I Review Graphics Cards for a Living, Let Me Help You Pick an AMD GPU

When embarking on the journey to build your ultimate gaming PC, the choice of graphics card is paramount. Opting for an AMD graphics card can be a smart move, particularly if you're looking to maximize performance without breaking the bank. AMD's latest generation of graphics cards not only support ray tracing but also come equipped with FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), a powerful upscaling technology embraced by many top PC games.

While there are more potent options available, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT offers outstanding 4K performance at a price point that doesn't venture into the stratosphere. For those targeting 1440p gaming, AMD's mid-range cards provide exceptional value, delivering strong performance per dollar.

TL;DR: These Are the Best AMD Graphics Cards

The best 4K AMD graphics card### Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX

8See it at AmazonBest AMD Graphics Card (For Most People)### AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

6See it at NeweggBest AMD Graphics Card for 1440p### AMD Radeon RX 9070

5See it at NeweggBest AMD Graphics Card for 1080p### Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce

6See it at AmazonBest AMD Graphics Card on a Budget### XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600

5See it at Amazon

It's worth noting that AMD's graphics architecture is at the heart of both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which can ease the path for developers optimizing console games for PC. While this doesn't guarantee flawless performance on PC, it's a significant advantage. However, if Nvidia's offerings pique your interest, you can explore my guide to the best Nvidia graphics cards.

Selecting the ideal AMD GPU isn't about simply grabbing the fastest card available. It's crucial to consider your desired gaming resolution and your budget.

Graphics Card Basics

Graphics cards are complex, but you don't need to be an expert to choose a great one. For AMD cards, it's essential to identify if it's a current-generation model. AMD has recently revamped its naming convention, with the Radeon RX 9070 XT as the new flagship, skipping the "8" series and reshuffling numbers. Any card with a '9' at the start is current-generation, with '7' and '6' denoting previous generations.

The "XT" or "XTX" suffix indicates a higher performance variant within the same series. This naming system began with the Radeon RX 5700 XT in 2019, moving away from the three-digit format used by older cards like the RX 580 or RX 480. As a rule of thumb, a higher number generally means better performance, but digging into specific specs can provide more clarity.

Video memory (VRAM) is a straightforward spec to understand; more is better, especially at higher resolutions. For 1080p gaming, 8GB of VRAM suffices for most games, while 1440p gaming benefits from 12GB to 16GB, particularly for graphically intensive titles. At 4K, you should aim for as much VRAM as possible, which is why the Radeon RX 9070 XT comes with 16GB.

Compute units and their streaming multiprocessors (SMs) are also key factors. Each compute unit in the latest AMD cards contains 64 SMs, so the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, with 96 compute units, boasts 6,144 SMs. Recent AMD cards also feature dedicated hardware for ray tracing within each compute unit, with each having one RT Core, totaling 96 for the RX 7900 XTX.

Before purchasing, ensure your PC can support the chosen graphics card. Check your case's dimensions and your power supply's wattage against the card's requirements.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos

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If You Just Want the Best: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

Best AMD Graphics Card (For Most People)### AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

6The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is an excellent 4K graphics card that won't cost you an arm and a legSee it at Newegg

Product Specifications

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 4096
• Base Clock: 1660 MHz
• Game Clock: 2400 MHz
• Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6
• Memory Bandwidth: 644.6 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 256-bit
• Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin

PROS

• Excellent 4K gaming performance for the money
• Plenty of VRAM

CONS

• Brings GPU prices down to sanity (in theory)

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT made waves by offering superior value compared to Nvidia's offerings. Launched at $599, it's significantly cheaper than the $749 RTX 5070 Ti and, on average, performs faster. In my review, it edged out the RTX 5070 Ti by 2% across a comprehensive test suite, showcasing AMD's competitive edge. This card handles 4K gaming well, including ray tracing, though it's not quite on par with Nvidia in that aspect.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

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The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT also introduces FSR 4, which leverages AI for upscaling, differing from the temporal upscaling of FSR 3.1. While FSR 4 might incur a 10% performance hit compared to FSR 3.1, it significantly enhances image quality, making it ideal for single-player games where frame rate isn't the top priority.

