Modern PC gaming requires a compatible and powerful discrete graphics card for unleashed gaming experience. 1440p and ultrawide gaming have become the latest trends in the market, but most PC gamers still prefer 1080p resolution gaming due to the affordable pricing. The best GPUs for 1080p 144Hz gaming may easily hit 144FPS or get close to it for a smoother gameplay experience without spending extra bucks.
Choosing the right graphics card is essential for achieving a responsive gaming experience at 1080p with a 144Hz refresh rate. It’s possible to achieve up to 144 frames per second with your FHD 144Hz monitor in competitive games by reducing potential screen tearing and motion blur. There are several OEMs and GPU card models available depending on your budget and performance requirements.
How Did We Choose These GPUs?
To pick up the best GPUs for 1080p resolution with 144Hz gaming on your PC, we’ve considered several key factors. Here is an overview of the criteria list that we’ve used while including the mentioned GPUs:
- 1080p 144Hz Performance: We have mentioned specific graphics cards that can easily handle Full-HD 1080p resolution gaming at high or ultra settings with a 144Hz refresh rate. These recommended GPUs can effortlessly offer beyond 60fps or even higher frame rates like 100-144fps in many games, utilizing the full advantage of the monitor’s 144Hz refresh rate.
- Pricing: You can find multiple GPU options within the $180 to $300 budget range that cater to all the factors necessary for smooth gaming at 1080p with high refresh rates without concerns about FPS limitations. Investing in higher-priced models can offer more powerful graphics cards with the added benefit of futureproofing.
- Features and Future-Proofing: You’ll get new technologies like Ray Tracing, DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), and FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) support on the latest GPUs from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. You should prioritize future-proofing if you plan to enjoy upcoming AAA titles.
- Power Efficiency: Powerful GPUs are expected to consume excessive power to pull out their best performance while gaming or rendering. Luckily, modern GPUs with lower TDP (thermal design power) are capable of maintaining low temperatures and less noise while in use.
- Compatibility and Build: We’ve also curated only those GPUs that are widely compatible with most of the PC specs and builds. As each manufacturer offers better build quality to their graphics cards, you shouldn’t worry about the physical durability.
- User Reviews: By checking real-world user reviews, we have listed out the graphics card models that will be worth your money in terms of performance, stability, and features. We have also considered their potential issues in different scenarios.
So, we have considered all these criteria while choosing the best GPUs capable of running games at 1080p resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. To improve your extended gaming sessions, you can also check out these gaming mouse pads and mats.
Best GPUs for 1080p Gaming at 144Hz
To get a smoother 1080p gaming experience at 144 frames per second, you’ll need a compatible 1080p 144Hz monitor and a compatible graphics card. Monitors with a 144Hz refresh rate can deliver up to 144 FPS, resulting in a buttery-smooth and realistic visual experience. The best part is that you don’t necessarily have to break the bank to buy a 1080p 144Hz monitor and a compatible GPU, depending on your budget.
We’ve thoroughly checked best-in-class GPUs that can excel in smoother frame rates, responsiveness, features, thermal cooling, performance, and more. So, let’s get into some of the best GPUs priced from budget-friendly to high-end to hit the sweet spot of 144Hz with the 1080p (FHD) resolution below:
1. ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 V2 OC Edition
Our first pick is the Asus Dual GeForce RTX 3050 V2 OC Edition graphics card, which is a direct competitor of the AMD RX 6500 XT in a similar price segment. Luckily, the Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU is quite powerful and feature-rich to perform better in all areas. Nvidia GPUs are also designed to handle editing and rendering tasks.
For the $239.99 price tag, it can achieve up to 144FPS in 1080p gaming by using the proper adjustments and optimizations. It can achieve around 140-300fps in Esports titles like Counter-Strike, Valorant, Fortnite, Overwatch 2, etc, with high settings, and around 80-144fps in AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Warzone, Hogwarts Legacy, etc, with medium settings.
