Full HD resolution is still the king for a majority of gamers around the world. It's much more affordable than 1440p and 4K gaming in various ways and is the most popular resolution according to the latest Steam Survey, which shows that close to 60% of Steam users own a 1080p monitor. This is why the market is flooded with tons of 1080p gaming monitors with a much more affordable price tag than those with higher resolutions.
The Best Graphics Cards for Gaming in 2024
NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel now have graphics cards on the market, but which is the best? Let's benchmark and compare their offerings.
This is also the reason why GPU manufacturers such as Nvidia, AMD, and Intel are trying to maximize the gaming performance at 1080p with their budget gaming GPUs. With all of that in mind, the line between great 1080p gaming GPUs and GPUs that target higher resolutions such as 1440p is still thin. Sometimes users may overspend or, on the contrary, invest in an entry-level GPU that provides no future-proofing at all. Putting together all factors, the Game ZXC hardware team has carefully selected the best GPUs for 1080p gaming after an analysis of all the video cards on the market.
Game ZXC's Picks for the Best GPUs for 1080p Gaming in 2024
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 XT OC
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 XT OC brings a dual Axial-fan tech design to provide ample cooling for its board. The RX 7600 XT boasts 16GB of memory, providing a decent upgrade over the RX 7600 and RTX 4060 for modern titles. With a dual BIOS switch on the GPU, users can switch between Silent and Performance modes with ease.
- Brand
- Asus
- Cooling Method
- Dual fan air cooling
- GPU Speed
- 2493MHz(Game Clock)
- Slot Size
- 2.5
- Interface
- PCI-E 4.0
- Memory
- 16GB GDDR6
- Power
- 190W
- Boost Speed
- 2801MHz
- Stream Processors
- 2048
- 16GB VRAM for modern titles
- Can provide consistent 60+ fps on the highest graphics settings
- The Asus Dual Edition comes with Dual BIOS
- Despite featuring 16GB VRAM, performance bump at 1440p is not substantial
- Consumes close to 200 Watts
It can get pretty confusing to determine which is the best 1080p gaming GPU, considering plenty of cards can easily max out the graphics at this resolution. While one can simply say that an RTX 4080 or a 4090 is the best GPU for 1080p resolution, in reality, these GPUs are just overkill for this resolution. The best overall GPU for 1080p should be able to not only play games on ultra settings at 60+ frames per second but should also continue to do the same for at least the next two years.
The Best AMD GPUs in 2024
AMD has a lot to offer in 2023 with the launch of its RX 7000 series lineup, even as the RX 6000 series lineup gets competitive price cuts.
If you are looking for a GPU that provides ample horsepower for modern titles without costing an arm and a leg, look no further than AMD's Radeon RX 7600 XT. This sub-$350 GPU gets what its little sibling lacks by maxing out the graphical details at 1080p. Whether you are playing the current-gen games or want to play the upcoming titles without worrying about the limitations of the VRAM, the RX 7600 XT does a great job as it offers 16GB of video memory. From AV1 encoding support to competitive ray-tracing performance, the RX 7600 XT has all the bells and whistles required for smooth gaming.
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 Gaming OC
The Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 Gaming OC is a triple-fan dual-slot graphics card that brings Gigabyte's effective WINDFORCE cooling technology. It has three 80mm fans with alternate spinning that work alongside the five composite copper heat pipes that directly touch the GPU. The GPU uses the highest-grade metal chokes, 2oz copper PCB, lower ESR solid capacitors, and lower RDS(on) MOSFETs, among other features.
- Graphics RAM Size
- 8GB GDDR6
- Brand
- Gigabyte
- Architecture
- NAVI 33
- Process
- TSMC N6
- Transistors
- 13.3 billion
- Stream Processors
- 2048
- Base Clock Speed
- 2355MHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 2755MHz
- Memory Bus
- 128 bit
- Cooling
- Tri-Fan Cooling
- Competes directly with more expensive RTX 4060
- Sufficient VRAM for most games
- Triple-fan cooler for faster heat dissipation
- Slightly more power-hungry than RTX 4060
- Lackluster Ray Tracing performance
If you think 16GB is too much for 1080p, then the RX 7600 is a preferred choice for 1080p gaming, particularly because it is as good as its Nvidia counterpart for a somewhat lower price. The Radeon RX 7600 launched before the RX 7600 XT and offers 8GB of VRAM on a 128-bit bus. Officially priced at $270, the RX 7600 replaces its predecessor from the RDNA 2 lineup, delivering up to 35% better performance on average.
While it uses half the memory size of the RX 7600 XT, the GPU die on both cards is the same. This is why it provides the same number of Stream Processors, Compute Units, and RT Cores as the XT edition and does an excellent job on modern titles. It is more power efficient than the latter and needs a single 8-pin power connector to fulfill the power requirements.
