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The recent fixing of GPU stocking issues and the release of new graphics cards make the present moment the ideal opportunity to investigate the potential of gaming at a resolution of 1440 pixels per inch (px). 1440p provides a compelling middle ground that is ideal for gaming, whereas 4K gaming has always been desirable but has been out of reach for many due to the expensive expense of it. It offers a noticeable improvement in visual quality in comparison to 1080p while continuing to be more cost-effective than 4K.
In this piece, we will discuss our suggestions and top picks for gaming at 1440p, including products offered by both Nvidia and AMD. Therefore, regardless of whether you are an Nvidia fanatic or like the products that AMD has to offer, we have you covered with our pick of the best graphics cards for a gaming experience that is immersive at 1440p. Below we have mentioned the best 1440p graphics cards.
Importance of Choosing the Right Graphics Card for 1440p Gaming
When gaming at 1440p resolution, the graphics card is a key part of making the experience engaging and beautiful to look at. Choosing the right graphics card made for 1440p gaming can have a big effect on the quality, smoothness, and general performance of your gaming sessions. Here are some of the most important reasons why you need to choose the right graphics card for 1440p gaming:
- Visual fidelity at its best: 1440p resolution is a big step up from 1080p, giving you sharper details, better textures, and a more immersive game experience. A powerful graphics card lets you fully enjoy the higher resolution by rendering the game’s visuals at their best quality, giving you beautiful graphics and realistic visuals.
- Smooth Gameplay: For 1440p games to run smoothly, the graphics card needs to be able to handle more processing power because the number of pixels is higher. A good graphics card will make the game run smoothly by keeping the frame rate high, lowering stuttering, and getting rid of screen tearing. This makes sure that there are no hiccups or weird visual effects when you play.
- Future-proofing: Buying a graphics card that can handle 1440p gaming not only gives you benefits right away, but it also protects your gaming setup for the future. As game makers continue to push the limits of graphics and make more demanding games, a strong graphics card will make sure that new games will work with it and keep you from having to upgrade often.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a 1440p Graphics Card
To choose the right graphics card for 1440p games, you need to think carefully about a few key factors. When choosing a 1440p graphics card, keep the following in mind to make sure it works well with your game setup and gives you the best performance:
- Performance: Look for a graphics card with enough power to play games at 1440p. Think about things like the number of CUDA cores or stream processors, the speed of the clock, and the amount of memory space. Most of the time, higher numbers in these specs mean better performance.
- VRAM Capacity: Make sure the graphics card has enough Video Random Access Memory, or VRAM, to handle the higher resolution. Try to get at least 6GB of VRAM, but 8GB or more is better to prepare for the future and play more demanding games.
- Compatibility: Make sure the graphics card is compatible with your system’s motherboard, power source, and size. Make sure your motherboard has the right PCIe slot and that your power source can give the graphics card enough power.
Best 1440p Graphics Cards Comparison Table
Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | Radeon RX 6650 XT | Intel Arc A750 | GeForce RTX 4070 Ti | AMD RX 6600 XT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Architecture | Ampere | RDNA 2 | Xe-HPG | Ada Lovelace | RDNA 2 |
CUDA Cores/Stream Processors | 4864 | 2560 | 3840 | 8192 | 2048 |
Base Clock | 1410 MHz | 1605 MHz | 1575 MHz | 1500 MHz | 1607 MHz |
Boost Clock | 1665 MHz | 2030 MHz | 2250 MHz | 2050 MHz | 2589 MHz |
Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR6X | 8 GB GDDR6 |
Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 16 Gbps | 16 Gbps | 21 Gbps | 16 Gbps |
Memory Interface | 256-bit | 192-bit | 192-bit | 384-bit | 128-bit |
Power Consumption | 200W | 185W | 220W | 350W | 160W |
Recommended PSU | 600W | 550W | 650W | 750W | 500W |
DirectX Version | 12 | 12 | 12_2 | 12_2 | 12 |
OpenGL Version | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
Outputs | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 | 3x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1 | 3x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1 | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 | 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DVI-D |
Maximum Resolution | 7680 x 4320 | 7680 x 4320 | 7680 x 4320 | 7680 x 4320 | 7680 x 432 |
Best Overall: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti #Top3
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Architecture | Ampere |
CUDA Cores | 4864 |
Base Clock | 1410 MHz |
Boost Clock | 1665 MHz |
Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 |
Memory Interface | 256-bit |
Power Consumption | 200W |
The king of price-to-performance is on almost all of our GPU lists. It’s an amazing GPU that can compete with some of the biggest GPUs on the market in terms of speed while being a lot cheaper than them. With new updates, the RX 6650 XT can now compete with it, but the DLSS capabilities of the 3060 Ti give it the edge.
