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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 reasonable price, avoiding the exorbitant costs of some competitors. For 1440p gaming, AMD shines, offering excellent value.
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Top AMD Graphics Cards
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Best 4K AMD Graphics Card. See it at Amazon
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
Best Overall AMD Graphics Card. See it at Newegg
AMD Radeon RX 9070
Best AMD Graphics Card for 1440p. See it at Newegg
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce
Best AMD Graphics Card for 1080p. See it at Amazon
XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600
Best Budget AMD Graphics Card. See it at Amazon
AMD's architecture powers the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, potentially aiding PC game optimization. However, this doesn't guarantee perfect performance. For Nvidia options, see our Nvidia graphics card guide.
Choosing the best AMD GPU depends on your desired resolution and budget. Let's explore the basics.
Graphics Card Basics
Graphics cards are complex. Focus on current-generation cards. AMD's naming convention recently changed. Cards starting with '9' are current-gen ('7' and '6' represent previous generations). "XT" or "XTX" denotes a performance step-up within a generation. Older three-digit models (e.g., RX 580) are outdated unless exceptionally cheap.
Generally, higher numbers indicate better performance. VRAM (video memory) is crucial. 8GB suffices for 1080p, while 12-16GB is ideal 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 (PSU) are compatible with your chosen card. Check the recommended PSU wattage for each card.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Detailed Review
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
Excellent 4K performance at a competitive price. See it at Newegg
Specifications: SMs: 4096; Base Clock: 1660 MHz; Game Clock: 2400 MHz; VRAM: 16GB GDDR6; Bandwidth: 644.6 GB/s; Bus: 256-bit; Power: 2 x 8-pin.
The RX 9070 XT offers excellent 4K gaming performance and ample VRAM. It provides a great value proposition, often outperforming more expensive competitors. It handles ray tracing well, though not as flawlessly as some Nvidia counterparts. FSR 4 offers improved image quality compared to FSR 3.1, although with a slight performance trade-off.
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX – Detailed Review
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX
High-end 4K performance. See it at Amazon
Specifications: SMs: 6144; Base Clock: 1929 MHz; Game Clock: 2365 MHz; VRAM: 24GB; Bandwidth: 960 GB/s; Bus: 384-bit; Power: 2 x 8-pin.
The RX 7900 XTX delivers exceptional 4K performance, often matching or exceeding more expensive Nvidia cards, especially in non-ray tracing scenarios. Its large VRAM capacity is beneficial for high-resolution textures. While the RX 9070 XT surpasses it in some games, the 7900 XTX remains a powerful choice for 4K gaming.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 – Detailed Review
AMD Radeon RX 9070
Excellent 1440p performance. See it at Newegg
Specifications: SMs: 3584; Base Clock: 1330 MHz; Game Clock: 2520 MHz; VRAM: 16GB GDDR6; Bandwidth: 644.6 GB/s; Bus: 256-bit; Power: 2 x 8-pin.
While close in price to the 9070 XT, the RX 9070 excels at 1440p, offering high frame rates in most games. It also supports FSR 4 for enhanced image quality. It significantly outperforms its Nvidia competitor in this price bracket.
AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT – Detailed Review
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce
Solid 1080p performance at a budget-friendly price. See it at Amazon
Specifications: SMs: 2048; Base Clock: 1980 MHz; Game Clock: 2470 MHz; VRAM: 16GB GDDR6; Bandwidth: 288 GB/s; Bus: 128-bit; Power: 1 x 8-pin.
The RX 7600 XT is a great choice for 1080p gaming, delivering high frame rates in most titles. Its 16GB VRAM ensures future-proofing. While ray tracing performance might be limited in demanding games, it's excellent for esports and less graphically intensive titles.
XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600 – Detailed Review
XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600
Affordable option for 1080p gaming. See it at Amazon
Specifications: SMs: 1792; Base Clock: 1626 MHz; Game Clock: 2044 MHz; VRAM: 8GB GDDR6; Bandwidth: 224 GB/s; Bus: 128-bit; Power: 1 x 8-pin.
While a previous-generation card, the RX 6600 remains a budget-friendly option for 1080p gaming, particularly for esports titles and less demanding games. It delivers solid performance but may struggle with the latest demanding titles and ray tracing.
FSR and Ray Tracing Explained
FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution): AMD's upscaling technology improves performance by rendering at a lower resolution and then upscaling to your native resolution. FSR 4 uses AI for better image quality than previous versions. FSR frame generation adds extra frames for smoother gameplay at higher frame rates.
Ray Tracing: A realistic lighting technique that traces light rays to simulate natural lighting effects. It's computationally intensive, but significantly enhances visual fidelity. RT Cores in modern GPUs accelerate ray tracing performance.
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