MSI GeForce RTX 4060 GAMING X 8G
MSI GeForce RTX 4060 GAMING X 8G is a beautifully crafted GPU with high air pressure Torx fans and brings a dual fan cooler with an attractive black shroud.
The Gaming X 8G is an RGB edition with an RGB MSI Dragon Logo on the top and is factory overclocked at a boost clock of 2595MHz. It is one of the best RTX 4060 GPUs in terms of thermals and is ultra-quiet as well.
- Brand
- MSI
- Cooling Method
- Dual fan air cooling
- GPU Speed
- 1830 MHz
- Slot Size
- Dual Slot
- Interface
- PCI Express 4.0
- Memory
- 8GB GDDR6
- Power
- 115W
- Boost Speed
- Base: 2595 MHz, MSI Center: 2610 MHz
- CUDA Cores
- 3072
- Incredibly power efficient
- Good Ray Tracing performance
- This MSI edition comes with RGB lighting
- Minimal gains over its predecessor
From the Green Team, the Nvidia RTX 4060 is a worthy GPU purchase if you are looking for a smooth gaming experience on a budget while having better ray-tracing capabilities than AMD GPUs. One of the best-selling points of the RTX 4060 is perhaps its power efficiency, which excels the RX 7600 and the 7600 XT by a significant margin. While there is no debate that the 7600 XT is faster than the 4060, the RTX 4060 offers higher frame rates per watt consumed.
The Best Nvidia RTX 4060 GPUs: Which Versions Are Worth It?
Nvidia RTX 4060 GPUs are worth taking a second look at as they offer excellent value for the money.
With a default TDP of just 115W, AMD GPUs can't outperform the RTX 4060 in efficiency. Technically, it has similar specs to the RX 7600 concerning the memory configuration, but its ray-tracing performance is much better. While we don't recommend turning on ray tracing with budget cards, the DLSS 3.0 Frame Generation helps the 4060 achieve high double digits without many hassles.
XFX Speedster QICK319 Radeon RX 6750XT CORE
The XFX Speedster QICK319 Radeon RX 6750XT CORE is currently the best value product available via either manufacturer and commands a relatively low sub $30 price tag while delivering performance that rivals the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7600 XT while offering better raster performance overall.
- Brand
- XFX
- Cooling Method
- Air-cooled trifan
- GPU Speed
- 2495 Mhz
- Interface
- PCI-E 4.0 x16
- Memory
- 12 GB GDDR6
- Power
- 250W
- Boost Speed
- 2600 Mhz
- Better performance than current-gen GPUs for same price
- Good amount of VRAM for modern gaming requirements
- Decent 1440p gaming performance as well
- No support for AV1 encoding
- Default TDP of up to 250W
It's quite surprising that even two years after its launch, the RX 6750 XT is still relevant and probably more popular than ever. With the newer RDNA 3 family taking over RDNA 2 GPUs, it's obvious that the older GPUs will become cheaper, but unlike previous generations, the availability hasn't been reduced too much. Radeon RX 6750 XT may not have the AV1 encoding support, but apart from that, there is no other sub-$350 GPU that can match it in its raster performance, including our best overall choice.
However, the ray-tracing performance and the power consumption are some factors that may not appeal to some users. Still, if you are looking for the maximum possible frame rate per dollar, the RX 6750 XT is unparalleled at the moment. With 12GB of VRAM on a 192-bit bus, the GPU can even provide 60+ frames per second at 1440p resolution. So, not only is it going to be a wonderful card for 1080p, but it can possibly play modern titles on ultra settings at higher resolutions.
PoweColor Fighter Radeon RX 6600
The PowerColor RX 6600 is designed specifically for 1080p gaming without breaking the bank. At just $200 MSRP, this GPU is every budget gamer's dream. With 8GB of GDDR6 memory, 1792 SPs, and 2.4+GHz of boost clock, it is capable of providing 60 fps in most titles. The dual fan heatsink with embedded heat pipes makes it run cooler for a longer duration and doesn't require a lot of space inside the chassis since it measures only 200mm in length.
- Brand
- PowerColor
- Cooling Method
- Dual fan air cooling
- GPU Speed
- 2044MHz
- Interface
- PCIE 4.0
- Memory
- 8GB GDDR6
- Power
- 132W
- Boost Speed
- 2491MHz
- Stream Processors
- 1792
- The fastest $200 GPU available at the moment
- Great 1080p performance even on ultra settings
- Offers 8GB VRAM despite being cheap
- No AV1 encoding support like RX 7600
- Dull ray-tracing performance
- May struggle with intensive titles a bit
As we move a little towards the ultra-budget category, we either have Nvidia's RTX 3050 or AMD's Radeon RX 6600 for a price of around $200. Unfortunately for Nvidia, the Radeon RX 6600 is a much more appealing choice at this price tag than the 3050. Not only does it deliver much higher frame rates for the same price, but it's also actually more power-efficient in gaming benchmarks.
