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If you want the best GPU that can run 1440p games smoothly at 144Hz or better refresh rates, then we’ve got you covered right here.
GPUs that are able to deliver such high frame rates at the mentioned resolution are often expensive, as they offer powerful specifications that are only found in either mid-range or high-end cards. The ones that fall in the budget category are only suitable for 1080p or lower refresh rates.
Here at PCGuide, we’ve reviewed several GPUs and have put each one through rigorous testing to get an idea about their real-life performance. Based on the results, we’ve selected a number of GPUs that were able to maintain high FPS in multiple games at 1440p. So, without wasting another second, let’s dive in!
Products at a glance
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Best GPU for 1440p 144Hz
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super OC Edition
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 8,448
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 672.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2340 MHz
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Best AMD GPU for 1440p 144Hz
ASUS TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XTX OC
- GPU: Navi 31
- Stream Processors: 6,144
- VRAM: 24GB GDDR6
- Memory bus width: 384-bit
- Bandwidth: 960 GB/s
- Base clock speed: 1,929 MHz
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Best value GPU for 1440p 144Hz
Sapphire Radeon Pulse RX 7700 XT
- GPU: Navi 32
- Stream Processors: 3,456
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 432 GB/sec
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,435 MHz
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Best high-end GPU for 1440p 144Hz
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 9728
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 716.8 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2205 MHz
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Hands-on Review
Best previous-gen GPU for 1440p 144Hz
ASUS ROG Strix NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 OC Edition
- GPU: GA102
- CUDA cores: 8,704
- VRAM: 10GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 760.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 320-bit
- Base clock speed : 1440 MHz
How we picked
Whether you want to be competitive in online games or just enjoy smooth frame rates at a QHD resolution, a GPU for 1440p 144Hz is key. And it will make a huge difference if you’re shifting from a 1080p 60Hz setup or similar. We know this because we’re gamers ourselves, and we’ve tested the cards that are capable of making all the difference – and can they!
So, to pick the best GPUs for 1440p 144Hz gaming, we’ve first relied on our own testing of the cards in this list. Each of them has been benchmarked across a range of tests, but here, we’ll focus on 1440p capabilities with additional information for reference. What’s more, you can refer to how we test in the PC Guide testing lab.
Performance is the key metric because each of the cards we’ve picked absolutely will perform. But we’ve also considered price and longevity. On the latter, because we’re picking from the RX 7000 and RTX 40 series, you should get years of enjoyment from each card. But we’ll cover market positioning for further context, too.
If you’re looking for more GPU recommendations and considering an even faster refresh rate, then head over to ourbest GPU for 1440p 240Hzarticle. Check out ourbest graphics cardarticle for our view of the current market winners.
BEST GPU FOR 1440P 144HZ
01
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4070 Super OC Edition
Hands-on Review
4 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Specifications
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
Reasons to Buy
- Better value than RTX 4070
- Good for 1440p, decent for 4K
- 20% more CUDA cores than RTX 4070
Reasons to Avoid
- High power draw
- 12GB VRAM may feel limiting
The RTX 4070 Ti Super is on this list as an alternative to the RTX 4070 Super. If you want more of a bridge to 4K gaming but a card that delivers high FPS in multiple games at lower resolutions, then the 4070 Ti Super makes sense. It’s no 4080 Super, but it will allow you to run the latest games smoothly at high graphical settings.
This card will also give you more longevity than the RTX 4070 Super, should gaming requirements ramp up in the coming years. Inour review of the 4070 Ti Super, we saw it take on Cyberpunk 2077 at 93 fps, Doom Eternal at 339 fps, AC Mirage at 133 fps, and 132 fps for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
If you’re willing to pay a higher price and want a longer-lasting system with wider capabilities but the same support for Ray Tracing and DLSS as the 4070 Super, then the RTX 4070 Ti Super makes sense.
What users say
With an impressive 4.7 star average in its Amazon review, it’s fair to say that theASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super OCEdition has gotten itself a pretty good reputation for being a stellar upper mid-range card. Many users have praised its performance, gaming capability, and low temperatures and cooling, but this is another card in which one of its few cons is how large it is, so having plenty of size in your case is essential.