Specifications:
| Product | ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 V2 OC Edition (DUAL-RTX3050-O8G-V2) |
|---|---|
| Price | $239.99 |
| Core Clock Speed | 1552 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 1822 MHz (OC) |
| Graphics Memory Speed | 14 Gbps |
| CUDA Cores | 2560 |
| VRAM Size | 8GB |
| Memory Type and Bus | GDDR6, 128-bit |
| Bandwidth | 224.0 GB/s |
| Ports and Connectivity | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 8-pin power connector |
| TDP | 130 W |
| Dimensions | 200 x 123 x 38 mm |
| Features | 2-slot heatsink with two axial tech fans, Error-correcting code (ECC) memory, PCIe 4.0 x8, DirectX 12 Ultimate, Ray Tracing, 3D, DLSS, AMD SAM/Intel Resizable BAR |
Pros
- Great performance
- Compact design, reliable build
- Easily fit with a Mini-ITX PC case
- Small LED strip gives a gaming vibe
- Thermal cooling is excellent
- 0dB silent technology is helpful in light gaming
- Performance tweaking and thermal controls are present
Cons
- Costly compared to other brands
- Optimized for basic generative AI tasks
- Noisy fan operations
What Do Users Say About This Product?
As per Amazon USA user reviews, the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 V2 OC Edition (8GB) is one of the best-in-class entry-level RTX graphics cards to consider for great 1080p gaming with a higher frame rate up to 144FPS. Users are quite satisfied with its reliability and quiet fan operation, too.
2. Sparkle Intel Arc A580 ORC OC Edition
Sparkle Intel Arc A580 ORC OC Edition GPU is an excellent performer, considering its $179.97 price tag. It has become one of the best-valued GPUs that can achieve 1080p 144fps in several modern games like CS: GO, Valorant, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, etc, without sacrificing the visual quality. Meanwhile, heavy titles like Cyberpunk 2077 may require slightly lower settings to get the highest possible frame rates.
Intel’s Arc A580 GPU seems quite competitive or even better than AMD Radeon RX 6600 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 in the sub-$200 market. Sometimes, performance may vary depending on the specific game and optimizations.
Specifications:
| Product | Sparkle Intel Arc A580 ORC OC Edition (SA580C-8GOC) |
|---|---|
| Price | $179.97 |
| Core Clock Speed | 1700 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2000 MHz |
| Graphics Memory Speed | 16 Gbps |
| CUDA Cores | 3072 |
| VRAM Size | 8GB |
| Memory Type and Bus | GDDR6, 256-bit |
| Bandwidth | 512 GB/s |
| Ports and Connectivity | 2x 8-pin power connectors, PCIe 4.0, 3x DisplayPort 2.0, 1x HDMI 2.0 |
| TDP | 175 W |
| Dimensions | 223 x 113 x 39.5 mm |
| Features | DirectX 12 Ultimate, XeSS (Xe Super Sampling) upscaling, Real-Time Ray Tracing, DLSS, FSR2, Optimized 0dB fan mode, TORN Cooling, 8K UHD video output support, Sparkle ThermalSync, Metal Backplate, Variable Rate Shading (VSR), industry‑first AV1 hardware encoding, Intel Arc Control software support, Intel Deep Link Technology for Intel Core processors with Intel Arc graphics |
Pros
- Best value for money GPU
- Performs better than RTX 3050 in most cases
- Pleasing aesthetics and solid build
- Sparkle logo backlit, changes color with GPU temperature
- Excellent Ray Tracing output
- Reliable performance with overclocking
- Intel Arc 5 graphics driver becomes stable
- AV1 Encoding/Decoding is suitable for streaming and recording
Cons
- High power consumption than RTX 3050
- Noisy fan operation due to faster spinning
- Performance dips in older video games
- Driver support on Windows 11 22H2 for the AMD AM4 platform could be better
What Do Users Say About This Product?
Regarding the user reviews on Amazon USA, the 8GB GDDR6 is more than enough for real-life 1080p 144Hz gaming for that budget segment. Sparkle Intel Arc A580 ORC OC Edition is a value-for-money GPU that offers better build quality and silent fan operations.
3. PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6600 Graphics Card
We’ve included PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6600 GPU, designed for excellent 1080p 144Hz gaming. Under the $200 price range, you can use this AMD graphics card for your AMD CPU setup to get the ultimate compatibility with higher frame rates. AMD Radeon RX 6600 is a younger sibling of RX 6600 XT, delivering stunning results in AAA titles. It can deliver up to the 144FPS mark in 1080p mid to high settings for a few games.
