Searching for the best AMD graphics card can be overwhelming with so many options on the market. While the best graphics cards are often a major investment, AMD’s lineup offers some of the best value in PC gaming.
A standout option from AMD is the Radeon RX 7900 GRE. Widely considered among the best AMD graphics cards in the midrange category, it comes equipped with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM for entry-level 4K gaming. Its performance competes head-to-head with similar Nvidia offerings, while its price point remains notably lower.
If that’s still more power than you need, the Radeon RX 7600 is another solid pick. It’s much kinder to your wallet, yet still capable of delivering a superb 1080p experience.
I’ve spent countless hours testing AMD’s full range of GPUs, comparing them in different gaming and creative scenarios, so with these insights, I can guide you toward the best AMD graphics card that matches your needs and budget.
The best AMD graphics cards in 2024
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The best AMD graphics card overall
The AMD Radeon RX7900 GRE began its life as an available-in-China-only exclusive. AMD then surprised the world by following up the Chinese launch with a global roll-out, that set the cat among the pigeons in the midrange GPU market.
Undercutting the price of Nvidia’s RTX 4070 (its closest rival) by approximately 10%, it offers a performance that stands tall against its competitor. With 16GB of VRAM under the hood, it provides a best-in-class performance at 1440p, with a very respectable 4K gaming performance to boot.
Admittedly, it still loses out when it comes to things like native ray tracing, which is where Nvidia’s more expensive cards really shine, and it can’t compete on an equal footing with 3D modeling either – Nvidia’s trump card, thanks to their CUDA software. However, for graphic design and photo/video editing, it’s a veritable beast.
With a comparative performance at a more affordable price, the RX7900 GRE has asserted its dominance in its own category. It looks the part, too, with its cool Hellhound logo, and practical features, such as an extra hole in the backplate to improve the cooling efficiency of its heatsink, keeping it below 53 degrees Celsius.
For gamers in particular, the RX7900 GRE should be firmly on your radar. Boasting a flawless performance at 1080p and 1440p, and a 4K performance that stands up well against that of the RTX 4070, this is one of the best midrange graphics cards you can buy. Whatever reasons AMD had for rolling out this former exclusive to the world, we can all be glad that they did.
Read the full AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE review
The Best Budget AMD Graphics Card
The AMD Radeon RX 7600 stands as the undisputed champion in the affordable graphics card category, especially for those seeking exceptional performance without breaking the bank. Priced under $300/£300, this card is a marvel of AMD’s RDNA 3 technology, delivering an extraordinary performance that belies its modest price tag.
When it comes to 1080p gaming, the RX 7600 not only excels but also competes fiercely with higher-end models like the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti 12GB, offering superb value for money. Its capabilities at 1440p are also impressive, particularly given its 8GB VRAM and a 128-bit memory bus.
In gaming performance, the RX 7600 is a game-changer, effortlessly achieving 60 fps in the top PC games at 1080p, most of which can run on the highest graphics settings. Even for more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, a few adjustments in settings make smooth gameplay entirely achievable, aided by AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution technology.
While its ray tracing performance may trail slightly behind Nvidia’s previous generation midrange cards, the RDNA 3 architecture significantly narrows this gap, ensuring that opting for this more affordable AMD card doesn’t mean compromising on ray tracing capabilities. In summary, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is not just a budget-friendly option; it’s the best cheap AMD graphics card available, setting a new standard for price-to-performance ratio in its segment.
Read the full AMD Radeon RX 7600 review
The best 4K graphics card from AMD
Asserting its dominance in the 4K gaming realm, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX not only marks AMD’s most exceptional offering in this category but also sets a new benchmark for 4K performance. Released at the tail end of 2022, this powerhouse GPU has redefined excellence in gaming graphics, especially considering its sub-$1,000 price tag. It notably outshines Nvidia’s pricier RTX 4080, offering superior value.
The introduction of 2nd-gen ray accelerators in the RX 7900 XTX is a game-changer, elevating 4K gaming experiences to unprecedented levels with ultra settings and ray tracing – a feat its predecessor, the RX 6950 XT, could not fully achieve. While it does have its limitations, such as trailing behind Nvidia’s RTX 4000-series in ray tracing capabilities (yet surpassing the RT performance of the Nvidia RTX 3090) and exhibiting some inconsistencies in creative workload performance, these are minor when weighed against its overall prowess.
In essence, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX stands as the quintessential choice for anyone seeking to upgrade their GPU, particularly after enduring prolonged graphics card shortages. Its remarkable balance of price, performance, and 4K gaming capabilities firmly establishes it as AMD’s premier 4K graphics card.
Read the full AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX review
The best AMD RDNA 2 graphics card
Though most AMD graphics cards are great thanks to their value to power ratio, there are a few AMD models that have the muscle to compete for space in the high-end GPU market. The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is one of those cards with its robust 4K performance.
Yes, its ray tracing isn’t as good as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080. And, its performance lags a little behind in some instances as well. But, in others, it actually outperforms the RTX 3080, specifically when running on DX11. In our testing, we found the 6800 XT to be up to 9% faster in certain games such as Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Grand Theft Auto V. If you’re looking for a GPU from Team Red to work or play in 4K, then consider the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT.
Read our full AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT review
The best last-gen budget AMD graphics card
The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is possibly the best option in the company’s lineup if you’re looking for a GPU for 1080p gaming. It might not be the cheapest but it’s still affordable so you don’t have to splurge for that power. And, it can handle just about anything at 1080p with aplomb. It also offers great thermal performance and doesn’t consume too much power.
Its fiercest competition is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. And, while the 3060 is $50 / £50 cheaper, we found the 6600 XT to perform ten to fifteen percent better in most of our testing. That difference in pricing and performance does make choosing between the two a bit more difficult than it should be.
While its ray tracing leaves a bit to be desired – an ongoing theme with AMD cards – the inclusion of Radeon Boost, a software feature that prioritizes performance over image fidelity, will appeal to competitive gamers.
Read our full AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT review
How we test the best graphics cards
When we review graphics cards, we adhere to a uniform testing methodology, assessing their performance using a set of approximately 8-10 games, testing it at various resolutions and using the latest drivers.
Furthermore, we conduct fresh tests on all current-generation graphics cards each time a new one enters the market, ensuring they are all evaluated using identical hardware. This involves the same processor, memory at an equivalent speed, the same motherboard, and the same SSD. This approach is crucial for accurately gauging the performance of the graphics card itself and facilitates a more dependable comparison with its competitors.
Our thorough documentation covers all aspects, including the graphics card’s power consumption and temperature under load. Additionally, we examine the features offered by each graphics card, although these typically do not vary significantly from one generation to the next.