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Best GPUs for Hogwarts Legacy (2026): 5 Picks by Resolution
The graphics card to buy for Hogwarts Legacy is the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC. In TechPowerUp's testing it averages 98 fps at 1440p on the Ultra preset at native resolution, and its 16 GB of VRAM leaves room for ray tracing, which is where this game punishes smaller cards.
Two things decide every pick below. The first is memory: with ray tracing on, 8 GB cards run out of VRAM and start to hitch. The second is the CPU: the stutter you feel walking through Hogsmeade or the castle halls comes from asset streaming, and no GPU on this list removes it.
Our top pick: ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC
The ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC is the lowest tier that clears 90 fps at 1440p Ultra natively while carrying the 16 GB that ray tracing in this game wants.
Quick picks
Pick | Card | Target | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | 1440p Ultra with ray tracing (DLSS) | ||
Best Value | 1440p Ultra, ray tracing off or low | ||
Best Premium | 4K Ultra, 60+ native | ||
Best Budget | 1080p Ultra, 80+ native | ||
Editor's Pick | 4K Ultra with ray tracing |
Best Overall
- Card
- Target
1440p Ultra with ray tracing (DLSS)
- Buy
Best Value
- Card
- Target
1440p Ultra, ray tracing off or low
- Buy
Best Premium
- Card
- Target
4K Ultra, 60+ native
- Buy
Best Budget
- Card
- Target
1080p Ultra, 80+ native
- Buy
Editor's Pick
- Card
- Target
4K Ultra with ray tracing
- Buy
Specs at a glance
Card | Chip | VRAM | 1440p Ultra (native) | 4K Ultra (native) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RTX 5070 Ti | 16 GB GDDR7 | 98 fps | 58 fps | |
RX 9070 XT | 16 GB GDDR6 | 94 fps | 57 fps | |
RTX 5080 | 16 GB GDDR7 | 109 fps | 66 fps | |
RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | 16 GB GDDR7 | 61 fps | 34 fps | |
RTX 5090 | 32 GB GDDR7 | 148 fps | 100 fps |
- Chip
RTX 5070 Ti
- VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
- 1440p Ultra (native)
98 fps
- 4K Ultra (native)
58 fps
- Chip
RX 9070 XT
- VRAM
16 GB GDDR6
- 1440p Ultra (native)
94 fps
- 4K Ultra (native)
57 fps
- Chip
RTX 5080
- VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
- 1440p Ultra (native)
109 fps
- 4K Ultra (native)
66 fps
- Chip
RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
- VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
- 1440p Ultra (native)
61 fps
- 4K Ultra (native)
34 fps
- Chip
RTX 5090
- VRAM
32 GB GDDR7
- 1440p Ultra (native)
148 fps
- 4K Ultra (native)
100 fps
Hogwarts Legacy PC requirements
Avalanche's official specs set a low floor. The minimum tier lists a GeForce GTX 960 4GB or Radeon RX 470 4GB. The recommended tier, aimed at 1080p and 60 fps on High, lists a GTX 1080 Ti, Radeon RX 5700 XT or Intel Arc A770 with 16 GB of system RAM.
The Ultra 4K tier jumps to an RTX 3090 Ti or Radeon RX 7900 XT, paired with a Ryzen 7 5800X or Core i7-10700K and 32 GB of RAM. Every tier asks for 85 GB of storage, and an SSD is the right call because the game streams assets constantly as you move.
Those lists describe raster performance. For a current buyer the real dividing line is memory: launch-era testing reported that 8 GB cards struggle on Ultra and put 12 GB as the practical floor for ray tracing at 1440p. Our guide to how much VRAM you need for gaming shows how that plays out across other titles.
Benchmarks
These are TechPowerUp's measured averages on the Ultra preset at native resolution, with ray tracing off and no upscaling or frame generation. Every number comes from the same TechPowerUp test suite, so the gaps between picks are real. Turning ray tracing on lowers every number here.
Average FPS at 1080p on the Ultra preset, no upscaling or frame generation.
- 182 FPS
- 143 FPS
- 132 FPS
- 119 FPS
- 86 FPS
Average FPS at 1440p on the Ultra preset, no upscaling or frame generation.
- 148 FPS
- 109 FPS
- 98 FPS
- 94 FPS
- 61 FPS
Average FPS at 4K on the Ultra preset, no upscaling or frame generation.
- 100 FPS
- 66 FPS
- 58 FPS
- 57 FPS
- 34 FPS
How we picked
We started with native frame rate on Ultra, because it tells you how much headroom a card has before you lean on DLSS or FSR. A pick had to clear 80 fps at its target resolution to leave room for ray tracing, or hold above 60 at 4K. If you are still choosing a resolution, start with how to choose a GPU and a monitor that matches.
