Find the best graphics cards for 1440p gaming in 2026
For 1440p gaming, look for:
- Strong Raster Performance - 1440p is where the GPU, not the CPU, sets the frame rate
- 12-16GB of VRAM - Comfortable for high textures in current games
- Usable Ray Tracing - Enough RT performance to turn effects on with upscaling
- Frame Generation - Lifts smoothness in demanding single-player games
No GPUs under £200 yet. See our top picks under £400
Best GPUs under £400 for gaming-1440p
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE 8GB GDDR7
Great Alternatives
These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs
MSI GeForce RTX 5050 SHADOW 8GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell architecture and 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus deliver solid 1080p gaming, backed by DLSS 4 and real-time ray tracing support. Its compact 197mm length with a dual-fan TORX 5.0 cooler fits easily into small form factor builds while maintaining a modest 130W TDP. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers upgrading from older GTX or RTX 20-series hardware who want modern features like AV1 encoding and PCIe 5.0.
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5060 Twin Edge 8GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell architecture and 8GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus deliver solid 1080p gaming with DLSS 4 support, all within a compact 220.5mm dual-fan card that fits small form factor builds. Its white aesthetic and metal backplate offer a clean, durable design uncommon at this price point, paired with modern DisplayPort 2.1b and HDMI 2.1b outputs. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers building a compact, VR-ready system who prioritize power efficiency and a minimalist look over 1440p or AI workloads.
ASUS GeForce RTX 5050 Dual 8GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4 on this 50W card deliver 1080p gaming with 0dB silent operation during light loads. Its compact 2-slot design and SFF-Ready certification fit easily into small chassis without sacrificing the dual Axial-tech fan cooling. This GPU is best for compact PC builders seeking quiet, efficient 1080p performance with access to modern features like ray tracing.
ASRock Radeon RX 7600 Challenger 8GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The RDNA 3 architecture and 2695MHz boost clock drive solid 1080p performance, backed by a dual-fan cooler with 0dB silent mode and a metal backplate for rigidity. Its compact 269mm length and single-slot design fit easily into smaller builds while maintaining efficient heat dissipation via consolidated heatpipes. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers upgrading from older hardware who prioritize quiet operation and a straightforward installation.
XFX Radeon RX 7600 Speedster 8GB GDDR6
SPARKLE Arc B570 GUARDIAN 10GB GDDR6
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3050 Twin Edge OC 6GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The compact 162mm dual-fan design and 70W TDP allow for easy integration into small form factor builds without external power connectors. It provides modern features like DLSS and AV1 encode on a 6GB GDDR6 framebuffer, though its 96-bit memory bus limits high-resolution texture performance. This card is best for budget-conscious users upgrading older office PCs for 1080p esports gaming and media playback.
MSI GeForce RTX 3050 GAMING X 6G
EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 KO ULTRA GAMING 6GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The Turing-based RTX 2060 chip with 6GB of GDDR6 memory and a 1755MHz boost clock delivers entry-level ray tracing and DLSS in a compact 202mm dual-fan card. Its all-metal backplate and dual-fan cooler provide effective heat dissipation with low noise, while the pre-installed backplate adds structural rigidity uncommon at this tier. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers who want ray tracing features without upgrading their 500W power supply.
MSI GeForce RTX 3050 LP 6G OC
MSI GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Gaming 6GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The 1830MHz boost clock and 6GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus deliver reliable 1080p gaming, backed by a robust dual-fan cooler that keeps the 125W TDP in check. Its factory overclock and VR-ready support provide a straightforward upgrade path for older systems without demanding a new power supply. This card is best for budget-conscious gamers targeting smooth 60+ fps in esports and AAA titles at 1080p resolution.
SRhonyra Radeon RX 580 8GB GDDR5
Why we recommend this ▼
Its six HDMI 2.0 outputs and 8GB GDDR5 memory uniquely drive a six-monitor setup for 4K video walls, a capability rare in its class. The compact 174mm dual-slot card draws only 80W via a single 6-pin connector, making it an efficient drop-in upgrade for small form factor systems. This card is best for financial traders, surveillance operators, and digital signage integrators who prioritize expansive multi-display productivity over 3D gaming performance.
ASUS GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER TUF Gaming 6GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The Turing-based GTX 1660 Super chip and 6GB of overclocked GDDR6 memory deliver reliable 1080p gaming, backed by a durable dual-fan cooler with space-grade lubricant for quieter operation. Its TUF build quality and automated Auto-Extreme manufacturing ensure long-term reliability that budget cards often lack. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers who prioritize a quiet, durable card over chasing higher frame rates.
