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Best GPUs for 1080p in 2025: Our top picks reviewed and tested for 60, 144, 240Hz, and more

Enjoy a smoother experience in general with these GPUs for fast refresh rates

Sebastian Kozlowski

Last Updated on August 18, 2025

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If you’re sticking to the low end and FHD resolution, the graphics cards don’t need to be right at the top end. You can find plenty of performance from even the budget cards at the basic level. With a newer contender in the space, as Intel GPUs have filled in that space, it has become an entry-level value option.

But there is more than just the standard 1080p monitors on offer; there are a bunch of refresh rates that you can target and enjoy at various levels. offering a higher framerate and smoothness across the board, which might take a bit more power to run than just 60Hz.

With 144Hz, 240Hz, and even 480Hz monitors offering an improved experience when using them, you do need to upgrade the graphics card to run them. In which case, we have listed a few options below, spanning a range of budgets and performance levels you can pick from.

Deals season is here folks, and with it comes huge savings on some of the market's most popular hardware. Below, we be listing today's best PC hardware deals, including GPUs, CPUs, motherboards, gaming PCs, and more.

*Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current prices.

Products at a glance

Hands-on Review
Best GPU for 1080p
Acer Nitro Intel Arc B580
- GPU: BMG-G21
- Shading units: 2,560
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Bandwidth: 456GB/s
- Base/Boost clock speed: 2,670/2,740MHz
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Hands-on Review
Second best GPU for 1080p
ASUS Prime RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC
- GPU: GB206-300
- CUDA Cores: 4,608
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR7
- Memory Bus Width: 128-bit
- Base/Boost Clock: 2.4/2.65 GHz
- TBP: 180W
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Hands-on Review
Best 144Hz 1080p GPU
ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC
- GPU: Navi 48 XT
- Stream Processors: 4,096
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Memory Bus Width: 256-bit
- Base/Game/Boost clock speed: 1,660/2,400/2,970 MHz
- TBP: 304W
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Hands-on Review
Best 240Hz 1080p GPU
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition
- GPU: GB203
- CUDA Cores: 10752
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR7
- Memory Bus width: 256 bit
- Base Clock speed: 2295 MHz
- Boost Clock speed: 2617 MHz
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Hands-on Review
Best 480Hz 1080p GPU
MSI GeForce RTX 5090 SUPRIM SOC
- GPU: GB202
- CUDA cores: 21,760
- VRAM: 32GB GDDR7
- Memory Bus width: 512-bit
- Base clock speed: 2,010MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2,565MHz
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How we selected the best GPUs for 1080p 144Hz and 240Hz

We’ve selected these graphics cards from our range of testing and research in this area. With our expertise, we can recommend the right GPUs that can achieve the necessary performance to run these monitor refresh rates. We draw on our GPU reviews and hands-on testing in our testing lab to obtain direct results on the best picks. Here’s a closer look at what each card has to offer.

Acer Nitro Intel Arc B580 testing, Image by PC Guide

Best GPUs for 1080p 144Hz and 240Hz

Best GPU for 1080p

Acer Nitro Intel Arc B580

Hands-on Review

4.5 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

GPU: BMG-G21
Shading units: 2,560
VRAM: 12GB GDDR6
Memory bus width: 192-bit
Bandwidth: 456GB/s
Base/Boost clock speed: 2,670/2,740MHz

After some time away, Intel has returned to the GPU market with its second-generation Battlemage series. Building on lessons learned from the Alchemist launch, the Arc B580 stands out as a strong budget-friendly option.

In our review of the Acer Nitro Intel Arc B850, we were pleasantly surprised by its gaming performance. Cyberpunk 2077, a notoriously demanding title, ran at a smooth 95 FPS at 1080p and 63 FPS at 1440p, even without Intel's XeSS upscaling enabled.

While in Counter-Strike 2, the GPU was able to run 171 fps at average on very high. In Doom Eternal, it averaged 227fps, Assassin’s Creed Mirage managed 85fps, F1 24 achieved a framerate of 81fps, and further benchmarks are shown in the graphs below.

Specs-wise, the Arc B580 features 20 Xe cores built on the Xe 2 architecture, housing 2,560 shading units. It runs at a 1,700 MHz base clock with a 2,740 MHz boost clock and a 200W TDP.