VRAM came second, and it carried more weight than in most games. Every pick has at least 16 GB. The 8 GB RTX 5060 Ti averages within 2 fps of the 16 GB version with ray tracing off, which is why a raster chart hides the problem: the shortfall shows up as hitching and blurry textures once ray tracing fills the memory, not as a lower average. Our breakdown of whether 8GB of VRAM is enough in 2026 covers the same cliff in other games.
Upscaling came third. GeForce cards get DLSS with frame generation, which the game supports, and it is the cleaner way to run ray tracing at 1440p and 4K. Radeon cards rely on FSR, which works but looks softer in motion. For the wider comparison, see DLSS vs FSR.
Last, we checked what the GPU cannot fix. Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world Unreal Engine 4 game that streams the castle and Hogsmeade in as you move, and those hitches are tied to the CPU and storage. That gets its own section below, so you do not overspend on a card to solve the wrong problem.
Best Overall: ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC
Specs
GPU | RTX 5070 Ti |
Memory | 16 GB GDDR7, 256-bit bus |
Boost clock | 2,610 MHz (OC mode) |
Cooler | Triple-fan, 3.125-slot |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 |
Outputs | 3x DisplayPort 2.1a, 2x HDMI 2.1b |
TGP | Approximately 300W |
GPU
RTX 5070 Ti
Memory
16 GB GDDR7, 256-bit bus
Boost clock
2,610 MHz (OC mode)
Cooler
Triple-fan, 3.125-slot
Interface
PCIe 5.0
Outputs
3x DisplayPort 2.1a, 2x HDMI 2.1b
TGP
Approximately 300W
What it does well
The RTX 5070 Ti is the card this game is built around at 1440p. TechPowerUp measured 98 fps at 1440p Ultra natively and 132 fps at 1080p, which leaves real headroom before you turn anything on.
That headroom is what you spend on ray tracing. Sixteen gigabytes of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus means reflections and shadows load without pushing textures out of memory, and DLSS Quality with frame generation brings a ray-traced 1440p image back into high-refresh territory.
The TUF cooler is the quiet, overbuilt take on this chip: three axial fans across a 3.125-slot heatsink, so it holds its boost clock through long sessions in the castle without the fans ramping.
What you give up
4K Ultra at native resolution lands at 58 fps, just under 60. At 4K you will be using DLSS, and with ray tracing on you will want frame generation too. If 4K is your main target, the RTX 5080 below is the safer buy.
The card is large. At 3.125 slots it rules out many small cases, so check clearance and the 16-pin power cable routing before you order. It also does nothing for the Hogsmeade traversal hitches, which come from the CPU and asset streaming.
Who it's for
The 1440p player on a 144 Hz or 165 Hz monitor who wants Ultra settings with ray tracing on, using DLSS to keep the frame rate high. If you buy one card for this game, buy this one.
Best Value: Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT
Specs
GPU | RX 9070 XT |
Memory | 16 GB GDDR6, 256-bit bus |
Boost clock | 2,970 MHz |
Cooler | Triple-fan Pulse |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 |
Outputs | 2x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort |
Board power | Approximately 304W |
GPU
RX 9070 XT
Memory
16 GB GDDR6, 256-bit bus
Boost clock
2,970 MHz
Cooler
Triple-fan Pulse
Interface
PCIe 5.0
Outputs
2x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort
Board power
Approximately 304W
What it does well
With ray tracing off, the RX 9070 XT trades blows with the RTX 5070 Ti. TechPowerUp measured 94 fps at 1440p Ultra, 4 fps behind the GeForce card, and 57 fps at 4K, 1 fps behind.
It carries the same 16 GB of memory, as GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, so VRAM is not a constraint at 1440p even with Ultra textures. FSR upscaling gives it a path to higher frame rates when you want them.
The Pulse SKU specifically is Sapphire's plain, well-cooled version of the chip: a triple-fan cooler with no RGB extras.
What you give up
Ray tracing is where it falls behind. Reflections and shadows cost more on Radeon than on GeForce in this game, and reports from launch-era testing suggest the gap opens wide at 1440p with ray tracing on Ultra. If you plan to play with ray tracing on, the RTX 5070 Ti is the better card.
FSR also looks softer than DLSS at the same render scale, most visibly on hair, foliage and the fine stonework around the castle. Board power sits around 304W, level with the 5070 Ti, so size the power supply the same way.
