NVIDIA’s aggressive pricing of RTX 4000 Series left a lot of people looking for a reasonable value GPU without any kind of option except going for older RTX or RX generations. The RTX 4080 selling well over the $1,200 MSRP is what compelled many people to consider the AMD alternative, the RX 7900 XTX.
It may still be exceptionally costly at $1,000, but it’s $200 less for the same performance which isn’t a terrible deal.
However, with a lot of negative news surrounding the thermal solution of the RX 7900 XTX reference design, which GPU should you opt for?
Well, here is our list of some of the best RX 7900 XTX graphics cards based on our thorough research.
Let’s take a quick peek!
ASUS Radeon RX 7900 XTX TUF OC
Interface: 3 x Display Port 2.1a, 1 x HDMI 2.1arnBoost Clock: 2615 MHzrnDimensions: L: 352.9 W: 158.2 H: 72.6 mm
The Pros:
- Ridiculously good overclocking gainsrnNo huge price premiumrnStays cool
The Cons:
- On the loud side
ASUS’ Strix cooler design for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs is always a reliable choice, however, it’s also always significantly more expensive than the original MSRP.
Fortunately, ASUS’ TUF coolers get a more sensible price design but cost considerably less.
So, how does the ASUS Radeon RX 7900 XTX TUF OC function?
Pricing
ASUS has not released any statements regarding the MSRP of this GPU. But, based on prior releases and the $1,000 MSRP of the RX 7900 XTX, the TUF OC should be priced around $1,100.
Design
This three 8-pin power GPU is quite massive, taking up three slots since it is 72.6mm thick, which is also why it weighs over 2.1kg
The design is something you’ll see from most of the other GPU manufacturers. A dark/grey shroud surrounds the fans, but it does have a brushed metallic finish on the outer surface and it is made of metal.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
Out of the box, ASUS advertises an up to 2615 MHz boost clock with OC mode, but if you get this card, you can expect an average of approximately 2800 MHz while gaming.
Based on TechPowerUp’s testing, the overclocking is the ASUS TUF’s most potent point since they manage to push the GPU clock up to 3200 MHz! This is one of the best overclocks we’ve seen since it boosts FPS by up to 10% over the stock ASUS TUF and 20% over the reference card.
If you enjoy overclocking, this is definitely the card you should get.
Thermals And Acoustics
Such an aggressive overclock needs to be backed up by the efficient cooler.
**But, is it?**
Well, it produces around 31dBA with the default BIOS, which is relatively silent considering the GPU averages around 59°C. So, even with an aggressive overclock and a suitable fan curve, you can maintain the noise levels and temperatures to a acceptable level.
XFX RX 7900 XTX Merc 310
Interface: 2 x Display Port 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.1rnBoost Clock: 2615 MHzrnDimensions: L: 344 W: 128 H: 57 mm
The Pros:
- Good overall performance (thermals, OC, and acoustics)rnSimple GPU design
The Cons:
- No apparent disadvantages
XFX doesn’t often end up as our number one pick when considering various factors, but it is frequently a dependable choice for an aftermarket AMD GPU, but the XFX RX 7900 XTX Merc 310 is an outstanding choice either way.
Pricing
Just like the ASUS TUF card, this one is priced at $1,100,$100 over the RX 7900 XTX’s MSRP. So, a standard price premium over the reference card.
Design
Aftermarket GPUs are trending towards that “gamer look” with excessive one-liners, branding, and other edgy styling. XFX’s Merc 310 is the complete opposite and it is remarkably simple.
It’s 344mm long and 57mm thick, which makes this notably smaller than some other RX 7900 XTX options. Surrounding the three fans and the PCB is a dim shroud with metallic/silver outlines, which is made of metal. The backplate is also made of metal and has that shiny/silver look.
Overall, it’s straightforward, but distinctive in its own way.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
XFX advertises this GPU’s boost clock to go up to 2615 MHz, but naturally, in-game, the average is well above that. In various games, the standard clock speed is around 2780 – 2800 MHz.
So, akin to the ASUS TUF, but what about overclocking?
Interestingly enough, XFX’s RX 7900 XTX also handles substantial overclocks well. Techpowerup’s unit was able to reach 3165 MHz, but the memory clocks only to 2750 MHz compared to 2800 MHZ on the ASUS TUF.
Still, a 10%+ increase in clock speeds results in a 5-10% boost in in-game FPS, which isn’t anything to dismiss about.
Thermals And Acoustics
Unlike ASUS’ TUF card, this one is on the noisier side. With the default BIOS, noise levels go up to 38 dBA because the fans operate at around 1500 RPM. For most people this may be too loud, so reducing the fan curve may be a good idea since the average temperature is around the 60°C mark.
The RX 7900 XTX Merc 310 also has a Peak Power BIOS option, which ramps up fans up to 2000 RPM and increases sound levels to 45+ dBA.
Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X
Interface: 2 x Display Port 2.1, 2 x HDMI 2.1rnBoost Clock: 2680 MHzrnDimensions: L: 320 W: 135.75 H: 71.6 mm
The Pros:
- Premium design and feelrnOverall solid
The Cons:
- $100+ more expensive than alternative options
AMD, together with Sapphire has made hundreds of varied GPUs/coolers, and frequently, these end up offering the ideal combination of overclocking, cooling, and noise.
But, the RX 7900 XTX is one of AMD’s most power-hungry GPUs ever, so was Sapphire able to handle this one too?
Let’s observe if it happened!
Pricing
The Nitro+ Sapphire RX 7900 XTX Vapor X MSRP is $1,200, so over $200 above AMD’s recommended price point. Those additional $200 can get you an RTX 4080 if you prefer ray tracing performance.
So, does Sapphire have anything to maintain that cost with?
Design
There is no doubt that the Nitro+ Vapor-X is one of the most premium cards out there.
It’s a major upgrade over the previous generation’s design since it is completely new.
The shroud around the GPU is made out of metal with a matte grey finish, which makes gives that premium feel. Sapphire moves away from the typical GPU design choices and gets rid of any sharp edges on the shroud.
On the side of the GPU is one significant plastic strip solely for RGB and it is likely one of the finest RGB solutions we’ve seen.
It also has a relatively thick heatsink to accommodate the flagship GPU chip, but strangely enough, it’s much shorter in length, only 32cm long.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
Straight from the box, the RX 7900 XT Vapor-X arrives with the most notable factory overclock (2680 MHz). As a result, this also causes increased typical in-game clock speeds of approximately 2850 MHz.
This makes the Sapphire GPU somewhat faster than the ASUS TUF and Merc 310, but that doesn’t really justify the additional $200. Especially if you consider that the overclocking capabilities of this card are very similar, or in some cases, slightly worse than the ASUS TUF.
Thermals And Acoustics
Design-wise, the card is absolutely gorgeous, but that’s not enough to ignore the substantial price tag. So, what about thermals?
Well, in terms of noise and temperature is almost identical to the ASUS RX 7900 XTX TUF. With the 2nd BIOS option, noise levels are roughly 31 dBA, and temperatures are near the 60°C mark.
Powercolor RX 7900 XTX Red Devil
Interface: 3 x Display Port 2.1, 2 x HDMI 2.1rnBoost Clock: 2565 MHzrnDimensions: L: 338 W: 135H: 73 mm
The Pros:
- Very unique designrnCheapest RX 7900 XTX AIB
The Cons:
- Slightly lower clock speeds than other options
The Red Devil coolers from Powercolor are the go-to GPUs for many AMD enthusiasts because it is often an all-around outstanding card and it’s also rather distinctive in its design.
So, is Powercolor’s approach towards the RX 7900 XTX as remarkable as some of their previous GPU launches?
Pricing
Right from the beginning, the Red Devil gets a head-start because the price for this GPU is $1,050, just $50 over AMD’s recommended retail cost.
Is it worth getting this Powercolor RX 7900 XTX Fiend Crimson and saving $50-$150?
Let’s see!
Design
The card’s name matches its design, which is why it appears remarkably sophisticated.
Everything from the backplate to the shroud, fans, and even the heatsink is dark. To give that “devil” vibe, it’s paired with crimson accents and RGB that can be found all over the GPU.
To add to the hellish look, Powercolor includes a bracket that adds even more crimson accents and luminosity.
But is the Red Devil a giant in performance as much as it is physically massive?
Performance And Overclocking
The Red Devil has the lowest factory boost clock out of all four GPUs on this comprehensive buyer’s guide (2565 MHz, but it does average around 2700 MHz.
With overclocking, GPU clocks can go up to 2850 MHz and stay between the 2800-2850 MHz range. It appears that the Red Devil is power constrained, so its overclocking capability is restricted too.
So, overclocked, it’s probably between 3-8% slower than the improved ASUS TUF.
Thermals And Acoustics
The RX 7900 XTX Red Devil has a rather enormous heatsink, so the temperatures and noise levels are comparable to the Sapphire and ASUS cards.
With the Quiet BIOS, noise levels are around 30 dBA, and 32 dBA with the standard BIOS. The temperature average is in the 60-65 degrees Celsius range.
Which RX 7900 XTX Graphics Card Should You Get?
It’s challenging to select just one out of these four incredible GPUs, but we’ve awarded the best ones.
The ASUS RX 7900 XTX TUF OC is undoubtedly the Best Value pick here.
The Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X is a bit costlier, but definitely the Best Premium pick.
But, don’t shy away from the Red Devil either. It’s the least costly of the bunch and has one of the most striking GPU designs.