The 3060 Ti is a good all-around GPU that can run most games well without breaking the bank. At 1080p, the 3060 Ti shines and outperforms all of its cheaper competitors. It also gives very good performance at 1440p. In fact, the RTX 3060Ti has enough power to play (very) select games at 4K, which is amazing for a card aimed at lower-end gamers. Overall, it is one of the best 1440p graphics cards you can get.
The Good
- Excellent performance for 1440p gaming
- Ray tracing and DLSS support for enhanced visuals
- Efficient power consumption
The Bad
- Limited availability due to high demand
- Can get noisy under heavy load
AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT #Top3
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Architecture | RDNA 2 |
Stream Processors | 2560 |
Base Clock | 1605 MHz |
Boost Clock | 2030 MHz |
Memory | 12 GB GDDR6 |
Memory Speed | 16 Gbps |
Memory Interface | 192-bit |
Since it was first introduced to the market, AMD’s RX 6650 XT has been experiencing consistent growth in sales. The card has become a genuine adversary to the aforementioned 3060 Ti as a result of many driver updates that have been implemented over the past few months.
In spite of the fact that it is still behind Nvidia’s resolution scaling technology in the DLSS and FSR departments, AMD’s resolution scaling technology has made tremendous strides in recent months and is now considerably closer to Nvidia’s. The 6650 XT is a solid purchase for the price of $249 (the manufacturer’s suggested retail price), especially considering how well it performs in games like Apex Legends and Fortnite.
The Good
- Advanced RDNA 2 architecture for improved performance and efficiency
- Generous amount of VRAM for future-proofing
- Potential for competitive pricing
The Bad
- Limited information available at the moment
- Actual performance and availability to be confirmed upon release
Intel Arc A750 #Top3
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Architecture | Xe-HPG |
Execution Units | 3840 |
Base Clock | 1575 MHz |
Boost Clock | 2250 MHz |
Memory | 12 GB GDDR6 |
Memory Speed | 16 Gbps |
Memory Interface | 192-bit |
Power Consumption | 220W |
Intel’s new Arc graphics cards are better at ray tracing than Nvidia’s famous RTX 30-series cards in this price range. The $250 Arc A750 is about $150 cheaper than the popular GeForce RTX 3060. Why not compare the A750 to the RTX 3050, which costs around $300? Because if you play recent games that use DirectX 12 or Vulkan APIs, which is most triple-A games, the Arc A750 is as good as or better than the RTX 3060.
When they first came out, Intel’s GPUs were full of bugs and didn’t work right. Since then, the company has worked hard to improve its drivers at a rapid pace, making DX9 games (read: esports and oldies) run better than ever and getting rid of the most annoying bugs. Older DirectX 11 games still have hit-or-miss performance, which is why the Radeon RX 6600 is still our top pick overall. It’s good enough, though, and it’s still getting better.
