Buyers Guides Graphics Cards

Best RX 7900 XT Graphics Cards to Buy in 2024

Introduction

Towards the back-end of last year, both AMD and Nvidia released their latest and greatest graphics cards to a pretty mixed reception. Luckily for AMD, a lot of the criticisms were directed towards team green’s RTX 4000 series, with high prices being the main point of controversy. As a result, the Radeon 7000 GPUs have been received well for their high performance at a cheaper price point.

But due to the Radeon RX 7900 XTX taking most of the plaudits, the RX 7900 XT appears to have gone slightly under the radar. Whether this is because of the similar names, or the fact that the 7900 XTX is simply better value for money, we thought it was time to shed some light on this GPU…

In this buyers guide, we’ll be breaking down the best Radeon RX 7900 XT graphics cards you can buy right now, along with all the details and key specs for each.

Suggested Article: Best RX 7900 XTX Graphics Cards to Buy in 2023

Best Radeon RX 7900 XT GPUs

Now that the discussions over this graphics card are over, let’s make some recommendations. If you are adamant that your gaming setup needs an RX 7900 XT, then here is our list for the best variants on the market. As part of our list, we’ve tried to include a range of options with a wide range of variables and benefits, meaning there should be at least one pick that suits your needs.

1. AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT Reference Card

👑 The cheapest RX 7900 XT.

Introduction

To start things off, we’ve picked AMD’s own version of the RX 7900 XT. Base designs are always a good choice when looking for a graphics card, as they are normally the cheapest option available whilst offering fairly similar performance to other SKUs. This makes it a great option for anyone that is slightly more price conscious, if that’s even possible at this price point!

But that’s not the only reason we’ve picked out this design in particular. AMD’s Radeon 7000 series GPUs are arguably the best looking founders edition cards on the market, with the slender form factor and triangular details on the fans offering a smart, futuristic aesthetic.

Whilst the lack of RGB will deter a few people away, there are plenty of benefits to the cleaner look. For example, the lack of additional design features makes AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XT significantly smaller than other designs, meaning there should be less worries when transferring this GPU into a pre-existing system.

Performance-wise, this GPU offers a 2.4GHz boost clock speed, along with 5376 CUDA cores and 84 RT cores. In gaming terms, this graphics card is capable of running all the latest titles at 4K with high refresh rates, acting as one of the cheapest ways to experience recent releases at their best.

Key Specs

Key SpecsAMD Radeon RX 7900XT Reference Card
Video Memory20GB GDDR6
Memory Bus320 bit
Base Clock Speed2GHz
Boost Clock Speed2.4GHz
CUDA Cores10752
Power Consumption300W
RT Cores84
PCI-E GenerationPCI-E 4.0
GPU Length276mm
Fans3
RGBNo

Things We Like

Smart base design: The designs of reference cards are usually quite reserved in order to allow the more expensive variants from other manufacturers to take the spotlight instead. But in our opinion, the base design on the Radeon 7000 series GPUs is one of the most aesthetically pleasing options available. Despite the dialled down appearance, the slender shape and darker tones make this card look incredibly smart. It might not be the most elaborate, but it will look great inside a gaming PC.

Smaller size: Another benefit to the simplistic nature of AMD‘s reference cards is that the lack of additional design choices keeps the form factor down to a minimum. The RX 7900 XT model benefits from this more than other designs, as the smaller size is similar to the previous-gen GPUs, which means gamers planning to a use their pre-existing PC case should have no issues fitting this graphics card into their build.

Things We Don’t Like

Lacking extra design features: Even though the look of a GPU is often less of a priority, anyone spending a lot on products for their gaming PC build usually want them to look as good as they perform. And whilst we are big fans of the aesthetic on this GPU, the lack of RGB and other design features to make this design stand out will be a sticking point for a lot of high-end gamers.

