The Best GPU for 1080p 144hz Monitors

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Finding the perfect graphics card for your monitor can be a delicate task. You want to make sure you pick one that can make good use of those hertz, but you probably don’t want to spend more than you need to.

In this guide, we’ll run you through some important things you need to consider when deciding on a graphics card like the types of games you play and the other components of your build. Then we’ll go through the best graphics cards for 1080p 144hz monitors and hopefully help you find the perfect card for you.

For most people the Nvidia RTX 2060 is the best all-round card for a 1080p 144hz monitor. It’s powerful enough to run most games well above 60 FPS to make the most out of the 144hz refresh rate, but it isn’t overly expensive either.

Things to Consider

• The type of games you play – Some games require a more powerful graphics card than others. If you will only be playing less demanding games, a budget-friendly graphics card like the GTX 1050 is perfect for 1080p 144hz monitors. Most e-sports games (CSGO, Dota, Overwatch etc.) fit into this category. However, modern AAA games like The Witcher 3 and Battlefield 5 will require a more powerful card if you want to get the most out of 144hz.
• In-game graphics settings – Tweaking graphics settings in-game can have a big impact on FPS. If you don’t have a huge budget but want to play demanding games with high FPS, a GTX 1060 is a great option if you are willing to turn the settings down.
• FPS you’re happy with – If you have a 144hz monitor, ideally you want to be able to achieve considerable higher than 60 FPS, otherwise you might as well have a 60hz monitor. However, you don’t necessarily have to hit the full 144 FPS. In my experience, if you can hit at least 90 FPS, a 144hz monitor makes a big difference and is definitely worth it.
• G-Sync and FreeSync monitors – Nvidia’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync technologies sync the graphics card to the monitors refresh rate. This gives a much smoother gaming experience. It functions in a similar way to v-sync but without the input lag. It used to be the case that G-Sync only works with Nvidia GPUs and FreeSync only works with AMD GPUs. However, Nvidia GPUs can now make use of certain supported FreeSync monitors (and even some unsupported monitors). If you have one of these monitors, then there isn’t much in it when it comes to choosing between AMD and Nvidia. If you have a FreeSync monitor that is not supported, an AMD card would be a good choice. If you have a G-Sync monitor, you will definitely want to go with Nvidia.
• The rest of your build – The rest of your build also comes into play when deciding on a graphics card. For example, if you have a weak CPU and pair it with a powerful card like the RTX 2070, the CPU will bottleneck the graphics card and most of the 1080’s power will go to waste. Game Debate is a great website to test your hardware.

Best GPUs for 1080p 144hz Monitors

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly graphics card to play low-demand games or a powerhouse capable of running the most demanding games, we’ve got you covered. All of the graphics cards in the list below are great for 1080p 144hz monitors.

Best for Most People (Nvidia) – Nvidia Geforce RTX 2060

$780.00 – Buy on Amazon

In my opinion, the RTX 2060 is the perfect graphics card for a 1080p 144hz monitor. Even on the highest settings, the RTX 2060 will get close to 144 FPS in most games and it is the card that will get the most out of your monitor. Anything more powerful will start to become overkill unless you’re aim is future-proofing. If you have a G-Sync monitor or FreeSync monitor that supports Nvidia GPUs, I recommend this card for most people.

Best for Most People (AMD) – AMD Radeon RX Vega 56

$1,586.68 – Buy on Amazon

If you have a FreeSync monitor which is not supported by Nvidia to make use of the syncing feature, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is comparable to the RTX 2060 but it will be able to make use of FreeSync.

Best for E-Sports (Nvidia) – Nvidia Geforce GTX 1060

$499.00 – Buy on Amazon

If you only play low demand e-sports games like CS:GO, Overwatch, and Dota, a GTX 1060 will be more than enough. This card will also be able to run AAA games reasonably well, usually keeping above 60 FPS, but you will probably have to turn some settings down. You also won’t make use of the full 144hz with this card. If you have a G-Sync monitor or FreeSync monitor that supports Nvidia GPUs, I recommend this card for e-sports gaming.

Best for E-Sports (AMD) – AMD Radeon RX 580

$599.99 – Buy on Amazon

If you have a FreeSync monitor which is not supported by Nvidia to make use of the syncing feature, the AMD Radeon RX 580 is comparable to the GTX 1060 but it will be able to make use of FreeSync.

Best for Future-proofing (Nvidia) – Nvidia Geforce RTX 2070

$974.91 – Buy on Amazon

For most people, the RTX 2070 is overkill for a 1080p 144hz monitor. The only time I would recommend it is if you’re future-proofing. Games releasing in the next few years will require more and more powerful graphics cards so an RTX 2070 should keep you set for quite a while. Also, if you think you will be getting a 1440p monitor in the future, the RTX 2070 is perfect for that. If you have a G-Sync monitor or FreeSync monitor that supports Nvidia GPUs, I recommend this card for future-proofing.

Best for Future-proofing (AMD) – AMD Radeon RX Vega 64

Price not available – Buy on Amazon

If you have a FreeSync monitor which is not supported by Nvidia to make use of the syncing feature, the AMD Radeon RX 580 is comparable to the RTX 2070 but it will be able to make use of FreeSync.

Last update on 2021-11-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API