The Good
- Entry of Intel into the gaming graphics card market
- Potential for strong performance and advanced features
- Intel’s expertise in silicon manufacturing and optimization
The Bad
- Limited details available regarding specifications and performance
- Competition from well-established GPU manufacturers
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Architecture | Ada Lovelace |
CUDA Cores | 8192 |
Base Clock | 1500 MHz |
Boost Clock | 2050 MHz |
Memory | 16 GB GDDR6X |
Memory Speed | 21 Gbps |
Memory Interface | 384-bit |
It is insanity to get a graphics card capable of 1440p resolution for more than $800. According to our analysis, the pricing of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is “painfully overpriced.” The 12GB RTX 4070 Ti is an excellent choice, regardless of cost, if you are only interested in playing games at a resolution of 1440p.
It is extremely quick, extremely efficient, very good at ray tracing, and it supports the cutting-edge new DLSS 3.0 Frame Gen technology that was developed by Nvidia. If you want gameplay that is still playable at 1440p and has the ability to dabble in 4K, but at a cheaper price and with less efficiency (but more RAM), you should also explore the next option instead. So if you want one of the best 1440p graphics card, we highly recommend this one.
The Good
- Expected to offer significant performance improvements over previous generation
- Enhanced ray tracing and DLSS capabilities
- Potential for increased VRAM capacity
- Advanced features and software support from NVIDIA
The Bad
- Limited information available at the moment
- Actual performance and availability to be confirmed upon release
AMD RX 6600 XT
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Architecture | RDNA 2 |
Stream Processors | 2048 |
Base Clock | 1607 MHz |
Boost Clock | 2589 MHz |
Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 |
Memory Speed | 16 Gbps |
Memory Interface | 128-bit |
Power Consumption | 160W |
Even though the 6600 XT is one of the slower GPUs we suggest, it has the best value if you are willing to give up some performance and features. Its price, which is usually around $400 and sometimes less, is its best feature. That’s a pretty good price for 1440p games at a low level. The 6600 XT also has 8GB of VRAM, which is good for a GPU with this kind of speed.
We found that the 6600 XT can usually get at least 60 fps in games tested at 1440p and maximum graphics settings. This is true even for newer, more demanding AAA games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Red Dead Redemption 2. Battlefield V and Fortnite, which are older and less demanding games, can have frame rates as high as 120 fps. Some graphics settings could be turned down to get a better frame rate.
The Good
- RDNA 2 architecture for improved performance and efficiency
- Expected to offer solid 1080p gaming performance
- Potential for competitive pricing
The Bad
- Limited information available at the moment
- Actual performance and availability to be confirmed upon release
Tips for Optimizing 1440p Gaming Experience
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your 1440p gaming experience by improving speed, improving graphics, and making sure the game runs smoothly:
- Graphics Settings Optimization: Change the graphics settings in the game to find a good mix between how the game looks and how fast it runs. Try out different settings, such as texture quality, shadow quality, anti-aliasing, and post-processing effects, to find the right mix that keeps a smooth frame rate and makes the graphics look good.
- Driver Updates: Keep the drivers for your graphics card up to date. Manufacturers of graphics cards often release driver updates that improve speed and fix bugs, which can make gaming better overall.
- Monitor Refresh Rate and Adaptive Sync: If your monitor allows a higher refresh rate, like 144Hz or 165Hz, make sure to turn it on in the display settings. When the refresh rate is higher, action is smoother and input lag is less. If your monitor has adjustable sync features like AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-SYNC, turn them on to get rid of screen tearing and make the game feel smoother overall.
Questions and Answers
No, 1440p graphics cards range in how well they work, what features they have, and how much they cost. Different models and brands have different levels of speed, different ways to keep the computer cool, and different extra features. Find the best graphics card for your needs and budget by doing study and comparing different options.
Yes, you can play virtual reality games with many 1440p graphics cards. But it’s important to make sure the graphics card meets the recommended specs for VR games to make sure the experience is smooth and immersive.
Depending on the type of your graphics card and how much power it needs, you may need to upgrade your power supply unit (PSU) to get enough power. Check the manufacturer’s suggestions and make sure your PSU has the right amount of wattage and the right power connections for the graphics card.