The AMD RX 7900 GRE, initially a China-exclusive “Golden Rabbit Edition,” has finally hopped across the Pacific. Priced at an attractive $550, this GPU targets the RTX 4070 Super and bridges the gap between AMD’s budget and high-end offerings. Our testing reveals a surprising performance powerhouse that earns a spot among the best graphics cards.
Decoding the RX 7900 GRE: Specs and Significance
Power connectors on the RX 7900 graphics card.Image: Close-up of the power connectors on the RX 7900 GRE graphics card.
The RX 7900 GRE sits just $50 above the RX 7800 XT, but boasts significant upgrades. Leveraging the same Navi 31 GPU core as the RX 7900 XT and XTX, this isn’t just a boosted 7800 XT; it’s a strategically streamlined 7900 XT. The 16GB of GDDR6 memory across a 256-bit bus, coupled with 64MB of Infinity Cache, mirrors the RX 7800 XT’s memory configuration. However, the GRE distinguishes itself with a substantially increased core count.
| Feature | RX 7900 GRE | RX 7800 XT | RX 7900 XT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute Units | 80 | 60 | 84 |
| AI Accelerators | 160 | 120 | 168 |
| Ray Tracing | 80 | 60 | 84 |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 | 20GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit | 320-bit |
| Game Clock | 1.88GHz | 2.12GHz | 2.03GHz |
| DisplayPort | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Total Board Power | 260W | 263W | 300W |
| Price | $550 | $500 | $750 |
With 5,120 cores, the GRE boasts 33% more than the 7800 XT and just 5% fewer than the $750 7900 XT. While the 7900 XT possesses a superior memory configuration and overall speed, the GRE’s performance relative to its $550 price point is remarkable. Maintaining a lower power draw (260W) compared to the 7900 XT (300W), it aligns closely with the 7800 XT. The initial $650 US price tag announced last year has been significantly reduced, offering exceptional value.
Benchmark Breakdown: Synthetic and Gaming Performance
Performance for the RX 7900 in 3DMark Time Spy.Image: 3DMark Time Spy benchmark results, highlighting the RX 7900 GRE’s performance.
In 3DMark Time Spy, the GRE outperforms the RTX 4070 Super by 5% and the RX 7800 XT by 18%. This substantial lead, coupled with a lower price than the competing Nvidia GPU, is a significant win for AMD.
Performance of the RX 7900 in 3DMark Port Royal.Image: 3DMark Port Royal benchmark results, showcasing the RX 7900 GRE’s ray tracing performance.
In the ray tracing-focused Port Royal benchmark, the RTX 4070 Super edges ahead by 4%. However, the GRE still surpasses the RX 7800 XT by 22% and even the RTX 4070 by approximately 12%. While AMD’s ray tracing performance still trails Nvidia, the gap is narrowing. Considering both rasterized and ray tracing performance, the GRE effectively matches the RTX 4070 Super at a lower price.
4K Gaming: A Strong Contender
Average performance of the RX 7900 at 4K.Image: Average 4K gaming performance of the RX 7900 GRE compared to competitors.
At $550, the GRE makes 4K gaming attainable. While demanding titles might require upscaling, it generally achieves playable frame rates. Averaging across our test suite, including ray tracing games, it leads the RTX 4070 Super by 6% and the RX 7800 XT by 12%.
amd rx 7900 review rdr2 4kImage: 4K performance in Red Dead Redemption 2.
amd rx 7900 review returnal 4kImage: 4K performance in Returnal.
amd rx 7900 review forza 4kImage: 4K performance in Forza Horizon 5.
The GRE excels in titles like Forza Horizon 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Returnal, even matching the $800 RTX 4070 Ti Super in the latter.
amd rx 7900 review horizon 4kImage: 4K performance in Horizon Zero Dawn.
amd rx 7900 review cyberpunk 4kImage: 4K performance in Cyberpunk 2077.
Performance is closer between the GRE and RTX 4070 Super in games like Horizon Zero Dawn and Cyberpunk 2077.
Performance of the RX 7900 in The Last of Us Part One at 4K.Image: 4K performance in The Last of Us Part One.
The Last of Us Part One presents a challenge, where the GRE falls short of the RTX 4070 Super. However, this title exhibits unusual GPU behavior, with similar results observed for the 4070 Ti Super and 4070 Super.