BEST AMD GPU FOR 1440P 144HZ
02
ASUS TUF Gaming Radeon RX 7900 XTX OC
Hands-on Review
How We Review
Specifications
- GPU: Navi 31
- Stream Processors: 6,144
- VRAM: 24GB GDDR6
- Memory bus width: 384-bit
- Bandwidth: 960 GB/s
- Base clock speed: 1,929 MHz
- Boost clock (OC mode): 2,615 MHz
Reasons to Buy
- Great for 1440p and 4K
- Huge 24GB VRAM
- Costs significantly less than Nvidia’s 4090
Reasons to Avoid
- VRAM is the slower GDDR6 spec not GDDR6X
- Might be expensive for some
If you’re looking for an option from Team Red, then we’d recommend the RX 7900 XTX. This is a powerhouse from AMD that delivers exceptional performance in the latest games. In our RX 7900 XTX review, it didn’t disappoint us in terms of performance.
To begin with, the RX 7900 XTX offers 24 GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a 384-bit memory interface. This much VRAM is rare and should be more than enough for most games. The GPU also operates at a base clock speed of 1,929 MHz, which goes up to 2,615 MHz in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
We tested the 7900 XTX in different games to get an idea of its real-life performance. First, in CS2 and Rainbow Six Siege, we were able to get 609 and 394 FPS at 1440p, respectively, with everything set to Ultra. The card also managed to hit 370 FPS in DOOM Eternal at 1440p.
We then decided to launch some demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. In the first game, we were constantly getting around 137 FPS at 1440p and 70 FPS at 4K. On the other hand, in AC Valhalla, the FPS was around 160 at 1440p, which dropped to 107 at 4K.
The tests confirmed that in most games, the 7900 XTX is more than capable of delivering 140+ FPS at 1440p, something that makes it an excellent choice for a 1440p monitor with a 144 Hz refresh rate. High FPS is only required in first-person shooters, and the GPU does a remarkable job of delivering more than 200 FPS in most of them.
What users say
Users on Amazon have commented about how much they like the quality and value of the RX 7900 XTX in particular. One of them mentioned: “If you are gonna get high-end graphics card, I personally believe this is the best value you can get. It offers remarkable 1440p and 4K performance with blazing fast frame rates with room to spare.”
BEST-PRICED GPU FOR 1440P 144HZ
03
Sapphire Radeon Pulse RX 7700 XT
Hands-on Review
3.5 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Specifications
- GPU: Navi 32
- Stream Processors: 3,456
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 432 GB/sec
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,435 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2,544 MHz
Reasons to Buy
- Accessible 1440p gaming at a fairly low entry-price
- A modest 550W power supply will power this card
- 12GB VRAM with a 192-bit interface
Reasons to Avoid
- Mediocre ray tracing
- Bulky design
The 7900 XT may be beyond what you want to spend, but that doesn’t leave you without an affordable or AMD option. For the price, the RX 7700 XT is undoubtedly one of the top GPUs you can get today.
With a revised MSRP of $419, the 7700 XT is far more inclusive than its larger siblings. And it’s capable too. Take a look at our full review to see the compelling case this card makes for itself, but in short, it offers good gaming performance, requires a modest (550W) power supply, and offers better value at this point than similar NVIDIA rivals.
In terms of frames,at 1440p in tests, we were looking at well over 100 fps and sometimes 200+ fps, with more challenging titles still very playable – for example, Cyberpunk 2077 hit 79 fps average. But at this price, there’s little to argue with. However, a drawback here is that you won’t really be able to access 4K gaming with this GPU – which is something to consider if you’re investing in a GPU for the longer term.
What users say
Quietness and performance are two features that users on Amazon have highlighted as being particularly good about the Gigabyte Radeon RX 7700 XT Gaming OC, with one user mentioning that “it’s insanely quiet and even when overclocked it barely changes it” – you can hardly complain about that! On the flip side, another review has picked up on the fact that you should “ensure your case has clearance for large 3 fan GPU”, as this card is definitely on the larger side.
