Buying Guide
The Best AMD Radeon Graphics Cards
Five Radeon graphics cards from the RX 7600 to the RX 9070 XT, compared on VRAM, size, power plugs and cooling.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
AMD's Radeon line runs from budget 1080p cards to the RX 9070 XT, and every card here uses standard 8-pin PCIe power plugs rather than a 16-pin connector. The main choices are how much memory you need and how large a card your case takes.
We compared these five Radeon cards using maker specifications and Amazon listings; the guide is research-based, not a hands-on test. Check FSR support in the games you play.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best AMD High-End
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB OCAn RX 9070 XT with a 3030MHz OC-mode boost and a 2.5-slot cooler.
Best for: 1440p and 4K gaming on AMD.
Check price for ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Mid-Range Radeon
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9070 OC Triple Fan Gaming Edition16GB of GDDR6 on the RX 9070.
Best for: 1440p gaming for less than an RX 9070 XT.
Check price for XFX Swift Radeon RX 9070 OC Triple Fan Gaming Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Documented RX 9070 XT
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Steel Legend 16GBA 298mm length, 2.9-slot width and 800W PSU guidance.
Best for: Builders who want every fit figure up front.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Steel Legend 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Radeon
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GAn RX 9060 XT with a WINDFORCE cooler.
Best for: 1080p gaming on RDNA 4.
Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Power Needs
ASRock Radeon RX 7600 Challenger Pro 8GB OCA 550W PSU recommendation.
Best for: Older PCs with a smaller power supply.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7600 Challenger Pro 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best AMD High-End1 of 5
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB OC
ASUS's Prime RX 9070 XT lists the highest boost clock among these Radeon cards and keeps to 2.5 slots.
Best for
- 1440p and 4K gaming on AMD.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
A quiet/performance BIOS switch and 0dB fan stop make it easy to live with. On video memory it ties with the XFX Swift RX 9070 and the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend at 16GB. It matches the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro on cooler thickness (2.5-slot).
It shares an RX 9070 XT gpu with the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend; the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro goes with an RX 7600 gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 3030MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, which has a 2695MHz boost clock. It also comes with dual-ball fan bearings.
The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. It was priced above the XFX Swift RX 9070 and below the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 3030MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Quiet/performance BIOS switch
- 0dB fan stop
- Dual-ball fan bearings
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published card length figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend comes in at 298mm.
Best Mid-Range Radeon2 of 5
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9070 OC Triple Fan Gaming Edition
The RX 9070 keeps 16GB of memory but costs less than the XT.
Best for
- 1440p gaming for less than an RX 9070 XT.
Skip if
- Its cooler thickness is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
XFX's Swift version uses a triple-fan cooler with a 2700MHz boost and three DisplayPort outputs. It is the RX-97SWFB3B9 model with one HDMI port and three DisplayPort outputs, and it carries 16GB of GDDR6 under a triple-fan cooling solution. It matches the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT and the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend on video memory (16GB).
No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9070 gpu; compare the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, which has an RX 9060 XT gpu. You get a 2700MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend and its a 2970MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9070; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the pricier ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 2700MHz
- Outputs
- 1 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- XFX SWFT triple-fan cooler
- RX 9070 gpu, the only one here
- 2700MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its card length; if that figure matters, the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend comes in at 298mm.
Best Documented RX 9070 XT3 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Steel Legend 16GB
ASRock's Steel Legend is the RX 9070 XT to choose when you want to check the fit before buying: 298mm long, 2.9 slots, two 8-pin plugs and an 800W PSU are all listed.
Best for
- Builders who want every fit figure up front.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: calls for a 800W or larger PSU.
Why we like it
The card measures 298 x 131 x 58mm, and its 16GB of GDDR6 runs at 20Gbps on a 256-bit bus. Outputs are DisplayPort 2.1a and HDMI 2.1b, and the game clock is 2400MHz. On video memory it ties with the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT and the XFX Swift RX 9070 at 16GB.
Its 2.9-slot cooler thickness is the thickest in this group; the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT leads at 2.5-slot. It shares an RX 9070 XT gpu with the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT; the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB goes with an RX 9060 XT gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2970MHz boost clock; compare the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, which has a 3030MHz (OC mode) boost clock. Only the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 298mm
- Thickness
- 2.9-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 800W
- Power connector
- 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2970MHz
- Outputs
- DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 64 compute units
- Polychrome SYNC lighting
- Reinforced metal frame
Cons
- Calls for a 800W or larger PSU
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Cooler thickness trails the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT (2.5-slot)
The catch
It gives ground on cooler thickness, where the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT comes in at 2.5-slot.
Best Budget Radeon4 of 5
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8G
Gigabyte's RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB is the entry to AMD's RDNA 4 generation, with Hawk fans and RGB lighting.
Best for
- 1080p gaming on RDNA 4.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Its 8GB of memory suits 1080p more than 1440p. It matches the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro on video memory (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT gpu; compare the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend, which has an RX 9070 XT gpu.
It also offers server-grade thermal conductive gel. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB; 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 RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB with the maker. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro and the pricier XFX Swift RX 9070, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans
- Server-grade thermal conductive gel
- RGB lighting
- RX 9060 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its card length; if that figure matters, the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend comes in at 298mm.
