AMD GPU Selection: Expert Graphics Card Reviews

When embarking on the journey to build a gaming PC, one of the most critical choices you'll face is selecting the right graphics card. Opting for an AMD graphics card can be a smart move, especially if you're looking to save on unnecessary frills. All of AMD's current-generation graphics cards come equipped with ray tracing capabilities and support for FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), a widely adopted upscaling technology in major PC games.

While there are more powerful options available, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT stands out for its impressive 4K performance without the exorbitant price tag often seen with top-tier cards. For those targeting 1440p gaming, AMD's mid-range offerings provide exceptional value, delivering robust performance at a reasonable cost.

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 the powerhouse behind both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which can simplify the optimization process for developers when porting console games to PC. While this doesn't guarantee flawless performance on PC, it certainly aids in smoother transitions. If you're more inclined towards Nvidia's offerings, you might want to check out my guide on the best Nvidia graphics cards.

Choosing the best AMD GPU isn't just about grabbing the fastest card available. It's crucial to consider the resolution at which you plan to play your games and, importantly, your budget for the graphics card.

Graphics Card Basics

Graphics cards are inherently complex devices, but you don't need to be an expert to choose a great GPU. For AMD graphics cards, it's essential to identify whether you're looking at a current-generation model. AMD recently revamped its naming convention, with the Radeon RX 9070 XT being the latest flagship, succeeding the RX 7900 XTX. The key is to recognize that any AMD card starting with a '9' is from the current generation, while '7' and '6' denote older generations.

Some AMD graphics card model numbers include "XT" or "XTX," indicating a performance boost within the same class. This naming system began with the Radeon RX 5700 XT in 2019. Older models like the RX 580 or RX 480 are now outdated and should be avoided unless you can snag them for under $100.

Generally, a higher model number suggests better performance, but diving into specific specs can provide a clearer picture. VRAM, or video memory, is a straightforward spec to consider. More VRAM is beneficial, especially at higher resolutions. For 1080p gaming, 8GB is typically sufficient, but for 1440p, aim for 12GB to 16GB, particularly for demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Black Myth: Wukong. At 4K, you'll want as much VRAM as possible, which is why the Radeon RX 9070 XT comes with 16GB.

Another important spec is the number of compute units, each containing multiple streaming multiprocessors (SMs). For the latest AMD cards, each compute unit has 64 SMs. For instance, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, with 96 compute units, boasts 6,144 SMs. Recent AMD cards also feature dedicated ray tracing hardware in each compute unit, with the 7900 XTX having 96 RT Cores, enhancing its ray tracing capabilities.

Once you've chosen your graphics card, ensure your PC can support it. Check your case dimensions to accommodate the card, especially if it's a high-end model. Also, verify that your power supply unit (PSU) has sufficient wattage, as more powerful cards require more power. Each card's specifications will list the recommended PSU wattage.

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 has made a significant impact by returning to the days when AMD genuinely offered better value than Nvidia. Launched at $599, it's considerably cheaper than the $749 RTX 5070 Ti and, on average, faster. In my review, the Radeon RX 9070 XT was 2% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti across my test suite. This performance edge, combined with its lower price, marks a victory for AMD. The card handles 4K gaming and ray tracing well, though it doesn't quite match Nvidia's ray tracing prowess.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

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The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT also introduces FSR 4, which uses AI to upscale games to your native resolution, unlike the traditional temporal upscaling of FSR 3.1. While FSR 4 incurs a 10% performance hit compared to FSR 3.1, it offers superior image quality, making it ideal for single-player games where high frame rates are less critical.

It remains to be seen if AMD will release a more powerful successor to the Radeon RX 9070 XT, but for now, it delivers excellent 4K performance at a competitive 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

While 1440p and 1080p are popular resolutions, some gamers seek the ultimate 4K experience. The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, priced around $900, offers top-tier performance. In reviews, it matched or outperformed the more expensive Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 in many tests. Its price-to-performance ratio has become even more compelling over time, especially in games without heavy reliance on ray tracing. For example, in Forza Horizon 5, it nearly matches the RTX 4080 Super, and in Total War: Warhammer 3, it outperforms by up to 8%.

Although the newer AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT surpasses the 7900 XTX in some 4K games, the 7900 XTX's 24GB of RAM makes it ideal for games with high-resolution textures. If you're willing to invest in a high-end component, the RX 7900 XTX offers the best value for traditional performance-focused gaming.

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, while slightly less powerful than the 9070 XT, is a fantastic choice for 1440p gaming. It offers robust performance at a slightly lower price point, making it a compelling option for those focused on this resolution. In my review, it consistently delivered triple-digit frame rates at 1440p, and even in more demanding scenarios, disabling ray tracing boosted performance significantly. It outperforms its Nvidia counterpart, the RTX 5070, by an average of 12% across my test suite.

The RX 9070 also introduces FSR 4, enhancing image quality through AI upscaling, though it's optional and can be toggled off for higher frame rates if preferred.

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 the most popular resolution for PC gaming due to its affordability and solid performance. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, available for around $309, is an ideal choice for high-end 1080p gaming. In my review, it excelled at this resolution, delivering impressive frame rates in games like Forza Horizon 5 and Far Cry 6. Even in more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, it managed playable frame rates with ray tracing enabled.

With 16GB of GDDR6, the RX 7600 XT is well-equipped to handle future games, ensuring longevity in your gaming setup.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6600, though a last-generation card, remains a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers, especially those focused on 1080p esports titles. Priced around $199, it offers excellent value. In my 2021 review for TechRadar, it delivered strong performance at 1080p, and even today, it holds up well in less demanding genres like MMOs, shooters, and MOBAs.

While it may struggle with the latest, more demanding games, the RX 6600 is perfect for casual and competitive gaming at 1080p.

What is FSR?

FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology for PC gaming. It uses information from recent frames and motion vectors to upscale lower resolution frames to your native resolution. Before FSR 4, it was a software-based solution, offering less performance uplift than AI-based models like Nvidia's DLSS but still improving frame rates over native high-resolution rendering.

FSR 4, introduced with the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, uses AI accelerators for more accurate upscaling, though it comes with a slight performance cost. It also includes frame generation to further boost performance, though this should be used cautiously to avoid increased latency at lower frame rates.

What is Ray Tracing?

Ray tracing is a technique for rendering realistic light in 3D scenes by tracing the path of light rays as they interact with objects. This method significantly increases the workload on the GPU, especially in real-time applications. Initially, ray tracing was limited to specific elements like reflections or shadows, but with advancements in RT cores, full path tracing is now possible in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, enhancing visual fidelity at the cost of performance.