Building a gaming PC hinges on one crucial decision: choosing the right graphics card. AMD offers compelling options, especially if you're budget-conscious and don't need flashy extras. All current-gen AMD cards support ray tracing and FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), an upscaling technology widely adopted in PC games. While more powerful cards exist, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT delivers exceptional 4K performance without the exorbitant price tags of some competitors. For 1440p gaming, AMD shines, providing excellent performance for your investment.
TL;DR: Top AMD Graphics Cards
Best 4K AMD Graphics Card: Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX See it at Amazon!
Best Overall AMD Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT See it at Newegg!
Best AMD Graphics Card for 1440p: AMD Radeon RX 9070 See it at Newegg!
Best AMD Graphics Card for 1080p: Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce See it at Amazon!
Best Budget AMD Graphics Card: XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600 See it at Amazon
AMD's architecture powers the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, potentially aiding PC game optimization. However, this doesn't guarantee perfect performance. Choosing the best AMD GPU depends on your target resolution and budget.
Graphics Card Basics
Graphics cards are complex. Focus on current-generation AMD cards (those starting with '9'). 'XT' or 'XTX' denotes a performance upgrade within a generation. Older models (three-digit numbers like RX 580) are outdated unless extremely cheap. Generally, higher numbers mean better performance.
VRAM (video memory) is crucial. 8GB suffices for 1080p; aim for 12-16GB at 1440p and as much as possible at 4K. Compute units, containing streaming multiprocessors (SMs or shaders), also impact performance. More compute units and RT Cores (for ray tracing) generally equate to better performance.
Ensure your PC case and power supply (PSU) can accommodate your chosen card. Check the recommended PSU wattage for each card.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Photos
If You Want the Best: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
Best AMD Graphics Card (For Most People): AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT See it at Newegg
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT offers excellent 4K performance at a reasonable price. It's often faster than more expensive competitors. It handles ray tracing well, and introduces FSR 4, an AI upscaling solution with improved image quality, though with a slight performance trade-off compared to FSR 3.1.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX – Photos
Best for 4K: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Best 4K AMD Graphics Card: Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX See it at Amazon
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX delivers exceptional 4K performance, often matching or exceeding more expensive Nvidia cards, especially in non-ray tracing scenarios. Its 24GB of VRAM is advantageous for high-resolution textures.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 – Photos
Best for 1440p: AMD Radeon RX 9070
Best AMD Graphics Card for 1440p: AMD Radeon RX 9070 See it at Newegg
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 excels at 1440p, offering high frame rates in most games. It also features FSR 4 for enhanced image quality.
AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT – Photos
Best for 1080p: AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT
Best AMD Graphics Card for 1080p: Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce See it at Amazon
The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is a budget-friendly option for 1080p gaming, providing solid performance in most titles. Its 16GB of VRAM ensures future-proofing.
Best on a Budget: AMD Radeon RX 6600
Best AMD Graphics Card on a Budget: XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600 See it at Amazon
The AMD Radeon RX 6600, while last-gen, remains a viable budget option for 1080p gaming, especially for less demanding titles.
What is FSR?
FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology. FSR 4, using AI, offers improved image quality over FSR 3.1, but with a slight performance hit. FSR frame generation further boosts frame rates, but may introduce latency at lower frame rates.
What is Ray Tracing?
Ray tracing realistically renders light in 3D scenes. While initially limited, advancements in RT Cores allow for full ray tracing in modern games, significantly enhancing visuals but demanding more GPU power.