Who it's for
The 1440p player who keeps ray tracing off or low and wants high native frame rates on Ultra, or anyone who prefers a Radeon card. For more 1440p options beyond this game, see our best GPUs for 1440p gaming.
Best Premium: ASUS TUF RTX 5080 OC
Specs
GPU | RTX 5080 |
Memory | 16 GB GDDR7, 256-bit bus |
CUDA cores | 10,752 |
Boost clock | 2,730 MHz (OC mode) |
Cooler | Triple-fan, 3.6-slot |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 |
TGP | Approximately 360W |
GPU
RTX 5080
Memory
16 GB GDDR7, 256-bit bus
CUDA cores
10,752
Boost clock
2,730 MHz (OC mode)
Cooler
Triple-fan, 3.6-slot
Interface
PCIe 5.0
TGP
Approximately 360W
What it does well
The RTX 5080 is the card that holds 4K above 60 on Ultra natively. TechPowerUp measured 66 fps at 4K and 109 fps at 1440p, so it covers a 4K 120 Hz screen with DLSS or a 1440p high-refresh screen natively.
That 4K headroom matters most with ray tracing. Starting from a native 66 fps, DLSS Quality and frame generation carry a ray-traced 4K image to a smooth high refresh rate, while the 16 GB of GDDR7 holds 4K textures without spilling over.
ASUS's TUF cooler on this chip is a 3.6-slot, triple-fan design, sized so the card stays quiet under the roughly 360W it draws at full load.
What you give up
At 1440p the step up over the RTX 5070 Ti is about 11 percent, 109 fps against 98. If you play at 1440p, that gap is hard to justify, and the 5070 Ti is the better buy.
Native 4K with ray tracing on is RTX 5090 territory; on this card you will run DLSS. The 3.6-slot cooler is thick enough that you should measure your case before buying.
Who it's for
The player on a 4K 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitor who wants Ultra settings and ray tracing with DLSS doing the upscaling, or a 1440p 240 Hz player willing to use DLSS to fill the refresh rate. Our best GPUs for 4K gaming covers this tier across other titles.
Best Budget: MSI Ventus RTX 5060 Ti 16G OC
Specs
GPU | RTX 5060 Ti |
Memory | 16 GB GDDR7, 128-bit bus |
CUDA cores | 4,608 |
Cooler | Dual-fan Ventus 2X |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 x8 |
Outputs | HDMI 2.1b, DisplayPort 2.1 |
TGP | Approximately 180W |
GPU
RTX 5060 Ti
Memory
16 GB GDDR7, 128-bit bus
CUDA cores
4,608
Cooler
Dual-fan Ventus 2X
Interface
PCIe 5.0 x8
Outputs
HDMI 2.1b, DisplayPort 2.1
TGP
Approximately 180W
What it does well
The RTX 5060 Ti 16GB averages 86 fps at 1080p Ultra natively in TechPowerUp's testing, comfortably above 60 and high enough for a 1080p 144 Hz monitor with DLSS.
The 16 GB is the reason this is the pick. The 8 GB version of the same card measures 84 fps in the same test with ray tracing off, so the chart makes them look identical. Turn ray tracing on and the 8 GB card runs out of memory, which in this game shows up as hitching and texture pop-in rather than a clean drop in frame rate. The 16 GB card does not hit that wall at 1080p.
MSI's Ventus 2X is a compact dual-fan card that fits small cases and draws around 180W.
What you give up
1440p Ultra natively sits at 61 fps, right on the line. At 1440p you will run DLSS, and ray tracing at 1440p pushes this chip past what it can hold smoothly. The 128-bit memory bus is the limit there, not the capacity.
Buyers have flagged that this listing is often fulfilled by third-party sellers rather than Amazon, so check the seller and return terms before you buy.
Who it's for
The 1080p player who wants Ultra settings and ray tracing without the 8 GB hitching, or a 1440p player willing to lean on DLSS.
Editor's Pick: MSI Gaming Trio RTX 5090 OC
Specs
GPU | RTX 5090 |
Memory | 32 GB GDDR7, 512-bit bus |
Boost clock | 2,497 MHz |
Cooler | Triple-fan, 3-slot |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 |
Outputs | 3x DisplayPort 2.1a, 1x HDMI 2.1b |
TGP | Approximately 575W |
GPU
RTX 5090
Memory
32 GB GDDR7, 512-bit bus
Boost clock
2,497 MHz
Cooler
Triple-fan, 3-slot
Interface
PCIe 5.0
Outputs
3x DisplayPort 2.1a, 1x HDMI 2.1b
TGP
Approximately 575W
What it does well
The RTX 5090 is the only card here that reaches 100 fps at 4K Ultra natively, with 148 fps at 1440p in TechPowerUp's testing. That is the headroom to run ray tracing at 4K with DLSS Quality and keep frame generation in reserve.