Performance of the RX 7900 in AssassinImage: 4K performance in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
The GRE recovers its lead in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, significantly outpacing the $550 RTX 4070. Overall, the GRE delivers impressive 4K gaming capabilities, exceeding 60 fps in most tested titles and occasionally reaching triple digits. Upscaling can further boost performance in more demanding games.
1440p Gaming: Where the GRE Shines
Average performance for the RX 7900 GPU at 1440p.Image: Average 1440p gaming performance for the RX 7900 GRE.
The GRE truly excels at 1440p, achieving triple-digit average frame rates. It maintains its 5% lead over the RTX 4070 Super, outpaces the RX 7800 XT by 12%, and surpasses the $550 RTX 4070 by a substantial 16%.
amd rx 7900 review rdr2 1440pImage: 1440p performance in Red Dead Redemption 2.
amd rx 7900 review returnal 1440pImage: 1440p performance in Returnal.
amd rx 7900 review forza 1440pImage: 1440p performance in Forza Horizon 5.
Excluding ray tracing, the GRE significantly outperforms the RTX 4070 and 4070 Super. Even with ray tracing considered, it still holds a slight edge. In Forza Horizon 5, it’s 14% faster than the RTX 4070, while in Returnal, it’s over 35% faster, matching the RTX 4070 Ti Super. Red Dead Redemption 2 also sees the GRE leading by 22% over the RTX 4070 and 6% over the 4070 Super.
amd rx 7900 review horizon 1440pImage: 1440p performance in Horizon Zero Dawn.
amd rx 7900 review valhalla 1440pImage: 1440p performance in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
The GRE and RTX 4070 Super are evenly matched in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Horizon Zero Dawn, though the GRE still leads the standard RTX 4070.
Performance for the RX 7900 in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p.Image: 1440p performance in Cyberpunk 2077.
At 1440p, the GRE surpasses even the RTX 4070 Ti Super in Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing disabled, demonstrating AMD’s strength in this title.
Performance of the RX 7900 in The Last of Us Part One at 1440p.Image: 1440p performance in The Last of Us Part One.
The reduced memory interface strain at 1440p allows the GRE to outperform the RTX 4070 Super by 10% and the standard RTX 4070 by 28% in The Last of Us Part One.
1080p and Ray Tracing Performance
Average performance for the RX 7900 at 1080p.Image: Average 1080p gaming performance for the RX 7900 GRE.
While the RX 7600 XT or RTX 4060 are better suited for 1080p, CPU bottlenecking leads to similar performance between the GRE and RTX 4070 Super at this resolution. However, the GRE maintains an 11% lead over the $550 RTX 4070.
amd rx 7900 review cyberpunk rt 4kImage: Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing at 4K.
amd rx 7900 review cyberpunk rt 1080pImage: Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing at 1080p.
amd rx 7900 review cyberpunk rt 1440pImage: Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing at 1440p.
In ray tracing intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077, Nvidia maintains its advantage. Even the standard RTX 4070 outperforms the GRE, although the GRE performs much closer to the 7900 XT than the 7800 XT.
amd rx 7900 review returnal 1440p rtImage: Returnal with ray tracing at 1440p.
amd rx 7900 review returnal 4k rtImage: Returnal with ray tracing at 4K.
amd rx 7900 review returnal 1080p rtImage: Returnal with ray tracing at 1080p.
In less demanding ray traced titles like Returnal, the GRE trades blows with the RTX 4070 Super while consistently outperforming the standard RTX 4070. While ray tracing remains Nvidia’s domain, the GRE makes strides in closing the performance gap.
Features and Final Verdict
The XFX logo on the RX 7900 graphics card.Image: The XFX logo on the RX 7900 GRE graphics card.
Nvidia’s DLSS 3.5 offers a feature advantage over AMD’s FSR 3, which currently has limited game support. However, AMD’s Fluid Motion Frames provides driver-based frame generation for numerous DirectX titles, a feature absent in Nvidia’s offerings.
Fans on the RX 7900 graphics card.Image: The cooling fans on the RX 7900 GRE graphics card.
The RX 7900 GRE, thanks to its price adjustment, is a strong contender. Offering superior performance compared to the RTX 4070 at the same price, it often rivals or surpasses the more expensive RTX 4070 Super. The main drawback is the limited FSR 3 support, which gives the RTX 4070 Super an edge with its robust DLSS 3.5 implementation. As FSR 3 adoption grows, the GRE’s value proposition will strengthen. Even with its current limitations, its raw performance makes it an excellent GPU.
