AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT review

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT has been a very long time coming, however it’s largely been well worth the wait. A lot of this graphics card leaves its direct competitors to look considerably questionable by comparability, notably in the case of rasterized efficiency and reminiscence bandwidth. Nevertheless, there are a number of areas the place this new AMD GPU falters, stopping it from outright dominating the midrange worth class.

For almost all of the previous week, I’ve had the RX 7800 XT purring away within the PCGamesN take a look at bench, subjecting it to our tried and examined suite of graphics card benchmarks and extra. I’ve additionally spent simply as a lot time with its intently priced sibling, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, and examined the way it holds up versus its competitors. Whereas I’m sure there’s a transparent winner between the 2 new staff crimson GPUs, issues are extra difficult when taking different choices into consideration.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT specs

Falling in rank behind its dearer and highly effective siblings, the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT specs are extra befitting of its worth level than its title. That is to say that it’s a well-equipped pixel pusher for $499, however AMD has seemingly moved the goalposts for what makes an 800-class GPU when appraising via a generational lens.

The 7800 XT options the complete would possibly of the Navi 32 GPU, full with 3,840 stream processors and 60 second-generation ray accelerators housed in a 60-compute unit configuration. Naturally, these specs are much less highly effective than the likes of the Radeon RX 7900 XT, however that is additionally oddly true in comparison with the earlier technology Radeon RX 6800 XT too.

To be clear, evaluating the 7800 XT to the 6800 XT isn’t an apples-to-apples comparability, as every graphics card is constructed on a unique structure (RDNA 3 vs RDNA 2). Nevertheless, it’s clear to me that the addition of the Radeon RX 7900 XTX to the corporate’s present lineup has shifted the place the 800-class card sits hierarchically. Fortunately, it seems that AMD is considerably aware of this, given the $150 worth distinction between the 2 GPUs.

Fortunately, the 7800 XT retains the identical 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 256-bit bus that made its predecessor nice, albeit with a better reminiscence clock for higher bandwidth. It additionally boasts a number of enhancements too, together with sooner recreation and increase clock speeds, in addition to higher effectivity as demonstrated by its decrease TBP.

All in all, in comparison with the 7700 XT and its closest Nvidia opponents, the GeForce RTX 4070 and each flavors of the RTX 4060 Ti, the RX 7800 XT seems essentially the most sturdy of the lot on paper. This high quality interprets in some respects in the case of body charges too, as is clear within the benchmark outcomes additional on on this overview.

The Sapphire Nitro+ mannequin pattern I’m utilizing pushes the 7800 XT that a lot additional, with 120-130MHz will increase to spice up and recreation clocks. The board accomplice reckons this will increase efficiency by 3.5% on common versus the inventory card, however it does come on the worth of elevated energy draw at 288W.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT benchmarks

Earlier than we get into our AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT benchmarks, I have to spotlight that I used to be unable to check the GPU with the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, as I’ve in all our different GPU critiques.

Instead, I’ve used the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which ought to present comparable body charges at 1440p and 4K however might not be indicative of this card’s efficiency ceiling at 1080p. We’ll intention to replace our findings as soon as we’re in a position to retest the graphics card with the 7800X3D.

The next AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT benchmarks comprise body price information for native 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions. In my testing, I’ve recorded metrics utilizing the best high quality preset for every recreation, toggling between ray tracing and rasterization. Every benchmark was run 3 times to provide a median consequence.

Listed below are the specs of my take a look at system:

• GPU: Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 7800 XT
• Driver: Adrenalin 23.20.01.05
• OS: Home windows 11 Professional 22H2 (22621.2134)
• Motherboard: Asus TUF Gaming X670E-Plus (BIOS model 1636)
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900
• RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5 6,000MHz
• SSD: WD_Black SN850X 1TB
• PSU: Corsair RMx SHIFT Sequence 1000W
• Case: Corsair 5000D RGB Airflow

For extra data on our benchmarking course of, see our how we test web page.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT rasterization

As anticipated from an RDNA 3 graphics card, the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT rasterization efficiency profile is likely one of the GPU’s greatest strengths. In truth, in all however considered one of our 1440p and 4K assessments, it beat all its competitors. I’m pretty assured that it might high our 1080p charts too, if it had the Ryzen 7 7800X3D operating alongside it.

AMD payments the 7800 XT as a pixel pusher excellent for 1440p, and these claims actually maintain true taking a look at our benchmark outcomes. It nearly manages the exceptional feat of manufacturing three determine common body charges throughout the board, with the one exception being Cyberpunk 2077. Even then, it falls shy by simply 3 fps.

It’s equally spectacular at 4K too, partially because of the mattress of 16GB VRAM that saves it from turning into a stuttering mess in memory-intensive eventualities. In the meantime, the GeForce RTX 4070 is armed with simply 12GB, making the 7800 XT a greater wager when it comes to future-proofing.

Given its skills at larger resolutions, the 7800 XT is of course an important choice for these with 1080p gaming monitors with excessive refresh charges, or for these after a midrange graphics card that’ll be very performant in esports titles. Simply keep in mind that you just’ll unavoidably want the most effective gaming CPU to get essentially the most out of it, be that the 7800X3D or Intel Core i9 13900K, else you’ll be topic to processor bottlenecks.