Performance: As the model that lays the foundations in which other manufacturers develop their SKUs off, the reference designs from AMD are always going to fall behind in the performance department. Although, a lot of the variants come with a less appealing price tag, meaning gamers looking for better performance would benefit from upgrading to a more powerful GPU instead.

Summary

AMD’s base design is a great choice for high-end gamers looking for components that offer the best value for money. This GPU has a surprisingly sleek look which will slot nicely into any build, whilst providing solid thermals and performance to boot. And whilst the base design lacks the additional design and performance benefits that can be found on other variants, AMD’s RX 7900 XT is arguably the best value for money offering you can get for this GPU.

Features: 3.5/5
Design: 4.5/5
Performance: 4.2/5
Value for Money: 4.3/5

GeekaWhat Rating:

Pros

  • Provides solid 4K gameplay
  • Smart & sleek aesthetic
  • Smaller form factor

Cons

  • No RGB lighting
  • Better performing SKUs

Where to Buy

Buy the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT on:

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2. XFX Speedster Merc310 RX 7900 XT

👑 The best value RX 7900 XT.

Introduction

Moving onto our first variant in this roundup, we wanted to mention the XFX Speedster Merc310 RX 7900 XT. This SKU is perfect for anyone wanting a boost in performance that doesn’t come with much of a price hike. Whilst the increased performance from this GPU won’t revolutionise gameplay when compared to the base design, it will provide additional frames in a wide range of titles.

Looking at the design, the XFX Speedster Merc310 boasts a retro-inspired design that is reminiscent of the previous generation designs, which is bound to please long-time PC gamers. Also, the thinner triple-fan design has great cooling thanks to the open fans for uninterrupted airflow.

In a similar fashion to AMD’s standard design, this variant opts for a more simplistic design with no RGB lighting. Unfortunately, the focus on airflow and a thinner design does make come with a increased length for this SKU, which could cause some issues fitting this GPU into more compact cases.

Another way in which the XFX Speedster Merc310 adds to the base settings of the RX 7900 XT is the performance. With an improved base and boost clock speed of 2.1GHz and 2.5GHz respectively, this graphics card is able to run a little bit faster, resulting in more frames across the board.

Key Specs

Key SpecsXFX Speedster Merc310 RX 7900 XT
Video Memory20GB GDDR6
Memory Bus320 bit
Base Clock Speed2.1GHz
Boost Clock Speed2.5GHz
CUDA Cores10752
Power Consumption300W
RT Cores84
PCI-E GenerationPCI-E 4.0
GPU Length344mm
Fans3
RGBNo

Things We Like

Throwback look: Nostalgic gamers are bound to appreciate the look of this graphics card, as the Speedster Merc310 boasts a retro aesthetic that shares a lot of similarities with the older graphics card generations. Most designs opt for a futuristic appearances that wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi spaceship, but this design is a nice change of pace that is an ideal choice for old-school gamers.

Good thermals: Triple-fan designs are quite normal on a high-end graphics card like this one. However, the fans are slightly more exposed, which provides a greater amount of airflow and leads to better thermal regulation. This is a great bonus on a 4K graphics card, as the increased power can cause them to run hot if they are not cooled properly.

Things We Don’t Like

Large form factor: One of the main downsides to current high-end graphics cards is the bulkiness, and this model is a great example of that. Compared to AMD‘s reference card, the Speedster Merc310 is almost 70 millimetres longer, which could cause problems for anyone with a smaller case. Those planning on keeping their systems nice and compact should steer away from this SKU.

Lack of RGB: In order to execute the classic look, this RX 7900 XT graphics card opts out of adding RGB into the design. Whilst this will most likely appeal to the vintage crowd, a lack of RGB is generally considered a weakness for modern gaming components, especially ones with such a hefty price tag attached to them.

Summary

The XFX Speedster Merc310 RX 7900 XT acts as a blast of the past for those nostalgic gamers looking to build a system that reminds them of yesteryear. On top of the retro aesthetic, this SKU provides brilliant thermals and slight bump in performance, all at a fairly reasonable price point. Whilst the bulky vintage design won’t be to everyone’s taste, it’s nice to see a manufacturer give a nod to the previous generations.

