Updated on August 14, 2022
Contrary to the current 10th generation Intel CPUs, the Core i7-9700K does not support hyper-threading. That being said, if you already own this processor or can obtain it for a reasonable price on the used market, it’s still an excellent choice for gamers. Purchasing a new i7-9700K in 2022, on the other hand, is a horrible decision. As an added bonus, you can check out our graphics card section if your CPU is a 10th generation Intel.
You can still use it with practically any graphics card on the market if you already own one. Even if you match the 9700K with the RTX 2080Ti, you won’t experience a CPU constraint. When comparing the RTX 2080Ti to the best gaming CPU on the market, the 10900K, you’ll lose less than five percent of performance. It’s important to remember, though, that the best graphics card for i7-9700K is the one that’s right for you.
We’ve got a variety of amazing graphics cards for you to choose from, no matter what kind of games you like to play. They’re all listed down here. Before you continue reading, make sure to check out our articles on the best i7-9700K motherboards and the best i7-9700K CPU coolers. We also have a detailed guide on the differences between i5 vs i7 CPUs for gaming, which you can access here.
Table of Contents
1. EVGA RTX 2080 Ti Black Gaming: Best overall graphics card for Core i7-9700K
No matter what GPU you pair with a 9700K, it will not cause CPU bottlenecking, hence the RTX 2080 Ti is by far the best GPU to use with it. However, its price and performance advantage over the next best thing, the RTX 2080 Super, makes the Ti version a horrible choice for everyone save individuals who don’t know what to do with $1,000.
It’s also a bad idea to buy a card like the RTX 2080Ti months before new GPUs from Nvidia and AMD come out, as those new cards might be 30-60% more powerful than the RTX 2080 Ti. So, if you want to play games at 4K, you should get one of the cards listed below.
The RTX 2080 Super is the greatest 4K graphics card for the 9700K at a price that isn’t out of the ordinary and offers roughly 90% of the gaming performance of its bigger cousin. It may not be able to maintain 60 frames per second in some games, but at least you won’t have to spend a fortune to get one.
It can still play almost any game at 60 frames per second on high settings, so it’s not all that horrible. Playing e-sports games at high refresh rates is not a problem with this card at all. Check out our guides for the best 1440p 240Hz and 4K 144Hz gaming displays for more information on high refresh rate gaming.
High-refresh rate 1440p gaming on the RTX 2080 Super is the greatest option for a completely immersive experience. Almost any game can be played at or near 100fps without reducing the details with this card. The opposite is true for first-person shooters and esports titles, which will operate flawlessly at 144Hz or more frames per second.
At high refresh rates, several games (such as RDR 2, Control) will struggle to run. However, in single-player games, 60 frames per second is more than adequate. RTX 2080 Super is the finest 1440p GPU for the Core i7-9700K, so that’s the final word.
If you mostly play esports and multiplayer games you don’t have to buy an expensive card for a high refresh rate experience.
The GTX 1660 Super OC is the finest option for 1080p and 1440p esports games. At three-digit frame rates, the card can handle any e-sports game, including Apex Legends. To get a stable 120 or 144 Hz at 1440p, you’ll have to lower some settings, but that’s not a deal breaker. If you occasionally play AAA and single-player games, the GTX 1660 Super is an excellent choice.
The 1660 Super is fine for playing esports games at 1440p resolution. It’s possible to enjoy some games even if you turn all of the settings up to the top. Others will need to adjust their settings. Even so, they can all operate at 120Hz or 144Hz. And it’s also capable of running most games at 60 frames per second with a little tweaks to the visuals. For the price, that’s a wonderful deal.
The Zotac RTX 2070 Super Mini is currently the top 9700K GPU for tiny form factor gaming PCs. It’s easy to carry about. It features two fan blades. In theory, it should have the same performance as RTX 2070 Super cards. In addition to that, it isn’t costing any more than other RTX 2070 Super variants.
The best low-profile graphics cards guide on our site contains some fascinating picks if you’re building a HTPC or an ultra-compact SFF computer. Visit our list to the best SFF cases to discover the perfect case to go with your new card.
Best graphics card for Core i7-9700K on the used market
You can find some good used GPUs to go with a used 9700K, even if you bought a new one. First and foremost, be prepared to witness a slew of exorbitantly priced properties. The availability of new PC components was hampered by the existing global climate. This led some people to overvalue their old graphics cards.
However, if you’re patient, you can find some great offers. The GTX 1080Ti is our preferred choice. There are a lot of pricey listings, so just be prepared.
