Want to turn your PC into a gaming machine? Investing in one of our picks for the best graphics cards will get you there. Sure, you can run a PC with nothing but integrated graphics, but for real performance — the kind that nets you smooth frame rates in modern games — you need one of these best graphics cards. Also known as the graphics processing unit (GPU), it plays an integral role in your gaming PC. If you're wondering exactly where to start, with either a fresh build or an upgrade project, we've collected the best graphics cards available now for several different performance thresholds and budget ranges.
7 Best Graphics Cards for Gaming in 2020
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super — Best Overall: Ray tracing, DLSS 2.0, power for quality 4K at a reasonable price
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super — Runner-Up: Ray tracing, DLSS 2.0, power for 4K or high-end 1440p
- AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT — Best AMD: Unreal price-to-performance ratio, power for high-end 1440p gaming
- AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT — Best Mid-Range AMD: Excellent value, power for 1080p or 1440p gaming
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super — Best Mid-Range NVIDIA: Ray tracing, DLSS 2.0, power for 1080p or 1440p gaming
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super — Best Budget: Affordable price, enough performance for modest 1080p gaming
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti — Expensive Overkill: Ray tracing, DLSS 2.0, and enough power for upper-tier 4K gaming
What are the best graphics cards for gaming?
The beauty of building a custom gaming PC is that there are plenty of best graphics card options available to you based on budget and required performance. For most people, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super is going to hit a high-end performance tier and not cost an exorbitant amount of money like the more powerful overkill option, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. If you're looking to experience 4K gaming, either GPU will work well. If you want to just dabble in 4K gaming but primarily focus on a high-end 1440p experience, the NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super will do good for those on Team Green while the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT will be attractive for those on Team Red.
Here's our full list of the best graphics cards money can buy whether you are looking at one for gaming, need 4K power, or happen to be on a budget.
1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super: Best Overall GPU for Most Gamers
Bottom line: Thanks to powerful performance and a relatively reasonable price, the RTX 2080 Super is an excellent pick for most people. It affords you the ability to choose FHD, QHD, or UHD resolutions at a high frame rate, and it delivers the extra features exclusive to NVIDIA RTX cards like ray tracing and deep-learning super sampling (DLSS) 2.0. It doesn't quite deliver the same performance as the mighty RTX 2080 Ti, but it also costs hundreds less and won't be quite as overkill for most people's needs.
Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory bandwidth: 496GB/s | Memory bus: 256-bit | Boost clock: 1,845MHz | CUDA cores: 3,072 | Process: 12nm | Power: 250W
Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
---|---|---|
EVGA | XC Ultra | $770 at Best Buy |
MSI | Gaming X Trio | $1,176 at Amazon |
NVIDIA | Founders Edition | $917 at Amazon |
VisionTek | OCPC | $820 at Dell |
Pros
- 48 dedicated ray-tracing cores
- AI-enhancements from DLSS 2.0
- Compatible with G-Sync displays
- Powerful enough for 4K gaming
- Much better price than RTX 2080 Ti
Cons
- Overkill for some people
- Relatively expensive
There's no one true pick for everyone when it comes best graphics cards, but if we're choosing what should suit most people based on performance and price, we have to go with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 2080 Super. While AMD has undoubtedly cut into NVIDIA's claim to the GPU throne with its Radeon RX 5000 cards, a few of which are included in this roundup, the top-tier options still belong to Team Green. The RTX 2080 Super isn't the most powerful GPU in this roundup, but it still delivers smooth 4K performance for hundreds of dollars less.
The RTX 2080 Super outperforms the standard RTX 2080 and the previous-gen GTX 1080 Ti, plus it delivers the extra benefits that make RTX cards so sought after. Ray tracing, the first main feature, isn't as widespread as many people would like it, but it's still available in popular games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Control, Minecraft, and more. And the RTX 2080 Super includes 48 dedicated cores for ray tracing.
DLSS 2.0 is perhaps the more impressive feature that comes standard with this GPU. It employs dedicated Tensor cores to run AI rendering in real-time, effectively boosting frame rates while also making frames come out at a much higher resolution. Because ray tracing can be detrimental to performance, DLSS 2.0 is the perfect pairing.