Features: 3.8/5
Design: 4.5/5
Performance: 4.3/5
Value for Money: 4.3/5

GeekaWhat Rating:

Pros

  • Improved clock speeds
  • Great for airflow
  • Retro-inspired design

Cons

  • Might not fit in smaller cases
  • No RGB lighting

Where to Buy

Buy the XFX Speedster Merc310 RX 7900 XT on:

3. ASRock Taichi RX 7900 XT

👑 The best RX 7900 XT design.

Introduction

If you want a graphics card that is not afraid to stand out within your PC build, then look no further than the ASRock Taichi RX 7900 XT. With one of the most striking and complex designs from AMD’s latest release, we believe that the ASRock is the most aesthetically pleasing variant.

Sporting a bulkier form factor, the ASRock Taichi is the only choice on this list to include RGB lighting for a splash of colour. What makes the inclusion of RGB lighting more distinct is that it only surrounds the middle fan, which gives this card an aesthetic that belongs in a sci-fi adventure.

The major caveat to this design is the increased size, which moves the ASRock Taichi closer to a form-factor found on the SKUs for Nvidia’s 4000 series GPUs. This is going to raise concerns with some gamers, as the larger scaled GPUs have struggled to fit into a lot of systems. In addition, these extra features come at a premium price that puts it closer to the more powerful RX 7900 XTX offerings.

However, this variant of the RX 7900 XT is not all about looks, as it also includes revised specs to offer higher gaming performance. In comparison to AMD’s base version of the RX 7900 XT, the ASRock Taichi’s 2.2GHz base clock speed and 2.5GHz boost clock speed has enough power to provide increased frame rates in a range of titles.

Key Specs

Key SpecsASRock Taichi RX 7900 XT
Video Memory20GB GDDR6
Memory Bus320 bit
Base Clock Speed2.2GHz
Boost Clock Speed2.5GHz
CUDA Cores10752
Power Consumption300W
RT Cores84
PCI-E GenerationPCI-E 4.0
GPU Length345mm
Fans3
RGBYes

Things We Like

Awesome use of RGB: Unlike the previous entries in this list, this graphics card puts a heavy focus on the aesthetics, with RGB playing a key role in providing this design with a futuristic look. ASRock are know for their elaborately-designed products, but their Taichi RX 7900 XT is definitely one of our favourites here at the GeekaWhat office.

Boosted performance: The design is not the only enhancement this GPU has received, as the ASRock Taichi comes with a significant boost to clock speeds compared to the original design. This additional power will provide high-end gamers with a couple more frames in a range of the latest titles. Whilst this isn’t exactly a game-changer, competitive gamers will appreciate the small advantage.

Things We Don’t Like

Chunky design: One of the small prices to pay for the enhancements to performance and aesthetics is the bulkier form factor. In comparison to other RX 7900 XT variants, this design isn’t massive by any means. But in a general sense, this card is a beastly GPU that may struggle to fit into a lot of smaller PC cases. So for those looking to keep their system compact may be out of luck with this design.

Not the best value: Another weakness of this card is the heftier price tag. The improvements to performance and additional design features put this model on the verge of more powerful graphics card, which results in this being a less valuable choice, as gamers could just pick up a better GPU for the same price.

Summary

For those gamers looking for a RX 7900 XT graphics card to act as a proud centrepiece for their PC build, then the ASRock Taichi is the right choice for you. Featuring an awesome futuristic design with a distinct RGB ring around the central fan, this GPU would look fantastic when mounted vertically. On top of a great design, this card adds a small boost to performance, which helps to retrieve some of the value lost by the larger price tag.

