Best GPU for 1440p

Looking for a GPU that can handle gaming at 1440p resolution? You might be overwhelmed by the number of options available in the market. 1440p is kind of a sweet spot between 1080p and 4K, where you get to enjoy sharper visuals without sacrificing too much performance or breaking the bank. There are a couple of factors you need to consider several factors before making your purchase.

In this blog post, we’ll help you find the best GPU for 1440p gaming in 2023, based on your budget, preferences and expectations. We’ll also explain what features and specs you should look out for in a 1440p GPU, and how to compare different models and brands.

What to look for in a 1440p GPU?

When shopping for a 1440p GPU, you should pay attention and consider the following:

VRAM

VRAM is the amount of memory that the GPU has to store textures, shaders and other graphical data. The more VRAM a GPU has, the better it can handle higher resolutions and settings. For 1440p gaming, look for GPUs that have at least 6GB of VRAM, but 8GB or more is ideal.

CUDA cores/Stream processors

The CUDA cores / stream processors are the units that perform the calculations and operations that create the graphics on your screen. As you’d expect, the more cores or processors a GPU has, the faster and more powerful it is. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the only factor that determines performance. Other aspects such as clock speed, architecture and efficiency also play a role.

Ray tracing

Ray tracing technology simulates realistic lighting effects such as shadows, reflections and refractions by tracing the path of light rays in a scene. Ray tracing can greatly enhance the visual quality and immersion of games, but it also requires a lot of computational power and can reduce frame rates significantly. Not all GPUs support ray tracing. Some that do include Nvidia’s RTX series and AMD’s RX 6000 series.

DLSS/FidelityFX Super Resolution

These are technologies that use artificial intelligence to upscale lower-resolution images to higher-resolution ones, while preserving or enhancing details and sharpness. This can help boost performance and enable higher settings and resolutions without sacrificing quality. DLSS is exclusive to Nvidia’s RTX series, while FidelityFX Super Resolution is compatible with most GPUs from both Nvidia and AMD.

Best GPU for 1440p in 2023

Based on our research, here are our top picks for the best GPU for 1440p gaming in 2023:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 offers excellent performance for 1440p gaming, with support for ray tracing and DLSS technology.

It has 8 GB GDDR6 memory and a 256-bit memory interface.

The RTX 3070 is capable of delivering high frame rates in most modern games at 1440p resolution with high settings.

AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is a strong competitor to the RTX 3070, offering similar performance for 1440p gaming.

It features 12 GB GDDR6 memory and a 192-bit memory interface.

The RX 6700 XT supports AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution, which is an alternative to NVIDIA’s DLSS technology.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is a slightly more budget-friendly option for 1440p gaming compared to the GeForce RTX 3070 above.

It has 8 GB GDDR6 memory and a 256-bit memory interface.

The RTX 3060 Ti can handle most modern games at 1440p resolution with high settings, although it may struggle in some demanding titles compared to the RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT.

What is the maximum refresh rate that these GPUs can handle at 1440p?

You might be wondering what sort of refresh rates these graphics cards can achieve. We have to mention, though, people often forget but the maximum refresh depends on the specific game and its graphic settings.

Both the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT can achieve high refresh rates in many modern games at 1440p resolution with high settings. In less demanding games like Rainbow Six: Siege, the RX 6700 XT managed framerates of 240fps at 1440p, while the RTX 3070 was even faster.

If you have a game that supports ray tracing, then the RTX 3070’s lead grows substantially, especially with its DLSS technology, which can boost performance by 30-50% or more without any noticeable loss in image fidelity. With RT and DLSS enabled, the RTX 3070 is three times as fast as the RX 6700 XT at 1440p.

More demanding games may require lower settings or resolution scaling technologies like NVIDIA’s DLSS or AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution to achieve higher refresh rates.

Apart from the game you’re playing, the maximum refresh rate also depends on your monitor’s capabilities, as well as the bandwidth of your cables. You’ll need a 1440p monitor with a high refresh rate (e.g., 144Hz, 165Hz, or 240Hz) to fully take advantage of these GPUs’ capabilities at 1440p. The latest DisplayPort and HDMI cables can also support 1440p at high refresh rates with no problems.

Final Thoughts

Both the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT can handle 1440p gaming with high refresh rates, but the RTX 3070 has an edge, especially in games that support ray tracing and when using DLSS technology. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT are both excellent choices for high-performance 1440p gaming. If the GeForce RTX 3070 is not available, it would be worth considering the the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti as well.