Overall, the Arc B580 punches far above its price class. It delivers smooth, high-quality gameplay across modern titles, and does it all at an excellent value, $249 for the base model, or a bit more for the factory-overclocked version we tested. That makes it one of the most compelling budget GPUs available today.

Especially if you’re sticking to 1080p, and running even higher framerates if you’re after a faster refresh rate, that’s if you can find one on sale, since these have been a bit more elusive to come across. Being sold out at retailers, it might not be so easy to get.

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Second best GPU for 1080p

ASUS Prime RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC

Hands-on Review

4 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

GPU: GB206-300
CUDA Cores: 4,608
VRAM: 16GB GDDR7
Memory Bus Width: 128-bit
Base/Boost Clock: 2.4/2.65 GHz
TBP: 180W

This marks the first GPU in Nvidia's Blackwell lineup to cross the $500 MSRP threshold, at least on paper. In practice, availability is hampered by ongoing stock shortages, and custom cards like the ASUS Prime 16GB OC often carry a small premium. Even so, 16GB variants can still be found below $500, making them especially attractive for buyers who want strong performance without overspending.

The card is built around the GB206-300 processor, featuring 4,608 CUDA cores. It runs at a 2.4GHz base clock with a 2.57GHz boost, while ASUS's factory-overclocked model pushes that to 2.65GHz. Despite its relatively large size, the GPU delivers excellent performance and maintains impressive thermal control.

With a 180W board power rating, efficiency is another strong point. During our stress testing, the ASUS model held steady at 60°C, with memory temperatures peaking at just 66°C. This consistency prevents thermal throttling, keeps performance stable, and leaves a bit of headroom for further tuning.

Memory configuration is another key advantage. The 16GB GDDR7 variant is the better choice, especially as the 8GB model becomes harder to find. Paired with the fast memory, it's well-suited for 1440p gaming, as our testing confirmed.

Performance in real-world titles backs that up. In Counter-Strike 2 at very high settings, the card averaged 249 FPS at 1080p, 170 FPS at 1440p, and 87 FPS at 4K. In Cyberpunk 2077, results were more demanding: 123 FPS at 1080p, 78 FPS at 1440p, and 34 FPS at 4K with standard rasterization. Enabling ray tracing dropped performance to 52, 32, and 16 FPS, but DLSS 4 and frame generation quickly restored playability, even at higher resolutions.

Synthetic benchmarks tell a similar story. The GPU scored 9,526 in Fire Strike Ultra, 7,310 in Time Spy Extreme, 10,271 in Port Royal, and 3,599 in Steel Nomad. Blender performance was also strong, with sample rates of 2,057.1 in Monster, 1,112.0 in Workshop, and 1,118.2 in Classroom.

All told, this Blackwell card strikes a balance between price, performance, and efficiency. For under $500, the 16GB variant stands out as a versatile option that handles both competitive gaming and demanding workloads with ease.

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Best 144Hz 1080p GPU

ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC

Hands-on Review

4.5 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

GPU: Navi 48 XT
Stream Processors: 4,096
VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
Memory Bus Width: 256-bit
Base/Game/Boost clock speed: 1,660/2,400/2,970 MHz
TBP: 304W

The RX 9070 XT represents one of AMD's flagship GPUs in its latest generation, striking a balance between performance and value that makes it a standout choice for higher refresh rate 1080p gaming. Positioned near the top of AMD's lineup, it delivers impressive specifications at a competitive price, earning strong marks in our review of the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT.

Powered by the RDNA 4 architecture, the RX 9070 XT uses the Navi 48 XTX die, housing 4,096 streaming processors, 64 ray accelerators, and 64 compute units. It ships with a 2.4GHz game clock and a 2.97GHz boost clock, with factory-overclocked models able to push past the 3GHz barrier.

The card is paired with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, running at 20Gbps for a total bandwidth of 640GB/s. Its board power is rated at 304W, though custom designs can draw higher when tuned for maximum performance.

While it sticks with GDDR6 rather than newer standards, the RX 9070 XT is forward-looking in other ways, supporting PCIe Gen 5, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 2.1, ensuring compatibility with high-refresh-rate and high-resolution displays.

