Get the smoothest experience and best graphics or find what it takes to run on PC with this selection
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A reboot to the franchise, starting from the beginning Moral Kombat is getting another game. Now if you’re hoping to play the game on PC you want to make sure you have what it takes when it comes to good-looking graphics and high framerates. In that case, you want to have the best GPU for Mortal Kombat 1.
The MK1 release date is set for the 19th of September, although there is early access available to those who can’t wait that much longer. With that experience now available you may want to look at how to get the best performance, so with the game so close the choice of graphics card is abundant and we find which one is best suited for the task.
When it comes to choosing the best GPU we first have to know what it takes to run the game. The MK1 system requirements give us an idea of what to expect as to what hardware you need to have. It can range from the low end of just being able to run the game, or on the other end something that will make sure each gruesome fight shows every detail you need.
Looking at the requirements we do see how the game doesn’t require all that much, especially with the likes of Starfield that ask for more recent GPUs. Mortal Kombat 1 on the other hand at a minimum asks for a Nvidia GTX 980, AMD RX 470, or Intel Arc A750. With the recommendation jumping up to a GTX 1080 Ti, RX 5700 XT, or Arc A770. This is a refreshing range of options to pick from and it’s nice to see Intel options for it too. Now if you’re planning a PC build for it, what’s best suited for the job?
Strong factory overclock, but not the best
Best cooling performance of the bunch offers more OC headroom, plus…
Additional features like RGB lighting for extra visual flair
It’s also huge, but surprisingly not the biggest
It’s fairly expensive
Below we talk more about our top picks in further detail to give you a good understanding of why they’re the best.
Core clock speed
2,565MHz boost, 2,254MHz game
Stream processors
3,840
Memory
16GB GDDR6
Dimensions
319.8 x 150.9 x 59.2 mm
PSU required
750W
TBP
263W
For the best graphics card for Mortal Kombat 1 we look to the more recent additions from AMD. With the release filling the gap of the RDNA 3 lineup the RX 7800 XT is the card we’d go for. It offers great value for the performance that it has across the board.
Although the game has not yet been fully benchmarked we can still see how the graphics card performs instead in all the other games it’s been tested in. Looking towards the RX 7800 XT Techspot review, we see that at 1080p it averages over 140 FPS, 1440p gives it over 100, while 4K is above 60 FPS across 15 games. That gives you a great range of options no matter how you play the game especially if the game is not that demanding with the lower-end hardware it asks for.
That means the RX 7800 XT should give you a good framerate no matter the resolution, but it might be best to also wait for the reviews to in fact see how it performs. Although it might lack support for DLSS or is not as efficient at ray tracing it does offer its own with FSR and still perfectly well running lighting.
Core clock speed
2,505 MHz boost
CUDA count
7,168
Memory
12GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
242 x 125 x 43 mm
PSU required
650W
TGP
220W
The runner-up for the best GPU for MK1 is the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super, one of the better value options from Nvidia’s Ada range it still has the performance without the massive price on top – now even better than the original RTX 4070 that we reviewed. It has all the benefits of the newest generation like efficiency improvements and even features like frame generation made for DLSS 3, and now DLSS 3.5.
Therefore, it makes it the second-best option if you’re not after the AMD pick, then this one should be the one to go for. For the performance of the card, we also look at the performance in other benchmarks. Reviews feature the card and give an average performance of the GPU and what you might expect from it. There at 1080p, the card averages 157 FPS across 25 games, 1440p drops that to 118 FPS, while 4K sits at 67 FPS.
You can expect a similar sort of performance in MK1, although more full benchmarks might be sensible to see if it is true to the game. But you can expect an all-round good experience with the performance at those resolutions a good fit for the game. It will also have the benefits of running ray tracing better and having access to DLSS when it’s required.
Graphics RAM Type
GDDR6
Video Output Interface
DisplayPort, HDMI
Chipset Brand
NVIDIA
Memory Speed
1807 MHz
Graphics Card Ram Size
12 GB
When it comes to getting the best budget GPU for Mortal Kombat 1, the RTX 3060 is the card to go for. Part of the last Ampere generation was on the entry level, and now gets a lower price still as it is succeded in the newer generation. This is a great addition to any budget build as it is also part of the RTX family giving you a lot more with it than just the performance.
Although it might be an older card you can still find it available for new. In a Techspot review, we see what that performance is like in a 15-game average. At 1080p it achieves around 80 FPS, 1440p gives under 60 with 4k only around 30 frames. So it is more focused on HD gaming rather than anything much higher but that is good for the majority of gamers especially those on a budget.
Core Clock Speed
2.20 GHz
Shading units
4,096
Memory Size
16 GB GDDR6
Dimensions
267 x 117 mm, 2-slot
PSU Required
650 W
TBP
225 W
Since the game recommends an Intel Arc card, the top-spec of the range is not that expensive to go for and the Intel Arc A770 is a solid graphics card to opt for. Although it has been through its troubles with drivers that might not always be there ready like Starfield saw, it is a great value card. MK1 showing support for it should provide a good experience for it.
For the performance of the card, Gamers Nexus has an extensive look at the A770’s performance in various games. It does vary depending on the game, and even since then, the drivers have been updated which can change how they perform. But they sit somewhere between the RTX 3060 and 6700 XT, mostly ideal for 1080p but can push some 1440p as well.
Intel does have its own upscaling as well, which means you have access to XeSS as well as FSR. Allowing you to push the performance higher if what you’re getting isn’t quite enough for you.
There you have some of our best graphics cards for MK1, they range in price and performance so you can have the best option for what you need. Although just one component might not be for you and when you’re looking where to buy MK1 you might just need one whole device. In that case, the best laptop for Mortal Kombat 1 might be the alternative you’re after. Either way, you should get the performance to best enjoy the game.
Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X Gaming Graphics Card
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB GDRR6X
XFX Speedster SWFT319 Radeon RX 6800 Core Gaming Graphics Card
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Trinity OC
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3090
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Gaming OC
XFX Speedster MERC310 AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX Black Gaming Graphics Card
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4080
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
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