For 1440p gaming at 144Hz, you’ll want a graphics card that can reliably hit high frame rates at this resolution without sacrificing visual quality. Here are some of the best options for 1440p, 144Hz gaming as of late 2024:
1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
Image source: Best Buy
Performance: The RTX 4070 offers excellent 1440p performance, providing high frame rates on demanding titles.
VRAM: 12GB of VRAM ensures smooth performance, even in high-fidelity settings.
Ray Tracing and DLSS 3: The card handles ray tracing well and has DLSS 3 for increased performance on supported games, which helps maintain high frame rates at 1440p.
Pros
Great 1440p Performance: The RTX 4070 can consistently handle 1440p at high settings, delivering frame rates suitable for a 144Hz monitor in most games.
DLSS 3 Support: With DLSS 3, the 4070 can achieve higher frame rates without sacrificing quality in supported games. This is particularly useful in demanding titles or with ray tracing enabled.
Efficient Power Consumption: The 4070 is highly power-efficient, drawing significantly less power than the previous generation (RTX 3070 and 3080) while delivering better performance.
Ray Tracing Performance: The 4070 offers good ray tracing capabilities for its price, benefiting from NVIDIA’s third-generation ray tracing cores.
Compact and Cool: With efficient thermal performance, many versions of the RTX 4070 are smaller and run cooler than previous mid-range cards, making it ideal for smaller cases or quieter builds.
Cons
Limited 4K Performance: While it can handle 4K at lower settings, it isn’t the best choice for high-end 4K gaming, especially in more demanding titles.
Price-Performance Ratio: Some gamers feel that the RTX 4070’s price could be more competitive given alternatives like the AMD RX 7800 XT, which offers similar performance at a lower price.
VRAM Limitations: The 4070 has 12GB of VRAM, which is generally enough for 1440p but may be limiting in the future as games demand more VRAM, especially with ray tracing and high textures.
Smaller Gains Over RTX 3070: While it’s more efficient, the raw performance increase over the RTX 3070 might seem underwhelming for those expecting a generational leap.
2. AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
Image source: ASRock
Performance: The RX 7800 XT is a top choice for 1440p, delivering smooth gameplay and impressive frame rates for most AAA games.
VRAM: 16GB, future-proofing you against upcoming games with high VRAM requirements.
FSR: While AMD’s ray tracing is generally less performant than NVIDIA’s, the card benefits from AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) to boost frame rates.
Pros
Excellent 1440p Performance: The RX 7800 XT delivers smooth frame rates at 1440p on high to ultra settings in most modern games, making it ideal for this resolution.
High VRAM Capacity: With 16GB of VRAM, the RX 7800 XT is well-suited for high-resolution textures and future-proofing against games with increasing VRAM demands.
Competitive Pricing: Priced lower than comparable NVIDIA models, like the RTX 4070, it offers excellent value for performance, especially for gamers looking for a strong mid-range option.
AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR): While not as advanced as DLSS 3, AMD’s FSR provides a performance boost by upscaling resolution, and it works across a broad range of games.
Good Power Efficiency: The RX 7800 XT has a balanced power consumption, making it efficient for the performance it delivers and suitable for systems with moderate power supplies.
Cons
Ray Tracing Performance: The RX 7800 XT’s ray tracing performance is not as strong as NVIDIA’s GPUs in the same price range. While it can handle some ray tracing at 1440p, it struggles more in demanding ray-traced games.
Less Advanced Upscaling: FSR is helpful, but it doesn’t match NVIDIA’s DLSS 3 in terms of visual quality and performance impact, especially for demanding upscaling situations.
Limited 4K Capability: While capable of 4K gaming at medium settings in some games, the RX 7800 XT may struggle to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maxed-out settings, making it better suited for 1440p.
Driver and Software Stability: AMD’s drivers have historically had stability issues, and some users still report occasional software glitches compared to NVIDIA’s more polished software ecosystem.
3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
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Performance: The 4070 Ti is more powerful than the standard 4070 and offers consistent high frame rates, even with ray tracing on.
VRAM: 12GB, which is adequate for current and most upcoming 1440p titles.
Ray Tracing and DLSS 3: It offers even better performance in ray-traced games and further benefits from DLSS 3.
Pros
Strong 1440p and Capable 4K Performance: The RTX 4070 Ti excels at 1440p, delivering very high frame rates on max settings in most titles. It can also handle 4K gaming at moderate to high settings, making it versatile across resolutions.
DLSS 3 Support: DLSS 3, with Frame Generation, significantly boosts performance in supported games, which is beneficial for both 1440p and 4K gaming. It also helps the 4070 Ti maintain smooth performance in ray-traced games.
Good Ray Tracing Performance: The card’s ray tracing capabilities are robust, offering smoother frame rates in ray-traced games compared to the RX 7800 XT and even the RX 7900 XT.
Efficient Power Usage: The 4070 Ti has efficient power consumption relative to its performance, which helps reduce heat output and allows for quieter cooling solutions.