Lowest Power Needs5 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7600 Challenger Pro 8GB OC
The RX 7600 is the older RDNA 3 chip, but ASRock's Challenger Pro asks for only a 550W PSU and one 8-pin plug.
Best for
- Older PCs with a smaller power supply.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
It is 303mm long, so check clearance in small cases. It matches the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB on video memory (8GB). On cooler thickness it ties with the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT at 2.5-slot.
No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7600 gpu; compare the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend, which has an RX 9070 XT gpu. You get a 2695MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT and its a 3030MHz (OC mode) boost clock. You also get a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop, 32MB of Infinity Cache, a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and a metal backplate.
Measure for 303mm and 2.5 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro. It undercut the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7600
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 303mm
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 550W
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2695MHz
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Pros
- A modest 550W PSU recommendation
- A single 8-pin power connector
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- 32MB of Infinity Cache
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT (16GB)
The catch
The trade-off is video memory; for more, the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT offers 16GB.
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 card length from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and card length and cooler thickness are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT to the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, the XFX Swift RX 9070 and the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB give no card length; the XFX Swift RX 9070 and the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro ($250 to $500) to the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in an AMD GPUs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
Across these 5 picks video memory spans 8GB (the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro) to 16GB (the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT). For less, the XFX Swift RX 9070 is the runner-up at 16GB.
Cooler thickness across these picks
Here cooler thickness runs from 2.9-slot on the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend to 2.5-slot on the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, a 14% spread. The ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro comes second at 2.5-slot, in the $250 to $500 tier against $500 to $1000 for the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT. The XFX Swift RX 9070 and the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Card length
Here card length runs from 303mm on the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro to 298mm on the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend, a 2% spread. The ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend is the pick for card length. The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, the XFX Swift RX 9070 and the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB give no card length figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend lists 2 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro lists 1 x 8-pin. Settling power connector first narrows 2 picks to 1 or 1.
What to check at home
The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9070; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 298mm and 2.9 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend.
How to Choose an AMD GPUs
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1440p and 4K gaming on AMD | ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT | An RX 9070 XT with a 3030MHz OC-mode boost and a 2.5-slot cooler |
| 1440p gaming for less than an RX 9070 XT | XFX Swift RX 9070 | 16GB of GDDR6 on the RX 9070 |
| Builders who want every fit figure up front | ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend | A 298mm length, 2.9-slot width and 800W PSU guidance |
| 1080p gaming on RDNA 4 | Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB | An RX 9060 XT with a WINDFORCE cooler |
| Older PCs with a smaller power supply | ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro | A 550W PSU recommendation |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the XFX Swift RX 9070 at 16GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, the XFX Swift RX 9070 and the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT | RX 9070 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| XFX Swift RX 9070 | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend | RX 9070 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 298mm |
| Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro | RX 7600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 303mm |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, sat in the $250 to $500 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend at $500 to $1000; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB |
| About $500 to $1000 | XFX Swift RX 9070, ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend ahead of the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro on card length?
The ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend comes out best at 298mm, with the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro at 303mm. The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, the XFX Swift RX 9070 and the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB don't state a card length figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Which has the lowest recommended power supply: the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro or the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend?
The ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro is lowest on recommended power supply at 550W; the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend follows at 800W, 31% apart. No recommended power supply figure is published for the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, the XFX Swift RX 9070 and the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend worth paying more than the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro?
What it brings is video memory (16GB against 8GB) and card length (298mm against 303mm). It does not win everywhere: the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro still leads on cooler thickness (2.5-slot) and recommended power supply (550W). The ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro sat in the $250 to $500 tier and the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory and card length decide your purchase.
What makes the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend the Best Documented RX 9070 XT?
It carries the badge for a 298mm length, 2.9-slot width and 800W PSU guidance. It gives up cooler thickness (2.9-slot against 2.5-slot) and recommended power supply (800W against 550W) to the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, the cheapest pick. It makes sense for builders who want every fit figure up front.
Do the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT and the XFX Swift RX 9070 differ on GPU?
The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT and the ASRock RX 9070 XT Steel Legend use RX 9070 XT; the XFX Swift RX 9070 uses RX 9070; the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB uses RX 9060 XT; the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro uses RX 7600.
What should I check before buying the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT?
The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT with the maker. In this guide it ranks first of 5, as our Best AMD High-End pick, and first of 5 on video memory (16GB).
Bottom Line
The ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT is the best all-round Radeon, the XFX Swift RX 9070 keeps 16GB for less, and the ASRock Steel Legend is the best-documented RX 9070 XT.
For 1080p, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT 8GB is the current-generation budget pick, and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro suits older, lower-wattage systems.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best AMD CPUs for Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 4K Gaming
- Related guideThe Best 750W Power Supplies for Upper Mid-Range Gaming PCs
- Lower budgetThe Best Budget Graphics Cards
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power supplies80 Plus Ratings Explained
- Similar guideThe Best AMD Graphics Card
- Topic hubAll graphics cards guides
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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