When building a gaming PC, one of the most critical decisions you'll make is choosing the best graphics card for your setup. With a plethora of options available, opting for an AMD graphics card is a smart move, especially if you're looking to avoid paying a premium for unnecessary features. All of AMD's current-generation graphics cards support ray tracing and come equipped with FSR, or FidelityFX Super Resolution, an upscaling technology that enhances performance in many major PC games.
Although there are more powerful graphics cards on the market, AMD's offerings, such as the Radeon RX 9070 XT, deliver exceptional 4K performance without the exorbitant price tags that often exceed $2,000. For gamers targeting 1440p, AMD's mid-range graphics cards are particularly attractive, offering impressive performance at a more budget-friendly price point.
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 is utilized in both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which facilitates easier optimization for developers when porting console games to PC. While this doesn't guarantee perfect PC game performance with an AMD graphics card, it does contribute to smoother transitions. However, if you're more inclined towards Nvidia's offerings, you might want to check out the guide to the best Nvidia graphics cards.
Selecting the best AMD GPU involves more than just opting for the fastest card available. It's essential to consider the resolution at which you plan to play your games and, crucially, your budget for the graphics card.
Graphics Card Basics
Graphics cards are inherently complex devices, but understanding a few key aspects can help you choose the right GPU. For AMD graphics cards, the first thing to look at is whether it's a current-generation model.
AMD has recently revamped its naming convention. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the latest top-tier graphics card, succeeding the RX 7900 XTX. The new naming skips the number 8 and rearranges some digits. Notably, any AMD card with a '9' as the first digit is a current-generation model, while '7' and '6' indicate the previous generations.
Some AMD graphics card models include an “XT” or “XTX” suffix, indicating a performance boost without jumping to the next tier. This naming system began with the Radeon RX 5700 XT in 2019. Prior to this, AMD used a three-digit naming scheme, like the RX 580 or RX 480, which are now outdated and should be avoided unless you can find them for under $100.
Generally, a higher model number suggests better performance, but delving into specific specs can provide a clearer picture. VRAM, or video memory, is one of the simplest specs to grasp. More VRAM is beneficial, especially at higher resolutions. For 1080p gaming, 8GB is usually sufficient, but for 1440p, aim for 12GB to 16GB, particularly for graphically intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Black Myth: Wukong. At 4K, maximizing VRAM is advisable, which is why the Radeon RX 9070 XT is equipped with 16GB.
Another important spec is the number of compute units, each containing multiple streaming multiprocessors, or shaders. For the latest AMD graphics cards, each compute unit has 64 Streaming Multiprocessors. For instance, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, with 96 Compute Units, has a total of 6,144 SMs.
Recent AMD graphics cards also feature dedicated hardware for ray tracing in each Compute Unit. The latest cards include 1 RT Core per CU, totaling 96 for the 7900 XTX. More RT Cores generally enhance ray tracing capabilities.
Before finalizing your choice, ensure your PC can accommodate the graphics card. Check your case dimensions and power supply wattage against the card's requirements, as higher-end GPUs demand more 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 stands out for its incredible value proposition. Launched at $599, it's significantly more affordable than Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti, which costs $749. Moreover, the RX 9070 XT generally outperforms the RTX 5070 Ti, 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 introduces FSR 4, which leverages AI to upscale games to your native resolution, offering improved image quality compared to FSR 3.1, albeit with a slight performance hit. FSR 4 is particularly advantageous in single-player games where high frame rates are less critical.
While AMD might consider releasing a more powerful successor, the RX 9070 XT currently provides exceptional 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 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 seeking the ultimate 4K gaming experience, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is an excellent choice. Priced around $900, it offers top-tier performance, often matching or surpassing the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 in non-ray tracing scenarios. The 7900 XTX's 24GB of RAM ensures it can handle even the most demanding 4K games with ease.
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 excels at 1440p gaming, delivering impressive frame rates and introducing FSR 4 for enhanced image quality. While it may be slightly overshadowed by the RX 9070 XT, it remains a strong contender for gamers focused on 1440p resolution.
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
For 1080p gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT offers a compelling blend of performance and affordability. Priced around $309, it delivers strong frame rates in popular titles and is equipped with ample VRAM to handle future games.
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
For budget-conscious gamers, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 remains a solid choice. Priced at around $199, it continues to deliver strong performance in 1080p games, particularly in esports and less demanding genres.
What is FSR?
FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology designed to enhance PC game performance. FSR uses information from recent frames and motion vectors provided by the game engine to upscale lower resolution frames to the native resolution of your monitor. While earlier versions of FSR were software-based, the latest iteration, FSR 4, introduced with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, leverages AI for more accurate upscaling, improving image quality at the cost of a slight performance hit. FSR also includes a frame generation feature that can further boost frame rates, though it's recommended to use this only when achieving 50-60fps to avoid increased latency.
What is Ray Tracing?
Ray tracing is a rendering technique that simulates the behavior of light in 3D scenes, creating more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows. It requires significant computational power, which is why modern graphics cards include dedicated RT cores to handle these calculations. While early ray tracing implementations focused on specific elements like reflections, newer games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong use full path tracing, enhancing the overall visual fidelity. However, ray tracing often necessitates the use of upscaling technologies like FSR to maintain playable frame rates.