Compact Form Factor: The efficient design allows for a relatively compact card, making it suitable for various builds without requiring an oversized case.
Cons
Price-Performance Ratio: At its price point, some users find the RTX 4070 Ti to be less value-oriented compared to options like the AMD RX 7800 XT, especially when focusing solely on rasterized (non-ray-traced) performance.
VRAM Limitation: With 12GB of VRAM, the 4070 Ti is generally adequate for 1440p and light 4K gaming. However, upcoming AAA games with high VRAM demands could present challenges at ultra settings or with ray tracing enabled.
DLSS 3 Dependency: While DLSS 3 boosts performance in supported games, it isn’t available for all titles. Games without DLSS 3 may see lower frame rates compared to similarly priced cards that rely solely on raw power.
Narrow Memory Bus: The 192-bit memory bus, combined with 12GB of VRAM, can sometimes limit performance in VRAM-intensive scenarios, especially at higher resolutions.
4. AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
Image source: ASRock
Performance: The 7900 XT is slightly overkill for 1440p but ensures future-proofing for high frame rates even on ultra settings.
VRAM: 20GB, providing ample headroom for high-quality textures.
Ray Tracing: Its ray tracing performance isn’t as robust as NVIDIA’s, but it can still handle most games well at 1440p.
Pros
Excellent 4K and 1440p Performance: The RX 7900 XT performs well at 4K, offering high frame rates at max settings in most games. It also excels at 1440p, providing ample performance headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors.
High VRAM Capacity: With 20GB of VRAM, the 7900 XT is well-equipped for games with high VRAM requirements and future-proofing, making it ideal for high-resolution textures and demanding titles.
Competitive Price for Performance: The RX 7900 XT provides strong performance for its price compared to NVIDIA’s offerings, such as the RTX 4080, making it a good value in the high-end segment.
AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR): While not as advanced as DLSS 3, FSR 2.0 and upcoming FSR 3.0 can significantly improve performance in supported games, especially at 4K, allowing for better frame rates without compromising visuals.
Good Power Efficiency for Its Class: The 7900 XT is relatively power-efficient for the level of performance it delivers, especially compared to NVIDIA’s high-end options.
Cons
Inferior Ray Tracing Performance: While capable of ray tracing, the RX 7900 XT generally underperforms NVIDIA’s GPUs in ray-traced games, particularly when compared to the RTX 4080 and above.
Lacks DLSS 3 Equivalent: Although AMD has FSR, it doesn’t fully match NVIDIA’s DLSS 3 with Frame Generation, meaning some games won’t benefit from the same AI-boosted frame rates and smoothness.
Larger Form Factor: The RX 7900 XT tends to have a bulkier design, which may require more space in the case and better cooling, potentially leading to a noisier setup if airflow is limited.
Mixed Driver Stability: AMD’s drivers have historically had occasional stability issues, and some users report experiencing minor software bugs or needing frequent updates, especially compared to NVIDIA’s more established driver ecosystem.
Budget Option
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB: While this card isn’t as strong as the options above, it can achieve playable frame rates in most 1440p games at medium to high settings and is a good value if you’re looking to save.
Summary
Best Performance per Dollar: RTX 4070 or RX 7800 XT
Best Overall Performance: RX 7900 XT
Best with Ray Tracing and AI Features: RTX 4070 Ti
For most gamers aiming to hit 144Hz with great visuals, the RTX 4070 and RX 7800 XT provide an optimal mix of performance, future-proofing, and value. If budget allows, stepping up to the RTX 4070 Ti or RX 7900 XT will offer extra performance headroom.
FAQs
Is 144Hz good enough for 1440p?
Yes, 144Hz is generally an excellent refresh rate for 1440p gaming!
If you play highly competitive games like CS, Valorant, or Overwatch, where even slight improvements in responsiveness matter, a 240Hz or 165Hz display could be worth considering. But for most users, 144Hz at 1440p is a great sweet spot that delivers both smooth performance and excellent visual quality.
Can RTX 3060 run 144Hz 1440p?
The NVIDIA RTX 3060 can handle 1440p gaming, but running it at 144Hz depends on the specific game and settings:
1. Competitive and Less Demanding Games: In games like CS, Valorant, Fortnite, or League of Legends, the RTX 3060 can often achieve 144 FPS at 1440p on medium to high settings, making it possible to hit 144Hz.
2. AAA Titles and Demanding Games: For more graphically intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the RTX 3060 will struggle to reach 144 FPS at 1440p. You may need to lower settings to medium or even low, and in some cases, even then it may not consistently hit 144 FPS.
3. DLSS for Supported Games: DLSS can help boost performance in supported games, allowing you to get closer to 144 FPS at 1440p, particularly on balanced or performance modes. However, DLSS support is not universal across all titles.
Hi, this is Masab, the Founder of PC Building Lab. I’m a PC enthusiast who loves to share the prior knowledge and experience that I have with computers. Well, troubleshooting computers is in my DNA, what else I could say….
