Best GPU for Playing Apex Legends on PC Windows Central 2021
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 is one of the strongest graphics cards in NVIDIA's GTX 10 series of GPUs, and it has enough power to run Apex Legends at its highest settings incredibly smoothly. It's a bit pricey, but it's worth it overall, especially since you'll be able to use it with tons of other games, too.
Our pick
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
Powerful and reliable
While far from the best graphics card on the market, the GTX 1080 is still an excellent piece of kit, and it's got enough horsepower to run Apex Legends excellently.
Who should buy this GPU?
If you're looking for a graphics card that can handle Apex Legends on its highest settings with extremely high framerates, then the GTX 1080 is perfect for you. There are stronger GPU options on the market, such as the expensive variants of NVIDIA's new RTX line of cards, but those are overkill for a game like Apex Legends, which is less taxing than other recent games such as Metro Exodus.
Is it a good time to buy this GPU?
Absolutely. GTX 10 series cards such as the 1080 are at a great price right now since the newer RTX cards came out, so there's never been a better time to pick up the GTX 1080 than right now.
Reasons to buy
- Runs Apex Legends excellently
- Powerful and capable
- Solid future-proofing
Reasons not to buy
- On the pricey side
- Not recommended for 4K gaming
What's so great about the GTX 1080, anyway?
Despite not being one of the top dogs in the GPU market anymore, the GTX 1080 is still a great high-end graphics card that can handle Apex Legends, as well as most other modern titles, superbly at their highest settings. In Apex Legends at 1080p HD resolution, the GTX 1080 pushes about 120 frames per second (FPS) on average. If you want to aim for a resolution like 1440p, then the GTX 1080 is capable of averaging 80 FPS, which is still very smooth.
The GTX 1080 is still a great high-end graphics card that can handle modern titles superbly.
Things start to get much choppier when talking about playing at 4K, but frankly, in a fast-paced battle royale shooter like this, trying to play at 4K is a bad idea anyway since framerate is more important than resolution for things like target acquisition or aiming. The GTX 1080 gives you all the power you could realistically want for Apex Legends, and it will continue to be strong enough to run new titles competently for at least a few years, too.
Alternatives to the GTX 1080
While the GTX 1080 is your best bet if you want to go for extreme performance at the highest settings, its high cost may not be something everyone can afford. Thankfully, there are great alternatives out there that can serve you well for Apex Legends as long as you're willing to sacrifice some quality.
Runner-up
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
Perfect mid-range option
The GTX 1060 costs only half as much as the GTX 1080 does, and it can handle Apex Legends at its best settings at a stable 60 FPS, making it an excellent mid-range pick.
If you want to play Apex Legends at its best-looking settings, but can't afford a GTX 1080 or simply don't care about having a framerate over 60, then the GTX 1060 is perfect for you. It's very affordable as far as GPUs go, and it will serve you well on Apex Legends' battlefields.
Budget-friendly
NVIDIA GeForce GT 730
Rock bottom pricing
While it will require you to turn down your Apex Legends settings significantly, the fact the GT 730 is capable of smooth framerates at all is awesome when you consider its rock bottom price.
If you're strapped for money or you simply don't care that much about how your game looks, then the GT 730 is right up your alley. While it will require you to turn your settings down to Medium or Low, this GPU is capable of 60 FPS and even higher in some gameplay areas, meaning that for the gamer on a budget, it's a solid choice.
Bottom line
At the end of the day, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 is a perfect balance of power and price, and any Apex Legends player that picks one up will not be disappointed. Be sure to check out or collection of the overall best graphics card picks for a bunch more great GPU options.
Our pick
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
Powerful and reliable
While far from the best graphics card on the market, the GTX 1080 is still an excellent piece of kit, and it's got enough horsepower to run Apex Legends excellently.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. Follow him on Twitter.
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