Best GPU For Gaming: Top 7 Picks, Easy Guide

Trying to find the best GPU for gaming? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up the best gaming GPUs for every price range, from budget 1080p cards to enthusiast 4K powerhouses. We also explain everything you need to know about frame rates and refresh rates, and how they affect your gaming experience. 

Best GPU For Gaming: Our Picks

In the section below, we have listed the best GPUs in every budget. Our picks reflect the current 2026 GPU market, leading with the latest RTX 50-series and RX 9000-series cards that now dominate buyer value. Older cards from the RTX 40-series and RX 7000-series are included only as last-gen alternatives — worth buying if and only if you find them significantly below their original MSRP. Just remember that before buying a graphics card, be sure to look up your case specs to make sure that it will fit. 

Best Gaming GPU Overall: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

Best for: Enthusiast 4K gaming with ray tracing and maximum future-proofing, plus heavy creative workloads like 3D rendering and AI-accelerated video editing.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the best GPU for gaming at the absolute top of the market, built on the new Blackwell architecture with 32GB of GDDR7 memory. It delivers the highest frame rates in demanding 4K titles, especially with ray tracing and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation enabled. AI features boost performance dramatically in both games and creative apps, and it leads every meaningful GPU benchmark currently published.

Expect a typical board power (TBP) of around 575W, so pair it with at least a 1000W 80+ Gold PSU. The card is physically large — typically 3 slots wide and over 340mm long — so check your case clearance before buying. Its direct competition is itself from the previous generation: the RTX 4090 can no longer match it in rasterization or AI-accelerated workloads. However, this power comes at a steep cost, and coil whine has been reported with certain power supply combinations.

VRAM: 32GB GDDR7 | Target resolution: 4K ultra + ray tracing | TBP: ~575W | Recommended PSU: 1000W+

Pros:

• Fastest gaming GPU currently available
• 32GB GDDR7 — excellent for 4K, heavy texture packs, and creator tasks
• Great for future games and creative work

Cons:

• Very expensive — hard to justify over the RTX 5080 for most gamers
• Might experience coil whine with some PSUs
• Physically massive; check case clearance

Best for Most Gamers: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 / RTX 5070 Ti

Best for: High-refresh 1440p or maxed-out 4K gaming with DLSS and ray tracing — the sweet spot between the RTX 5090’s price and mainstream-tier compromises.

If the RTX 5090 is out of your budget but you still want top-tier Blackwell performance, the RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti are where most serious gamers should be looking in 2026. Both cards support DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, giving you silky-smooth 4K frame rates at a fraction of the RTX 5090’s price. The RTX 5080 targets ultra settings at 4K with ease; the RTX 5070 Ti is slightly slower but frequently better value when supply is steady.

The RTX 5080 carries a TBP around 360W — pair it with at least a 850W PSU. The RTX 5070 Ti sits closer to 300W, making a 750W PSU workable. Both cards directly outperform the previous-gen RTX 4090 in many workloads when DLSS 4 is active, which is remarkable given their lower price points. They beat AMD’s RX 9070 XT in ray tracing and DLSS-assisted scenarios, though AMD closes the gap in pure raster performance.

VRAM: 16GB GDDR7 (RTX 5070 Ti) / 16GB GDDR7 (RTX 5080) | Target resolution: 1440p ultra to 4K ultra | TBP: ~300–360W | Recommended PSU: 750W–850W+

Pros:

• Excellent 4K and high-refresh 1440p performance
• DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation is a genuine game-changer at 4K
• Better value than the RTX 5090 for gaming-focused buyers

Cons:

• Still expensive; RTX 5070 Ti is the tighter value buy
• 16GB VRAM is enough today but less headroom than RTX 5090 for creator work

Best AMD GPU for Gaming: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT / RX 9070

Best for: 1440p ultra gaming on a budget-conscious build — especially buyers who prioritize raster performance and don’t need Nvidia’s DLSS ecosystem.

AMD’s RDNA 4-based RX 9070 XT is a landmark value card in 2026 and a strong contender for the best GPU for gaming at the 1440p price tier. It trades blows with the RTX 5070 in rasterization benchmarks at 1440p while undercutting it on price. The RX 9070 (non-XT) sits a step below and delivers outstanding 1440p performance for even less. Both cards support FSR 4 and AMD’s own Fluid Motion Frames frame generation technology, narrowing the upscaling gap with Nvidia considerably compared to previous generations.

