"Expert Picks: Choosing the Right AMD GPU for You"

When embarking on the journey of building a gaming PC, one of the most critical decisions you'll face is selecting the best graphics card for your setup. The market is brimming with options, but opting for an AMD graphics card can be a smart move, especially if you're looking to save on unnecessary features. All of AMD's current-generation graphics cards come equipped with ray tracing capabilities and support for FSR, or FidelityFX Super Resolution, a popular upscaling technology compatible with many major PC games.

While there are more powerful graphics cards available, AMD's offerings, such as the Radeon RX 9070 XT, deliver impressive 4K performance at a more affordable price point, typically avoiding the steep $2,000 mark. For those eyeing a mid-range card suited for 1440p gaming, AMD's options stand out, providing excellent value and performance.

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, which can simplify optimization for developers when porting console games to PC. While this doesn't guarantee flawless performance on PCs, it certainly helps. However, if you're leaning towards Nvidia's offerings, you might want to check out my guide on the best Nvidia graphics cards.

Selecting the right AMD GPU isn't just about grabbing the fastest card on the market. It's crucial to consider the resolution at which you plan to play and your budget for the graphics card.

Graphics Card Basics

Graphics cards are inherently complex, but you don't need to be an expert to choose a great one. When looking at AMD graphics cards, it's important to identify whether you're dealing with a current-generation model. AMD recently revamped its naming convention; the Radeon RX 9070 XT, for instance, is the latest top-end card, succeeding the RX 7900 XTX. Remember, any AMD card with a '9' as the first digit is from the current generation, with '7' and '6' representing older generations.

You might see "XT" or "XTX" following the model number, indicating a performance boost within the same series. This naming scheme started with the Radeon RX 5700 XT in 2019. Previously, AMD used a three-digit naming system, like the RX 580 or RX 480, which are now outdated and should be avoided unless you find them for under $100.

As a general rule, higher numbers indicate better performance, but it's beneficial to delve into specific specs. VRAM, or video memory, is a straightforward spec to understand. More VRAM is advantageous, especially at higher resolutions. For 1080p gaming, 8GB is typically sufficient, while 1440p gaming benefits from 12GB to 16GB. At 4K, you'll want as much VRAM as possible, which is why the Radeon RX 9070 XT comes with 16GB.

Another key spec to consider is the number of compute units, each containing numerous streaming multiprocessors (SMs). The latest AMD cards have 64 SMs per compute unit, so the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, with 96 compute units, totals 6,144 SMs. Recent AMD cards also feature dedicated ray tracing hardware in each compute unit, with the 7900 XTX boasting 96 RT Cores, enhancing its ray tracing capabilities.

Before finalizing your choice, ensure your PC can support the selected graphics card. Check your case dimensions and power supply wattage to ensure compatibility, as high-end GPUs often require more space and power.

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 waves by offering exceptional value compared to Nvidia's offerings. Launched at $599, it undercuts the $749 RTX 5070 Ti while delivering slightly better average performance. My review found it to be 2% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti across a comprehensive test suite, making it a compelling choice for 4K gaming with ray tracing capabilities.

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, offering superior image quality compared to FSR 3.1, albeit with a 10% performance loss. This trade-off is often worthwhile, especially in single-player games where high frame rates are less critical.

Whether AMD will release a more powerful successor remains to be seen, but the Radeon RX 9070 XT currently stands out as a top choice for 4K gaming on a budget.

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 the ultimate gaming experience, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a top-tier choice. Priced around $900, it delivers exceptional performance, often matching or surpassing the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 in non-ray tracing tests. Its 24GB of VRAM ensures it can handle even the most demanding 4K games with ease.

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 overshadowed by the 9070 XT, is an excellent choice for 1440p gaming. It delivers impressive frame rates, and its 16GB of VRAM ensures it can handle demanding games. The introduction of FSR 4 further enhances its appeal, offering improved image quality with minimal performance impact.

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, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is a perfect fit for this segment. Priced around $309, it offers robust performance at 1080p, making it an ideal choice for budget-conscious gamers. While it may struggle with ray tracing in the most demanding games, it excels in titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Far Cry 6, delivering high frame rates at max settings.

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, despite being a last-gen model, remains a strong contender for budget gaming at 1080p. Priced around $199, it's particularly suited for esports and less demanding games, delivering solid performance and value.

What is FSR?

FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology for PC gaming. It uses data from recent frames and motion vectors to upscale lower resolution images to your monitor's native resolution. Initially a software-based solution, FSR 4 now leverages AI to provide better image quality, albeit with a slight performance cost. FSR also includes a frame generation feature that can further boost frame rates but may introduce latency if used at lower frame rates.

What is Ray Tracing?

Ray tracing is a technique for rendering realistic lighting in 3D environments. It simulates the natural behavior of light, allowing for more lifelike reflections and shadows. Initially limited to specific elements in games, advancements in RT cores have enabled full path tracing, enhancing the visual fidelity of games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong. However, this feature remains demanding on GPUs, often requiring upscaling technologies like FSR for smooth gameplay.