Its 32 GB of GDDR7 on a 512-bit bus takes memory out of the conversation at any resolution and any texture setting.
MSI's Gaming Trio OC is a 3-slot, triple-fan design with a 2,497 MHz boost clock.
What you give up
This card asks a lot of your build. Board power is around 575W, so you need a quality 1000W-class power supply and good case airflow.
Below 4K it is overkill. At 1080p the CPU becomes the limit long before this GPU does, and like every card here it cannot fix the Hogsmeade traversal hitches.
Who it's for
The 4K 144 Hz player who wants every setting on Ultra with ray tracing on, and has the power supply and case to support a flagship card.
What a faster GPU will not fix: Hogsmeade stutter
The hitch you feel walking into Hogsmeade, crossing the castle halls or flying into a new area is not a GPU problem. Hogwarts Legacy streams the world in as you move, and those pauses come from the CPU and storage keeping up with that streaming. A faster graphics card raises your average frame rate but does not remove them.
What helps sits on the other side of the build: a modern CPU with strong single-thread performance, enough system RAM (Avalanche lists 32 GB for its top tier), and the game installed on an SSD. Reports suggest ray tracing adds CPU load as well, so turning it down can smooth traversal on a mid-range processor.
So size the card to your resolution and memory needs, and do not buy a bigger GPU to fix stutter. Our Black Myth: Wukong GPU guide and Alan Wake 2 picks take the same game-specific approach.
Bottom line
If you play at 1440p and want ray tracing on, buy the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC. If you play at 1440p with ray tracing off and prefer Radeon, the Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT lands within a few frames of it. If you play at 4K, the ASUS TUF RTX 5080 OC holds 60 natively on Ultra, and the MSI Gaming Trio RTX 5090 OC is the card for 4K with ray tracing. At 1080p, buy the MSI Ventus RTX 5060 Ti 16G OC and skip the 8 GB version.
FAQ
What GPU do you need for Hogwarts Legacy?
For 1080p on Ultra, the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is the floor we recommend, at 86 fps natively in TechPowerUp's testing. For 1440p Ultra, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT clear 90 fps natively. For 4K, the RTX 5080 holds 66 fps natively on Ultra and the RTX 5090 reaches 100. Avalanche's official recommended GTX 1080 Ti or RX 5700 XT only targets 1080p at 60 fps on High.
How much VRAM does Hogwarts Legacy use with ray tracing?
More than the raster numbers suggest. With ray tracing off, 8 GB cards hold their averages at 1080p. With ray tracing on at Ultra, launch-era testing found 8 GB ran short and pointed to 12 GB as the practical floor for 1440p. We recommend 16 GB for ray tracing at 1440p and above, which is why every pick in this guide carries at least that much.
Is 8GB of VRAM enough for Hogwarts Legacy?
For 1080p with ray tracing off, yes. The 8 GB RTX 5060 Ti averages 84 fps at 1080p Ultra in TechPowerUp's testing, nearly level with the 16 GB version. Once you add ray tracing or push Ultra textures at 1440p, 8 GB runs short, and the game responds with hitching and blurry textures rather than a lower average. If you are buying a new card for this game, buy 16 GB.
Why does Hogwarts Legacy stutter in Hogsmeade even on a fast GPU?
Because the game streams Hogsmeade and the castle in as you move, and those pauses come from the CPU and storage, not the graphics card. A faster GPU raises your average frame rate but leaves the traversal hitches in place. A modern CPU, 32 GB of system RAM, an SSD install and lower ray tracing settings do more for it than a GPU upgrade.
Can you run Hogwarts Legacy at 4K 60 fps?
Yes, on the right card. TechPowerUp measured the RTX 5080 at 66 fps and the RTX 5090 at 100 fps at 4K Ultra natively with ray tracing off. The RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT land just under 60, at 58 and 57, so they reach 4K 60 with DLSS or FSR upscaling. With ray tracing on at 4K, plan on DLSS even with an RTX 5080.
Is ray tracing worth turning on in Hogwarts Legacy?
On a 16 GB GeForce card, yes. Ray-traced reflections and shadows make a visible difference on the castle's polished floors and windows, and DLSS with frame generation recovers the frame rate. On 8 GB cards or Radeon cards the cost is higher: memory pressure on the first, a larger performance hit on the second. There, keeping ray tracing off or low and running Ultra raster settings is the better trade.
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