Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Dave the Diver
Five graphics cards compared, from the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE to the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Dave the Diver sits well within what current cards offer, and the same card also covers heavier games in your library. Every pick is a Radeon RX or Intel Arc card that cost $700 or less, ordered from the highest price.
We sorted these picks by GPU, VRAM and memory, working from the makers' own data; if a maker skips thickness, the guide says so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Premium Pick
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G
The 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 Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC costs.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7700 XT Gaming OC 12G
Three WINDFORCE fans.
Best for: Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte Radeon RX 7700 XT Gaming OC 12G (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
A 2565MHz boost clock.
Best for: Buyers who want 2565MHz boost clock.
Our take Check price for Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB OC Edition
A 2.5-slot design.
Best for: Buyers who want 2.5-slot design.
Our take Check price for ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB OC Edition (opens in a new tab)
Solid Runner-Up
XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB
A white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Our take Check price for XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Premium Pick1 of 5
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC costs.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It leaves more of the budget for the CPU, board and memory. It matches the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White on video memory (16GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 9070 gpu; the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC has an RX 7700 XT gpu instead.
You also get 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 most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC. Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE, which comes in at 2.5-slot.
Key dimensions & 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
- Costs more than the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 5
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7700 XT Gaming OC 12G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC brings to the table is three WINDFORCE fans, plus RGB Fusion lighting and a metal backplate.
Best for
- Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory. It matches the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE on video memory (12GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 7700 XT gpu; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC has an RX 9070 gpu instead.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 7700 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 7700 XT Gaming OC with the maker. Its price falls between the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE, which comes in at 2.5-slot.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7700 XT
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- RGB Fusion lighting and a metal backplate
- RX 7700 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Sapphire's Nitro+ is a 320mm, 3-slot triple-fan RX 7800 XT with a 2565MHz boost.
Best for
- Buyers who want 2565MHz boost clock.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: its 3-slot cooler covers the slots below.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White at 16GB. An RX 7800 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC uses an RX 7700 XT gpu. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT with the maker.
You also get this: 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures. It was priced above the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and below the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7800 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 320mm
- Thickness: 3-slot
- Boost clock: 2565MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 2565MHz boost clock
- 3-slot triple-fan Nitro+ cooler
- RX 7800 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Its 3-slot cooler covers the slots below
- Costs more than the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE brings to the table is a 2.5-slot design, plus a dual BIOS switch.
Best for
- Buyers who want 2.5-slot design.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC offers 16GB.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory and offers a 2.5-slot cooler thickness. On video memory it ties with the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC at 12GB. You get an RX 9070 GRE gpu here, which sets it apart from the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and its an RX 9060 XT gpu.
The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE 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 ATS 9070 GRE with the maker. Video memory is its weakest area, and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC covers it better at 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9070 GRE
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- 2.5-slot design
- Dual BIOS switch
- Slimmest cooler thickness of the picks (2.5-slot)
Cons
- Video memory trails the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC (16GB)
Solid Runner-Up5 of 5
XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory. It matches the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT on video memory (16GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT gpu; compare the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT, which has an RX 7800 XT gpu.
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. The maker doesn't give its cooler thickness; if that figure matters, the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE comes in at 2.5-slot.
Key dimensions & 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
- RX 9060 XT gpu, the only one here
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and cooler thickness and boost clock are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC to the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White give no cooler thickness; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE give no boost clock.
- Price range
- From the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE to the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a GPUs for Dave the Diver
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory across these picks
Across these 5 picks video memory spans 12GB (the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE) to 16GB (the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC). For less, the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT is the runner-up at 16GB ($500 to $1000 tier).
Cooler thickness
Here cooler thickness runs from 3-slot on the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT to 2.5-slot on the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE, a 17% spread. Start with the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE if cooler thickness decides it. The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White give no cooler thickness figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Boost clock
The Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT lists 2565MHz; the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White lists 3320MHz.
Setup checks
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 320mm and 3 slots before ordering the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT. The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
Features beyond the spec table
The Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT: a 3-slot triple-fan Nitro+ cooler. The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE: a dual BIOS switch. The XFX Mercury 9060 XT White: a boost clock of up to 3320MHz.
How to Choose a GPUs for Dave the Diver
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans and can spend more than the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC costs | Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans |
| Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans | Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC | Three WINDFORCE fans |
| Buyers who want 2565MHz boost clock | Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT | A 2565MHz boost clock |
| Buyers who want 2.5-slot design | ASUS ATS 9070 GRE | A 2.5-slot design |
| Buyers who want white triple-fan MERC cooler | XFX Mercury 9060 XT White | A white triple-fan MERC cooler |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC | RX 7700 XT | 12GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 3-slot |
| ASUS ATS 9070 GRE | RX 9070 GRE | 12GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| XFX Mercury 9060 XT White | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE ahead of the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT on cooler thickness?
The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE is lowest on cooler thickness at 2.5-slot; the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT follows at 3-slot, 17% apart. The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White don't state a cooler thickness figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC worth paying more than the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE?
The spec sheets show video memory (16GB against 12GB) in its favour. Both sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, so the gains in video memory cost little extra by tier.
What makes the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC the Premium Pick?
It earns the label for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans. It suits anyone who wants a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans and can spend more than the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC costs.
Do the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC differ on GPU?
The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC uses RX 9070; the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC uses RX 7700 XT; the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT uses RX 7800 XT; the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE uses RX 9070 GRE; the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White uses RX 9060 XT.
What should I check before buying the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT?
Measure for 320mm and 3 slots before ordering the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT with the maker. In this guide it ranks third of 5, and second of 5 on video memory (16GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC apart?
The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC: a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans. The Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC: three WINDFORCE fans. The Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT: a 2565MHz boost clock.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, chosen for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans. Look at the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC for three WINDFORCE fans, the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT for a 2565MHz boost clock and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE for a 2.5-slot design if those matter more to you.
Check the card's power connector against your power supply before ordering.