AMD is back in the budget GPU game. After focusing on flagship models like the RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT, AMD has finally released a budget offering: the RX 7600. This card aims to address the current lack of affordable, high-performing GPUs, and it largely succeeds, especially considering Nvidia’s somewhat underwhelming RTX 4060 Ti. The RX 7600 is significantly cheaper and provides a compelling upgrade for 1080p gamers with notable generational improvements and excellent value.
AMD RX 7600 Specifications and Pricing
8-pin connector on the RX 7600.
AMD’s product stack strategy is curious. They jumped straight from the high-end RX 7900 XTX and XT to the budget RX 7600, leaving a noticeable gap in the mid-range. While AMD will likely fill this void later, it’s an unusual approach.
Priced at $270, the RX 7600 is surprisingly $60 cheaper than the previous generation RX 6600, which launched during the peak of the GPU shortage. It’s refreshing to see prices return to more reasonable levels. However, it’s worth noting that the initial expected price was $300. While AMD assures buyers that multiple models will be available at the $270 MSRP, some models may creep closer to the $330-$350 range.
The RX 7600 features 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, identical to the RX 6600 and 6600 XT, and also matching the RTX 4060 Ti, which has been criticized for its limited memory bandwidth. This narrow bus does impact performance at higher resolutions, especially as VRAM requirements in games increase. However, considering the RX 7600’s considerably lower price compared to the RTX 4060 Ti, its target market is clearly 1080p gaming, where memory bottlenecks are less significant.
Here’s a table comparing the RX 7600’s specifications to its higher-end siblings:
| Feature | RX 7600 | RX 7900 XTX | RX 7900 XT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute Units | 32 | 96 | 84 |
| AI Accelerators | 64 | 192 | 168 |
| Ray Tracing Accelerators | 32 | 96 | 84 |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR6 | 24GB GDDR6 | 20GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 18Gbps | 20Gbps | 20Gbps |
| Memory Bus Size | 128-bit | 384-bit | 320-bit |
| Game Clock Speed | 2.25GHz | 2.3GHz | 2GHz |
| Connection Support | DisplayPort 2.1 | DisplayPort 2.1 | DisplayPort 2.1 |
| Total Board Power | 165W | 355W | 315W |
| MSRP | $270 | $1,000 | $900 |
Synthetic and Gaming Benchmarks
3DMark performance on the RX 7600.
Synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark provide a general overview of performance. The RX 7600 performs slightly below the RTX 3060 Ti and slightly above the RX 6600 XT. Remarkably, it outperforms the RX 6600 XT, which launched at $380, while being significantly cheaper. In Time Spy, the RX 7600 is around 10% faster, mirroring the performance gains observed in actual games at 1080p and 1440p.
The back of the RX 7600.
The generational performance improvement over the RX 6600 is substantial, with a 29% increase in Time Spy. Even compared to current market prices for the older RX 6600 and 6600 XT, the RX 7600 offers a compelling performance upgrade for the slight price premium.
However, ray tracing performance is less impressive. While the RX 7600 still shows improvement over its predecessors, it lags behind Nvidia and even Intel’s Arc A750 in 3DMark’s Port Royal benchmark. Keep in mind that 3DMark tends to favor Intel GPUs, and real-world gaming performance may differ.
1080p Gaming Performance
Average 1080p performance for the RX 7600.
As a 1080p card, the RX 7600 shines. It delivers around a 30% performance jump over the RX 6600 and a 12% lead over the RX 6600 XT, justifying its slightly higher price. Compared to the RTX 3060, the RX 7600 offers a 17% performance advantage at a lower price. In non-ray-traced games like Horizon Zero Dawn and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the difference is even more significant, showcasing a substantial lead over even the RTX 3060 Ti.
amd rx 7600 review 4060 ti horizon 1080p
While the RX 7600 generally excels, some games, like Red Dead Redemption 2, present a different picture. In this Vulkan title, Intel’s Arc A750 and A770 outperform the RX 7600, suggesting potential optimization issues with AMD’s Vulkan drivers.
1440p and 4K Gaming Performance
1440p performance for the RX 7600.
At 1440p, the RX 7600 maintains respectable performance, though its lead over previous-generation cards diminishes. Without ray tracing, it performs admirably, even competing with the RTX 4060 Ti in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. However, ray tracing performance remains a weakness, with both Nvidia and Intel holding significant advantages.
amd rx 7600 review 4060 ti valhalla 1440p
While not designed for 4K gaming, the RX 7600 can deliver a playable experience at 30fps in many titles with some settings adjustments. It’s a surprisingly capable option for console-like experiences at 4K, particularly in less demanding games.
4K performance for the RX 7600.
Ray Tracing Performance and VRAM Considerations
Performance of the RX 7600 with ray tracing enabled.
Ray tracing remains a weak point for the RX 7600. While performance is acceptable in less demanding titles, more intensive games require upscaling or lower settings to achieve playable frame rates. Even Intel’s Arc A750 offers superior ray tracing performance in this price range. The 8GB of VRAM can also become a limiting factor when ray tracing is enabled, even at 1080p.
AMD RX 7600 on a pink background.
Conclusion
The RX 7600 offers exceptional value for 1080p gaming, providing significant generational performance improvements at a competitive price. While ray tracing and memory bandwidth remain areas for improvement, it’s the best option in its price bracket, outperforming previous-generation cards and undercutting Nvidia’s offerings. For gamers focused on 1080p or budget-conscious 1440p gaming, the RX 7600 is a strong contender.
