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The Best 1440p GPUs in 2024 – A Deep Dive into the Latest Graphics Cards for High-Refresh Gaming

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The Best 1440p GPUs in 2024 - A Deep Dive into the Latest Graphics Cards for High-Refresh Gaming

The GPU market in early 2024 is red hot, with several new graphics cards having launched that promise exceptional 1440p gaming performance. In this expansive blog post, we’ll analyze these latest GPU offerings to determine which delivers the best value for high-refresh 1440p gaming this year.

Specifically, we’ll be comparing performance and pricing for the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT versus the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super, as well as the flagship AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT versus the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super. We’ll also evaluate if 2024 seems to be a good year generally for building a new high-end gaming PC.

There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get right into it!

Introduction to the 2024 GPU Market

Kicking things off, it’s worth calling attention to just how crazy the GPU market is right now in early 2024. AMD and Nvidia have both introduced new graphics card lineups over the past couple months, giving gamers more performance and pricing options to choose from.

Specifically, there are currently 4 brand new GPUs that have launched at the high-end:

  • AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
  • AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
  • Nvidia RTX 4070 Super
  • Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

With these latest entries, gamers now have exceptional performance accessible in the $799 to $899 price bracket. The offerings also scale up to the $999 high-end mainstream segment occupied by the flagship RX 7900 XT and RTX 4070 Ti Super models.

Across the board, these new GPUs promise excellent 1440p gaming experiences with buttery smooth high-refresh frame rates. However, there is still lots of variation when it comes to determining which card delivers the absolute best value.

Understanding the nuances around pricing, specs, and real-world game benchmarks is critical to make sure you maximize performance per dollar spent on a new GPU upgrade or full gaming PC build.

Comparing the 7800 XT vs 4070 Super for 1440p Gaming

The first head-to-head match-up we’ll analyze is the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT versus the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super. Both cards fall right around the $799 MSRP mark and promise stellar 1440p gaming experiences. But which comes out on top?

Looking at the specs, the 7800 XT leverages AMD’s advanced RDNA 3 architecture, packing 76 compute units and 12GB of cutting-edge GDDR6 memory. The 4070 Super meets this with 58 RT cores and 12GB of GDDR6X RAM on Nvidia’s efficient Ada Lovelace architecture.

In terms of raw gaming performance, the 7800 XT generally sees about a 15% average improvement over the 4070 Super at 2560 x 1440 resolution across a suite of popular titles. This includes blockbuster games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Spiderman Remastered where the AMD card maintains framerates 15-20% higher on average.

However, this improved pixel pushing power comes at a cost – in this case, a 25% higher retail price for the 7800 XT. Based on the performance-to-price ratio, the 4070 Super is the clear value winner in this match-up. Gamers who want to maximize frame rates per dollar will see better returns by going with Nvidia’s offering.

That said, the 7800 XT still occupies an interesting spot for gamers focused strictly on performance. If budget is no concern, it represents the fastest option available at this $799 price point. AMD may also adjust pricing as 2024 continues, so the standings between these two could shift over time.

Pinning the 7900 XT vs 4070 Ti Super for 1440p Supremacy

Moving up the product stack, our next showdown pits the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT versus the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super. Both cards push the boundaries of what’s possible for 1440p gaming under $1,000. But can either clearly claim the crown?

On paper, the 7900 XT again looks like an absolute monster. Its 96 compute units and 20GB of cutting-edge GDDR6 memory propel it to performance heights that compete with last generation’s flagship offerings. Nvidia’s 4070 Ti Super counterpunches with 76 second-gen RT cores and 16GB of speedy GDDR6X VRAM.

Delving into benchmarks, the 7900 XT averages about 10% higher frame rates across top-tier titles at 2560 x 1440 resolution. This includes excellent experiences in cinematic games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 where the AMD card maintains 115-120 FPS on max settings.

However, you’ll pay a hefty premium for the added performance – in this case a 35% higher retail cost for the 7900 XT. Based on value per frame, the 4070 Ti Super is clearly the better buy for the majority of gamers shopping sub-$1,000 GPUs.

For those willing to pay up, the 7900 XT represents the ultimate 1440p gaming card on the market. But most shoppers will see much better bang for their buck from Nvidia’s exceptional 4070 Ti Super and its combination of great performance at a competitive price.

Evaluating 2024 for High-End Gaming PC Building

Stepping back from the specific GPU match-ups, let’s explore the broader questions – does it make sense to build a new high-performance gaming rig in 2024? And if so, is now the right time to start buying components?

There are some definite positives that make this year appealing for putting together a new system:

GPUs – Obviously the latest and greatest graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia are extremely compelling. We can expect ongoing price cuts and competition between the two GPU makers throughout 2024 as they vie for market share. There should be some solid deals unearthed.

Performance – The new performance thresholds unlocked by these latest GPU architectures enables incredible 1440p and 4K experiences. Gamers can realize buttery smooth high-refresh gaming nirvana if they build the right machine.

However, there are also a few areas of concern to factor:

SSD Pricing – PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD costs are forecasted to rise in 2024 due to demand issues and supply chain challenges. This could limit build budgets, especially for higher capacity 2TB+ storage options.

Upcoming Hardware – Both Intel and AMD are rumored to launch major new CPU platforms and architectures later in 2024. Waiting could enable access to significant performance gains. Nvidia’s next-gen 5nm GPU offerings may also arrive at the end of 2024.

40-Series Availability – While the situation is improving, there are still intermittent stock challenges finding the latest RTX 40-series graphics cards at reasonable prices. Actually securing one’s desired GPU continues to require diligence and patience.

On balance, 2024 remains a compelling year for gaming PC building. The sheer performance gains unlocked by current platforms enables exceptional experiences if you can land the right hardware at reasonable pricing.

However, there’s an argument to be made for waiting as late into 2024 as possible. Doing so could enable access to faster components as next-gen CPUs and GPUs come to market to power builds through at least 2025. The prudent course forward depends heavily on your specific budget, performance, and time requirements.

The Best Bang-For-Buck 1440p GPU Pick for 2024

If we bring together all the insight from our RX 7000 vs RTX 40-series head-to-head comparisons and evaluation of the 2024 gaming landscape, what’s the verdict on the best 1440p graphics card to buy this year?

Based on the overall analysis, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super stands out as the top value pick for high-refresh 2560 x 1440 gaming in 2024.

The 4070 Ti Super combines excellent raw performance that easily drives 100+ FPS experiences in any title at 1440p max settings. This gets paired with a reasonable $899 MSRP that offers much better price-to-performance than competing options.

Gamers wanting no compromises should consider the $999 Radeon RX 7900 XT. But most players will be ecstatic with the 4070 Ti Super’s combination of speed and reasonable cost.

No matter what 1440p GPU you end up choosing, 2024 is shaping up to be an incredible year for high-refresh gaming. Both AMD and Nvidia have delivered graphics cards that should provide buttery smooth experiences for years to come.

Now it’s simply a matter of picking the right card at the right price to maximize your enjoyment as you pwn n00bs or get lost in expansive open worlds. Happy gaming!