If you’re in the market for a new powerful GPU, the AMD RX 7900 XT might be the option for you. In this guide, we’ve highlighted five of the best options currently available.
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is one of the cheapest high-end GPUs on the market right now. This places it within the budget of many PC gamers who are hopeful for a GPU upgrade.
While it can’t quite compete with its big brother, the RX 7900 XTX, or the NVIDIA’S ‘Ada Lovelace’ RTX 4080, it does cost less than these two GPUs at MSRP. And, ignoring ray tracing and upscaling, it just about pips the cheaper RTX 4070 Ti on the performance front.
In other words, while it’s hard to compete with the value of the 7900 XTX, this cheaper AMD Navi 31 GPU is great value for those who want to save an extra $100 and still be able to play all the latest games at 1080p, 1440p, and even 4K resolution.
GPU Performance Comparisons:
- RX 7900 XT vs RX 7900 XTX
- RX 7900 XT vs RTX 4090
- RX 7900 XT vs RTX 4080
- RX 7900 XT vs RTX 4070 Ti
- RX 7900 XT vs RTX 4070
There are several models to choose from, though, and which 7900 XT is the best one for you will depend on your own needs. To help you decide, we’ve listed a range of 7900 XT options that are good for different use cases.
Table of Contents
– Best RX 7900 XT Graphics Cards
1. XFX Merc 310 RX 7900 XT (Best Value)
2. Sapphire NITRO+ 7900 XT (Overclocking)
3. Gigabyte Gaming OC RX 7900 XT (Plug N’ Play)
A Quick Look at the Best RX 7900 XT Video Cards
Below is a table of our picks for the best RX 7900 XT graphics cards currently available.
| | NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE |  | XFX Speedster Merc 310 |
| /10 | |
| OC |  | SAPPHIRE NITRO+ |
| /10 | |
| PLUG |  | Gigabyte Gaming OC |
| /10 | |
| CHEAPEST |  | ASRock Phantom OC |
| /10 | |
| COMPACT |  | AMD Reference |
| /10 |
*To read our full overviews on each of the RX 7900 XT graphics cards in this guide, click on the “Read Review »” link.
1. XFX Speedster Merc 310 RX 7900 XT
Best Value RX 7900 XTX
- 2535 MHz Clock Speed
- 20GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Triple Fan Cooling
- 13.5-inches Long
XFX is one of the most popular third-party AMD GPU brands, and when we look at the XFX Speedster Merc 310 RX 7900 XT, we can see why.
It might not be the fastest on this list, but the Speedster Merc 310 7900 XT offers fantastic gaming performance for the price. It’s currently going for about $850 on some retail sites in the US ($50 cheaper than the reference 7900 XT’s MSRP), and its Game Clock (the rough speed you can expect while gaming) is a respectable 2175MHz.
It performs great and keeps cool, but there are other things we should consider when looking at a GPU’s value, such as its warranty. This XFX graphics card should come with a three-year warranty, while many from other brands only come with a two-year warranty.
It also only requires 2x 8-pin power connectors, while the more powerful (and expensive) RX 7900 XTs require 3x 8-pin connectors. In other words, its power consumption should be lower than more expensive ones. It’s also only 5-inches wide from the PCIe slot upwards, making it one of the thinnest AIB 7900 XTs on this axis.
Finally—and although such judgments are always subjective—this 7900 XT looks gorgeous. It’s a little blocky, but this blockiness works well thanks to its metallic silver-white highlights surrounding the fans and the side vent. Oh, and its back panel is a light-colored metal, too, and this part of the GPU is what will be visible for most gaming PC setups.
2. SAPPHIRE NITRO+ RX 7900 XT
Best RX 7900 XT for Overclocking
- 2565 MHz Clock Speed
- 20GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Triple Fan Cooling
- 12.6-inches Long
All AMD RX 7900 XTs can increase their power limit by 15%, so in that respect they’re all capable of overclocking within the same margin, at least on paper. But power limits aren’t everything; also key for effective overclocking is a great cooling setup and VRM.
The Sapphire NITRO+ RX 7900 XT Vapor-X gives you all this: a +15% max power limit, fantastic cooling, and a seemingly great VRM.
Also Read: How to Overclock Your GPU to Boost Performance
Unlike for 7900 XTX AIBs, there isn’t much info online about the PCB circuitry of 7900 XT AIBs, so we can’t say too much about this card’s VRM. But if the NITRO+ 7900 XTX’s 17x 70A power stages are anything to go by (and they probably are) it should be smooth sailing for the NITRO+ 7900 XT.
Ultimately, though, nothing beats real-world results, and this is where this card seems to shine. Some NITRO+ 7900 XT users report hitting an overclock of about 3000MHz, all while keeping cool and quiet. The card’s stock boost clock speed is also one of the highest, so overclocking should be effective even without too much manual tinkering.
Admittedly, this card isn’t as cheap as the others on this list, as it’s currently going for about $1,300 online. But for this price you’re getting a non-reference design, which is how Sapphire has kept this card running so cool. It should run cooler and quieter than the XFX card above, which is why we’re confident that the NITRO+ best suits overclocking.
For this custom design and excellent overclocking capability, however, there’s a power cost. This card is rated for 368W TBP (Total Board Power) at stock, so its power consumption is quite high. And what might be more important if you’re looking to buy a 7900 XT, this NITRO+ Vapor-X card requires 3x 8-pin power connectors, while most other AIB models require only two.