Features: 4.3/5
Design: 5/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4/5

GeekaWhat Rating:

Pros

  • Incredible aesthetic
  • Significant performance boost
  • Great use of RGB lighting

Cons

  • Expensive compared to other SKUs
  • Bulky design requires larger case

Where to Buy

Buy the ASRock Taichi RX 7900 XT on:

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4. Gigabyte OC RX 7900 XT

👑 The best high-end RX 7900 XT.

Introduction

To round things up, we have a GPU that offers some of the best thermals out of all the RX 7900 XT variants available, the Gigabyte OC edition. We’ve used a number of different Gigabyte graphics cards in the past, as they always provide reliable performance. Their RX 7900 XT design is no different, acting as the sensible choice for those looking for a GPU that is going to remain nice and cool inside their system.

The design is almost a combination of elements included in the other options on this list, leading to for a subtle yet sophisticated look that incorporates a triple-fan layout with a hint of RGB. However, the one thing that this SKU has on the others is the inclusion Gigabyte’s Windforce cooling system, which optimises airflow and heat dissipation.

In terms of size, the Gigabyte OC sits somewhere in the middle when compared to other RX 7900 XT designs. As a result, this opens up the amount of cases that this GPU will fit into, but it is important to still check the dimensions before buying, as it is still big enough to cause fitting problems with pre-existing systems.

Whilst the thermal regulation is the main advantage of this particular SKU, the Gigabyte OC does contain some performance advantages as well. Equipped with 2.1GHz base clock and 2.5GHz boost clock speeds offers enough of an upgrade for gamers with a keen eye to notice the difference compared to the RX 7900 XT’s gaming performance.

Key Specs

Key SpecsGigabyte OC RX 7900 XT
Video Memory20GB GDDR6
Memory Bus320 bit
Base Clock Speed2.1GHz
Boost Clock Speed2.5GHz
CUDA Cores10752
Power Consumption300W
RT Cores84
PCI-E GenerationPCI-E 4.0
GPU Length331mm
Fans3
RGBYes

Things We Like

Efficient design: Out of all of the SKUs featured in this roundup, Gigabyte‘s OC design is the smallest. Even though it boasts similar performance specs and RGB lighting, this card manages to reduce the size down to give compact builders more of a chance to fit an RX 7900 XT graphics card into their case. But generally speaking, this is still a fairly large GPU, so be sure to double-check your PC case clearance before picking one up.

Improved airflow: This variant changes up the aesthetics slightly from the original design, but the focus is placed on improving airflow and thermals for a more reliable GPU that can handle intense workloads. Using Gigabyte’s Windforce cooling system, this card offers great thermal regulation, even during the most intense 4K gaming sessions.

Things We Don’t Like

Fairly pricey: As the most expensive option on this list, this is the one graphics card priced in a way that seriously overlaps with the more powerful alternatives. At retail price, it would be fairly easy for gamers to pick up a more powerful RX 7900 XTX. It even gets close to the price of Nvidia’s RTX 4080 cards, which we consider to be a fairly poor value for money deal. As a result, it becomes very difficult to recommend picking up this card until the price comes down.

Performance: For the increased price on this card to become slightly more reasonable, you’d expect to see a significant boost to performance. However, this SKU barely improves on the specs found on AMD’s reference card, which means that the benefits are mainly from the RGB lighting and improved airflow.

Summary

As one of the more expensive RX 7900 XT options on the market, the Gigabyte OC provides small improvements to the original in all aspects. With better performance, thermals, and additional design features such as RGB lighting, this GPU is made for those gamers wanting a premium graphics card that ticks all of the boxes. However, the significant price bump makes this card a harder purchase to justify due to it breaching on the price range of more powerful options.

Features: 4.3/5
Design: 4.5/5
Performance: 4.3/5
Value for Money: 3.5/5

GeekaWhat Rating:

Pros

  • Provides optimal airflow
  • Smart & more compact design
  • Visible RGB lighting

Cons

  • Expensive variant
  • Better performance options available

Where to Buy

Buy the Gigabyte OC RX 7900 XT on:

Is the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT Worth It?