The EVGA XC Ultra version of the RTX 2080 Super includes 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM and speedy 496GB/s memory bandwidth, plus a boost clock that can hit 1,845MHz. Those are some beefy numbers, but you will need a decent amount of power to run the card in your gaming PC; NVIDIA recommends at least a 650W power-supply unit (PSU). This card is compatible with G-Sync monitors, which have the adaptive sync technology to reduce screen tearing. It will also work with any FreeSync monitors that are "G-Sync compatible." Whether you're looking to game at 4K or 1440p, the RTX 2080 Super remains one of the best graphics cards for a lot of people.
EVGA XC Ultra RTX 2080 Super
With stellar 4K and 1440p performance at a price hundreds less than the RTX 2080 Ti, the RTX 2080 Super is our pick for the best overall GPU for your custom gaming PC. Just make sure it's not overkill for your needs.
Best graphics cards in 2020
- 1. NVIDIA RTX 2080 Super (From $770)
- 2. NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super (From $500)
- 3. AMD RX 5700 XT (From $370)
- 4. AMD RX 5600 XT (From $300)
- 5. NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super (From $420)
- 6. NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super (From $250)
- 7. NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti (From $1,339)
Should you wish not only to work but play on your PC, you'll need to look at investing in a capable GPU. It's responsible for rendering everything you see on-screen, as well as taking workloads off the CPU when working through calculations. The last thing you want to do when purchasing a new GPU is to waste your money on an older model or one that's not powerful enough to do what you need.
There are several questions you need to ask yourself. What kind of games are you playing? Love low-impact indie titles or well-optimized esport games? Or do you wish to take full advantage of current-gen AAA gaming and want to enjoy the best graphics at a 4K resolution? If the answer is the former, you'll need to think about more affordable graphics cards that don't require advanced components to get the most out of the GPU.
As for more demanding games, it's generally down to your budget and what your current PC has in terms of a processor (CPU), RAM, and more. If your PC build is rocking anything less than a recent Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, it's probably not worth forking out on top-of-the-line and most expensive GPU options. You'll most likely experience what is known as a bottleneck, where a separate piece of hardware isn't capable of keeping up with the GPU's ability.
For which resolution and frame rate are you shooting? Entry-level budget GPUs are ideal for 1080p (FHD) gaming, mid-range is best for 1440p (QHD) gaming, and the top-tier options are cut out for 4K (UHD). Of course, you can always drop down to a lower resolution with a top-tier GPU just to get better frame rates, or if you don't want to shell out the cash for a 4K gaming monitor.
How long would you like the GPU to last? Going with a budget option now is going to save you money, but it won't be relevant as long as a mid- or upper-range GPU. If you don't want to replace the GPU any time soon, you will want to spend a bit more now to ensure you can continue playing games as they're released in the next few years. With all these questions considered, NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 2080 Super is our pick for best graphics card because it hits a sweet spot in terms of performance and price. It's nowhere near as costly as the more powerful RTX 2080 Ti, yet it will deliver a smooth 4K gaming experience (or absolutely smoking 1440p experience). If it's not quite what you're looking for, either in terms of price or performance, there are plenty of other great GPU options available.
2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super: Killer Performance, Less Expensive
Bottom line: The NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super sits below the RTX 2080 Super in terms of performance, but also in terms of price. If you're more interested in high-end 1440p experience mixed with casual 4K gaming, the 2070 Super should be a great pick and will save you hundreds of dollars.
Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory bandwidth: 448GB/s | Memory bus: 256-bit | Base clock: 1,605MHz | Boost clock: 1,770MHz | CUDA cores: 2,560 | Process: 12nm | Power: 215W
Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
---|---|---|
NVIDIA | Founders Edition | $680 at Amazon |
EVGA | Black | $550 at Amazon |
GIGABYTE | Windforce 3X | $500 at Best Buy |
MSI | Gaming X | $661 at Dell |
Pros
- 40 dedicated ray-tracing cores
- DLSS 2.0 included
- Considerably more affordable than our top pick
- Delivers quality 4K or 1440p gaming
- Nearly matches RTX 2080 power
Cons
- Still likely overkill for some people
- Expensive compared to similar AMD GPUs
NVIDIA's RTX 2070 Super makes the list of best graphics cards thanks to offering dedicated cores for ray tracing and DLSS 2.0 technologies to help boost your gaming experience. Like the RTX 2080 Super, the 2070 Super has 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, though its memory is a bit slower, it has fewer CUDA cores, and it doesn't have as high of a clock speed. Still, performance nearly matches that of the standard RTX 2080.