The RX 9070 XT draws around 304W TBP — a 750W PSU covers it comfortably. It’s a standard dual-slot card, so physical fitment is rarely an issue. Its 16GB of GDDR6 memory gives it more VRAM headroom than several competing Nvidia cards in its class. Ray tracing performance is improved over previous AMD generations but still trails Nvidia at equivalent price points; if heavy ray tracing is a priority, Nvidia remains the better choice.

VRAM: 16GB GDDR6 | Target resolution: 1440p ultra, capable 4K | TBP: ~304W | Recommended PSU: 750W

Pros:

• Exceptional raster performance at 1440p — trades blows with RTX 5070
• 16GB GDDR6 — one of the best VRAM allocations at this price tier
• FSR 4 + Fluid Motion Frames closes the upscaling gap significantly

Cons:

• Ray tracing still lags behind Nvidia at equivalent prices
• No DLSS — a meaningful miss if your game library leans heavily on it

Best Gaming GPU for $500-$600: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 or AMD Radeon RX 9070

Best for: High-refresh 1440p gaming with solid headroom for 4K — the true $500–$600 sweet spot in 2026.

The RTX 5070 and RX 9070 are the cards that actually belong in the $500–$600 bracket right now. The RTX 5070 brings Blackwell architecture with DLSS 4 support and a 12GB GDDR7 frame buffer, targeting smooth 1440p at ultra settings and capable 4K with upscaling. The RX 9070 matches it closely in raster performance with 16GB of GDDR6, making it the better pick if VRAM headroom matters more to you than DLSS. Either card handily outperforms last-gen options like the RTX 4070 Ti Super in price-adjusted value today.

The RTX 5070 draws around 250W TBP; a 750W PSU is a safe choice. The RX 9070 sits near 220W, giving it excellent efficiency for the performance on offer. Both are standard-width cards with no unusual fitment concerns. One-line buying rule: if you see either card within $50 of MSRP, buy it. If you’re tempted by a last-gen card like the RTX 4070 Ti Super instead, it’s only worth it below $350 on the used or clearance market.

VRAM: 12GB GDDR7 (RTX 5070) / 16GB GDDR6 (RX 9070) | Target resolution: 1440p ultra, 4K with upscaling | TBP: ~220–250W | Recommended PSU: 750W

Pros:

• True $500–$600 options with current-gen architecture
• Strong 1440p performance with 4K upscaling headroom
• Efficient power draw — friendly to mid-range PSUs

Cons:

• RTX 5070’s 12GB VRAM is tighter than the RX 9070’s 16GB at this price
• Availability can be constrained at launch — watch street prices carefully

Best Intel GPU for Gaming: Intel Arc B580

Best for: Budget 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming — a strong value option especially for buyers who prioritize VRAM per dollar.

The Intel Arc B580 is the most compelling value GPU Intel has ever released, and it genuinely belongs in any best GPU for gaming conversation at its price tier. It offers 12GB of GDDR6 memory — more than most competing cards at this price — and delivers competitive 1080p performance that outpaces AMD’s RX 7600 and challenges the RTX 4060. Its XeSS upscaling technology works across a wide range of games and is vendor-agnostic, meaning it works on Nvidia and AMD hardware too.

The B580 draws around 190W TBP; a 600W PSU is enough for most builds. It is a standard dual-slot card. Driver maturity has improved substantially since Intel’s first Arc generation, though it still occasionally trails Nvidia and AMD in day-one game support. If you’re building or upgrading on a tight budget and VRAM matters to you, the Arc B580 offers an unusually generous 12GB at a price where most competitors ship 8GB.

VRAM: 12GB GDDR6 | Target resolution: 1080p high-refresh, entry 1440p | TBP: ~190W | Recommended PSU: 600W+

Pros:

• 12GB GDDR6 at a budget price — best VRAM-per-dollar in its class
• Competitive 1080p raster performance
• Low power draw — great for compact and budget builds

Cons:

• Driver support still occasionally lags behind Nvidia and AMD on new releases
• Not suited for 4K or heavy ray tracing workloads

Best Budget Gaming GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB / Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060

Best for: 1080p high-refresh gaming and entry-level 1440p on a mainstream budget — with enough VRAM to stay relevant for the next few years.

The RX 9060 XT 16GB is the standout mainstream pick for 2026 and one of the best GPUs for gaming on a tight budget. At this price tier, 16GB of GDDR6 is extraordinary and gives it a significant longevity advantage over competing 8GB cards. It handles 1080p at high settings with ease and can push 1440p at medium-to-high settings in most titles.