Best high-end GPU for 1440p 144Hz
04
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080
Hands-on Review
3 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Reasons to Buy
- Great for 1440p and 4K
- Massive VRAM
- Room for future upgrades
Reasons to Avoid
- Expensive
- An overkill for just 1440p
If you have a bigger budget and want to explore resolutions higher than 1440p, then we think that the RTX 4080 will be a good match for you. This high-end graphics card is superseded only by RTX 4080 Super and RTX 4090 – so you can expect powerful performance from it.
Looking at the specs, the RTX 4080 comes with 9728 CUDA cores and gives you a base clock speed of 2205 MHz and a boost clock speed of 2505 MHz. Plus, as this is an OC edition, you can overclock it to 2535 MHz, which should boost the performance a bit. Further, you get 16GB GDDR6X VRAM with a 256-bit
In our RTX 4080 GPU review, we found out that the card delivers excellent framerates for 1440p as well as 4K. For instance, we played games like Cyberpunk 2077, AC Mirage, and F1 23 on high settings and the card gave us 100+ FPS at 1440p. If you enable DLSS, you’d be able to boost these framerates even more.
Overall, the RTX 4080 is one of the strongest GPUs available in the market at the moment. It will breeze through AAA games with ease, and you can also play in 4K. However, this is an expensive and can be quite an investment.
What users say
With an impressive 4.6 star average in its Amazon review, it’s fair to say that the ASUS TUF RTX 4080 has gotten itself a pretty good reputation for being a stellar card. Many users have praised its performance, gaming capability, and low temperatures and cooling, but this is another card in which one of its few cons is how large it is, so having plenty of size in your case is essential.
Best previous-gen GPU for 1440p 144Hz
05
ASUS ROG Strix NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 OC Edition
Hands-on Review
4 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Specifications
- GPU: GA102
- CUDA cores: 8,704
- VRAM: 10GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 760.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 320-bit
- Base clock speed : 1440 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 1905 MHz
Reasons to Buy
- Aesthetic design
- High performance
Reasons to Avoid
- Expensive for a previous-gen graphics card
The RTX 3080 stands out as one of the best GPUs for achieving a smooth 1440p experience at 144Hz. With the same silicon architecture as the 3090 models, but with different core counts and memory capacity, the 3080 comes out as a more refined member of the RTX 3000 series.
Packed with a potent core, this GPU possesses ample strength to drive your QHD monitor. This is particularly advantageous for older graphic card generations that still have untapped potential.This GPU delivers substantial power to achieve high frame rates, especially within the 144Hz spectrum.
Equipped with 8,704 CUDA cores and 10GB of GDDR6X memory, this card boasts an impressive boost clock of up to 1,905 MHz. It might not have the slight boost under its belt that the 3080 Ti offers, but it’s showing few signs of slowing down when gaming in native 4K.
We’ve also had the luck of getting hands-on with the card in our RTX 3080 review, and liked it enough to award it a solid 4 out of 5 stars – certainly not bad for a GPU that’s approaching four years of age, and this speaks of its stable performance offering.
Considerations for the best GPUs for 1440p 144Hz
The GPU is responsible for rendering the images and video that are displayed on your screen. To run games at high resolutions and frame rates, such as 1440p at 144hz, you’ll need a GPU that is powerful enough to handle that kind of workload.
GPU clock speed
A GPU with high performance and a fast clock speed can help ensure that your games run smoothly and without lag or stuttering, even in demanding settings. It can also allow you to run games with more advanced graphics features, such as high-resolution textures, complex lighting and shadows, and real-time ray tracing.
Monitor capabilities
Having a GPU that can do 1440p 144HZz is only half the equation. The other essential half is a1440p 144Hz monitor. All of the cards here support DisplayPort and HDMI connections for potential connectivity, but make sure your monitor and GPU are both what you need if you want to experience high 1440p frame rates.
What GPU is best for 144fps 1440p?
For us, the current best GPU for 1440p 144Hz gaming is the RTX 4070 Super. It’s a clear advance over the RTX 3070 and a step beyond the RTX 4070 too. At its MSRP of $599 it’s the best value option for gamers wanting to experience glorious QHD.