"Expert Picks: Best AMD GPUs Reviewed"

When you're setting out to build a gaming PC, choosing the best graphics card is a pivotal decision. Opting for an AMD graphics card can be a smart move, especially if you're looking to save on unnecessary extras. AMD's latest graphics cards support ray tracing and feature FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), an upscaling technology compatible with most major PC games, enhancing your gaming experience without breaking the bank.

While there are more powerful options available, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT offers exceptional 4K performance at a more affordable price than competitors. If you're aiming for 1440p gaming, AMD's mid-range cards provide outstanding value, delivering top-notch performance for your investment.

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 also powers the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, making it easier for developers to optimize console games for PC. While this doesn't guarantee perfect optimization, it certainly helps. If you're interested in Nvidia's offerings, check out my guide to the best Nvidia graphics cards.

Selecting the right AMD GPU involves considering the resolution at which you play your games and your budget. It's not just about getting the fastest card; it's about finding the best fit for your needs.

Graphics Card Basics

Graphics cards are complex devices, but you don't need to be an expert to choose a great one. For AMD graphics cards, it's crucial to know if you're looking at a current-generation model. AMD recently revamped its naming convention, with the Radeon RX 9070 XT being the top-end card, succeeding the RX 7900 XTX. Cards with a '9' as the first digit are current-generation, while '7' and '6' denote earlier generations.

Some AMD graphics card model numbers include an “XT” or “XTX,” indicating a performance upgrade within the same class. This naming change started with the Radeon RX 5700 XT in 2019. Older models like the RX 580 or RX 480 should be avoided unless you can find them for $100 or less.

A simple rule to remember is that higher numbers generally mean better performance. Key specs to consider include VRAM, or video memory. More VRAM is beneficial, especially at higher resolutions. For 1080p gaming, 8GB is sufficient, but for 1440p, aim for 12GB to 16GB. At 4K, the more VRAM the better, which is why the Radeon RX 9070 XT comes with 16GB.

You should also check the number of compute units, each containing multiple streaming multiprocessors (SMs), known as shaders. For the latest AMD cards, each compute unit has 64 SMs. Recent AMD cards also feature dedicated ray tracing hardware in each compute unit, with the RX 7900 XTX boasting 96 RT Cores.

Before purchasing, ensure your PC can handle the card. Check your case dimensions and power supply wattage, as high-end GPUs require more power. Each card specifies a recommended power supply, so ensure yours meets the requirement.

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 redefined value in the GPU market, launching at $599, significantly less than the $749 RTX 5070 Ti. In testing, it proved to be 2% faster on average, a notable achievement considering its lower price. It handles 4K gaming and ray tracing well, though not as effectively as some Nvidia cards, but it's getting closer.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

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The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT introduces FSR 4, utilizing AI for upscaling, which offers superior image quality compared to FSR 3.1, albeit with a slight performance hit. FSR 4 is ideal for single-player games where image quality is more crucial than frame rate.

The success of the Radeon RX 9070 XT means AMD might not need to rush a more powerful successor. It already provides excellent 4K performance for the price, which is what matters most to gamers.

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 offers unparalleled performance at 4K, priced around $900. It often matches or outperforms the more expensive Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 in various tests, providing a better price-to-performance ratio. In games without heavy reliance on ray tracing, like Forza Horizon 5, it performs comparably to the RTX 4080 Super, and even outperforms it in some titles like Total War: Warhammer 3.

While 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 investing heavily in your gaming setup and prefer traditional performance over ray tracing, the RX 7900 XTX is an excellent choice.

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 offers superior 1440p performance, making it a great choice for gamers focused on this resolution. It delivers high frame rates in most games and can outperform the Nvidia RTX 5070 by 12% on average. The card also introduces FSR 4, enhancing image quality at the cost of a slight performance dip, which can be toggled off for higher frame rates if needed.

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

For gamers sticking with 1080p, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT offers great value at around $309. It delivers strong performance in games like Forza Horizon 5 and Far Cry 6, making it ideal for high-refresh rate gaming at this resolution. Although it may struggle with ray tracing in more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, its 16GB of VRAM ensures it can handle future games.

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-gen model, remains a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers. Priced around $199, it's perfect for 1080p gaming, especially in less demanding genres like MMOs and esports. While it may struggle with newer, more demanding titles, it still offers strong performance for its price.

What is FSR?

FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology designed to enhance PC gaming performance. It uses information from recent frames and motion vector data to upscale lower-resolution frames to your monitor's native resolution. Earlier versions of FSR were software-based, but FSR 4, introduced with the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, uses AI for more accurate upscaling, albeit with a slight performance cost. FSR also features frame generation to further boost frame rates, though it may introduce latency if not used at higher frame rates.

What is Ray Tracing?

Ray tracing is a technique that simulates realistic lighting in 3D scenes by tracing the path of light rays as they interact with objects. This technology adds significant workload to the GPU, especially in real-time applications. Initially limited to specific effects like reflections, recent advancements in RT cores have allowed for full path tracing in games like Cyberpunk 2077, enhancing visual quality but requiring powerful GPUs and upscaling technologies like FSR for smooth gameplay.