Best GPU for Intel i7 – our top compatible graphics cards

If you’re looking for the best GPU for Intel i7 processors then we have you covered. With a range of generations to account for, there are plenty of considerations, but by targeting the same tier of performance it’s not too hard to find the right card for your new build.

With the best GPU and best CPU combo you get to have the best gaming experience overall. The two make up the core components of the PC build and so are vital to your performance. The pairing is also important so you don’t end up with a CPU and GPU bottleneck and get the best value for your money. That’s why the best graphics card to match is key to get.

Best graphics card for Intel i7

For a selection of the best graphics cards for Intel’s i7 range, there is a lot to choose from. Be it the best AMD or Nvidia GPUs, there is a whole range of choices to pick from and certain budgets to hit. But with the i7 class, you will be wanting the mid to high-end to get the most out of the processor.

Best overall GPU for Intel i7

As a top choice for your Intel i7 CPU, you have the RTX 4080 Super. It brings some of the top performance that Ada has to offer without the highest price on top that the flagship might ask for. Especially considering the Super brought a late update to the original choice of 80 model, offering up a better price even if the performance isn’t that much better.

The 4080 Super comes with the AD103-400 processor based on a TSMC 5nm node. With that, you get 10,240 CUDA cores, 320 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 80 SMs, 320 Tensors, and 80 RT cores. The cores are clocked in with a 2,295MHz base clock and can boost up to 2,550MHz. It also comes with 16GB of GDDR6X memory with a 256-bit bus that provides it with 736GB/s bandwidth and a total package power of 320W.

We got hands-on with the card in our 4080 Super review, giving us a good look at its capabilities. There we see the card easily running high frame rates across the resolutions. Even at 4K it is capable of reaching hundreds in esports and lighter games such as Doom Eternal, but getting close in ones like AC Mirage where just a tweak down from the highest settings can give you the extra few. Along with DLSS 3 and frame generation available, the card is a strong overall choice for whatever you may throw at it.

Best AMD GPU for i7

When it comes to the AMD offering and pairing up an Intel i7 CPU with a Team Red GPU, then there is a great value choice in the RX 7800 XT to go for. With the great price to performance, it seriously cuts down the price tag from the flagship and top end of the lineup. Although AMD is not scared of cutting the value as we’ve seen with the 7900 XT, so there is always an alternative to choose from if the price is right.

But providing for the i7, the 7800 XT brings in with it the Navi 32 XT GPU, made with both TSMCs 5 and 6nm processor in an MCM design. The RDNA 3 GPU offers with it 3,840 stream processors, 240 TMUs, 96 ROPs, 60 compute units, and 60 RT cores. Along with 16GB of GDDR6 memory with a 256-bit memory bus coming in with an overall bandwidth of 624GB/s. The cores come in with a frequency of 1,6245MHz, a game clock up to 2,254MHz, and a boost clock up to 2,565MHz for the overclocked GPU compared to a 2,1265MHz game and 2,430MHz boost clock as standard.

As AMD outlines, the 7800 XT is made for 1440p gaming, but even then that can be pushed further. Plenty of benchmarks show that the card is capable of even 4k gaming in the right games. It is capable of reaching 60FPS on average in hard-hitting games or with some tweaks is a good value choice for the resolution. Although ray tracing is not as easygoing compared to Nvidia choices it certainly is still playable no matter what.

Best mid-range graphics card for Intel i7

Another top choice from Nvidia and a bit cheaper than the 4080 Super, the RTX 4070 Super is the best mid-range choice for an Intel i7 CPU. Yet another refresh for the Ada generation it does improve a lot more over the original 70 card, with a boost in performance even if it comes at a cost to the power requirement.

The RTX 4070 Super offers up a strong AD104-350 processor inside of it. With a reduced 7,168 CUDA cores inside, along with 224 TMUs, 80 ROPs, 56 SMs, 224 Tensors, and 56 RT cores. It also only has 12GB of GDDR6X memory on board with a 192-bit bus providing a 504GB/s bandwidth. The base clock offered is running 1.98GHz, and a boost up to 2.47GHz whilst the custom ASUS TUF even goes up to 2.56GHz along with a total 220W TDP.

We tested out the card in our 4070 Super review, and there we saw its great potential as a gaming GPU. It doesn’t quite reach the 4K levels but it does in some cases and with a few lowered options or relying on upscaling. But it certainly is a top 1440p option that smashes out great framerates no matter what. Such as AC Mirage achieving over 119 FPS at 1440p but even 74 FPS at 4k.

What GPU should I pair with the Intel i7?

Overall, for the best GPU for an Intel i7, the RTX 4080 Super is a top choice to go for. The refreshed card brings plenty of performance and modern features for it to shine. Whilst AMD has the RX 7800 XT on offer for a great value choice and the RTX 4070 Super provides that mid-range option from Nvidia as well.

Does Intel i7 come with a GPU?

If your Intel i7 does not have an F at the end of its name, then yes it comes with integrated graphics on board. By standard, all Intel CPUs offer up an onboard GPU that provides you with a quick display choice. However, it is not made for gaming or anything too difficult so it is still best to pair with a dedicated graphics card.

Final word

There you have the selection of the best GPUs for Intel i7 CPUs. With so many generations it still targets the same area of performance and with that plenty of graphics cards can suit it. There is also the expected RTX 50 series and RDNA 4 around the corner, so it might be worth the wait.