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Expect somewhere between 20-30% higher performance than the RTX 3050 with some games reaching as high as 50% higher performance. Initially, the RX 6600 was aimed at 1440p resolution. While it's true that it can still play a lot of games at that resolution quite satisfactorily, with more demanding titles coming to the marketplace, the RX 6600 is better suited for 1080p gaming, particularly if you are not interested in ray-tracing.
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7700 XT GAMING OC 12G
The GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7700 XT GAMING OC 12G graphics card is a mid-tier offering in the Radeon 7000 series. Based on the Navi 32 platform, the graphics card comes with a boost clock speed of up to 2599 MHz and a game clock speed of up to 2276 MHz. The GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7700 XT GAMING OC 12G comes with a triple-fan cooler design, two 8-pin connectors, two DisplayPort 2.1, and two HDMI 2.1 ports.
- Graphics RAM Size
- 12GB
- Brand
- Gigabyte
- Architecture
- Navi 32
- Ray Accelerators/Cores
- 54
- Stream Processors
- 3456
- Boost Clock Speed
- 2599
- Memory Bus
- 192
- Memory Bandwidth
- up to 18 Gbps
- Cooling
- Triple fan cooler
- Overdelivers at 1080p and offers satisfactory 1440p gaming performance
- Good VRAM capacity
- Better value than RTX 4060 Ti
- Consumes close to 250 watts
- Costs $400 while good 1080p gaming can be achieved via most sub $300 GPUs
Once again, in the battle between the RTX Geforce 4060 Ti and the Radeon RX 7700 XT, the Red Team scores the victory easily. Despite being a power-efficient card, the RTX 4060 Ti fails to attract through its poor value for its price and delivers minimal to no improvements over its predecessor, the RTX 3060 Ti. The Radeon RX 7700 XT is an overpowered GPU for 1080p gaming and can deliver over 100 fps in most games on the highest graphical presets.
Therefore, for users who want to benefit from their high-refresh rate monitors, the RX 7700 XT is going to be an immensely great option, particularly for esports titles. This time, AMD also wins the ray-tracing game, where the RX 7700 XT outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB edition by a 5-7% margin and matches the 4060 Ti's 16GB edition while costing $100 less. The RX 7700 XT boasts incredible specs and provides 12GB VRAM to take care of intensive graphical assets in modern titles.
Things to Consider When Buying a GPU for 1080p Gaming
VRAM Size: While the majority of games can run fine with 6GB of video memory, some games consume up to 8GB of VRAM at 1080p resolution. The best examples include Hogwarts Legacy, The Last of Us Part 1, and Starfield. By lowering some graphical settings, the VRAM usage can be cut down, but that will result in an inferior visual quality. Hence, if you are on a tight budget, it's recommended to get at least 6GB GPU if you are willing to compromise on some graphics assets, but 8GB RAM is generally the recommended size for 1080p resolution.
GPU Size and Cooling: GPUs can bring a single, dual, or triple-fan configuration where the single-fan GPUs are generally much more compact to easily fit even into mini-ITX cases, but on the other hand, a dual-fan or a triple-fan GPU may cause clearance issues inside the chassis depending on how much space is available. Always check the GFX clearance in your case before buying a GPU, or it may cause difficulties with installation. It should be kept in mind that triple-fan cooling solutions are better at thermal performance and will maintain better clock stability in the long run.
Power Consumption: It's not necessarily the most important factor for choosing a GPU, but if you care about your electricity bills, then you should definitely take a look at the default TGP of the GPU you are going to buy. A graphics card for 1080p gaming shouldn't consume more than 200 watts. Fortunately, modern GPUs are more power-efficient than ever before, and it's possible to have a fantastic GPU that consumes less than 150 watts at 100% utilization.
CPU-Pairing: If you don't want your GPU to get bottlenecked, don't pair it with a slow CPU. A significantly inferior CPU can limit your GPU's performance, resulting in frequent fps drops and stuttering. Make sure you get a CPU that doesn't hit 100% usage before the GPU or you won't be getting the full potential out of your graphics card.
FAQ
Q: Which GPU is best for 1080p gaming?
Currently, Nvidia's RTX 4060 and RX 7600 XT are the best GPUs for 1080p gaming. While the former has an exceptional ray tracing performance on a budget, the latter has more VRAM for demanding titles.
Q: How much VRAM is needed for 1080p gaming?
VRAM requirements depend on individual games. While some games can run smoothly with just 4GB VRAM, some may require 8GB to process all the textures. It's recommended to aim at 8GB VRAM for future-proofing or at least 6GB VRAM for playing most titles without any memory bottlenecks.