PowerColor Radeon RX 6500 XT Fighter 4GB GDDR6
EVGA 06G-P4-1068-KR
Best GPUs under £600 for gaming-1440p
MSI GeForce RTX 5070 Ventus 12GB GDDR7
Great Alternatives
These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs
PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 GRE Hellhound 12GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The RDNA 4 architecture and 2860 MHz boost clock on a 12GB 192-bit GDDR6 interface provide solid 1440p rasterization performance. The triple-fan Hellhound cooler maintains a strict 2-slot profile, fitting into compact builds without sacrificing thermal headroom. This card is best for 1440p gamers prioritizing physical compatibility and PCIe 5.0 readiness over heavy ray tracing or AI workloads.
ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Dual 8GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
Leveraging the 5nm Blackwell architecture with 4608 CUDA cores and 8GB of GDDR7 memory, this card delivers DLSS 4 and solid 1080p gaming at a 145W power draw. Its compact 2.5-slot, 229mm design with dual Axial-tech fans fits easily into small-form-factor builds without sacrificing thermal headroom. This GPU is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers seeking modern features like AV1 encoding and ray tracing in a space-constrained PC.
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Ti WindForce 8GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell architecture and 8GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus deliver strong 1080p gaming with a 2587 MHz boost clock, while DLSS 4 and AV1 encode add modern feature support. Its compact 208mm dual-fan design fits easily into small form factor builds without sacrificing the PCIe 5.0 interface. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers who want ray tracing and efficient 180W power draw in a space-constrained system.
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming 12GB GDDR6X
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge OC 8GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
The compact 221mm design with IceStorm 2.0 cooling and a 2602 MHz boost clock makes this a standout SFF-ready card for tight builds. Its 8GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus delivers solid 1080p performance with DLSS 4 and AV1 encode support at a competitive price point. This GPU is best for 1080p gamers building in small form factor cases who want efficient, quiet ray tracing without a massive power draw.
EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 XC3 8GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The triple-fan iCX3 cooler and all-metal backplate deliver quiet, effective thermals for the 1770MHz boost clock on this 8GB GDDR6 Ampere card. Its compact 2.2-slot design and 285mm length fit easily into smaller builds without sacrificing the 15.97 FP32 TFLOPS of compute power. This refurbished unit is best for 1080p gamers seeking high frame rates with ray tracing and DLSS at a reduced cost.
MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti SHADOW 8GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell architecture and 8GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus deliver a solid 1080p gaming foundation with full DLSS 4 and ray tracing support. Its compact 226mm dual-fan design and 180W TDP make it a practical drop-in upgrade for smaller builds without demanding a high-capacity power supply. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers seeking modern features like PCIe 5.0 and DisplayPort 2.1b in a space-efficient package.
Gigabyte Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming 8GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The RDNA 4 architecture and a 3320 MHz boost clock drive strong 1080p gaming, backed by 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus. Its triple-fan cooler keeps the 217W TDP in check within a compact 281mm dual-slot design, and PCIe 5.0 support offers forward-looking compatibility. This card is best for budget-focused 1080p gamers who want high frame rates without upgrading their 450W power supply.
ASUS Radeon RX 9070 GRE ATS 12GB GDDR6
EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB GDDR6X
Why we recommend this ▼
The 5888 CUDA cores and 1860MHz boost clock on the Ampere architecture deliver strong 1440p gaming, backed by a robust triple-fan cooler and metal backplate for sustained thermal performance. Its 8GB of GDDR6X memory and factory overclock make it a compelling value for high-refresh-rate 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming, though it is limited for AI workloads. This card is best for 1080p competitive gamers who want high frame rates without stepping up to a more expensive RTX 3080.
EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti FTW Ultra Gaming 8GB GDDR6
ASRock B580 CL 12GO
PNY GeForce RTX 5050 8GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4 with fifth-gen Tensor Cores deliver AI-upscaled 1080p performance at high frame rates, while fourth-gen Ray Tracing Cores handle entry-level ray-traced effects. Its compact, SFF-Ready 2-slot design and PCIe 5.0 support make it a straightforward upgrade for older, space-constrained systems. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers who prioritize DLSS-enhanced titles and competitive play with Reflex latency reduction.