In gaming benchmarks, the RX 9070 XT shows its strength. In Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra settings, it averaged 193 FPS at 1080p, 129 FPS at 1440p, and 61 FPS at 4K. With ray tracing enabled, performance dropped to 61 FPS at 1080p, 51 FPS at 1440p, and 25 FPS at 4K. While not on par with Nvidia's ray tracing performance, it represents a clear step forward from past AMD generations.

Outside of gaming, however, the RX 9070 XT isn't as competitive. Synthetic benchmarks and creative workloads show it lagging behind some rivals, making it best suited for players who want a high-performance gaming GPU first and foremost.

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Best 240Hz 1080p GPU

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition

Hands-on Review

4.5 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

GPU: GB203
CUDA Cores: 10752
VRAM: 16GB GDDR7
Memory Bus width: 256 bit
Base Clock speed: 2295 MHz
Boost Clock speed: 2617 MHz

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If you're looking for a GPU that delivers strong, well-rounded performance across both gaming and synthetic workloads, the RTX 5080 is one of the best options available. In our review, it showed significant generational improvements, and so if you’re after fast refresh rates, it could be the one to go for.

One of the biggest upgrades comes in memory. The RTX 5080 not only features a higher core count than its predecessor, but also introduces GDDR7, capable of a per-pin maximum speed of 32Gbps compared to 24Gbps with GDDR6X. This translates into far greater bandwidth and efficiency, giving the 5080 a notable edge in handling demanding data-heavy workloads.

Connectivity is also future-proofed with PCIe Gen 5 support, ensuring the GPU can take advantage of full slot bandwidth on compatible motherboards. This reduces the risk of system bottlenecks and helps sustain high performance in modern games and applications.

Physically, the card is compact for its class. Measuring 304 × 137 × 48mm, it fits into a 2-slot design that takes up less space than the previous generation while still delivering excellent cooling performance. For testing, we paired it with AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D, currently one of the best gaming CPUs on the market.

In gaming benchmarks, the RTX 5080 excelled. In F1 24, it achieved 171 FPS at 1080p, 136 FPS at 1440p, and 84 FPS at 4K natively. With DLSS 4 enabled, performance jumped to 192 FPS at 1080p (Quality mode), 183 FPS at 1440p (Balanced mode), and 147 FPS at 4K (Performance mode). Turning on Multi-Frame Generation alongside DLSS pushed 4K performance even further, reaching 189 FPS, an impressive 105-frame increase over native rendering.

All told, the RTX 5080 combines cutting-edge memory technology, strong efficiency, and excellent real-world performance, making it one of the most compelling high-end GPUs on the market. It might be an overkill pick for most, but it is a well-rounded option without being the flagship model.

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Best 480Hz 1080p GPU

MSI GeForce RTX 5090 SUPRIM SOC

Hands-on Review

4.5 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

GPU: GB202
CUDA cores: 21,760
VRAM: 32GB GDDR7
Memory Bus width: 512-bit
Base clock speed: 2,010MHz
Boost clock speed: 2,565MHz

The RTX 4090 has officially been dethroned, with the RTX 5090 now standing as Nvidia's most powerful consumer GPU. Suppose you want the absolute best option for gaming without any hitches and beyond the limits. It’s most likely a bit much for just 1080p, but for the likes of competitive gaming at fast refresh rates, it does offer the best option, reaching 500Hz.

Built on the Blackwell architecture, the RTX 5090 packs an enormous 21,760 CUDA cores and 32GB of next-generation GDDR7 memory. With this much VRAM, you can push the highest settings without worrying about running into memory limits or performance drops.

It also introduces a first for consumer GPUs: a 512-bit memory interface. Paired with a 28Gbps memory clock, this delivers a staggering 1.79TB/s of memory bandwidth. Combined with PCIe Gen 5 support, the RTX 5090 ensures there are no bandwidth bottlenecks, whether you're gaming, rendering, editing, or running intensive AI workloads.

In our testing, performance was nothing short of outstanding. At 4K, the RTX 5090 excelled across demanding titles and creative applications alike, leveraging its vast VRAM pool to maintain smooth performance. Impressively, it managed to keep thermals under control even under heavy load.

In 1080p benchmarks, it reached well into the 600fps in CS2, Cyberpunk at 230fps, Doom Eternal beyond 650fps, and so on. This makes it the top pick for 1080p and likely beyond what most people require.

