the all-new RTX platform and advanced technologies. A crucial feature is real-time Ray Tracing which allows 6X faster performance with powerful DLSS 2.0 AI-enhanced graphics. Further, the card has 8GB of GDDR6 type memory based on a 256-bit memory interface with 496GB/s of memory bandwidth and a base clock of 1650MHz, increasing to 1815MHz of boost clock. Other specs include 10138 GFLOPS computing power, 3072 CUDA Cores, 192 TMUs, and 64 ROPs—all indicate that the card is top-tier and can handle every task.

In short, it has everything that mostly comes with premium products making it the best powerful GPU for 1080p 144Hz. We had fascinating benchmarks when we played Red Dead Redemption on the ASUS 144Hz monitor. If we set the game at 1080p at max setting, the card could deliver 100+ fps; the fps reduced to 80 when we set 1440p settings. The three-digit fps were enough at the 1080p required settings. However, the 250W TDP makes the card slightly less energy-efficient, which is a downside to the product. The card’s cooling system covers up the heat produced due to more energy consumption.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super OC

Best flagship GPU for 1080p 144Hz

REASONS TO BUY

✓RGB Fusion 2.0

✓Excellent airflow

✓Highly durable

✓Good overclocking

✓Cooling

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Heavy in nature

Gigabyte is not a famous name for the ordinary user, but it’s a famous name among gamers and content creators. The brand has accomplished numerous winning titles for advancing multiple crucial technologies, especially in the gaming field. The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super OC, competing against AMD’s Radeon RX 5000 series, is a more-improved variant of the RTX 2070, having efficient performance and improved features. It is powered by NVIDIA Turing graphics architecture combined with a powerful RTX platform to fully utilize ray-tracing, AI features, and programmable shades.

In short, you must go for this masterpiece if you need an affordable version of premium cards from other expensive brands. Gigabyte has mentioned that it can deliver up to 8k60Hz resolution on its official website, but it’s not that simple. In contrast, the practical gaming benchmarks stipulate that it can provide 4k at a lower setting and be a perfect option for 1440p and 1080p graphics. The title of being the best flagship GPU for 1080p 144Hz is totally valid. It has 8GB of GDDR6 memory based on a 256-bit memory interface with a bandwidth of 448 GB/s and a memory clock of 14000MHz. Other specs include a 1815MHz core clock and 2560 CUDA Cores.

The card carries OpenGL 4.6 cross-platform support that enables the developers to customize the graphics and DirectX 12 for putting more eye-catching scenes on the screen. Besides three DisplayPort 1.4 ports and one HDMI 2.0b port, it also has a USB Type-C port supporting VirtualLink. The black card looks attractive with a metal backplate for protection and improving aesthetics. It seems the designer knows the cruciality of adequate cooling. The card has a WindForce 2x cooling system having three 82mm cooling fans with unique 3D stripes blades, six copper direct touch heat pipes, and fans with alternative spinning.

AMD Radeon RX 5700

Best Budget GPU for 1080p 144Hz

REASONS TO BUY

✓Affordable

✓Excellent price-to-performance ratio

✓Gen2 7nm RDNA architecture

✓Solid for 1440p gaming

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No Ray-Tracing support

✗Blower cooling is loud

AMD manufactures pretty much everything that is required to build a robust system like processors, graphics cards, and more. The PowerColor Red Dragon Radeon RX 5700 impressed gaming enthusiasts with a perfect price-to-performance ratio and technical improvements. It is based on the new Gen 2 7nm RDNA GPU architecture to dominate the previous architecture, GCN, thanks to the die shrink. In fact, this card comprises 2GB more VRAM than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, which has a similar price tag but lacks performance. Overall, it becomes the best budget GPU for 1080p 144Hz with excellent and affordable gaming efficiencies.

You will enjoy the 1.25 times enhanced clock performance that automatically fetches more excellent performance out of the item at stock settings. It has 8GB of GDDR6 memory based on a 256-bit memory interface and 448 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Further, it has 40 computing units, 64 ROPs, 2560 stream processors, 160 texture units, and 1750MHz of boost clock speed. If we add some gaming benchmarks, those are not supportive regarding playing 4k games at max-out setting. However, those looking for 1080p at 144Hz or 1440p at a three-digit refresh rate plus a tight budget must go for this card.

The card doesn’t stop here. It has all types of technologies and features required for good-quality gaming graphics. A long list of technologies includes Radeon Image Sharpening, FidelityFX, FreeSync, DirectX 12, VR Ready, and Anti-Lag, all combined to ensure an ultra-edge gaming experience. You can utilize two DisplayPort 1.4a type ports and one HDMI 2.0b port with 4k60Hz support. Further, with PCIe 4.0 help, this best GPU for 1080p 144Hz will work on the Ryzen 3rd generation systems with X570 mobos. Besides attractive metal matte exterior aesthetics, it includes a black cooling fan and more.

NVIDIA Geforce RTX 2060 Super Founders Edition

Best overall GPU for 1080p 144Hz

REASONS TO BUY

✓All-rounder graphics card

✓Ray Tracing and Tensor cores

✓Minimalistic look

✓Perfect 1440p performance

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Still not cheap

We have top-of-the-line NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super on our list, impressed by its all-rounder graphics efficiencies and features. The MSI Ventus features this fantastic card, an advanced variant of entry-level 20 series graphics cards. Being pre-overclocked, it offers great thermal handling powers and performance limits. The RTX 2060 Super is powered by the NVIDIA Turing architecture carrying all the required technologies like Ray Tracing, Tensor cores, programmable shading, and more. If I simplify my observation, this is the best overall GPU for 1080p 144Hz since it has every feature you may require during high-quality and graphics-rich gameplay.