Before spending a small fortune on one of AMD’s latest GPUs, along with all the components for a PC build that supports it, knowing if the RX 7900 XT can justify the lofty price tag is a vital first step. Compared to the other next-gen graphics card that have released in the last few months, the 7900 XT is one of the cheapest, with Nvidia’s RTX 4070Ti being the main competitor in terms of pricing.

As expected, this does come with a drop in performance, but the 7900 XT manages to stay on the tails of its more powerful counterparts. More specifically, our limited time with this GPU has suggested that the average performance of the 7900 XT sits between the RTX 4070Ti and RTX 4080, which is reflected in the pricing of each card. Also, this card offers a significant boost to performance over AMD’s previous generation of GPUs, meaning that a jump to Radeon 7000 series is worth it for those wanting their setups to be decked out with the latest tech.

Unfortunately for the RX 7900 XT, AMD’s premium offering is valued at a price that’s only $100 more, making it hard to see why consumers wouldn’t just pay the extra money for the RX 7900 XTX. To add insult to injury, the RX 7900 XTX offers performance that eclipses the more expensive RTX 4080, which makes it a much better price-to-performance deal than the RX 7900 XT.

If the price gap between the two RDNA 3 GPUs was greater, the RX 7900 XT would be a solid choice as a more affordable way to enjoy high-end gaming. But as things stand, it is hard to suggest this card over the more powerful sibling. Because of this, we’d only suggest picking this GPU up if the price eventually comes down, or during a sale where the value is too good to miss.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT Dimensions

Along with the increasing price, the latest generation of GPUs come in a larger form-factor than the previous, which has raised concerns for lots of gamers planning on putting the new cards into their existing PC builds. In a similar fashion to the price, this issue mainly affects those picking up one of Nvidia’s GPUs, as AMD have managed to keep their designs fairly slender in comparison. However, it may still be worth taking note of, as the varying sizes for each design could restrict the number of cases that can fit a certain RX 7900 XT variants.

If we take a look at just the RX 7900 XT, AMD’s base design is 276mm in length and 135mm. This should be small enough to fit into most mid-tower cases with ease, whilst also leaving enough space for other components. However, the larger variants can reach up to almost 350mm in length. This could lead to some problems for those with more compact PC cases, leading to either a new case to accommodate it, or ruling out that particular SKU from the equation.

Radeon RX 7900 XT GPUsGPU DimensionRecommended Case Clearance
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (Reference Card)GPU Length: 276mm
GPU Width: 135mm
340mm+
MSI Gaming X Trio Classic RX 7900 XT GPU Length: 325mm
GPU Width: 141mm
380mm+
XFX Speedster Merc310 RX 7900 XTGPU Length: 344mm
GPU Width: 128mm
400mm+
ASRock Taichi RX 7900 XTGPU Length: 345mm
GPU Width: 140mm
400mm+
Gigabyte OC RX 7900 XTGPU Length: 331mm
GPU Width: 138mm
380mm+

Radeon RX 7900 XT Benchmarks

After running this graphics cards in a number of the latest competitive titles, we were quite impressed with the outcome. Despite being priced lower than most of the recently released graphics card from both AMD and Nvidia, the RX 7900 XT kept up when it came to the all-important framerates. On some occasions, such as Apex Legends at 4K high settings, the RX 7900 XT even managed to outperform Nvidia’s more expensive GPUs. Although, throwing DLSS 3.0 into the mix would perhaps shuffle things around again!

When compared to the RX 7900 XTX, the more budget-oriented Ryzen 7000 series GPU does well to stay hot on the heels of its more powerful sibling. However, the 7900 XTX edges out the 7900 XT in most titles, leaving it to battle it out with Nvidia’s card for the podium positions.

