If you want the best GPU that can run 1440p games smoothly at 144Hz or better refresh rates, then we have you covered right here.
With 1440p resolution at 144Hz, a new sweet spot for gaming, we’re here to help you get a graphics card that just works, providing you with the experience you want from your system. Running games at high frames per second is now even easier with newer GPU generations, and more people are making the jump to 1440p monitors. However, to play at 1440p with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, you want a graphics card that’s up to the job – the best GPU for 1440p 144Hz for you.
If you have a look at the options available on the market, then you will find budget GPUs, mid-range GPUs, and even high-end GPUs that can handle 1440p gaming at high refresh rates. However, you’d want to find a graphics card that strikes a balance between performance, price, and actual utility – as high-end options may be overkill for 1440p.
To help you make an informed decision, we have researched and shortlisted some GPUs that we think are the best for running 1440p games with 144Hz refresh rates.
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
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
- GPU: Navi 31
- Stream Processors: 5,376
- VRAM: 20GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 800GB/sec
- Memory bus width: 320-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,387 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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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 the best GPU for 1440p 144hz
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 PCWer 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 our best GPU for 1440p 240Hz article. Check out our best graphics card article for our view of the current market winners.
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
- Better value than RTX 4070
- Good for 1440p, decent for 4K
- 20% more CUDA cores than RTX 4070
- 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 smashes 1440p at 144Hz, then the 4070 Ti Super makes sense. It’s no 4080 Super, but it will allow you 4K gaming while fulfilling the 1440p spec with ease.
This card will also give you more longevity than the RTX 4070 Super, should gaming requirements ramp up in the coming years.
PCWer
This card will also give you more longevity than the RTX 4070 Super, should gaming requirements ramp up in the coming years. In our 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 – for 1440p and beyond.
What users say
With an impressive 4.7 star average in its Amazon review, it’s fair to say that the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super OC Edition 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.
- GPU: Navi 31
- Stream Processors: 5,376
- VRAM: 20GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 800GB/sec
- Memory bus width: 320-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,387 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2,394 MHz
- Great for 1440p
- Huge 20GB VRAM
- Offers great value at current price
- VRAM is the slower GDDR6 spec not GDDR6X
- 7900 XTX is better for power users
If you prefer getting an AMD Radeon GPU for your build, then the RX 7900 XT is the card we’d opt for 1440p at 144Hz. It’s very well priced at around $700 and can handle 1440p 144Hz with ease, along with great capability for 4K gaming too.
There are other benefits, too – its 20GB VRAM and 800 GB/sec bandwidth make it exceptionally useful across gaming and productivity.
PCWer
In our review of AMD RX 7900 XT, we saw CS: GO at a breezy 555 fps and Doom Eternal at 349 when played at 1440p. Similarly, Far Cry 6 saw the card produce 156 fps, and Cyberpunk 2077 saw 119 fps. All of those numbers translate into absolute comfort when it comes to 1440p and then some. But the 7900 XT will also enable you to keep playing at 1440p for longer, when compared to the RTX 4080 Super.
There are other benefits, too – its 20GB VRAM and 800 GB/sec bandwidth make it exceptionally useful across gaming and productivity, while its 300W max power draw means you shouldn’t need a huge PSU either.
What users say
Users on Amazon have commented about how much they like the quality and value of the RX 7900 XT in particular. While one user comments that they’re “very pleased with the solid build”, another mentions that they consider it to be ” worth every penny”, and further that “With the 7900 xtx costing $230 more, the decision was an easy one to make”. However, there are some mentions of issues with drivers crashing, so keeping all your software up to date is always something to bear in mind – especially when implementing new hardware such as a GPU.
- 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
- 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
- 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 best GPUs for 1440p 144Hz.
In terms of frames, at 1440p in tests, we were looking at well over 100 fps and sometimes 200+ fps.
PCWer
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.
- Great for 1440p and 4K
- Massive VRAM
- Room for future upgrades
- 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.
PCWer
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.
- 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
- Aesthetic design
- High performance
- 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.
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.
PCWer
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 a 1440p 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.