Specifications:
| Product | PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6600 (AXRX 6600 8GBD6-3DH) |
|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 |
| Core Clock Speed | 1626 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2491 MHz |
| Graphics Memory Speed | 14 Gbps |
| CUDA Cores | 1792 |
| VRAM Size | 8GB |
| Memory Type and Bus | GDDR6, 128-bit |
| Bandwidth | 224 GB/s |
| Ports and Connectivity | 1x 8-pin power connector, PCIe 4.0, 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| TDP | 132 W |
| Dimensions | 200 x 111 x 39 mm |
| Features | AMD RDNA 2 architecture, bleeding edge display supported, HDMI 2.1 VRR, 8K HDR video output support, AMD FreeSync, DirectX Raytracing (DXR), variable rate shading (VRS), DirectX 12 Ultimate, AMD Smart Access Memory, 0db Mute Fan technology, Radeon Boost, Radeon Anti-Lag, Radeon Image Sharpening, AV1 decode, AMD SAM/Intel Resizable BAR |
Pros
- Great pricing for its performance
- Powerful 1080p gaming
- Quiet fan operations
- Enough power efficient
- Excellent build quality
- Default profiles can be tweaked for optimal performance
Cons
- Subpar Ray Tracing performance
- Underperformer against Nvidia RTX 3060 so often
- FSR isn’t as good as Nvidia’s DLSS
What Do Users Say About This Product?
We have checked Amazon USA user reviews about the PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6600 GPU and the overall 4.5 stars based on more than 4,000 ratings, which isn’t any simple achievement. Users are pretty satisfied with this product in terms of its price-to-performance ratio. It should be the first preference for a budget-friendly 1080p GPU designed for AMD setup.
4. MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is one of the best GPUs at a $284.97 price range with a reliable brand like MSI. It’s designed for excellent 1080p gaming at a 144Hz refresh rate in most games with the highest possible settings.
Even in 2024, this is a well-balanced Nvidia GPU for the mid-budget segment that you can get with DLSS and Ray Tracing. It can run most AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, XDefiant, COD: Warzone, Modern Warfare II, and more with 1080p high settings and offers up to 144 FPS.
Specifications:
| Product | MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 (VENTUS 2X 12G OC) |
|---|---|
| Price | $284.97 |
| Core Clock Speed | 1320 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 1837 MHz |
| Graphics Memory Speed | 15 Gbps |
| CUDA Cores | 3584 |
| VRAM Size | 12GB |
| Memory Type and Bus | GDDR6, 192-bit |
| Bandwidth | 360 GB/s |
| Ports and Connectivity | 1x 8-pin/1x 6-pin power connector, PCIe 4.0 x16, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
| TDP | 170 W |
| Dimensions | 276 x 131 x 51 mm |
| Features | Ray Tracing, DLSS, Up to 4K@120Hz display output, VR Ready, DirectX 12 Ultimate, G-Sync compatible, Supports ECC memory, Adaptive Vertical Sync, RGB Mystic Light, TWIN FROZR 8 thermal cooling, aluminum backplate, dedicated thermal pads, Zero FROZR for silent fan spinning, AMD SAM/Intel Resizable BAR, MSI Center software support |
Pros
- Excellent banger for the price
- Great reliability in longer sessions
- Solid build quality with a metal backplate
- Metal anti-bending strap included
- Outstanding capacity for streaming, editing, and rendering
- Easy setup, Nvidia drivers are well-optimized
- Fans don’t spin in light gaming and graphics tasks
Cons
- 12GB OC card feels slow without overclocking
- Lacks universal DLSS compatibility
- Runs noticeably hot sometimes
What Do Users Say About This Product?
Amazon USA users are happy and satisfied enough with this MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 VENTUS 2X 12G OC Edition GPU due to its price-to-performance ratio. You can’t go wrong with the RTX 3060 12GB GPU under the $300 price range. We recommend the 12GB RAM variant so that you won’t have trouble running the games released in 2024 and later.
5. XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 6650XT CORE 8GB
The XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 6650XT Core 8GB variant is an excellent choice for a budget-friendly AMD GPU that offers comparatively raw performance. For the $235.61 price tag, it’s a value-for-money graphics card from AMD that offers excellent reliability, slim profile, quiet fan operation, and 1080p gaming at 144Hz with minor tweaks.
It achieves around 60-144FPS in several AAA games with 1080p high settings. Meanwhile, some games may require a few tweaks in the graphics settings for optimal performance.