That said, all this power comes with trade-offs. The MSI Suprim SOC model we reviewed is heavily overclocked and built on a massive scale, measuring 359 × 150 × 76 mm. It's a heavy, oversized card that can complicate builds. Add in the premium price tag, and it's clear this GPU isn't for everyone.

Still, for those who want the very best and are willing to pay for it, the RTX 5090 sets a new standard for performance at the top of the market.

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Considerations for the best GPU for 1080p

Frames per second

Ideally, you want to match your GPU to your monitor and its refresh rate. Choosing a 1080p GPU is relatively easy, as modern-day GPUs will have no problems running at that resolution. It ultimately comes down to the refresh rate of it instead, and your GPU being able to reach that performance level.

So if you’re after a 144Hz monitor, it’s slightly more demanding than 60Hz. While 240Hz and 480Hz are on yet another level, across various games, it takes a lot more power to do so.

Cooling

The thermals of a graphics card should be an essential consideration. To consistently perform at its best, it needs to be kept as cool as possible. If a graphics card overheats, it will begin throttling, and your fps will drop.

You can set up secondary cooling via your in-case fans, but in terms of integrated GPU cooling, you have two main options. Axial air cooling cards will have heatsinks with fans to blow the hot air out. While there are also liquid-cooled options that will be slimmer, but have a radiator attached to move the heat away to another part of the case, which can limit the size you can use it in.

Dimensions

Practically speaking, GPU dimensions are the most important thing to consider when shopping for a GPU. If it doesn't fit in or sags a lot in your case, or perhaps blocks your motherboard expansion slots, it's not a great match.

You'll need accurate measurements of your case and its brackets before investing in a GPU. Most modern GPUs will fit in a mid-tower case, and perhaps even cases on the larger side of the micro case spectrum.

VRAM

VRAM is the video memory of a GPU. It supplies lightning-fast visual information and stewards the production of smooth and even graphics on your monitor's display. The higher the resolution of a screen, the larger your GPU's VRAM capacity needs to be in order to keep frame rates and graphics quality at a playable standard.

These days, even 8GB graphics cards can struggle with modern games. Therefore, it may be better to opt for cards with more VRAM, such as those offering 12GB and 16GB, which provide some future proofing.

What GPU is best for 1080p?

There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to picking out the 1080p GPUs. If you’re looking for the bare minimum, the likes of the Arc B580, RX 9060, and RTX 5060 are good picks for keeping it minimal. But there are some more options to choose from if you’re after higher refresh rates.

What GPU do you need for 240Hz?

When it comes to 240Hz 1080p, you do want a bit more power to be able to reach these framerates. Something like the RX 9070 XT and RTX 5080 are more capable cards that can reach these levels across the board. With more power and fast clocks, it’s a lot more capable of doing so.

What GPU do you need for 480Hz?

For 480Hz, you do require some of the top-level graphics cards, even at 1080p. That’s since it’s still pushing a lot of frames to do so, and even if it might be game-specific, the RTX 5090 is the all-around option to do it. Even in AAA titles like Cyberpunk, it can do a lot more than the rest. While in competitive gaming, the lower-tier cards are able to do the same as the 9070 XT and 5080.

What is the minimum GPU for 1080p?

For 1080p, the minimum GPU is any modern-day lower-end option in the latest lineup, which would include the RTX 5060, RX 9060, or B570. However, there are plenty of older and minimal cards that can achieve this as well. Cards like an Arx A580, RTX 2060, and RX 5600 XT are more of the minimum levels.

About the Author

Sebastian Kozlowski

With a fascination for technology and games, Seb is a tech writer with a focus on hardware, news, and deals. He is also a tester and reviewer for the site. Contact him @ [email protected]

Best GPUs for 1080p in 2025: Our top picks reviewed and tested for 60, 144, 240Hz, and more

Table of Contents

Deals season is here folks, and with it comes huge savings on some of the market's most popular hardware. Below, we be listing today's best PC hardware deals, including GPUs, CPUs, motherboards, gaming PCs, and more.

Products at a glance

How we selected the best GPUs for 1080p 144Hz and 240Hz

Best GPUs for 1080p 144Hz and 240Hz

Considerations for the best GPU for 1080p

Frames per second

Cooling

Dimensions

VRAM

What GPU is best for 1080p?

What GPU do you need for 240Hz?

What GPU do you need for 480Hz?

What is the minimum GPU for 1080p?

About the Author