AMD's success with the Radeon RX 9070 XT doesn't necessitate an immediate follow-up with a more powerful card, as it already delivers excellent 4K performance for its price.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX – Photos

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Best For 4K: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

The best 4K AMD graphics card### Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX

8The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is an extremely powerful graphics card, easily able to power most AAA games at 4K max settings. See it at Amazon

Product Specifications

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 6144
• Base Clock: 1929MHz
• Game Clock: 2365MHz
• Video Memory: 24GB
• Memory Bandwidth: 960 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 384-bit
• Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin
• Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.1a, 2 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x USB-C

PROS

• Excellent performance at 4K
• More VRAM than you'll need for gaming

CONS

• Can fall behind in ray tracing performance

For those willing to invest in top-tier gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX stands out. Priced around $900, it delivers unmatched performance at 4K. In my colleague Bo's review, it matched or outperformed the more expensive Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 in many tests. Over time, the RX 7900 XTX has consistently impressed with its performance, particularly in non-ray-traced games. Its 24GB of VRAM ensures it can handle even the most demanding 4K games.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 – Photos

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Best for 1440p: AMD Radeon RX 9070

Best AMD Graphics Card for 1440p### AMD Radeon RX 9070

5While its priced uncomfortably close to the RX 9070 XT, the Radeon RX 9070 is an excellent 1440p graphics card for the money. See it at Newegg

Product Specifications

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 3584
• Base Clock: 1330 MHz
• Game Clock: 2520 MHz
• Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6
• Memory Bandwidth: 644.6 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 256-bit
• Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin

PROS

• Excellent 1440p gaming performance
• Brings AI upscaling to an AMD graphics card

CONS

• Priced a little too closely to the RX 9070 XT

The AMD Radeon RX 9070, though slightly overshadowed by the RX 9070 XT, excels in 1440p gaming. It delivers impressive frame rates and benefits from the introduction of FSR 4, enhancing image quality over frame rate. In my tests, it comfortably outperformed the Nvidia RTX 5070 by 12% on average, making it a compelling choice for 1440p gamers.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Best for 1080p: AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

Best AMD Graphics Card for 1080p### Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce

6With 16GB of VRAM, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is going to power top-end games at 1080p for years to come.See it at Amazon

Product Specifications

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 2048
• Base Clock: 1980 MHz
• Game Clock: 2470 MHz
• Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6
• Memory Bandwidth: 288 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 128-bit
• Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
• Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.1a, 3 x DisplayPort 2.1

PROS

• Solid performance for the money
• Small enough to fit in any PC build

CONS

• Will struggle in some super-demanding games with ray tracing enabled

1080p remains a popular choice for PC gamers due to its affordability and performance. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, priced around $309, is an excellent option for high-end 1080p gaming. It delivers strong performance in games like Forza Horizon 5 and Far Cry 6, and its 16GB of VRAM ensures longevity.

Best on a Budget: AMD Radeon RX 6600

Best AMD Graphics Card on a Budget### XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600

5The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is a last-gen graphics card, but it's still able to pump out the frames in 1080p games, especially if you play a lot of esports games with friends. See it at Amazon

Product Specifications

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 1792
• Base Clock: 1626 MHz
• Game Clock: 2044 MHz
• Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6
• Memory Bandwidth: 224 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 128-bit
• Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
• Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.1, 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a

PROS

• Great for esports
• Very affordable

CONS

• It's a last-gen graphics card

Though a last-generation model, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 remains a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers. Priced around $199, it excels in 1080p gaming, especially in less demanding genres like esports, MMOs, and MOBAs.

What is FSR?

FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology for PC games. Initially a software-based solution, FSR uses information from recent frames and motion vectors to upscale lower resolution images to your monitor's native resolution. While less performant than AI-based models like Nvidia's DLSS, FSR still offers significant performance improvements over native rendering at higher resolutions.

With the introduction of FSR 4 in the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, AMD has shifted to an AI-based approach, enhancing image quality at the cost of some performance. FSR 4 provides users with the option to choose between higher frame rates with FSR 3 or better image quality with FSR 4. Additionally, FSR includes frame generation, which can further boost performance but may introduce latency if not used at higher frame rates.

What is Ray Tracing?

Ray tracing is a rendering technique that simulates realistic light behavior in 3D environments. It allows light to bounce naturally around a scene, significantly enhancing visual fidelity. This process is computationally intensive, requiring dedicated hardware like RT Cores found in modern AMD and Nvidia GPUs.

Initially, ray tracing was used sparingly in games, focusing on specific elements like reflections or shadows. However, with advancements in GPU technology, games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong now implement full path tracing, replacing traditional lighting methods entirely. This level of realism is achievable thanks to the RT Cores in current graphics cards, though it often necessitates the use of upscaling technologies like FSR to maintain playable frame rates.