AMD GPU Selection Guide: Expert Picks for Graphics Cards

When building your gaming PC, one of the most critical choices you'll make is selecting the best graphics card. With a plethora of options available, opting for an AMD graphics card can be a smart move, particularly if you're looking to save on unnecessary extras. All of AMD's current-generation graphics cards boast support for ray tracing and feature FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), an upscaling technology embraced by many top-tier PC games.

While there are more powerful options on the market, AMD's graphics cards, like the Radeon RX 9070 XT, deliver impressive 4K performance without the hefty price tags often seen with other high-end cards. If you're targeting a mid-range setup for 1440p gaming, AMD's offerings stand out for their 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 also worth noting that AMD's graphics architecture powers the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which can ease the transition for developers when optimizing console games for PC. While this doesn't guarantee perfect PC performance, it certainly helps. If you're considering Nvidia's GPUs instead, check out my guide on the best Nvidia graphics cards.

Choosing the best AMD GPU isn't just about selecting the fastest card available; it's about matching your desired gaming resolution and budget.

Graphics Card Basics

Graphics cards are complex devices, but you don't need to be an expert to choose a great one. For AMD GPUs, it's crucial to identify whether it's a current-generation model. AMD has recently changed its naming convention; for instance, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the latest top-end card, following the RX 7900 XTX. Any AMD card with a '9' as the first digit is current-generation, while '7' and '6' denote older generations. The "XT" or "XTX" suffixes indicate a performance step up within the same generation.

This new naming system started with the Radeon RX 5700 XT in 2019. Older models like the RX 580 or RX 480 are outdated and should only be considered if found for $100 or less. Generally, a higher model number suggests better performance, but looking into specific specs like VRAM can help further.

VRAM, or video memory, is crucial, especially at higher resolutions. For 1080p gaming, 8GB of VRAM is often sufficient, but for 1440p, aim for 12GB to 16GB, particularly for graphically intensive games. At 4K, maximizing VRAM is beneficial, which is why the Radeon RX 9070 XT comes equipped with 16GB.

Compute units are another key spec, with each unit containing multiple 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 GPUs also include dedicated ray tracing hardware, with each compute unit having one RT Core, resulting in 96 RT Cores for the 7900 XTX.

Before finalizing your choice, ensure your PC can support the selected GPU. Check your case size, especially for high-end cards, and verify your power supply meets the card's requirements.

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 top-notch 4K gaming performance at a reasonable priceSee it at Newegg

Product Specifications

Streaming Multiprocessors4096
Base Clock1660 MHz
Game Clock2400 MHz
Video Memory16GB GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth644.6 GB/s
Memory Bus256-bit
Power Connectors2 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 set a new standard by offering superior value compared to Nvidia's offerings. Despite market shortages, its launch price of $599 was significantly lower than the $749 RTX 5070 Ti, and it even outperformed it by an average of 2% in tests. This card also handles ray tracing well, though not quite on par with Nvidia's cards.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

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The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT introduces FSR 4, which uses AI to upscale games to your native resolution. While it has a slight 10% performance hit compared to FSR 3.1, it significantly improves image quality, making it ideal for single-player games where high frame rates are less critical.

AMD's current success with the Radeon RX 9070 XT means there's less pressure to release a more powerful card, as it already offers excellent 4K performance for the 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 exceptional 4K performance for AAA gamesSee it at Amazon

Product Specifications

Streaming Multiprocessors6144
Base Clock1929MHz
Game Clock2365MHz
Video Memory24GB
Memory Bandwidth960 GB/s
Memory Bus384-bit
Power Connectors 2 x 8-pin
Outputs1 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 aiming for the ultimate gaming experience at 4K, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is an investment worth considering. Priced at around $900, it offers competitive performance against the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, especially in non-ray-traced games. Its 24GB of VRAM ensures it can handle high-resolution textures 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

5The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is ideal for 1440p gaming at a competitive priceSee it at Newegg

Product Specifications

Streaming Multiprocessors3584
Base Clock1330 MHz
Game Clock2520 MHz
Video Memory16GB GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth644.6 GB/s
Memory Bus256-bit
Power Connectors2 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 a strong contender for 1440p gaming, delivering impressive frame rates and outperforming its Nvidia counterpart, the RTX 5070, by an average of 12%. It also introduces FSR 4, enhancing image quality without sacrificing too much performance.

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 perfect for high-end 1080p gamingSee it at Amazon

Product Specifications

Streaming Multiprocessors2048
Base Clock1980 MHz
Game Clock2470 MHz
Video Memory16GB GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth288 GB/s
Memory Bus128-bit
Power Connectors1 x 8-pin
Outputs1 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 is an excellent choice, offering strong performance at a budget-friendly price of around $309. It handles popular titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Far Cry 6 with ease, though it may struggle with more demanding ray-traced games like Cyberpunk 2077.

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 cost-effective option for 1080p gamingSee it at Amazon

Product Specifications

Streaming Multiprocessors1792
Base Clock1626 MHz
Game Clock2044 MHz
Video Memory8GB GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth224 GB/s
Memory Bus128-bit
Power Connectors1 x 8-pin
Outputs1 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 card, remains a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers. Priced at around $199, it excels in 1080p gaming, particularly in less demanding genres like esports titles.

What is FSR?

FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology that enhances game performance by rendering at a lower resolution and then upscaling to your monitor's native resolution. Earlier versions used a software-based approach, but with the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, FSR 4 leverages AI accelerators for a more accurate upscale, albeit with a slight performance trade-off. FSR also features frame generation to further boost frame rates, though it's best used when already achieving 50-60 fps to minimize latency.

What is Ray Tracing?

Ray tracing enhances visual realism by simulating the way light interacts with objects in a 3D environment. It allows for more natural lighting effects and reflections, significantly increasing the workload on the GPU. Early implementations were limited to specific elements like reflections, but recent advancements have enabled full path tracing in games, which requires powerful GPUs and often benefits from upscaling technologies like FSR to maintain playable frame rates.