If you're in search of a GPU that can deliver a quality 4K experience, the RTX 2080 Super or 2080 Ti are still better choices, though the 2070 Super will allow you to dabble at the higher resolution. Where it really shines, though, is at 1440p. You should be able to max out most modern game settings and still achieve high, smooth frame rates. And thanks to G-Sync technology, pairing the GPU up with a compatible monitor will further reduce any screen tearing.
The fact that the RTX 2070 Super costs hundreds less again than our top pick no doubt makes it quite appealing to many gamers who just don't have nearly $1,000 to spend on a single piece of hardware in their gaming PC. NVIDIA does recommend at least a 650W PSU to pair with the 2070 Super, so that might be a necessary upgrade. In any case, this is a stellar card for anyone wanting to stick with 1440p and absolutely crush frame rates.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Founders Edition
It costs considerably less than the RTX 2080 Super, yet it can still deliver 4K and 1440p gaming. Ray tracing and DLSS 2.0 only sweeten the deal, making this a killer card for enthusiasts on a tighter budget.
3. AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT: Best AMD GPU for 1440p
Bottom line: AMD's Radeon RX 5700 XT is all about delivering high-end 1440p gaming at a great price. It almost matches the RTX 2070 Super in terms of raw performance, but you can often find it for hundreds of dollars less. It will dabble in 4K gaming, though it will truly shine as a more affordable GPU for high-refresh 1440p displays.
Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory bandwidth: 448GB/s | Memory bus: 256-bit | Base clock: 1,670MHz | Boost clock: 1,925MHz | Stream processors: 2,560 | Process: 7nm | Power: 241W
Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
---|---|---|
Sapphire | Pulse | $400 at Amazon |
XFX | RAW II | $370 at Best Buy |
MSI | Gaming X | $475 at Dell |
MSI | Mech | $390 at Walmart |
Pros
- Unreal value
- Power for smooth 1440p gaming
- FreeSync technology
- Efficient 7nm process
Cons
- Lacks some NVIDIA RTX features
- Performance won't compare to our top pick
AMD's RDNA GPUs with 7nm process were a huge step forward in terms of taking a bite out of NVIDIA's supremacy and also making the older AMD Radeon cards look a bit power-hungry and antiquated. The former AMD boss, the Radeon VII, essentially delivers the same or worse performance compared to the RX 5700 XT, yet it sucks up far more power and costs a lot more dollars. That's a big win for AMD.
The available performance means you will be able to dabble in 4K, though not at a high framerate or with high game settings. The card is intended for use at 1440p, where it will deliver high frame rates in most games with maxed-out settings. And thanks to FreeSync technology, compatible monitors will see far less screen tearing. Do note that AMD recommends a 650W PSU, so an upgrade may be necessary if you're coming from a lesser card. This GPU is also our top pick of the best graphics cards for VR.
Compared to the NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super, the RX 5700 XT can be expected to deliver about the same performance. Unfortunately, the AMD GPUs don't offer the same ray tracing or DLSS 2.0 benefits as NVIDIA cards. If those extra goodies don't matter to you and you'd like to save a good chunk of change, the RX 5700 XT remains one of the best value graphics cards on the market.
Sapphire Pulse RX 5700 XT
The RX 5700 XT is a budget-wise performance GPU that genuinely excels at 1440p. It doesn't have all the same features as NVIDIA RTX cards, like ray tracing and DLSS, but it's nevertheless going to deliver a stellar gaming experience.
4. AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT: Mid-Range Power at a Great Price
Bottom line: AMD's RX 5600 XT is the card you're looking for if you want to game at 1080p. The price is enticingly low for what you're getting here, which is a performance to match an NVIDIA RTX 2060. You will be able to game at 1440p at a lower frame rate but stick with 1080p to truly see what this card is all about.