PowerColor Radeon RX 7600 8GB GDDR6
EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 SC GAMING ACX 3.0 8GB GDDR5
Why we recommend this ▼
The EVGA ACX 3.0 cooler with its optimized swept fan blades and low-power motor keeps the 1784MHz boost clock quiet under load without requiring software tuning. Its 8GB GDDR5 memory and factory-overclocked Pascal core deliver reliable 1080p gaming with out-of-the-box simplicity and a 3-year warranty. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers upgrading from older hardware who prioritize quiet operation and straightforward installation.
Best GPUs under £900 for gaming-1440p
PNY GeForce RTX 5070 OC 12GB GDDR7
Great Alternatives
These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs
ASUS Radeon RX 9070 XT PRIME 16GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The RDNA 4 architecture and 3030MHz boost clock on this 16GB card deliver strong 1440p gaming performance, backed by a 26868 PassMark score. Its triple-fan, 2.5-slot design provides effective cooling for the 304W TDP in a relatively compact 325mm length. This card is best for 1440p gamers seeking high frame rates without stepping up to a flagship price tier.
XFX RX-97TSWF3W9
Gigabyte GV-N506TWF2OC-16GD
XFX Radeon RX 7900 XT Speedster MERC310 20GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The RDNA 3 architecture and 20GB of GDDR6 memory push high frame rates at 4K, while the triple-fan MERC310 cooler keeps the 350W TDP in check. This refurbished model offers a strong value proposition for raw 4K rasterization performance, backed by a 4.6-star customer rating. It’s best for 4K gamers who prioritize high VRAM capacity and frame rates over ray tracing or AI workloads.
PNY VCG507012TFXPB1
ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti TUF Gaming 16GB GDDR7
ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT Dual 16GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
The 16GB framebuffer on a 128-bit bus and PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provide ample memory capacity for high-texture 1080p gaming, avoiding the stutter common on 8GB cards. Its 140W TDP and triple-fan cooler deliver efficient, quiet operation without needing a massive power supply. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers who prioritize high texture settings and a smooth out-of-the-box experience over raw 1440p performance.
Sapphire 11330-03-20G
PNY GeForce RTX 5060 Ti DUAL FAN OC 16GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
The 16GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus and a 2692MHz boost clock make this card a capable 1440p performer with DLSS 4.0 support. Its compact 246mm dual-fan design fits easily into smaller builds while still delivering modern connectivity like DisplayPort 2.1b and PCIe 5.0. This GPU is best for mainstream gamers seeking high-refresh 1440p gaming with ray tracing, though its 52/100 workstation score limits its appeal for professional rendering tasks.
MSI GeForce RTX 5060 SHADOW 8GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell architecture and 3840 CUDA cores with a 2535 MHz boost clock deliver strong 1080p gaming, backed by 8GB of fast GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus. Its compact 197mm dual-fan design fits easily into small form factor builds while still offering modern connectivity like DisplayPort 2.1b and PCIe 5.0. This card is best for budget-conscious 1080p gamers who want DLSS 4 and ray tracing without upgrading their power supply beyond a single 8-pin connector.
PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 GRE Reaper 12GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
Equipped with the RDNA 4 architecture and a 2790 MHz boost clock, this card delivers solid 1440p and passable 4K gaming via 12GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus. The triple-fan Reaper cooler keeps the 289mm, 2-slot card manageable, while PCIe 5.0 x16 and dual 8-pin power connectors ensure broad compatibility. It’s best for 1440p gamers upgrading from older hardware who need modern display outputs like DisplayPort 2.1a without requiring a flagship power supply.
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5060 Twin Edge 8GB GDDR7
Why we recommend this ▼
The Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4 drive strong 1080p ray tracing performance in a compact, SFF-ready 221mm card that fits into tight builds. Its dual 90mm fans and pass-thru airflow keep the 450W TDP in check, while the metal backplate adds rigidity uncommon at this size. This card is best for small-form-factor gamers who want modern features like AV1 encoding and 8K display support without sacrificing desk space.
Khadas GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Mind Graphics 8GB GDDR6
Why we recommend this ▼
Combining a desktop GeForce RTX 4060 Ti with a 2.5-liter chassis that integrates a 300W GaN power supply, this eGPU delivers 128 GT/s bandwidth when docked to a Khadas Mind mini PC. It doubles as a full desktop entertainment hub with dual speakers, a far-field microphone array, and a secure locking mechanism to prevent accidental disconnections. This dock is best for Mind ecosystem users who need a compact, single-cable solution for 1080p gaming and multi-display 8K output.