On asking the users and our research team regarding its performance benchmarks, they were satisfied with the product. At medium-high settings, it can provide 1440p / 1080p graphics with 60+ / 90+ fps, respectively, for most of the games. You must try this card if you mostly play games like Metro and Witcher. It is manufactured on a 12nm process and has 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 25% more than its predecessors. Other specs include a 256-bit memory interface, 448 GB/s of memory bandwidth, 10138 GFLOPs, 3072 CUDA Cores, 34 RT cores, 192 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and a base clock of 1650MHz increasing up to 1815MHz.

You can connect up to four monitors simultaneously with the card with the help of DisplayPort, HDMI, and DVI-DL support. Remember, the monitor also plays a key role in exhibiting the graphics and scenes, so connecting at least 1440p is crucial to fetch 1080 144p quality. Look-wise, it has an immaculate and sophisticated build made up of silver and carved with the product model in the front. It has a dual-slot cooling system consisting of two black fans and 6mm copper heat pipes. As the cooling system is highly optimized, it rarely crosses 70°C or 75dBA limits, even at full fan pace—you won’t have to worry about thermal management.

XFX RX 5700 XT Thicc III Ultra

Best High-end GPU for 1080p 144Hz

REASONS TO BUY

✓Excellent performance

✓Perfect for 1440p

✓PCIe 4.0 support

✓Quiet fans movements

✓Ideal fan stop feature

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No Ray Tracing

✗High power consumption

If you are a gaming enthusiast and have already built a gaming rig in the past, you must have heard about the original XFX Radeon RX 5700 XT Thicc II Ultra. Overall it is a perfect card but has some downsides as well, and the brand has removed those bugs in the all-new XFX Radeon RX 5700 XT Thicc III Ultra. The RX 5700 XT is a powerful GPU from AMD’s Navi RDNA series and directly competes against Team Green RTX 2070 with a top score. It’s built based on 7nm architecture technology making it potent and power efficient.

I know you are curious to see some useful gaming benchmarks regarding the card’s performance. The Radeon RX 5700 XT outdo 1440p gaming or even 4k graphics with a higher refresh rate than most competitors. Further, if we talk about 1080p, undoubtedly, it’s the best high-end GPU for 1080p 144Hz gaming. In short, all the graphics technologies work together, boosting overall graphics quality. The specs sheet stipulates that it has 8GB of GDDR6 memory working on a 256-bit memory interface with 14Gb/s of memory clock. Other specs include 2560 stream processors and a base clock of 1810MHz that can rap up to 2025MHz of clock speed.

You get no ray-tracing technology, but AMD has tried its best to cover up its place with numerous other technologies; however, it is still a downside. Otherwise, we found no bugs in the graphics card. Further, the card has three DisplayPort 1.4 type ports, one HDMI 2.0b port, and Dual-Link support to accommodate 8k60Hz and 5k120Hz digital resolution. Maybe all the quiet operations with effective cooling are happening due to its thick size. All jokes aside, it has a total of three fans, two 90mm and one 100mm, rather than two 100mm in the original variant.

Conclusion

The graphics card is the most important rig’s element that comes after the processor. Also, it becomes necessary when you need to play high-end games, do content creation and 3D rendering, and play something heavy in nature. Interestingly, many of our users play games at a 1080p 144Hz refresh rate and need an all-rounder graphics card to fulfill such rated graphics needs. So, we have prepared an all-new article regarding choosing the best GPU for 1080p 144Hz gaming.

However, choosing a perfect and compatible component becomes highly complex when you’re in a market filled with hundreds of cards. Don’t worry; we have added eight best-out-of-best GPUs, keeping the needs of every user. Our list contains all types of products, and you can choose one according to your needs of budget, performance, cooling, speed, some specific technologies, and more. I recommend you to select based on knowing your usage and bucks weight in your pocket.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to find a perfect graphics card?

In the tech world, the first step towards perfection is the compatibility of an element. So, finding compatible graphics cards is significant. Before purchasing a GPU, you must check certain factors like size compatibility, performance, monitor type, FPS the card can provide, and cooling efficiency. For more in-detailed information, you can read the quick buying guide and tips section.

Which one is the best graphics card in 2023?

The market is full of best out of bests graphics cards where each one is special in certain aspects. However, the NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super is an all-rounder and overall best graphics card on our list, having numerous benefits. It has Ray Tracing and Tensor cores to enhance the graphics quality. It offers a minimalistic look and is perfect for 1440p gaming performance.

Abdullah Sarfraz

Motherboards & Graphics Cards Expert

Abdullah Sarfraz is a skilled writer with a BS in Economics (Honors) from GC University Faisalabad. He began his academic journey at High School No. 1. His expertise lies in technology, specifically motherboards and graphics cards, backed by three years of practical experience. His unique blend of economics and technology knowledge allows him to write comprehensively about these intersecting fields. His work is a valuable resource for understanding complex technological concepts and their economic implications.