Memory: 6GB GDDR6 | Memory bandwidth: 336GB/s | Memory bus: 192-bit | Boost clock: 1,750MHz | Stream processors: 2,304 | Process: 7nm | Power: 160W
Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
---|---|---|
Sapphire | Pulse | $300 at Amazon |
XFX | RAW II | $300 at Best Buy |
MSI | Mech | $335 at Dell |
Gigabyte | Gaming OC | $353 at Walmart |
Pros
- Budget pricing
- Performance for high-end 1080p gaming
- Efficient 7nm process
- AMD FreeSync technology
Cons
- Not as many features as NVIDIA RTX cards
- Not suited for 4K gaming
While 1440p and, to a lesser extent, 4K resolutions are becoming more popular for gaming, 1080p remains the standard that ensures you're going to get high frame rates and high game settings at a far more reasonable price. If that's the resolution with which you're comfortable, the AMD RX 5600 XT should be quite appealing.
The RX 5600 XT will be able to handle mid-range 1440p gaming, though the RX 5700 XT will be a much better option if that's the resolution for which you're aiming. Thanks to AMD's FreeSync technology, compatible monitors will be able to take advantage of adaptive sync to reduce screen tearing.
The RX 5600 XT has 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM and a boost clock up to 1,750MHz, making it well cut out to handle an FHD resolution at a high frame rate. This GPU rivals the standard NVIDIA RTX 2060, though it comes in at a lower price. True, it doesn't offer ray tracing, though many people find the RTX 2060 to be lacking enough performance to make a viable run with the technology. And the fact that the RX 5600 XT has a juicy price tag attached should make it quite attractive to a lot of people interested in mid-range power.
Sapphire Pulse RX 5600 XT
For a 1080p gaming experience with high game settings and high frame rates (or mid-range 1440p gaming), the RX 5600 XT should make a great choice that comes at an attractive price.
5. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super: Mid-Range GPU with RTX Benefits
Bottom line: Those mostly interested in ultra-tier 1080p or high-end 1440p are going to love the RTX 2060 Super. Anyone who purchased the standard RTX 2060 no doubt wishes they'd waited for this card, which delivers performance around an RTX 2070.
Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory bandwidth: 448GB/s | Memory bus: 256-bit | Boost clock: 1,815MHz | CUDA cores: 2,176 | Process: 12nm | Power: 175W
Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
---|---|---|
Gigabyte | Gaming OC | $420 at Newegg |
NVIDIA | Founders Edition | $480 at Amazon |
VisionTek | OCPC | $440 at Dell |
MSI | Gaming X | $449 at Best Buy |
Pros
- Enough performance for 1080p or 1440p
- Ray tracing and DLSS 2.0
- NVIDIA G-Sync technology
- High memory bandwidth compared to RTX 2060
Cons
- Costs more than the AMD RX 5700 XT for lesser performance
- Ray tracing better paired with beefier GPUs
The NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super is a significant upgrade over the standard RTX 2060, and no doubt those who rushed out to buy the original 2060 wish they'd waited for the Super version. Performance-wise it sits somewhere near the standard RTX 2070, meaning it has the power to handle a quality 1440p gaming experience. Most AAA games will be able to be played on high or, in some cases, ultra settings without sacrificing frame rates. And if you're working with a 1080p monitor, this card will deliver a smooth, ultra experience no matter the title.
Ray tracing and DLSS 2.0 technologies are included, though if you're really into ray tracing, you still probably want to go with one of the higher-end NVIDIA cards. The 2060 Super will get the job done, but you will sacrifice performance in other areas with it enabled.
There's also the matter of cost. AMD's RX 5700 XT, which performs slightly better, won't have you spending as much money. If it's just raw performance you're after and don't mind the lack of extra NVIDIA RTX features, it's probably the better buy. In any case, the RTX 2060 Super remains an attractive card for those on Team Green who are looking for an introductory GPU for ray tracing and high-quality 1440p gaming.
Gigabyte Gaming OC RTX 2060 Super
Those who love NVIDIA and its extra RTX features should find the RTX 2060 Super to be a solid introductory card for 1080p or 1440p gaming.
6. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super: Affordable 1080p Gaming
Bottom line: Any custom PC builders looking to create something budget-friendly should love the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super. It delivers a smooth 1080p performance and doesn't have an unreasonable price.