Specifications:
| Product | XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 6650XT CORE 8GB (RX-665X8DFDY) |
|---|---|
| Price | $235.61 |
| Core Clock Speed | 2410 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2635 MHz |
| Graphics Memory Speed | 17.5 Gbps |
| CUDA Cores | 2048 |
| VRAM Size | 8GB |
| Memory Type and Bus | GDDR6, 128-bit |
| Bandwidth | 280.3 GB/s |
| Ports and Connectivity | 1x 8-pin power connector, PCIe 4.0 x8, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
| TDP | 176 W |
| Dimensions | 241 x 131 x 41 mm |
| Features | XFX SWFT 210 Dual Fan Cooling, AMD RDNA 2 Architecture, DirectX 12 Ultimate, Hardware Raytracing, AMD FidelityFX, Radeon Anti-Lag, AMD FreeSync, supports ECC memory, AMD SAM/Intel Resizable BAR, AMD Infinity Cache, AMD Smart Access Memory, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition |
Pros
- Excellent value for money AMD GPU
- Great 1080p gaming with the highest settings
- Good looking design and a sleek profile
- Better Ray Tracing performance in 1080p
- Stable and reliable performance in peak times
- Quiet fan operations under heavy workload
- Decent 4K gaming performance
- Build quality is good
Cons
- No DLSS, AMD’s FSR isn’t widely adopted
- Runs very hot sometimes; annoying fan noise
- Subpar Ray Tracing performance at high settings
- Power consumption is higher than its competitors
What Do Users Say About This Product?
There are approximately 12,000 ratings on Amazon USA, with an average of 4.5 stars for the XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 6650XT CORE 8GB GPU. It’s another mid-budget GPU that justifies the price-to-performance ratio. Most users get high frame rates with most PC titles in the high/ultra graphical settings, which is a significant advantage. You can also achieve 4K high-resolution gaming by using a budget 4K gaming monitor.
6. MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4060 8GB
The MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X Black 8G OC Edition is a solid new generation $300 mid-budget graphics card designed for enhanced 1080p gaming to go up to 144 frames per second with fewer tweaks in graphical settings. It performs well due to the all-new Ada Lovelace architecture featuring DLSS 3, 3rd-gen RT cores, 4th-gen Tensor cores, dedicated Ray Tracing cores, and more.
The RTX 4060 delivers around 80-144FPS on average, with high-quality settings for most popular AAA titles like MWII, Cyberpunk 2077, Borderlands 3, etc. It could be a mid-range game-changer GPU for the next few years to come, but there is a caveat. With VRAM size limitation to 8GB only, performance dips can occur in upcoming games.
Specifications:
| Product | MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4060 (VENTUS 2X BLACK 8G OC) |
|---|---|
| Price | $299 |
| Core Clock Speed | 2490 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2505 MHz |
| Graphics Memory Speed | 17 Gbps |
| CUDA Cores | 3072 |
| VRAM Size | 8GB |
| Memory Type and Bus | GDDR6, 128-bit |
| Bandwidth | 272 GB/s |
| Ports and Connectivity | 1x 8-pin power connector, PCIe 4.0 x8, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1a |
| TDP | 115 W |
| Dimensions | 199 x 120 x 41 mm |
| Features | Enhanced Ray Tracing, DLSS 3.0, Frame Generation, Supports up to 4K@120Hz HDR and up to 8K@60Hz HDR display output, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), DirectX 12 Ultimate, G-Sync technology, TORX FAN 4.0 dual-fan cooling, NVIDIA Reflex low-latency, NVIDIA Encoder, RTX Video Super Resolution, NVIDIA Broadcast, NVIDIA Studio, Excellent thermal padding, MSI Center |
Pros
- Top-tier 1080p gaming GPU under budget
- Supports DLSS 3 for boosted performance with impressive visual quality
- Highly energy-efficient, consumes less power than other competitors in its class
- Compact dual-fan card, suitable for smaller cases
- Enhanced Ray Tracing performance than older generations
- Excellent thermal cooling, silent operation
- Sturdy build quality with a reinforced backplate
Cons
- 8GB VRAM is less for graphics-intensive tasks
- Not future-proof for every user due to lower VRAM and 128-bit memory bus
- Lacks RGB
What Do Users Say About This Product?
The overall gaming performance of MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X Black 8G OC in 1080p (high/ultra settings) is quite similar to the RTX 3060Ti Founders Edition, which isn’t bad at all. It has received 4.8 stars from over 600 ratings on Amazon USA, showcasing its quality and performance among users.
Wrapping It All
In the end, if you’re interested in the best GPUs for 1080p gaming with close to 144fps, you can choose the RTX 3060 or Radeon RX 6600 for a budget all-rounder option. The Intel Arc A580 could be an entry-level budget GPU for you.
For uncompromised 1080p gaming with the latest features, you can pick AMD Radeon RX 6650XT CORE or Nvidia RTX 4060 as per your budget and preferences. Of course, paying extra bucks will unlock more powerful GPU options to maximize the 144Hz experience.