Briefly, the quantity of worth provided right here is unmatched, with the RTX 4070 costing 20% extra however performing worse in rasterized eventualities. That is, after all, with out taking DLSS Body Technology into consideration. With the function enabled, the GeForce graphics card does take the lead, however we should always hopefully see AMD FSR 3 materialize quickly to shut that hole. For now, although, the worth DLSS 3 gives is simply one thing you’ll be able to choose for your self, as help for it varies game-to-game.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT ray tracing

Turning to AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT ray tracing efficiency, the story is basically the identical because it’s been for each different AMD RDNA 3 GPU. Nevertheless, the competitors’s lead has by no means felt extra slender.

Beginning at 1440p, the 7800 XT does nicely to tug forward by an honest margin in opposition to the 7700 XT and 4060 Ti, however the RTX 4070 naturally guidelines the roost right here. That stated, the GeForce lead does fluctuate, with F1 22 seeing a spot of simply 3 fps between the $499 and $599 GPUs. As a rule, although, there’s a transparent margin between the 2, with video games like Hitman 3 and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy producing the worst outcomes for staff crimson.

At 4K, the distinction in ray tracing energy between the RX 7800 XT and RTX 4070 largely stays the identical, however any floor the RTX 4060 Ti had over the Radeon graphics card at decrease resolutions evaporates. That is testomony to the need of bigger VRAM swimming pools and better reminiscence bandwidth at larger resolutions.

In the meantime, 1080p efficiency is basically first rate if behind the curve set by Nvidia. For essentially the most half, the 7800 XT places out completely playable body charges, so that you’re not fully left with out choices if you happen to fancy turning on these fancy ray tracing bells and whistles every so often.

As talked about within the earlier part, the dearth of a DLSS Body Technology various does hurt the 7800 XT’s standing in opposition to its competitors. This isn’t essentially the case in some cases, such because the RTX 4060 Ti at 4K (which sees a downturn in body charges with the function enabled), however it stays a sore spot nonetheless.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT worth

At $499, the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is fully cheap, however maybe essentially the most I feel staff crimson may realistically have charged for the graphics card. Have been it any dearer, its worth versus the RTX 4070 can be harmed to the purpose that the GeForce card would appear to be the higher purchase. Nevertheless, it handily fills the worth hole between the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB and its 70-class cousin, and leaves the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB wanting fully redundant.

Its worth extends past its efficiency in right this moment’s video games, as its VRAM allocation and reminiscence bandwidth will proceed to serve it lengthy into the long run. For context, there’s just one different worthwhile 16GB choice from Nvidia, the GeForce RTX 4080, which prices a whopping $1,200. I ought to point out the Intel Arc A770 can be out there with a 16GB configuration, however it’s not almost as highly effective because the 7800 XT.

Whereas AMD has rightly adjusted the price by $150 generation-on-generation, given the GPU’s specs I really would’ve liked to have seen it launch on the worth of the 7700 XT. At $450, this might be an absolute slam dunk of a graphics card. In comparison with its sibling, although, the 7800 XT is actually price the additional $50 if you happen to can stretch to it.

Reference playing cards can be found straight from AMD at MSRP, however the Sapphire Nitro+ mannequin we’ve examined could be yours for $549. It’s an important choice if you happen to’re after among the best wanting accomplice designs, and the customized cooler design helps maintain the 7800 XT at a greater than palatable temperature of 65°C underneath load.

Is the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT price it?

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT in some ways feels just like the midrange graphics card that the market has been asking for occurring nearly a yr now. It’s a correct trooper at mainly any decision that you just throw at it, shining brightest at 1440p and 1080p.

That is, after all, as long as ray tracing isn’t your main concern. Through which case, you can be higher served by the likes of the GeForce RTX 4070 if you happen to can stretch your funds to its dearer worth level.

Briefly, the 7800 XT is the GPU that I feel most avid gamers ought to try to purchase. The quantity of worth and futureproofing it presents is unmatched at this worth level, and I can’t wait to see how significantly better it may be when AMD FSR 3 lastly arrives.

Execs:

• Unparalleled reminiscence bandwidth for underneath $500
• Smashes the GeForce RTX 4070 in rasterized eventualities
• Higher worth than the Radeon RX 7700 XT

Cons:

• Massive ray tracing efficiency gaps versus the GeForce RTX 4070
• Helps AMD FSR 3, however it’s not right here but to problem DLSS 3
• Some generational downgrades

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT options

Need to know what different graphics card choices you’ve got earlier than selecting the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT? Listed below are a number of of our picks:

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 is dearer than the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, however has higher ray tracing efficiency out of the field. It additionally has the ability of DLSS Body Technology at its disposal to spice up its body charges even larger.

Take a look at our Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 review for extra particulars.

AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is barely cheaper than the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, however this worth discount naturally comes with decrease efficiency too. To its credit score, nevertheless, it has 12GB of VRAM, making it our most well-liked decide versus cheaper Nvidia choices.

Take a look at our AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT review for extra particulars.