The combo of a CPU and graphics card is the only combo that ensures you get the maximum fps in any game regardless of whether the game is CPU or GPU-dependent. That said, achieving the best performance at 1080p resolution is the most sought goal of the majority of gamers.
As 1080p resolution is the most popular gaming resolution, CPU and GPU manufacturers especially pay attention to this one and thus we have dozens of options to choose from.
But not each and every option is worth the money. Upon researching, you will find that currently there are a couple of CPU-GPU combos that you should get to get the best out of the least amount of money. So, what are the currently best available CPU-GPU combos?
Take a look at the following 4 combos that will give a rock-solid performance in 2023.
1080p Starter Combo
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Intel CPU BX8070110100F Core i3-10100F / 3.6GHz /... | $72.36 | Order On Amazon | |
![]() | ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4GB GDDR6 128-bit... | $249.99 | Order On Amazon |
The combo that I recommend starting with is Core i3 10100F and GTX 1650. i3 10100F is the best entry-level gaming processor for only $100 that can support even more powerful graphics cards than the 1650 Super.
It features 4 cores and 8 threads that are sufficient for almost any title at 1080p and therefore won’t hold you back in giving required power when required. It is not only beneficial in gaming but can also produce some good results in CPU-intensive tasks.
GTX 1650 Super, on the other hand, is currently the best budget 1080p GPU that can play games on high settings with 60 fps. Some games are an exception but you can still take them close to 60 fps by lowering a few settings. However, in eSports games particularly, this card provides great value at a cheap price.
With 4GB of updated and fast GDDR6 VRAM, it is now faster than the original GTX 1650 and doesn’t even need an external power connector.
1080P High-Ultra Combo
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | INTEL CORE I3-12100F DESKTOP | $149.99 $106.93 | Order On Amazon | |
![]() | ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB GDDR6 192-bit... | $279.99 | Order On Amazon |
This next combo again features the all-new Alder Lake i3 12100F processor that has a base/boost clock speed of 3.6/4.3GHz. It is power efficient with only 58 watts of TDP and doesn’t require any aftermarket CPU cooler as it comes with a Laminar Intel cooler.
With this processor, I recommend going with the GTX 1660 Super if you want a good bump in performance. Between the 1650 Super and 1660 Super, there are a couple of graphics cards you can buy but most of them are right now non-existent or don’t provide as good value as the 1660 Super.
This card features significantly higher Cuda Cores, 1280 on 1650 S vs 1408 on 1660 S, and has higher-sized memory sitting at 6GB. 6GB VRAM can produce better graphical quality and you can easily put anything on ultra in almost every game.
The in-game performance shows everything, where you can see up to 20% average performance increase over the GTX 1650 S therefore, you will now don’t need to lower any graphical setting and at the same time, you can enjoy smooth gaming on a higher refresh rate monitor.
1080P Max Settings Combo
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Intel Core i5 Core 12400F Desktop Processor 18M... | $206.25 $161.89 | Order On Amazon | |
![]() | MSI Gaming Radeon RX 6650 XT 128-bit 8GB GDDR6... | 322 Reviews | $314.95 | Order On Amazon |
For a perfect 1080p gaming experience, you need nothing except the Ryzen 5 5600 CPU combined with the best $300 graphics card RX 6650 XT. When you search for a processor between $150-$200, then you will see a lot of options in the CPU category and almost every CPU looks promising whether you go with AMD or Intel.
The Ryzen 5600X is particularly the most impressive CPU in this price range as it is as good as the i5 12400F but costs significantly less right now. It has 6 cores and 12 threads clocked at 3.5/4.4GHz. It is also overclockable and therefore, will also you to squeeze out some extra performance.
Combining it with one of the finest and latest additions to the RDNA 3-based RX 6000 GPU, i.e., the RX 6650 XT, we are seeing at least 100+fps in most games while 60+fps in very intensive titles on the highest graphics settings.
RX 6600 XT is significantly faster than the GTX 1660 Super and competes with the more expensive RTX 3060 Ti while being significantly cheaper. It is really a solid gaming card that can run a lot of games even at 1440p on Ultra settings.
Its specs include 2048 Stream Processors, 8GB of VRAM clocked at 17.5Gbps, and the capability to enable ray tracing in supported games.
However, its TDP is also 50 watts higher than 1660 S but that should be no problem for you if you love performance more than 50 watts increase in power consumption.
Final Words
There are a lot of possible CPU-GPU combos for 1080p resolution and are not limited to the only three listed above. However, after analyzing every CPU and GPU carefully along with comparing them with other combos, these three will provide the maximum benefit on the lowest prices.