Fighting games like Mortal Kombat 1 are far more sensitive to a locked frame time than to raw graphics horsepower, which is great news for a tight budget. The cheapest card that holds a stutter-free 60 FPS at 1080p is the right call here, not the most expensive one you can stretch to.
Quick Answer
The cheapest GPU that holds Mortal Kombat 1 at 1080p 60+ FPS is the RX 6600 or RTX 3050, both around R4,500 to R5,800 in SA. For a comfortable 120+ FPS at high settings, the RX 7600 near R6,500 is the value pick.
The Budget Sweet Spot
Mortal Kombat 1 runs cleanly at 1080p high on an RX 6600 8GB, holding well past 60 FPS in 1v1 matches where frame consistency matters most. The 8GB buffer matters: MK1's krypt and cinematic stages load high-res textures that choke a 4GB card. Pair it with a Ryzen 5 5600 and 16GB RAM for a balanced sub-R12,000 build.
Spend A Little More For Headroom
If you run a 144Hz panel, the RX 7600 at roughly R6,500 locks MK1 above 120 FPS at 1080p high and leaves room for fightstick-friendly low input lag. That extra ~R1,500 over an RX 6600 buys real refresh-rate headroom rather than wasted overkill.
Pro Tip
Cap MK1 to your monitor's refresh and enable a low-latency mode. Fighting games feel sharper from consistent frame pacing than from a few extra average FPS.
FAQ
Can a R5,000 GPU run Mortal Kombat 1 at 60 FPS?
Yes. An RX 6600 or RTX 3050 around R5,000 holds 1080p high at well over 60 FPS in MK1. The 8GB RX 6600 is the stronger pick for the cinematic stages.
Do I need 8GB of VRAM for MK1 at 1080p?
8GB is strongly recommended. MK1's high-res textures and krypt areas push past 4GB at 1080p high, causing stutter on low-VRAM cards even when average FPS looks fine.
Is the RX 7600 overkill for Mortal Kombat 1?
Not for 144Hz play. At 1080p the RX 7600 pushes 120+ FPS, which suits high-refresh fightstick play. For a plain 60Hz screen, the cheaper RX 6600 is the smarter buy.
Find Your MK1 Budget GPU
Compare Evetech's 1080p graphics cards, then pick the RX 6600 for 60Hz or the RX 7600 if you run a 144Hz panel.