Also Read: Four VR Ready PC Builds Right Now (Cheap, Mid-Range, & High-End)
The card also lacks a USB-C port. Most other AIB 7900 XTs lack this, but if you’re paying $1,300 for a GPU, you might hope it has all the features the cheaper reference model has. However, this will probably only be useful for VR futureproofing (VR doesn’t currently use USB-C pass-through).
3. Gigabyte Gaming OC RX 7900 XT
Best Plug N’ Play RX 7900 XT
- 2534 MHz Clock Speed
- 20GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Triple Fan Cooling
- 13.0-inches Long
The Gigabyte RX 7900 XT Gaming OC is probably the best ‘plug in and play’ 7900 XT on the market right now, given current prices. This is because it offers good stock clock speeds, cooling, and aesthetics for a reasonable price (currently about $950), making it a brilliant choice for those who want to plug their new GPU in and get rolling right away.
It competes closely with the XFX Speedster Merc 310 7900 XT in this regard. Both cards offer high game and boost clocks for the price. In fact, the Speedster might have won this best PnP award if it wasn’t also the best value 7900 XT of the bunch.
The main thing that might make the Gigabyte Gaming OC 7900 XT a better choice than the Speedster 7900 XT for gamers who want an easy, plug-n-play GPU, is its size. At 2-inches tall, it’s thinner than the Speedster Merc 310 (on this axis)—in fact, it’s as thin as the reference (MBA) 7900 XT. And although you should always check your case measurements for a GPU upgrade, a thinner graphics card should be easier to install than a bigger one in most PC cases.
This GPU also comes with 2x HDMI and 2x DP connections, unlike most other 7900 XTs which come with 1x HDMI and 3x DP connections. While this might make it worse for triple-screen DP setups, for anyone using one or two monitors, the versatility of an extra HDMI port might come in handy.
Given current prices, for a reasonably priced plug-n-play experience, you can’t beat the Gigabyte Gaming OC or XFX Speedster Merc 310 7900 XT. The XFX card has slightly higher clocks and costs a little less, but the Gigabyte card takes up fewer PCIe slots and has an extra HDMI port. Both are great choices—it’s your call.
4. ASRock Phantom OC RX 7900 XT
Cheapest AMD RX 7900 XT
- 2450 MHz Clock Speed
- 20GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Triple Fan Cooling
- 13.0-inches Long
The cheapest 7900 XT right now seems to be the ASRock RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming OC. While prices may change, right now the Phantom Gaming OC 7900 XT is retailing for about $800, $100 cheaper than the reference 7900 XT’s release MSRP.
In fact, because it’s so cheap, this card is a contender for the best value RX 7900 XT, too. The XFX Speedster Merc 310 7900 XT beats it on the clock speed, cooling, and aesthetics front, but it’s hard to argue with a $50 saving.
And while it’s only a sliver (2%) more powerful than the reference 7900 XT, that sliver isn’t nothing, especially considering it has a cheaper price tag than the reference model right now. Its game clock is 2075MHz, 50MHz higher than the reference model, and its boost clock is 2450MHz, 56MHz higher than reference.
ASRock is clearly gunning for both ends of the market with its 7900 XT models. Its ASRock Taichi OC model is a powerhouse of a GPU, on par with the Sapphire NITRO+ Vapor-X (but tending to cost a fair amount more than the Sapphire card). The ASRock Phantom Gaming OC 7900 XT, on the other hand, caters to the lower end of this market segment, cutting expenses by lowering quality but still delivering staple 7900 XT performance.
Its mid-2010s design might not be the most pleasing to the eye, and its build quality might not be as solid as other cards on this list, but it delivers decent rendering and thermal performance for about as cheap as you could hope for in this bracket.
5. AMD reference RX 7900 XT
Most Compact Radeon RX 7900 XT
- 2394 MHz Clock Speed
- 20GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Triple Fan Cooling
- 10.9-inches Long
This ‘made by AMD’ (MBA) RX 7900 XT is smaller than all the other AIB models, so if you have a small case or a large CPU cooler, this reference card might be the one for you.
The reference AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is smaller than all other cards on this list on all three axes (apart from the Gigabyte Gaming OC, which is just as thin on one axis). While it’s not a small card, per se, measuring 10.9-inches long, 4.3-inches wide, and 2-inches tall, it’s small by this extra-large GPU generation’s standards.
Of course, it also clocks lower than other AIB models, with a 2394MHz boost clock and 2025MHz game clock. This is how it can afford to be so small, because it doesn’t require a behemoth cooler capable of supporting higher clock speeds.
This isn’t to say that the card can’t be overclocked, though. TechPowerUp, for example, achieved an average GPU clock of 2663MHz with the reference 7900XT, and when paired with a +15% power limit increase, they gained more than 10fps in the Unigine Heaven benchmark compared to stock performance.
This card won’t achieve the lowest temperatures, or the highest clocks, compared to its AIB competitors, but it’s very well built and, providing it’s not faulty, should offer thermal performance and framerate capabilities not too far out of spitting distance from the more expensive 7900 XT models. It also has a USB-C port for VR futureproofing, if that’s your thing.
It does retail for $999, though, and there are cheaper options available like the Phantom Gaming OC 7900 XT. The main reason to opt for the MBA 7900 XT remains its size. That, or its minimalistic black and gray design, which does undoubtedly look very smart.
