NVIDIA’s aggressive pricing of RTX 4000 Series left a lot of people looking for a good 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 forced many people to consider the AMD alternative, the RX 7900 XTX.
It may still be extremely expensive at $1,000, but it’s $200 less for the identical performance which isn’t a bad deal.
However, with a lot of unfavorable news surrounding the heating solution of the RX 7900 XTX reference design, which GPU should you opt for?
Well, here is our list of some of the finest RX 7900 XTX graphics cards based on our thorough research.
Let’s have a look!
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 solid choice, however, it’s also always substantially more expensive than the original MSRP.
Fortunately, ASUS’ TUF coolers get a more sensible price design but cost significantly 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 previous 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 pretty 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 black/grey shroud surrounds the fans, but it does have a matte metal finish on the 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 about 2800 MHz while gaming.
Based on TechPowerUp’s testing, the overclocking is the ASUS TUF’s strongest 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 cooler.
But, is it?
Well, it produces around 31dBA with the default BIOS, which is fairly quiet considering the GPU averages around 59°C. So, even with an aggressive overclock and a good fan curve, you can maintain the noise levels and temperatures to a reasonable 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 reliable choice for an aftermarket AMD GPU, but the XFX RX 7900 XTX Merc 310 is an excellent 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 superfluous one-liners, branding, and another edgy styling. XFX’s Merc 310 is the complete opposite and it is extremely straightforward.
It’s 344mm long and 57mm thick, which makes this much smaller than some other RX 7900 XTX options. Surrounding the three fans and the PCB is a black shroud with metallic/silver outlines, which is made of metal. The backplate is also made of metal and has that metallic/silver look.
Overall, it’s uncomplicated, 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 average 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% increase in in-game FPS, which isn’t anything to scoff about.
Thermals And Acoustics
Unlike ASUS’ TUF card, this one is on the louder 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 Max Power BIOS option, which ramps up fans up to 2000 RPM and increases noise 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 different GPUs/coolers, and often, these end up offering the best 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 tackle this one too?
Let’s observe if it did!
Pricing
The Nitro+ Sapphire RX 7900 XTX Vapor X MSRP is $1,200, so over $200 over AMD’s proposed price point. Those additional $200 can get you an RTX 4080 if you favor ray tracing performance.
So, does Sapphire have anything to back that price up with?
Design
There is no doubt that the Nitro+ Vapor-X is one of the most opulent cards out there.
It’s a big upgrade over the previous generation’s design since it is entirely 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 popular GPU design choices and gets rid of any sharp edges on the shroud.
On the side of the GPU is one substantial plastic strip solely for RGB and it is likely one of the finest RGB solutions we’ve seen.
It also has a pretty thick heatsink to accommodate the flagship GPU chip, but weirdly 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 exceptional factory overclock (2680 MHz). As a result, this also causes higher typical in-game clock speeds of approximately 2850 MHz.
This makes the Sapphire GPU marginally faster than the ASUS TUF and Merc 310, but that doesn’t really justify the extra $200. Especially if you consider that the overclocking capabilities of this card are very comparable, or in some cases, slightly worse than the ASUS TUF.
Thermals And Acoustics
Design-wise, the card is absolutely beautiful, but that’s not enough to ignore the premium 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 around 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 fans because it is often an all-around great card and it’s also pretty unique in its design.
So, is Powercolor’s approach towards the RX 7900 XTX as remarkable as some of their previous GPU releases?
Pricing
Right from the beginning, the Red Devil gets a head-start because the price tag for this GPU is $1,050, just $50 over AMD’s MSRP.
Is it worth getting this Powercolor RX 7900 XTX Fiend Red and saving $50-$150?
Let’s see!
Design
The card’s name matches its design, which is why it appears very cool.
Everything from the backplate to the shroud, fans, and even the heatsink is black. To give that “devil” vibe, it’s paired with red 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 red accents and lighting.
But is the Red Devil a monster in performance as much as it is aesthetically?
Performance And Overclocking
The Red Devil has the lowest factory boost clock out of all four GPUs on this thorough 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 seems that the Red Devil is power limited, so its overclocking capabilities are limited too.
So, overclocked, it’s probably between 3-8% slower than the enhanced ASUS TUF.
Thermals And Acoustics
The RX 7900 XTX Red Devil has a pretty thick heatsink, so the temperatures and noise levels are similar to the Sapphire and ASUS cards.
With the Silent BIOS, noise levels are around 30 dBA, and 32 dBA with the typical 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 choose 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 more expensive, but definitely the Best Premium pick.
But, don’t shy away from the Red Devil either. It’s the least expensive of the bunch and has one of the coolest GPU designs.
