What GPU should I get for 1440p gaming under $800?
Asked by
MellowOrbit27
I recently sold my RTX 5090 because of some financial issues, and now I'm looking for a more affordable replacement. I use a 1440p 165Hz monitor and mostly play less demanding games, but I also play competitive FPS titles occasionally, so I'd like enough performance to make good use of the high refresh rate. My budget is preferably under $800. I'm considering an RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT, but I'm not sure whether an AMD card will work properly in a system that previously had an NVIDIA 5090 installed.
Answers
An RX 9070 XT should work in the same computer that held the 5090. A full Windows reinstall shouldn’t be necessary; properly removing the old drivers with DDU is normally enough. A reinstall would only be a last resort if the driver cleanup goes badly.
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The previous GPU doesn’t affect compatibility. Just remove the NVIDIA drivers with Display Driver Uninstaller, install the new AMD card, and then install the latest AMD graphics drivers. You don’t need to install the AMD drivers before swapping the hardware.
MellowOrbit27: So I can just use DDU first, replace the card, and then install the AMD drivers afterward?
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The RX 9070 XT is probably the straightforward choice here. It should be well suited to 1440p high-refresh gaming and typically fits within your budget, depending on the model and current pricing.
PixelHarbor6: Honestly, this is the recommendation that makes the most sense for the games and monitor you described.
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BrightKite42: Good to know—I definitely wasn’t looking forward to reinstalling Windows just for a graphics card swap.