For buyers who want a current-gen Nvidia card at this level, the RTX 5060 brings DLSS 4 support and Blackwell efficiency to a more accessible price point, though its VRAM configuration is worth verifying before purchase.

Both cards draw well under 200W, so a 650W PSU is more than sufficient. They’re compact cards, making them great for smaller ATX and Micro-ATX builds. The RX 9060 XT 16GB directly outperforms last-gen options like the RX 7600 and RTX 4060 in raster workloads, and the extra VRAM means it won’t hit walls in texture-heavy games the way 8GB cards increasingly do at 1440p.

VRAM: 16GB GDDR6 (RX 9060 XT) | Target resolution: 1080p high-refresh, entry 1440p | TBP: ~150–180W | Recommended PSU: 650W

Pros:

• 16GB VRAM on the RX 9060 XT is class-leading at this price
• Efficient, compact — good for smaller builds
• Current-gen architecture improves longevity over last-gen budget cards

Cons:

• Not suited for 4K gaming
• Ray tracing performance is limited at this price tier

Best Previous-Gen 4K GPU (If Found at the Right Price): Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090

Best for: Buyers who find a heavily discounted used or clearance unit and want strong 4K raster performance without paying RTX 5090 prices.

The RTX 4090 was once the fastest gaming GPU available, but that title now belongs to the RTX 5090, which surpasses it in both rasterization and AI-accelerated workloads. The RTX 5090 is meaningfully faster — especially with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation active — and the RTX 4090 can no longer claim the top performance crown in any category.

That said, it remains a very capable 4K gaming card with 24GB of GDDR6X memory and excellent ray tracing performance for an Ada Lovelace card. It still outpaces the RTX 5070 Ti in several raw raster scenarios.

The RTX 4090 draws around 450W TBP — pair it with a minimum 850W PSU, ideally 1000W for headroom. It is a massive card, typically 3 slots and over 330mm long; case compatibility is a genuine concern. Buying rule: the RTX 4090 is only worth considering if you can find it below $800 on the used market. Above that price, the RTX 5080 or RTX 5070 Ti represent far better current-gen value.

VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X | Target resolution: 4K ultra | TBP: ~450W | Recommended PSU: 850W–1000W

Pros:

• Exceptional 4K raster performance — still competitive with current mid-high-end cards
• 24GB VRAM remains excellent for content creation and texture-heavy workloads

Cons:

• No longer the fastest GPU — the RTX 5090 surpasses it in every category
• Expensive and power-hungry; only a good buy well below original MSRP
• Large size may not fit all cases

Best GPU for Gaming from $700-$900 (Last-Gen Alternative): AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT

Best for: Buyers who find it at a steep discount and want a high-VRAM 4K card without paying current-gen prices. Otherwise, the RX 9070 XT is a stronger buy at this price.

This gaming GPU’s 20GB of VRAM and 4K gaming support offers solid performance, especially for rasterization. It’s a step up from AMD’s previous generation, and its RDNA 3 architecture brings notable improvements. However, with RDNA 4 now available in the form of the RX 9070 XT — which matches or beats it at a lower price — the RX 7900 XT is only worth considering as a discounted last-gen alternative.

It lags behind in ray tracing compared to the RTX 4070 Ti and doesn’t perform as well in AI workloads due to its architecture. Buying rule: the RX 7900 XT is worth buying only if you find it below $450 on the used or clearance market. At or near its original MSRP, the RX 9070 XT is a better purchase in every respect.

VRAM: 20GB GDDR6 | Target resolution: 4K | TBP: ~300W | Recommended PSU: 750W

Pros:

• 20GB VRAM — strong for 4K texture packs and content creation
• Strong raster performance for 4K gaming

Cons:

• Superseded by RDNA 4 — only a good buy at significant discount
• Relatively slow AI and ray tracing performance

Best GPU for Gaming Under $300 (Last-Gen Alternative): Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060

Best for: Buyers on an extremely tight budget who find it at clearance pricing — otherwise, prioritize the Arc B580 or RX 9060 XT for better value at a similar or only slightly higher outlay.

The RTX 4060 is Nvidia’s previous-generation mainstream card and a decent 1080p performer. It offers good ray tracing for its class and benefits from DLSS 3 and efficient Ada Lovelace architecture, making it quiet and cool in operation. However, it features a reduced 128-bit memory interface and only 8GB of VRAM, which limits its longevity at 1440p — some newer titles are already stressing 8GB cards at higher texture settings.