Warzone 2.0

142FPS Average

4K High FSR

COD: MW2

120FPS Average

4K High FSR

Fortnite

330FPS Average

1080p Competitive

Spider-Man

112FPS Average

4K Very High FSR

Overwatch 2

208FPS Average

4K Ultra Settings

Why You Can Trust Us

Before we take a more detailed look at the recommendations, we wanted to let you know why you can trust our suggestions. As a team of PC hardware experts, we spend hours each day testing products that come through our doors to see how they perform in a wide range of gaming benchmarks and scenarios. If you would like to know more about each of the GeekaWhat team members, head over to the About Us section. This is where you’ll also find more information about our editorial promise.

How We Picked the Best AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Graphics Cards

Here at the GeekaWhat offices, we test a a number of graphics cards every week for various purposes. We run each GPU through multiple benchmarks on all the most popular competitive titles, and use them for numerous PC builds. This gives us a solid understanding of the general performance and functionality of a specific product, along with how to get the best out of it.

Once we’re happy that we have enough knowledge about a particular item, we combine our experiences and results to form our verdict over the quality of the graphics card in question. We then discuss our thoughts with fans and customers through YouTube videos and detailed web articles like this one. As part of these discussions, we suggest what type of gamers would benefit -and sometimes not benefit- from putting that particular card into their gaming PC.

For our reviews on graphics cards, the key factors we take into consideration are the performance, design, thermals, and more recently, size. With those key points in mind, we provide an overview of how a specific GPUs features will affect the user experience, and more importantly, how it will impact gaming.

For more in-depth analysis, take a look at some of our in-depth reviews on high-end graphics cards below:

GPUReview Link
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTXAMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Review 
Zotac Gaming RTX 4090Zotac Gaming RTX 4090 AMP Extreme AIRO Review
RTX 4080 Founders EditionNvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Review
Palit GameRock RTX 4070TiPalit GameRock Premium Edition GeForce RTX 4070Ti Review

Conclusion

After weighing up all of the options featured in this roundup, our overall pick for the best RX 7900 XT graphics card is the ASRock Taichi. This graphics cards significantly bolsters the performance of the original card and offers gamers a galactic theme that will look great in a wide range of gaming-based systems. As long as there aren’t any issues with getting this chunky card into your PC case of choice, ASRock’s design is the best RX 7900 XT graphics card for your system.

Our honourable mention goes to AMD’s RX 7900 XT reference card, as it is one of the best looking base designs we’ve seen and is the best value choice for those looking for a card that is significantly cheaper than the other high-end GPUs on the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

RR Question Mark

Is the RX 7900 XT good for gaming?

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT offers a great 4K gaming experience in all the latest titles, easily outperforming the previous generation of graphics cards. Whilst it isn’t the pinnacle in terms of performance, most gamers will be more than happy with the results from this GPU.

RR Question Mark

Is the RX 7900 XTX overkill?

Only PC gamers that are planning on running every game at 4K will benefit from the performance of this card. Otherwise, a cheaper option will be more than enough for 1440p or 1080p gaming.

RR Question Mark

What are the minimum requirements for the RX 7900 XTX?

AMD suggest that the RX 7900 XT requires at least a 750W power supply to run efficiently. However, we’d recommend picking up a 1000W PSU, as this allows enough room for more powerful components, along with future upgrades.

RR Question Mark

Is the RX 7900 XTX future proof?

As the RX 7900 XT is one of AMD’s latest graphics cards to release, it is one of the best options for futureproofing your system. Whilst no graphics card will last forever, this GPU should be able to support the minimum requirement for most titles for years to come.

editor
Aled Wheeler is part of our technical writing and reviews team, focussing on PC components, console gaming and peripherals such as keyboards and monitors! With a degree in journalism and experience working for publications in the sports and gaming sectors. Aled is our in-house news and gaming writer, with his finger on the pulse of game devs around the world. Aled is currently rocking a solid mid-range gaming PC build, with a Ryzen 5000 processor and RTX 30 series graphics card.