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

Building a gaming PC hinges on one crucial decision: choosing the right graphics card. AMD offers compelling options, especially if you prioritize performance without breaking the bank on unnecessary extras. All current-generation AMD cards support ray tracing and FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), an upscaling technology widely adopted in PC games. While more powerful cards exist, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers exceptional 4K performance at a significantly lower price than many competitors. For 1440p gaming, AMD shines, providing excellent value.

TL;DR: Top AMD Graphics Cards

Best 4K: Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX
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Best Overall: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
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Best 1440p: AMD Radeon RX 9070
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Best 1080p: Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce
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Best Budget: XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600
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AMD's architecture powers the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, potentially aiding PC game optimization. However, remember that GPU selection depends on your target resolution and budget.

Graphics Card Basics

Graphics cards are complex. For AMD, focus on current-generation cards. AMD's recent naming conventions (e.g., RX 9070 XT) can be confusing; a leading '9' indicates current-gen, while '7' and '6' represent previous generations. 'XT' and 'XTX' denote performance tiers within a generation. Older three-digit models (like RX 580) are outdated unless exceptionally cheap.

Generally, higher numbers mean better performance. VRAM (video memory) is crucial; 8GB suffices for 1080p, while 12-16GB is recommended for 1440p, and more is better for 4K. Compute units (containing Streaming Multiprocessors or SMs) and RT Cores (for ray tracing) also impact performance. More is generally better.

Ensure your PC case and power supply are compatible with your chosen card.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Images

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT: The Top Choice

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
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The RX 9070 XT offers excellent 4K performance at a competitive price. It often outperforms more expensive competitors and handles ray tracing well. It also introduces FSR 4, an AI-based upscaler with improved image quality, though with a slight performance trade-off compared to FSR 3.1.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX – Images

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX: 4K Powerhouse

Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX
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The RX 7900 XTX delivers exceptional 4K performance, often matching or exceeding more expensive Nvidia cards, especially in non-ray tracing scenarios. Its 24GB VRAM handles demanding textures well, though the RX 9070 XT surpasses it in some 4K games.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 – Images

AMD Radeon RX 9070: 1440p Excellence

AMD Radeon RX 9070
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While close in price to the RX 9070 XT, the RX 9070 excels at 1440p, delivering high frame rates and supporting FSR 4 for enhanced image quality. It also outperforms its Nvidia counterpart at a similar price point.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT – Images

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT: 1080p Champion

Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce
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The RX 7600 XT is a budget-friendly option ideal for 1080p gaming, delivering high frame rates in most titles, even with ray tracing enabled (though performance may decrease in demanding games with ray tracing). Its 16GB VRAM ensures future-proofing.

AMD Radeon RX 6600: Budget-Friendly Option

XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600
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While a previous-generation card, the RX 6600 remains a viable budget option for 1080p gaming, particularly for less demanding titles. It delivers solid performance at a low price point.

What is FSR?

FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology. FSR 4 uses AI for higher image quality, while FSR 3.1 offers higher frame rates. Both versions are available on the RX 9070 and 9070 XT. FSR frame generation can further boost frame rates, but introduce latency at lower frame rates.

What is Ray Tracing?

Ray tracing realistically renders light in 3D scenes, improving visual fidelity but demanding significant GPU power. Modern cards like those from AMD include dedicated RT Cores to handle this task.