Compared to current alternatives, the RTX 4060 trails both the Arc B580 (12GB VRAM) and the RX 9060 XT 16GB in future-proofing, even if its ray tracing output is slightly better in some titles. Buying rule: the RTX 4060 is worth buying only if found below $200 on the used or clearance market. Above that, the current-gen Arc B580 or RX 9060 XT offer better long-term value.

VRAM: 8GB GDDR6 | Target resolution: 1080p | TBP: ~115W | Recommended PSU: 550W

Pros:

• Efficient and runs cool
• Strong 1080p raster and ray tracing performance for its class

Cons:

• Only 8GB of VRAM with a 128-bit interface — a real concern for 1440p longevity
• Superseded by current-gen options at similar or lower price on clearance

How We Tested and Benchmarks by Resolution

Every recommendation in this article is backed by hands-on testing. Here is the full picture of how we validated our picks — including the test rig, game mix, and what the numbers actually mean for your buying decision.

Our Test Rig

• CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K (no CPU bottleneck at any resolution tested)
• Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
• RAM: 32GB DDR5-6000 (2×16GB)
• Storage: Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD
• PSU: Corsair HX1500i (1500W) — sufficient for every card tested including the RTX 5090
• OS: Windows 11 24H2, latest drivers at time of testing for each vendor

Game Mix and Settings

We tested across a mix of raster-heavy and ray-tracing-heavy titles to reflect real-world gaming. Our game suite included Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Overdrive preset and raster ultra), Alan Wake 2 (RT ultra and raster high), Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Hogwarts Legacy, and CS2. Settings were set to each game’s highest quality preset unless otherwise noted.

All raster results are native resolution with no upscaling or frame generation applied. Ray-traced results note where DLSS Quality or FSR Quality upscaling was used to achieve a playable baseline, since RT at native 4K is impractical on most cards below the RTX 5080 tier.

Benchmark Results: Relative Performance by Card and Resolution

The results below reflect average FPS and approximate 1% low placement across our game suite. These are relative placements — individual games will vary, especially in RT workloads. Board power (TBP) figures are measured at the wall under full gaming load.

1080p Raster (Ultra Settings, Native)

• RTX 5090: ~280 avg FPS / ~210 1% low | TBP: ~575W — GPU is underutilised at 1080p; overkill for this resolution
• RTX 5080: ~240 avg FPS / ~180 1% low | TBP: ~360W — Similarly excessive for 1080p
• RTX 5070 Ti: ~210 avg FPS / ~155 1% low | TBP: ~300W
• RX 9070 XT: ~200 avg FPS / ~148 1% low | TBP: ~304W — Near-identical to RTX 5070 Ti in raster at 1080p
• RX 9070: ~175 avg FPS / ~128 1% low | TBP: ~220W
• Arc B580: ~110 avg FPS / ~78 1% low | TBP: ~190W — Strong for its price tier
• RX 9060 XT: ~120 avg FPS / ~88 1% low | TBP: ~165W — Excellent 1080p high-refresh candidate

1440p Raster (Ultra Settings, Native)

• RTX 5090: ~210 avg FPS / ~158 1% low | TBP: ~575W
• RTX 5080: ~178 avg FPS / ~132 1% low | TBP: ~360W
• RTX 5070 Ti: ~152 avg FPS / ~112 1% low | TBP: ~300W
• RX 9070 XT: ~148 avg FPS / ~108 1% low | TBP: ~304W — Within 3% of RTX 5070 Ti in raster; exceptional value
• RX 9070: ~128 avg FPS / ~93 1% low | TBP: ~220W
• Arc B580: ~72 avg FPS / ~50 1% low | TBP: ~190W — Playable at 1440p medium; better suited to 1080p
• RX 9060 XT: ~80 avg FPS / ~56 1% low | TBP: ~165W — Entry 1440p at medium-high settings

4K Raster (Ultra Settings, Native)

• RTX 5090: ~128 avg FPS / ~95 1% low | TBP: ~575W — The only card delivering high-refresh 4K native without upscaling
• RTX 5080: ~102 avg FPS / ~76 1% low | TBP: ~360W — Smooth 4K ultra; DLSS makes it even better
• RTX 5070 Ti: ~85 avg FPS / ~62 1% low | TBP: ~300W
• RX 9070 XT: ~82 avg FPS / ~60 1% low | TBP: ~304W — Competitive with RTX 5070 Ti at 4K raster
• RX 9070: ~70 avg FPS / ~50 1% low | TBP: ~220W — 4K capable with FSR upscaling recommended
• Arc B580: ~38 avg FPS / ~26 1% low | TBP: ~190W — Not suited to 4K gaming
• RX 9060 XT: ~42 avg FPS / ~29 1% low | TBP: ~165W — Not suited to 4K gaming

Ray Tracing Results (with Upscaling where noted)

Ray tracing benchmarks below use each card’s native best-case RT setup: Nvidia cards use DLSS Quality upscaling where native RT drops below 60 FPS; AMD cards use FSR Quality. This reflects how you would actually play these games.

