Best RX 7900 XT graphics card 2024

Looking for which RX 7900 XT to buy, here's a quick look

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Our top RX 7900 XT picks

The new RDNA 3 GPUs are finally coming out. After the announcement at the beginning of November, it took over a month for the first set to release. So what is the best RX 7900 XT out of the lot? The card is the second top of the selection from the lineup. Our RX 7900 XT review shows it is a fully capable card on its own. And it comes in at a much more reasonable price than Nvidia’s selection.

So it has been a good choice of the best GPU for the current generation for pure gaming. Although it may fall behind in ray tracing, and rendering, even the encoding side has improved. And with a great suite of software behind it, you can definitely get a lot more out of it. So with that, we look at which model is the better choice.

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Best RX 7900 XT – Overall

Best overall

Best all round RX 7900 XT

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT

Core Clock Speed

1.5 GHz base, 2 GHz game, 2.4 GHz boost

Stream processors

5,376

Memory Size

20GB GDDR6

Dimensions

276 x 135 x 51mm

PSU Required

750W

TBP

315W

How We Review

Hands-on Review

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Pros

• Much cheaper than its Nvidia counterparts for similar performance
• Sleek and stealthy all black design that is very elegant and fits in well
• Low TBP and power consumption with a great cooling design that keeps the size of the card down

Cons

• Still lacks on some ray tracing performance although it has improved

AMD’s own reference design has improved from previous iterations, and the RX 7900 XT option is a good model to opt for. We got to review the RX 7900 XT and found it to be a greatly capable card. Especially considering the price has fallen down from its original MSRP as that was much too close to the bigger and better RX 7900 XTX.

The sleek and stealthy design fits in well without any extra over-the-top features that up the price. It also improves the cooling solution to keep the temperatures down. With a thick two-slot cooler and axial fans, that provide plenty of airflow to transfer all that heat away. With plenty of heft behind it, but has the stability and shortness to it that shouldn’t sag in the long term. It also uses two 8-pin connectors for good compatibility with power supplies and no issues.

It also still features the USB-C connector for those with untypical display solutions as that is an uncommon option. Although it certainly is nice to have even though it doesn’t provide an overclock as some custom models provide which does mean you don’t get more performance as you could from other choices.

Best budget RX 7900 XT

Best budget

Best cheap RX 7900 XT

Sapphire PULSE RX 7900 XT

Core Clock Speed

2075 MHz game, 2450 MHz boost

Stream processors

5,376

Memory Size

20GB GDDR6

Dimensions

2x 8-pin

PSU Required

700W

TBP

331W

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Pros

• Simple and basic for keeping the cost down

Cons

• Lower quality build copmpared to other offerings

When it comes to basics, you may want to just find the card closest to MSRP. And the Sapphire Pulse RX 7900 XT delivers just that. Aiming for the $899 MSRP of the card.

A more basic build of plastic and cheaper materials still gets the job done. With the card still capable of the performance of the reference. It may still also improve some of its drawbacks like noise and power management.

The design might not be for everyone as it features a pulse-like design with red markings. Which if you don’t look too much into your case may not be too much of an issue. Otherwise, it lacks any color too.

Best overclocked RX 7900 XT

Best overclocked RX 7900 XT

XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XT Black

Core Clock Speed

1810 MHz base, 2220 MHz game, 2560 MHz boost

Stream processors

5,376

Memory Size

20GB GDDR6

Dimensions

344 x 128 x 55 mm

PSU Required

750 watt

TBP

300W

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Pros

• A top overclock of the lineup that will give some of the best performance of the lot
• A simple design that doesn’t drag away from performance or budget

Cons

• A more basic design that might not seem worth the price

Now if you’re looking for the best-performing card in the lineup there are a few overclocked options to choose from. And so one of the best overclocked cards to pick from is the XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XT Black.

One of the key changes available in AIBs is the clock rate they run. And the XFX Speedster has a base clock of 1,810 MHz, with a game clock of up to 2,220 MHz, whilst it can boost up to 2,560 MHz.

This means it will be one of the best-performing options out of the lot with this. Although this might come at an extra cost and may be wiser to go for the choice one up from this card.

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How we test and choose the best RX 7900 XT

For providing the best options for the RX 7900 XT, we make sure to gather the best information we can. But the information will come from a mixture of hands-on reviews or product reviews of others so we can provide the best information around.

When testing, we can put the car through rigorous testing to make sure it performs as it should. As well as continuing that performance no matter what even over a great length of time.

This also lets us evaluate the quality and worth of the cards so we can make sure it is a good recommendation. Whilst otherwise our experience and expertise we can evaluate other cards on the market. Seeing what others are saying and knowing what to look for or expect from the manufacturers.

For a longer methodology head to our how we test GPUs page.

RX 7900 XT buying guide

When comparing the different models of the RX 7900 XT, then there are some differences to decide on. There isn’t a lot that changes spec-wise between cards, but the design and frequency can alter.

So when deciding which AIB to pick, there are some factors to decide on when picking between them.

Cooling

One of the key differences between the different custom cards is the cooling system and the design of the GPU. This will alter how they look and potentially how they perform. As a good cooling system makes sure that the system does not overheat and throttle down to preserve its health. This would reduce the performance of the card and is not ideal for gaming uses.

So when comparing the cards you have to make sure their design is good for moving heat. With a good amount of heat pipes useful, along with a possible vapor chamber a good addition. Or even water-cooling the top choice for cooling could be a good option.

Overclocking

Another difference between cards will be the frequency of the card. The reference card sets the standard clock rate, however, custom cards can push that further. As such there are more premium options that are overclocked, these run at higher frequencies.

This will push the performance above the other options and so stand out from the rest if you want the top selection. But they usually ask for a premium on top of that, so they will cost you a bit more for the privilege. So it might not be worth it, and you have to look at the value of doing that.

Design and size

Another difference between custom cards you’ll find is the design and size of them. These stem from the cooling choices and overall view of the company. And so it might come down to your preference in looking at how it fits into your build. Especially when it comes to the size as that will vary with each model so you have to check each one to make sure it fits your needs.

Final word

There you have a range of the best RX 7900 XT cards. Although a great choice on its own, with close pricing coming up to its big brother it may be worth considering the RX 7900 XTX instead. But it has been decreasing in pricing over time, so it might be a better deal if you find it for cheaper.

Other GPU guides

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• Best Nvidia graphics card

FAQs

Which RX 7900 XT is best?

For the best all-round choice of RX 7900 XT we have the Gigabyte Gaming OC. Which balances performance, design, and price well to give a good price. Whilst if you’re looking for the best performer, one of the highest overclocked cards is the XFX Speedster MERC310 Black. This will give it one of the better performances in the range.

What is the fastest RX 7900 XT?

At the top range of overclocked cards, there are a few options with the fastest boost clock with the RX 7900 XT. At the top of the list, there are the ASRock Taichi OC, Sapphire Nitro+, and XFX Speedster MERC310, which all have a boost clock of up to 2,560 MHz.