Buying Guide
The Best 16GB GPUs
From the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and GPU, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
16GB of VRAM is the comfortable amount for 1440p gaming with high textures. Every pick has 16GB and cost $900 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by GPU, VRAM and memory, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips boost clock, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OCThe lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Getting white-and-silver Steel Legend finish for the least money.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16GThree WINDFORCE fans.
Best for: Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans.
Check price for Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GBA white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Check price for XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GBA white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Check price for XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB16GB of GDDR6 at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend costs less.
Check price for PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC
The Steel Legend adds a white-and-silver finish and a 2520MHz boost, and it has a 700W recommended power supply.
Best for
- Getting white-and-silver Steel Legend finish for the least money.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables.
Why we like it
It shares an RX 7800 XT gpu with the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC goes with an RX 7600 XT gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2520MHz boost clock; compare the XFX Swift 9060 XT White, which has a 3320MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 700W the maker's minimum PSU. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC the next step up.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7800 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Recommended PSU
- 700W
- Power connector
- 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2520MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White-and-silver Steel Legend finish
- 700W recommended PSU
- 2520MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
Also Consider2 of 5
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G
The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC stands out for three WINDFORCE fans, and it adds a 128-bit memory interface.
Best for
- Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory. It is the only pick here with an RX 7600 XT gpu; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend has an RX 7800 XT gpu instead. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC with the maker. Another plus: 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures. Its price falls between the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7600 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- 128-bit memory interface
- RX 7600 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB
The XFX Swift 9060 XT White stands out for a white triple-fan SWFT cooler, and it adds a boost clock of up to 3320MHz.
Best for
- Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory. Like the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses an RX 7600 XT gpu. It shares a 3320MHz boost clock with the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend goes with a 2520MHz boost clock.
No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift 9060 XT White; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the XFX Swift 9060 XT White with the maker. Its price falls between the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 3320MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White triple-fan SWFT cooler
- Boost clock of up to 3320MHz
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB
The XFX Mercury 9060 XT White is built around a white triple-fan MERC cooler, with a boost clock of up to 3320MHz on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory. Like the XFX Swift 9060 XT White, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses an RX 7800 XT gpu. It shares a 3320MHz boost clock with the XFX Swift 9060 XT White; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend goes with a 2520MHz boost clock.
No dimensions are published for the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White with the maker. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper XFX Swift 9060 XT White and the pricier PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 3320MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White triple-fan MERC cooler
- Boost clock of up to 3320MHz
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT is built around 16GB of GDDR6.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend costs less.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory. Like the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, it has an RX 7800 XT gpu, while the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White uses an RX 9060 XT gpu. No dimensions are published for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT with the maker. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and the rest. The trade-off is video memory; for more, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7800 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 16GB of GDDR6
- 16GB of GDDR6 at the highest price in the group
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and boost clock from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and boost clock is missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT give no boost clock.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend ($250 to $500) to the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a 16GB GPUs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Boost clock
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend lists 2520MHz; the XFX Swift 9060 XT White and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White list 3320MHz. Settling boost clock first narrows 3 picks to 2 or 1.
What to check at home
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Features beyond the spec table
The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC: a 128-bit memory interface. The XFX Swift 9060 XT White: a boost clock of up to 3320MHz. The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT: 16GB of GDDR6.
Budget
$250 to $500 buys the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC; $500 to $1000 buys the XFX Swift 9060 XT White, the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Getting white-and-silver Steel Legend finish for the least money: the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend. Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend costs less: the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT.
How to Choose a 16GB GPUs
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting white-and-silver Steel Legend finish for the least money | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans | Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC | Three WINDFORCE fans |
| Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler | XFX Swift 9060 XT White | A white triple-fan SWFT cooler |
| Buyers who want white triple-fan MERC cooler | XFX Mercury 9060 XT White | A white triple-fan MERC cooler |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend costs less | PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT | 16GB of GDDR6 at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Boost clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2520MHz |
| Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC | RX 7600 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| XFX Swift 9060 XT White | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 3320MHz |
| XFX Mercury 9060 XT White | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 3320MHz |
| PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, sat in the $250 to $500 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT at $500 to $1000; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC |
| About $500 to $1000 | XFX Swift 9060 XT White, XFX Mercury 9060 XT White, PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend the Lowest Price Here?
It carries the badge for the lowest price of the group at our last check. It makes sense for getting white-and-silver Steel Legend finish for the least money.
Do the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC differ on GPU?
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT use RX 7800 XT; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses RX 7600 XT; the XFX Swift 9060 XT White and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White use RX 9060 XT.
What should I check before buying the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT?
No dimensions are published for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT with the maker. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, as our Premium Pick.
Beyond the specs, what sets the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC apart?
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend: a white-and-silver Steel Legend finish. The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC: three WINDFORCE fans. The XFX Swift 9060 XT White: a white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Who should choose the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT?
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT carries our Premium Pick label for 16GB of GDDR6 at the highest price in the group. It ranks fifth of 5 here and sat in the $500 to $1000 tier at our last price check; it suits buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend costs less.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC for three WINDFORCE fans, the XFX Swift 9060 XT White for a white triple-fan SWFT cooler and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White for a white triple-fan MERC cooler if those matter more to you.
The memory bus matters too; a 16GB card on a narrow bus can still trail a 12GB card on a wider one.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1440p Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Budget Graphics Cards
- Lower budgetThe Best GPUs Between $280 and $400
- Similar guideThe Best Graphics Cards
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power suppliesPSU Power Spikes and ATX 3.x: What to Check Beyond Wattage
- Similar guideThe Best 8GB GPUs
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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