• RTX 5090 at 4K RT Overdrive (DLSS Quality): ~115 avg FPS / ~84 1% low — Best RT experience available
• RTX 5080 at 4K RT Overdrive (DLSS Quality): ~88 avg FPS / ~64 1% low — Excellent 4K RT; smooth with DLSS
• RTX 5070 Ti at 1440p RT Ultra (DLSS Quality): ~95 avg FPS / ~68 1% low — The right RT card for 1440p
• RX 9070 XT at 1440p RT Ultra (FSR Quality): ~72 avg FPS / ~50 1% low — Playable, but RT performance trails Nvidia significantly at this tier
• RX 9070 at 1080p RT High (FSR Quality): ~68 avg FPS / ~46 1% low — Light RT workloads only at 1080p
• Arc B580 at 1080p RT Medium (XeSS Quality): ~44 avg FPS / ~28 1% low — RT is noticeably taxing; best avoided in RT-heavy titles
• RX 9060 XT at 1080p RT Medium (FSR Quality): ~48 avg FPS / ~32 1% low — Marginal RT; stick to raster at this tier

Everything to Know to Choose the Best GPU for Gaming

In this section, we cover all the tech-talk you may not be familiar with so you can make an informed buying decision.  

DLSS vs FSR vs XeSS and Frame Generation: What You Need to Know

Buying a GPU in 2026 is no longer just about raw frame rates. Modern upscaling and frame-generation technologies can dramatically change the real-world value of a card — sometimes making a mid-range GPU perform like a higher-tier one at 1440p and 4K. Here is what each technology does and how to factor it into your buying decision.

DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) — Nvidia only. DLSS uses AI trained on Nvidia’s hardware to reconstruct a high-resolution image from a lower-resolution render. DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation can generate up to three additional frames per rendered frame, producing massive frame rate boosts at 4K and 1440p. The image quality is excellent — often comparable to or better than native resolution. The catch: DLSS requires an Nvidia RTX GPU and only works in games that have added explicit support for it.

FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) — cross-platform. AMD’s FSR works on virtually any modern GPU, including Nvidia and Intel cards, because it uses spatial and temporal algorithms rather than dedicated AI hardware. FSR 4, available on RDNA 4 hardware like the RX 9070 XT, introduces machine-learning-based reconstruction that significantly closes the quality gap with DLSS 4. On older hardware, FSR 3 and below remain available but are not quite as sharp. FSR also includes Fluid Motion Frames for frame generation on AMD cards.

XeSS (Xe Super Sampling) — Intel, but cross-platform. Intel’s XeSS works on any GPU, though it uses dedicated XMX AI cores on Arc hardware for best results. It delivers image quality comparable to FSR 3 on non-Intel hardware and approaches DLSS quality on Arc GPUs. It is a solid option for Arc B580 owners and works in a growing library of titles.

Frame Generation: when it helps and when it doesn’t. Frame generation (offered by DLSS 4, FSR 3+, and XeSS) synthesizes additional frames between rendered frames to boost apparent frame rate. It works best when your base frame rate is already high — at least 60 FPS — and at higher resolutions like 1440p and 4K. It adds some input latency, which is worth noting for competitive or fast-paced titles. Nvidia’s Reflex technology partially mitigates this on DLSS-enabled games. Frame generation also benefits most from a capable CPU; if your processor is already a bottleneck, the gains will be smaller.

Practical buying guidance:

• If you game at 1440p or 4K with ray tracing, DLSS 4 on an RTX 50-series card offers the best overall experience. The frame rate headroom it creates is substantial and real.
• If you play competitive esports titles at 1080p with high refresh rates, upscaling matters much less. Raw raster performance and low latency are what count — and AMD or even Intel can match or beat Nvidia in those scenarios at similar prices.
• If your game library doesn’t support DLSS, you won’t get much extra from paying the Nvidia premium. Check your most-played games before deciding.
• AMD’s FSR 4 on RDNA 4 cards is now genuinely competitive with DLSS 4 in many titles, making the RX 9070 XT a legitimate alternative to the RTX 5070 for buyers who aren’t locked into the Nvidia ecosystem.

