When embarking on the journey to build a gaming PC, one of the most crucial decisions you'll face is selecting the right graphics card. Opting for an AMD graphics card can be a smart move, especially if you're looking to avoid the premium prices often associated with unnecessary extras. All of AMD's current-generation graphics cards support ray tracing and feature FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), an upscaling technology compatible with most major PC games.
While there are more powerful options available, AMD graphics cards like the Radeon RX 9070 XT offer exceptional 4K performance without the exorbitant price tags that can reach up to $2,000. For those seeking a mid-range card for 1440p gaming, AMD stands out by providing excellent performance for the price.
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
5See it at Newegg
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
It's worth noting that AMD's graphics architecture powers 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 optimization on PC, it certainly helps. If you're more interested in Nvidia's offerings, check out the guide to the best Nvidia graphics cards.
Choosing the best AMD GPU involves more than just selecting the fastest card on the market. You need to consider the resolution at which you'll be playing your games and your budget for the graphics card.
Graphics Card Basics
Graphics cards are complex devices, but you don't need to be an expert to choose a great GPU. For AMD cards, it's important to identify if it's a current-generation model. AMD recently revamped its naming convention; the Radeon RX 9070 XT is the latest top-end card, succeeding the RX 7900 XTX. Cards with a '9' as the first digit are current-generation, while '7' and '6' indicate previous generations.
The "XT" or "XTX" suffix on some model numbers signifies a performance boost within the same class. This naming change began with the Radeon RX 5700 XT in 2019. Earlier models like the RX 580 or RX 480 are outdated and should be avoided unless you find them for $100 or less.
A general rule of thumb is that a higher model number usually means better performance. Key specs to look at include Video RAM (VRAM), where more is better, especially at higher resolutions. For 1080p, 8GB is typically sufficient, while 1440p requires 12GB to 16GB, and 4K demands as much VRAM as you can afford.
Another spec to consider is the number of compute units, each containing multiple streaming multiprocessors (SMs). For the latest AMD cards, each compute unit has 64 SMs. For example, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, with 96 compute units, has 6,144 SMs. Recent AMD cards also feature dedicated ray tracing hardware in each compute unit, with the 7900 XTX having 96 RT Cores, enhancing ray tracing capabilities.
Before finalizing your choice, ensure your PC can handle the chosen graphics card. Check your case for space and your power supply for sufficient wattage, as high-end GPUs can be demanding.
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 value that competes with Nvidia's offerings. Launched at $599, it's significantly cheaper than the $749 RTX 5070 Ti and, on average, performs 2% faster. This makes it a compelling choice for those seeking high performance without breaking the bank, and it handles ray tracing well, though not quite as efficiently as Nvidia cards.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks
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The Radeon RX 9070 XT introduces FSR 4, an AI-based upscaling technology that enhances image quality over FSR 3.1, albeit with a slight 10% performance loss. This makes FSR 4 ideal for single-player games where image quality is prioritized over frame rate.
Whether AMD will release a more powerful successor remains to be seen, but the Radeon RX 9070 XT already provides exceptional 4K performance for the price.
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
While 1440p and 1080p are popular, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX is perfect for those who want the best gaming PC money can buy. Priced around $900, it delivers top-notch performance, often matching or surpassing the more expensive Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, especially in non-ray-traced games. The RX 7900 XTX's 24GB of VRAM makes it ideal for demanding 4K games.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 – Photos
4 Images
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 is slightly less powerful than the 9070 XT but offers excellent value for 1440p gaming. It easily achieves triple-digit frame rates and can outperform the Nvidia RTX 5070 by 12%. The inclusion of FSR 4 improves image quality, though it's optional for those prioritizing frame rate.
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
The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is ideal for 1080p gaming, offering a balance of performance and affordability. Priced at $309, it delivers strong frame rates in games like Forza Horizon 5 and Far Cry 6, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors. Its 16GB of VRAM ensures longevity, even as games become more demanding.
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 from the last generation, remains a strong contender for budget-conscious gamers. Priced around $199, it handles 1080p gaming well, especially for esports titles and less demanding games.
What is FSR?
FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology that enhances performance by rendering games at a lower resolution and then upscaling them to your native resolution. FSR 3.1 uses a software-based temporal solution, while FSR 4 leverages AI accelerators for better image quality, though with a slight performance trade-off. Both versions are available, allowing users to choose between maximum frame rate and image quality. FSR also includes a frame generation method that adds extra frames to improve performance, recommended for use above 50-60fps to minimize latency.
What is Ray Tracing?
Ray tracing is a technique for realistically simulating light in 3D environments. It allows light to interact naturally with the scene, enhancing visual realism. Initially limited to specific effects like reflections, recent advancements and dedicated RT Cores in modern GPUs enable full path tracing in games like Cyberpunk 2077, improving overall lighting at the cost of increased computational demand. Upscaling technologies like FSR are often used alongside ray tracing to maintain playable frame rates.
