When you're setting out to build a gaming PC, one of the most crucial decisions you'll make is choosing the right graphics card. If you're looking for value without sacrificing performance, AMD graphics cards are a smart choice, especially since they support ray tracing and feature FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), a widely supported upscaling method that enhances gameplay on most major PC games.

While there are more powerful options available, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 XT stands out for its excellent 4K performance without breaking the bank. If you're aiming for a mid-range solution at 1440p, AMD's offerings provide exceptional value. Let's dive into the best AMD graphics cards currently on the market.

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 worth noting that AMD's graphics architecture powers both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, making it easier for developers to optimize console games for PC. While this doesn't guarantee perfect optimization, it certainly helps. If you're more inclined towards Nvidia's offerings, check out my guide on the best Nvidia graphics cards.

Choosing the best AMD GPU isn't just about finding the fastest card available; it's about matching your desired resolution and budget. Let's explore the basics of graphics cards to help you make an informed decision.

Graphics Card Basics

Graphics cards are complex devices, but understanding a few key aspects will help you select the right one. For AMD cards, it's important to know whether you're looking at a current-generation model. AMD recently updated its naming convention, with the Radeon RX 9070 XT being the latest flagship, succeeding the RX 7900 XTX. Cards with a '9' as the first digit are current-generation, while '7' and '6' indicate older generations. An "XT" or "XTX" suffix denotes a higher-performing model within the same series.

When choosing a graphics card, consider the VRAM (video memory). More VRAM is beneficial, especially at higher resolutions. For 1080p gaming, 8GB is typically sufficient, while 1440p might require 12GB to 16GB, and for 4K, as much VRAM as you can afford is ideal. The Radeon RX 9070 XT, for instance, comes with 16GB of VRAM.

Another factor to consider is the number of compute units, which contain streaming multiprocessors (SMs). The Radeon RX 7900 XTX, with 96 compute units, has 6,144 SMs. Additionally, recent AMD cards include dedicated hardware for ray tracing, with each compute unit featuring an RT Core.

Before purchasing, ensure your PC can support the chosen graphics card. Check your case for space and your power supply for sufficient wattage, as high-end GPUs require 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 offers excellent 4K performance at a reasonable price, making it a top choice for gamers seeking value and power. See 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 price
• Plenty of VRAM

Cons:

• Brings GPU prices down to sanity (in theory)

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has redefined value in the GPU market, launching at $599, significantly less than the $749 RTX 5070 Ti. In my tests, it was on average 2% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti, showcasing AMD's competitive edge. This card handles 4K gaming and ray tracing well, though it may not match Nvidia's ray tracing performance.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

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The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT introduces FSR 4, an AI-based upscaling solution that enhances image quality, though it comes with a slight performance hit compared to FSR 3.1. FSR 4 is ideal for single-player games where image quality is more important than frame rate.

The Radeon RX 9070 XT continues to offer excellent 4K performance for the price, making it a strong contender in the market.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX – Photos

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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 performance for 4K gaming, making it ideal for those seeking top-tier graphics. See it at Amazon

Product Specifications:

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 6144
• Base Clock: 1929 MHz
• Game Clock: 2365 MHz
• 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 needed for gaming

Cons:

• Can fall behind in ray tracing performance

For those willing to invest in a high-end gaming PC, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a powerhouse, priced around $900. It matches or beats the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 in many tests, offering a superior price-to-performance ratio. Its 24GB of VRAM ensures it can handle the most demanding 4K games, particularly those that don't rely heavily on ray tracing.

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 offers excellent 1440p performance at a competitive price, making it a great choice for gamers focused on this resolution. 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 is a solid choice 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 for supported games.

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 1080p gaming, offering solid performance and future-proofing with 16GB of VRAM. 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 gamers focused on 1080p, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is an affordable yet powerful option, priced at around $309. It delivers strong performance in popular titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Far Cry 6, making it ideal for high-refresh rate gaming at this resolution.

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 budget-friendly option that still delivers solid 1080p performance, especially for esports titles. 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

The AMD Radeon RX 6600, priced around $199, is an excellent budget option for 1080p gaming, particularly for esports and less demanding genres. Despite being a last-gen card, it still holds up well in modern games, offering a cost-effective solution for gamers on a tight budget.

What is FSR?

FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is AMD's upscaling technology for PC gaming. It uses information from recent frames and motion vectors to upscale lower resolution frames to your native resolution. While earlier versions were software-based, FSR 4, introduced with the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, uses AI accelerators for more accurate upscaling, though with a slight performance cost. FSR also includes frame generation to further boost performance, though it's best used at higher frame rates to minimize latency.

What is Ray Tracing?

Ray tracing is a technique for rendering realistic lighting in 3D scenes by tracing the path of light rays. It adds significant computational demand, which is why modern GPUs include dedicated RT cores to handle this task. While early implementations were limited to specific effects like reflections, newer games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong use full path tracing, enhancing the visual quality significantly, though often requiring upscaling technologies like FSR for smooth gameplay.