Building a gaming PC? Your most crucial decision is the graphics card. AMD offers compelling options, especially if you prioritize performance without breaking the bank. All current-generation AMD cards support ray tracing and FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), an upscaling technology widely adopted in PC games. While higher-end cards exist, AMD GPUs like the Radeon RX 9070 XT deliver exceptional 4K performance at a reasonable price, avoiding the exorbitant costs of some competitors. For 1440p gaming, AMD shines, offering excellent value.

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Top AMD Graphics Cards

Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX

Best 4K AMD Graphics Card. See it at Amazon

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

Best Overall AMD Graphics Card. See it at Newegg

AMD Radeon RX 9070

Best AMD Graphics Card for 1440p. See it at Newegg

Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce

Best AMD Graphics Card for 1080p. See it at Amazon

XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600

Best Budget AMD Graphics Card. See it at Amazon

AMD's architecture powers the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, potentially aiding PC game optimization. However, this doesn't guarantee perfect performance. For Nvidia options, see our Nvidia graphics card guide.

Choosing the right AMD GPU depends on your target resolution and budget. Let's delve into the essentials.

Graphics Card Basics

Graphics cards are complex. Focus on these key aspects for AMD cards: generation, model number suffixes (XT, XTX), and specifications.

AMD's naming convention recently changed. Cards starting with '9' are current-gen; '7' and '6' represent previous generations. 'XT' and 'XTX' denote performance increments within a generation. Older three-digit model numbers (e.g., RX 580) are outdated unless extremely cheap.

Generally, higher numbers indicate better performance. Key specs include VRAM (video memory), compute units, and RT Cores (for ray tracing).

VRAM: 8GB suffices for 1080p; aim for 12-16GB at 1440p; maximize VRAM for 4K. Compute units contain streaming multiprocessors (SMs), contributing to performance. More RT Cores enhance ray tracing capabilities.

Ensure your PC case and power supply (PSU) are compatible with your chosen card. Check the recommended PSU wattage for each card.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

Excellent 4K performance at a competitive price. Features FSR 4 for enhanced image quality. See it at Newegg

Product Specifications:

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 4096
• Base Clock: 1660 MHz
• Game Clock: 2400 MHz
• Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6
• Memory Bandwidth: 644.6 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 256-bit
• Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin

Pros: Excellent 4K performance, ample VRAM. Cons: Availability may be an issue.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7900 XTX

High-end 4K performance, excellent value for its price. See it at Amazon

Product Specifications:

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 6144
• Base Clock: 1929 MHz
• Game Clock: 2365 MHz
• Video Memory: 24GB
• Memory Bandwidth: 960 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 384-bit
• Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin
• Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.1a, 2 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x USB-C

Pros: Exceptional 4K performance, abundant VRAM. Cons: Can lag behind in ray tracing compared to some competitors.

AMD Radeon RX 9070

AMD Radeon RX 9070

Excellent 1440p performance with FSR 4 support. See it at Newegg

Product Specifications:

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 3584
• Base Clock: 1330 MHz
• Game Clock: 2520 MHz
• Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6
• Memory Bandwidth: 644.6 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 256-bit
• Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin

Pros: Excellent 1440p performance, FSR 4. Cons: Price is close to the RX 9070 XT.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC Windforce

Solid 1080p performance at a budget-friendly price. See it at Amazon

Product Specifications:

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 2048
• Base Clock: 1980 MHz
• Game Clock: 2470 MHz
• Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6
• Memory Bandwidth: 288 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 128-bit
• Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
• Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.1a, 3 x DisplayPort 2.1

Pros: Strong performance for the price, compact size. Cons: May struggle with demanding games and ray tracing.

XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600

XFX Speedster SWFT Radeon RX 6600

Budget-friendly option, ideal for 1080p gaming, especially esports titles. See it at Amazon

Product Specifications:

• Streaming Multiprocessors: 1792
• Base Clock: 1626 MHz
• Game Clock: 2044 MHz
• Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6
• Memory Bandwidth: 224 GB/s
• Memory Bus: 128-bit
• Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
• Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.1, 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a

Pros: Affordable, great for esports. Cons: Last-gen card, may struggle with demanding titles.

FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution)

AMD's upscaling technology improves performance by rendering at a lower resolution and upscaling to your native resolution. FSR 4 uses AI for higher quality. FSR frame generation adds extra frames for smoother gameplay (best at 50-60fps or higher).

Ray Tracing

Ray tracing realistically renders light in 3D scenes. RT Cores in AMD GPUs accelerate this process. Full ray tracing (path tracing) is becoming more common, significantly enhancing visuals but demanding more GPU power.