Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Black Desert
From the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and card length, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Black Desert's remastered mode and crowded towns push both GPU and memory. Every pick has 16GB or more of video memory and cost $900 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
Black Desert's official PC requirements list GeForce GTX 1660 Super and 16GB of RAM for the recommended tier (source: Black Desert on Steam). The recommended AMD card in that list isn't one we can rank, but against the minimum tier the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC are a newer generation than the RX 480.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: GPU, VRAM and memory come from each maker's published specs; nothing here was tested in-house, and a missing length is flagged, not filled in.
Requirements source: Black Desert on Steam
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
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OCA 267mm length.
Best for: Buyers who want 267mm length.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 Challenger 16GB OC56 compute units.
Best for: Buyers who want 56 compute units.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9070 Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16GThe highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Best for: Buyers who want a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans and can spend more than the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger costs.
Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G 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
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables.
Why we like it
On recommended power supply it ties with the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger at 700W. It shares an RX 7800 XT gpu with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC goes with an RX 7600 XT gpu. Like the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, it has a 2520MHz boost clock, while the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger uses a 2475MHz 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. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC was closest.
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
- Recommended power supply of 700W, ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
The catch
If you want a confirmed card length, look to the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger instead: it comes in at 267mm, while this one gives no figure.
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
- Its recommended power supply is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory. No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7600 XT gpu; compare the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, which has an RX 9070 gpu. 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. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the pricier ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its card length; if that figure matters, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger comes in at 267mm.
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
- No published recommended power supply
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC
ASRock's Challenger is a 267mm, 2.5-slot dual-fan RX 7800 XT with two 8-pin connectors and a 750W recommended power supply.
Best for
- Buyers who want 267mm length.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables.
Why we like it
Its 750W recommended power supply is the highest in this group; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend leads at 700W. Like the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, it has an RX 7800 XT gpu, while the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger uses an RX 9070 gpu. You get a 2475MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and its a 2520MHz boost clock.
Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 750W the maker's minimum PSU. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the pricier ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7800 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 267mm
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 750W
- Power connector
- 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2475MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 267mm length
- Dual-fan Challenger cooler
- Shortest card length of the picks (267mm)
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Recommended power supply trails the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (700W)
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is recommended power supply; for more, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 700W.
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 Challenger 16GB OC
ASRock's RX 9070 Challenger is the most completely documented card here: 290mm long, 2.5 slots, two 8-pin plugs and a 700W PSU.
Best for
- Buyers who want 56 compute units.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables.
Why we like it
Its 16GB of memory on a 256-bit bus suits 1440p at high settings. The card uses AMD's RDNA 4 architecture with 56 compute units and 3,584 stream processors, 3rd-gen ray tracing and 2nd-gen AI accelerators. Its game clock is 2070MHz, and the 16GB of GDDR6 runs at 20Gbps.
It measures 290 x 123 x 51mm, so verify case clearance before buying. It matches the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on recommended power supply (700W). Like the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, it has an RX 9070 gpu, while the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger uses an RX 7800 XT gpu.
It shares a 2520MHz boost clock with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger goes with a 2475MHz boost clock. You also get a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop. Its price falls between the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 290mm
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 700W
- Power connector
- 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2520MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 56 compute units
- 256-bit memory bus at 20Gbps
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G
Gigabyte's RX 9070 Gaming OC is the lowest-cost card here, with 16GB of GDDR6 and a WINDFORCE cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans and can spend more than the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger costs.
Skip if
- Its recommended power supply is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It leaves more of the budget for the CPU, board and memory. Like the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, it has an RX 9070 gpu, while the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses an RX 7600 XT gpu. It also offers server-grade thermal conductive gel and RGB lighting.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9070 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 RX 9070 Gaming OC 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 ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the rest.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans
- Server-grade thermal conductive gel
- RGB lighting
Cons
- No published recommended power supply
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is video memory; for more, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend 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.
- The figures behind the order
- We compared five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 3 of 5 picks leave out card length.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC give no card length; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend ($250 to $500) to the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Black Desert
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much recommended power supply you need
Across these 3 picks recommended power supply spans 750W (the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger) to 700W (the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend). If recommended power supply is your first filter, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend sets the ceiling at 700W. The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC give no recommended power supply figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
Card length across these picks
Here card length runs from 290mm on the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger to 267mm on the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, an 8% spread. Start with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger if card length decides it. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC give no card length figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card 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. Measure for 267mm and 2.5 slots before ordering the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger. Measure for 290mm and 2.5 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger.
Features beyond the spec table
The ASRock 7800 XT Challenger: a dual-fan Challenger cooler. The ASRock RX 9070 Challenger: a 256-bit memory bus at 20Gbps. The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC: server-grade thermal conductive gel.
Budget
$250 to $500 buys the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC; $500 to $1000 buys the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC at our last check.
How to Choose a GPUs for Black Desert
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 267mm length | ASRock 7800 XT Challenger | A 267mm length |
| Buyers who want 56 compute units | ASRock RX 9070 Challenger | 56 compute units |
| Buyers who want a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans and can spend more than the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger costs | Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend leads on recommended power supply at 700W, ahead of the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger at 700W. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC | RX 7600 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock 7800 XT Challenger | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 267mm |
| ASRock RX 9070 Challenger | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | 290mm |
| Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | RX 9070 | 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 Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC 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 | ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these cards run Black Desert at recommended settings?
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC can only be checked against the minimum card, because the recommended one isn't ranked for that brand. Black Desert also lists 16GB of system RAM for that tier, which is separate from the card.
How does the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger compare with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger on card length?
Between the top two, it is 267mm on the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger against 290mm on the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, an 8% difference. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC are left out of this ranking because their card length isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
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 is aimed at 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 ASRock 7800 XT Challenger use RX 7800 XT; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses RX 7600 XT; the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC use RX 9070.
What should I check before buying the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend?
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. In this guide it ranks first of 5, as our Lowest Price Here pick, and first of 3 on recommended power supply (700W).
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 ASRock 7800 XT Challenger: a 267mm length.
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 ASRock 7800 XT Challenger for a 267mm length and the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger for 56 compute units if those matter more to you.
Use the game's optimization mode in large siege battles.
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 Under $300
- Higher budgetThe Best High-End GPUs
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power supplies12V-2x6 vs 12VHPWR vs 8-Pin PCIe: What Your PSU Needs to Provide
- Similar guideThe Best GPUs for Black Myth: Wukong
- 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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