Graphics cards have become increasingly expensive, largely due to Nvidia’s pricing strategy. With the exception of the RTX 4060, all of Nvidia’s current-gen GPUs are pricier than their predecessors, often by a significant margin. AMD’s RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT target this vulnerability, offering compelling performance at competitive prices. These new GPUs deliver respectable generational improvements and challenge Nvidia’s inflated pricing, making them an attractive option for gamers.
AMD logo on the RX 7800 XT graphics card.AMD RX 7800 XT showcasing the company logo.
AMD RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT: Specifications Breakdown
While their names might suggest a close relationship to the RX 7600, the RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT represent a substantial leap in specifications. Both feature nearly double the compute units of the RX 7600, resulting in a comparable increase in AI and ray tracing accelerators. They also boast a significant memory upgrade, reaching up to 16GB.
| Feature | RX 7800 XT | RX 7700 XT | RX 7600 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute Units | 60 | 54 | 32 |
| AI Accelerators | 120 | 108 | 64 |
| Ray Accel. | 60 | 54 | 32 |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 12GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 19.5Gbps | 18Gbps | 18Gbps |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 192-bit | 128-bit |
| Game Clock | 2.12GHz | 2.17GHz | 2.25GHz |
| Connection | DisplayPort 2.1 | DisplayPort 2.1 | DisplayPort 2.1 |
| Total Board Power | 263W | 245W | 165W |
| MSRP | $500 | $450 | $270 |
The memory specifications are crucial for modern gaming. The RX 7600, despite targeting 1080p gaming, has shown VRAM limitations with its 8GB on a 128-bit bus. The RX 7700 XT mirrors its last-gen counterpart with 12GB on a 192-bit bus, while the RX 7800 XT jumps to 16GB on a 256-bit bus. This extra VRAM offers a significant advantage, especially considering the 8GB VRAM limitations observed in some games at higher resolutions on even Nvidia’s RTX 4070 (12GB). The RTX 4060 Ti with 16GB also demands a premium over the 8GB model.
RX 7800 XT graphics card installed in a test bench.RX 7800 XT installed in a test bench.
The pricing of the RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT further strengthens their position. At $500, the RX 7800 XT competes with the 16GB RTX 4060 Ti and the RTX 4070. The RX 7700 XT, at just $50 less, also challenges the 16GB RTX 4060 Ti and the 8GB model. This competitive pricing positions AMD to capitalize on Nvidia’s higher prices, offering similar or better performance for less.
Synthetic Benchmark Performance
RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT in 3DMark Time Spy.3DMark Time Spy benchmark results.
In 3DMark Time Spy, a DirectX 12 benchmark at 1440p, the RX 7800 XT is about 4% faster than the RTX 4070, despite being $100 less expensive. The RX 7700 XT demonstrates a substantial 19% performance lead over the 8GB RTX 4060 Ti. This improvement aligns with the generational leap over the RX 6700 XT.
RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT performance in 3DMark Port Royal.3DMark Port Royal benchmark results.
Moving to 3DMark Port Royal, a ray tracing benchmark, the RTX 4070 takes a slight lead over the RX 7800 XT. However, the RX 7700 XT maintains its advantage, outperforming the RTX 4060 Ti by 12%. This demonstrates a notable improvement in AMD’s ray tracing performance compared to previous generations.
Gaming Performance: 4K, 1440p, and 1080p
Across various resolutions and games, the RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT offer competitive performance, often exceeding the similarly priced Nvidia GPUs. The benefits are particularly noticeable in VRAM-intensive titles like The Last of Us Part 1 and Resident Evil 4, where the AMD cards showcase their superior memory configurations. While not explicitly designed for 4K, both GPUs deliver playable frame rates at this resolution, even rivaling the more expensive RTX 4070 Ti in certain games.
At 1440p, AMD’s strengths are even more pronounced. Both the RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT consistently outperform their Nvidia counterparts, offering double-digit percentage gains in many titles. Even at 1080p, where the benefits of their higher VRAM are less pronounced, the AMD cards deliver solid performance, matching or exceeding the RTX 4070 and RTX 4060 Ti, respectively, in most tested games.
Ray Tracing and Upscaling Technologies
While AMD has historically trailed Nvidia in ray tracing performance, the RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT show marked improvement. Although the RX 7800 XT still lags behind the RTX 4070 in ray tracing intensive scenarios, the RX 7700 XT consistently outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti, highlighting AMD’s progress in this area.
The availability of DLSS 3 remains a potential advantage for Nvidia, offering substantial frame rate boosts in supported titles. While AMD’s FSR 3 promises similar capabilities, its performance remains to be seen. However, AMD’s commitment to broad FSR 3 compatibility through driver-level implementation could potentially offset this advantage.
AMD RX 7800 XT graphics card on an orange background.AMD RX 7800 XT.
Conclusion: A Compelling Value Proposition
The RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT offer a compelling value proposition in the current GPU market. Their competitive performance, coupled with aggressive pricing, positions them as strong contenders against Nvidia’s offerings. While DLSS 3 and certain ray tracing scenarios still favor Nvidia, the overall performance and value of AMD’s new GPUs make them an attractive option for gamers seeking high-quality graphics without overspending.