Memory: 6GB GDDR6 | Memory bandwidth: 336GB/s | Memory bus: 192-bit | Boost clock: 1,830MHz | CUDA cores: 1,408 | Process: 12nm | Power: 125W
Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
---|---|---|
MSI | Gaming X | $265 at Best Buy |
VisionTek | OCPC | $260 at Dell |
MSI | Ventus XS | $250 at Amazon |
Gigabyte | Gaming OC | $300 at Amazon |
Pros
- Attractive price
- NVIDIA Turing architecture
- G-Sync technology
- Enough performance for smooth 1080p
Cons
- Not intended for 1440p
- No DLSS 2.0
Not everyone sees a need to game at a higher resolution than 1080p. Displays are more affordable, and fewer pixels generally allows for a much higher frame rate. If you're not looking to overspend on a GPU, NVIDIA's GTX 1660 Super should make a great pick. It's not an RTX card, so it doesn't offer dedicated ray-tracing cores, though a driver update does allow it to technically be compatible. DLSS 2.0 is not supported. It's still based on Turing architecture that makes it relatively power efficient. This GPU also sits atop our list of best cheap graphics cards.
It has 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM (the base GTX 1660 uses GDDR5) and rather high memory bandwidth at 336GB/s, allowing it to edge out even the 8GB version of the AMD RX 5500 XT in terms of raw performance. You're going to see elevated, smooth frame rates at 1080p with pretty much any game, even at high settings.
MSI Gaming X GTX 1660 Super
The NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super is a perfect card for anyone happy with smooth gaming at 1080p. It doesn't offer RTX benefits like dedicated ray-tracing cores and DLSS 2.0, but it's still a great GPU with solid performance.
7. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti: Overkill Performance for 4K Gaming
Bottom line: Have thousands of dollars to blow on a gaming PC and can't stand anything less than something that's going to deliver smooth 4K or blistering 1440p experience? Don't leave with anything other than the NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti.
Memory: 11GB GDDR6 | Memory bandwidth: 616GB/s | Memory bus: 352-bit | Base clock: 1,350MHz | Boost clock: 1,665MHz | CUDA cores: 4,352 | Process: 12nm | Power: 260W
Manufacturer | Version | Vendor |
---|---|---|
ASUS | Gaming OC | $1,600 at Amazon |
ASUS | Dual | $1,339 at Walmart |
EVGA | Black | $1,800 at Amazon |
NVIDIA | Founders Edition | $1,799 at Amazon |
Pros
- 11GB of GDDR6 VRAM
- Ray tracing and DLSS 2.0
- Enough power for 4K gaming
- Crushes 1440p
- G-Sync technology
Cons
- Prohibitively expensive
- Overkill for most people
You have a high-end CPU, tons of RAM, and a 4K gaming display ready to go, and all you need is to add a beefy graphics card. Enter the NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti. This is the best-performing card you'll find from NVIDIA without getting into the Titan line, and it's going to handle smooth 4K gaming even with high game settings. If you're sticking with 1440p, know that it's going to absolutely stomp any game, even on ultra settings.
Thanks to all that power, ray tracing and DLSS 2.0 will be able to work their magic, delivering a far better picture in games that support the technology. It's best employed at 1080p or 1440p; otherwise, the card is overkill for the lowest resolution.
This is a very expensive GPU, and with RTX 30-series cards expected to be on the way sometime in the near(ish) future, it's probably best to hold off and see what the latest GPUs have to offer.
ASUS ROG Strix Gaming OC RTX 2080 Ti
If you're looking for strong gaming performance even at a 4K resolution, the RTX 2080 Ti should be your first choice. Just keep the price in mind and whether or not you want to wait for the next generation of cards to come around.
What about all the other graphics cards?
There are a ton of other best graphics cards on the market, ranging from deep budget sub-$100 options, best graphics cards for VR, and on up to professional-grade cards intended for specialized design and development work. But as far as GPUs cut out for gaming go, these are the cards that make the most sense in terms of performance-to-price ratio.
Graphics cards are generally available from several different manufacturers; performance and specs are generally the same with just slight differences, though the price, cooling, and overall design will differ. No matter your preferred resolution, preferred games, or preferred manufacturers, you're going to find a GPU in this guide that will suit your next fresh PC build or upgrade.
Do you need to upgrade graphics cards?