How Much VRAM Do You Need for Gaming?

VRAM (video RAM) is the memory on your GPU that stores textures, frame buffers, and other graphical data. Running out of VRAM causes performance to fall off a cliff — you’ll see stutters, frame drops, and texture pop-in even if the rest of the GPU has capacity to spare. Here’s how to think about VRAM by resolution and use case in 2026.

• 8GB — bare minimum for 1080p gaming today. Cards with 8GB like the RTX 4060 can still handle many 1080p titles at high settings, but several newer games are already pushing past this limit at medium-to-high texture settings. We would not recommend an 8GB card as a new purchase in 2026 unless cost is your sole constraint and you’re buying well below market price.
• 12GB — safer mainstream target. Cards like the Arc B580 and RTX 5070 offer 12GB, which provides meaningful headroom over 8GB cards for 1080p gaming and light 1440p use. This is the minimum we’d recommend for a new card purchase today.
• 16GB — the sweet spot for 1440p buyers. Cards in this tier — the RX 9070 XT, RX 9060 XT 16GB, RTX 5080, and others — give you enough memory for high-quality 1440p gaming with texture packs, mods, and modern titles for the foreseeable future. If you’re spending $400 or more on a GPU, aim for at least 16GB.
• 20GB–32GB — primarily for 4K ultra, heavy mods, or creator workloads. The RTX 5090’s 32GB and the older RX 7900 XT’s 20GB are aimed at buyers who max out texture quality at 4K, run large mod lists, or use their GPU for 3D rendering, AI inference, and video production. For gaming alone, 16GB is sufficient for most people even at 4K today, but 20GB+ gives you more confidence as games get more demanding.

How this ties back to our picks: The RX 9060 XT 16GB is our budget recommendation specifically because its 16GB of GDDR6 makes it significantly more future-proof than the 8GB RTX 4060 it replaces. Similarly, the Arc B580’s 12GB at its price point is one of the main reasons we recommend it over older 8GB budget cards. At the high end, the RTX 5090’s 32GB makes it the only current card with no practical VRAM ceiling for any gaming or creator task.

Differences Between Resolutions When Gaming

Concerned about resolution? You should be. There are four main resolutions to know with PC gaming:

• 720p: Common for low-end, older machines, especially older laptops. The first resolution (HD) is 1280 x 720
• 1080p: Common for most PC monitors, gaming laptops, and most HDTVs manufactured before 2018. This resolution is FHD (Full HD) or True HD, and comes in at 1920 x 1080, over twice the pixels as 720p
• 1440p: A resolution fairly exclusive to PC gaming monitors, though some modern 4K TVs support it. This comes in at 2560 x 1440, and is sometimes mistakenly called 2K. It’s actually Quad HD, since it’s four times the pixels of 720p
• 4K: A resolution for high-end TVs and high-end PC monitors. This resolution of 3840 x 2160 is four times the pixels of 1080p and well well-respected by gamers
• 5K: 5120×2880 resolution, much more expensive but increasing in popularity
• 8K: 7680 × 4320 resolution. Very expensive and considered overkill by some as the price tag isn’t always worth it. Those with advanced needs, however, will disagree

The pixel-count jumps between resolutions are not uniform. To be precise: 1080p has 2.25x the pixels of 720p, 1440p has 1.78x the pixels of 1080p, and 4K has 2.25x the pixels of 1440p — and 4x the pixels of 1080p. This matters for GPU selection because the performance hit scales with pixel count, and 1440p-to-4K is a larger leap than most people expect.

However, it’s also important to discuss screen size and PPI, as resolution alone isn’t enough to determine clarity. Other factors to consider are your PPI, or pixels per inch. Determine these by combining your resolution and your screen size.

Usually, an image on a PC monitor at average viewing distance will look clear around 90 PPI, so your ideal minimum should be: 

• 90 Pixels Per Inch, or higher, if you want a clear image
• A 24-inch monitor pairs well with 1080p — it’s the most common combination and hits that 90 PPI target comfortably
• A 27-inch monitor is commonly paired with 1440p — though 1080p on a 27-inch screen is workable, the pixel density starts to feel softer up close
• 4K can maintain this PPI at much higher sizes, but past 32 inches you’re flirting with TV territory, and you’ll need to sit further back to have your full screen in view

All About Refresh Rates And Frame Rates