When you're setting out to build a gaming PC, the most crucial decision you'll make is choosing the best graphics card for your build. There are numerous options available, but opting for an AMD graphics card can be a smart move, especially if you're looking to save money without sacrificing on quality. All of AMD's current-generation graphics cards support ray tracing and come equipped with FSR, or FidelityFX Super Resolution, an upscaling technology that's compatible with most major PC games.
While there are more powerful graphics cards on the market, AMD's offerings like the Radeon RX 9070 XT deliver exceptional 4K performance at a price that doesn't break the bank. If you're looking for a mid-range option for 1440p gaming, AMD truly shines, offering excellent value 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 Amazon
Best AMD Graphics Card (For Most People)### AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
6See it at Newegg
Best AMD Graphics Card for 1440p### AMD Radeon RX 9070
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Best AMD Graphics Card for 1080p### Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce
6See it at Amazon
Best AMD Graphics Card on a Budget### XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600
5See it at Amazon
Additionally, it's worth noting that AMD's graphics architecture is used in both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which can make it easier for developers to optimize console games for PC. While this doesn't guarantee perfect PC optimization, it certainly helps. Of course, if you're interested in Nvidia's offerings, you can check out my guide to the best Nvidia graphics cards.
Choosing the best AMD GPU isn't just about picking the fastest card; it's about deciding on the resolution you want to play at and how much you're willing to spend.
Graphics Card Basics
Graphics cards are complex devices, but you don't need to be an expert to choose a great GPU. For AMD graphics cards, it's important to know if it's a current-generation part. AMD recently changed its naming convention with the launch of the Radeon RX 9070 XT, which is their top-end card, succeeding the RX 7900 XTX. Any AMD card with a '9' as the first digit is a current-generation card, while '7' and '6' denote the previous generations.
Some AMD graphics card model numbers include an "XT" or "XTX," indicating a higher performance tier within the same generation. This naming convention started with the Radeon RX 5700 XT in 2019. Before that, AMD used a three-digit naming system, such as the RX 580 or RX 480, which are now outdated unless you can find them for $100 or less.
Generally, higher numbers mean better performance, but you can also look at specific specs like VRAM. More VRAM is beneficial, especially at higher resolutions. For 1080p gaming, 8GB is usually sufficient, but for 1440p, aim for 12GB to 16GB, and for 4K, as much VRAM as you can afford is ideal. The Radeon RX 9070 XT, for example, comes with 16GB.
Another spec to consider is the number of compute units, which house streaming multiprocessors or shaders. The latest AMD cards have 64 streaming multiprocessors per compute unit. For instance, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX has 96 compute units, totaling 6,144 streaming multiprocessors. Recent AMD cards also include dedicated hardware for ray tracing, with each compute unit having one RT Core.
Before purchasing a graphics card, ensure your PC can support it. Check your case size and ensure your power supply can handle the GPU's requirements, as each card lists a recommended power supply 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 offers exceptional 4K gaming performance at a more affordable price point.
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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 stands out by offering competitive performance at a lower price point than Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti, which costs $749 compared to the RX 9070 XT's $599 launch price. In my review, the RX 9070 XT was found to be on average 2% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti, providing a cost-effective 4K gaming solution with capable ray tracing performance, though not as advanced as Nvidia's offerings.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks
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The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT introduces FSR 4, an AI-based upscaling technology that improves image quality over FSR 3.1, though it comes with a slight performance cost. FSR 4's enhanced image quality is particularly beneficial 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 it currently provides excellent 4K performance at a competitive price.
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX – Photos
11 Images
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 delivers top-tier performance for 4K gaming at maximum settings.
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Product Specifications
Streaming Multiprocessors: 6144
Base Clock: 1929 MHz
Game Clock: 2365 MHz
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 needed for gaming
Cons
- Can fall behind in ray tracing performance
For those seeking the ultimate in gaming performance, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, priced around $900, offers unmatched value. It matches or outperforms the more expensive Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 in many tests, particularly in games without ray tracing. Even with ongoing retests, the RX 7900 XTX continues to impress, making it a solid choice for those willing to invest in high-end gaming.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 – Photos
4 Images
Best for 1440p: AMD Radeon RX 9070
Best AMD Graphics Card for 1440p### AMD Radeon RX 9070
5The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is a cost-effective choice for 1440p gaming, offering strong performance.
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
- Introduces AI upscaling to AMD graphics cards
Cons
- Priced a little too closely to the RX 9070 XT
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 offers robust 1440p gaming performance, though it's priced close to the more powerful RX 9070 XT. It excels in delivering high frame rates and benefits from FSR 4, enhancing image quality over traditional upscaling methods.
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
6The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is well-suited for 1080p gaming, offering strong performance at a budget-friendly price.
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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
- Compact size suitable for any PC build
Cons
- Struggles with some demanding games with ray tracing enabled
1080p remains a popular resolution for PC gaming due to its affordability and performance. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, priced around $309, is an ideal choice for high-end 1080p gaming, delivering solid frame rates in demanding titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Far Cry 6. It handles games well without ray tracing but may struggle with more intensive ray tracing 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 budget-friendly option that still delivers solid 1080p performance, especially for esports.
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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
Despite being a last-generation card, the AMD Radeon RX 6600, priced around $199, remains a compelling choice for budget-conscious gamers, especially those focused on esports and less demanding games. It offers strong performance at 1080p for titles like Final Fantasy XIV and Horizon Zero Dawn.
What is FSR?
FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology for PC gaming. It uses data from recent frames and motion vectors from the game engine to upscale lower resolution frames to your native resolution. Before FSR 4, it was a software-based solution using the same streaming multiprocessors for rendering and upscaling, which resulted in less performance uplift than AI-based models like Nvidia's DLSS. However, it still significantly boosts frame rates compared to native rendering at higher resolutions.
With the introduction of FSR 4 on the AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, AMD now uses AI accelerators for upscaling, offering better image quality at a slight performance cost. FSR 4 can be toggled with the previous version for optimal performance or image quality. Additionally, FSR includes frame generation, which adds extra frames to improve performance, though it may introduce latency at lower frame rates.
What is Ray Tracing?
Ray tracing is a technique used to render realistic lighting in 3D scenes by tracing the path of light rays. It allows light sources to interact naturally with the environment, significantly increasing the workload on the GPU, especially in real-time applications. Initially, games implemented ray tracing for specific elements like reflections or shadows, but recent advancements in RT cores have enabled full path tracing in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, enhancing visual quality at the cost of performance.
