I Review Graphics Cards for a Living, Let Me Help You Pick an AMD GPU

Building a gaming PC? Your most crucial decision is the graphics card. AMD offers compelling options, especially if you're budget-conscious. All current-gen AMD cards support ray tracing and FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), an upscaling technology widely supported in games. While higher-end cards exist, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers excellent 4K performance without the exorbitant price tags. For 1440p gaming, AMD shines, offering exceptional performance per dollar.

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Top AMD Graphics Cards

Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX

Best 4K AMD Graphics Card
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AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

Best Overall AMD Graphics Card
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AMD Radeon RX 9070

Best AMD Graphics Card for 1440p
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Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce

Best AMD Graphics Card for 1080p
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XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600

Best Budget AMD Graphics Card
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AMD's architecture powers the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, potentially aiding PC game optimization. However, choosing the best AMD GPU depends on your target resolution and budget.

Graphics Card Basics

AMD graphics cards, especially current-generation models (those starting with '9'), offer ray tracing and FSR. Models ending in "XT" or "XTX" represent performance steps within a generation. Older models (three-digit numbers like RX 580) are less desirable unless extremely cheap. Higher numbers generally indicate better performance. VRAM (video memory) is crucial: 8GB suffices for 1080p, 12-16GB for 1440p, and as much as possible for 4K. Compute units and RT Cores (for ray tracing) also impact performance.

Ensure your PC case and power supply are compatible with your chosen card. Check power requirements before purchasing.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

The RX 9070 XT offers excellent 4K performance at a competitive price, often outperforming similarly priced Nvidia alternatives. It features FSR 4, an AI-based upscaler providing superior image quality, though with a slight performance trade-off compared to FSR 3.1.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

For top-tier 4K gaming, the RX 7900 XTX delivers exceptional performance, often matching or exceeding more expensive Nvidia cards, especially in games less reliant on ray tracing. Its 24GB VRAM handles demanding textures.

AMD Radeon RX 9070

A strong 1440p performer, the RX 9070 offers excellent value, frequently outperforming its Nvidia competitors. It also includes FSR 4 for enhanced image quality.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

Ideal for 1080p gaming, the RX 7600 XT provides solid performance at a budget-friendly price, with 16GB VRAM ensuring future-proofing. Ray tracing performance may be limited in demanding titles.

AMD Radeon RX 6600

A last-generation card, the RX 6600 remains a viable budget option, especially for 1080p esports titles. Performance may lag in newer, more demanding games, particularly with ray tracing enabled.

FSR and Ray Tracing

FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) upscales lower-resolution images to your native resolution, boosting performance. FSR 4 uses AI for better image quality. Ray tracing simulates realistic lighting, enhancing visuals but demanding more GPU power. Balancing these technologies is key to optimal performance.