Trying to figure out whether or not it's time to upgrade your GPU can be tough. Of course, if you're seeing signs that your GPU is dying — screen artifacts, PC crashes, whining — it's no doubt time to upgrade. But if your current GPU is working fine, do you really need something new?
That depends on what types of games you want to play and at what resolution. If you were satisfied with low-impact indie games and built a PC to handle them, you'll no doubt find that your PC struggles to keep up with a hot new AAA title that snagged your eye. The same goes for resolution. If you're upgrading your monitor from 1080p to 1440p or 4K, a new GPU is likely required to make the most of the higher-resolution display.
Whenever a new generation of GPUs is released, the previous generation seems to look disproportionately old. Say, for example, you have an NVIDIA GTX 980 in your PC. It's a great GPU, but it's going to be four generations behind once the RTX 30-series GPUs are released. And that brings up another issue: should you wait until the next generation is released? NVIDIA and AMD are usually tight-lipped when it comes to new hardware, but leaks and rumors will usually indicate that something is coming soon. And if you do indeed have a concrete release date, it's likely best to wait for the new cards to come out.
Finally, you don't want to upgrade your GPU if you can't also afford to upgrade the rest of your PC components to keep up. Buying an AMD RX 5700 XT GPU and installing it alongside 8GB of RAM and a 4th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU is not going to allow the GPU to realize its full potential. Plus, you might not have a large enough PSU unit to provide enough power to your system, or the cooling system might not be beefy enough to keep the PC running optimally. Always be sure you can upgrade enough to avoid bottlenecking the system.
How to check what PC hardware you already have
Whenever you look at investing in a new component for your PC, it's good practice to run a piece of software to have a gander at what you have already. This will help determine just how recent other components are and whether or not they will become a bottleneck for your upcoming GPU purchase. To have a look at what makes everything tick inside the PC case, there are many software options available; CPU-Z, and Speccy are two we would recommend.
These apps will tell you what motherboard you have, as well as CPU, RAM, and other bits and pieces. We'll mainly need to see what CPU you have, and a good measurement to use to determine how good your CPU will be with a new GPU purchase is 3DMark. The higher the 3DMark score, the better a CPU generally is in gaming and other intensive applications. It shouldn't be used as a definitive value, but the 3DMark score of a specific chip will give you an idea as to how powerful it is.
As well as the score, one should also consider the age of the processor, the generation it's part of, the manufacturing process used, the cooler installed, whether or not it's overclocked, and how many cores you're rocking. Intel has its ARK platform available for conveniently searching its portfolio of CPUs. If you're on #TeamRed, AMD has a similar feature on its own website.
How to choose a display resolution for PC gaming
If you're building a new PC from the ground up, you might be wondering for which resolution to aim. There are plenty of great gaming monitors in 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, so it can be tough to choose. What you need to consider is price, fidelity, and the power of the PC hardware you're interested in including.
A 1080p gaming monitor will generally cost the least, but will still include high refresh rate and low response time, both of which are features gamers search out. It's not going to look as crisp as 1440p or 4K, but it will also take quite a bit less power to run games at a high frame rate. You're going to be able to get away with a lower-tier GPU and CPU, saving you more money.
Bumping things up to 1440p is going to make everything look better. Once you've made the switch to QHD, dropping back down to 1080p is noticeable. The issue with 1440p, however, is that monitors generally cost more, plus you're going to want beefier hardware to achieve high frame rates. The better the GPU and CPU, the better performance you will see at 1440p. Even the high-end RTX 2070 Super and RX 5700 XT that can dabble with 4K will do much better running with a 1440p display.
And finally, we have 4K. It's a rather big jump, even from 1440p, and you should have top-tier hardware to get the most of it. 4K displays are expensive, so buying one and pairing it with a subpar PC is not advised. Even with a high-end GPU and CPU, don't expect frame rates to get anywhere near what you can achieve at 1080p and 1440p.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Cale Hunt is a staff writer at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on PC, laptop, and accessory coverage, as well as the emerging world of VR. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.
Rich Edmonds is a staff reviewer at Windows Central, which means he tests out more software and hardware than he cares to remember. Joining Mobile Nations in 2010, you can usually find him inside a PC case tinkering around when not at a screen fighting with Grammarly to use British words. Hit him up on Twitter: @RichEdmonds.
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