Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Escape from Tarkov
We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and cooler thickness; the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White has the largest video memory, and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend costs the least.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Tarkov's large maps use lots of VRAM. Every pick has 12GB+ and cost $800 or less.
Rankings weigh GPU, VRAM and memory as the makers state them; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and if a maker skips thickness, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Largest Video Memory
ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White 20GB OCThe largest video memory here (20GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White 20GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC32 compute units.
Best for: Buyers who want 32 compute units.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GBA dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Check price for ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9070 OC Triple Fan Gaming EditionAn XFX SWFT triple-fan cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want XFX SWFT triple-fan cooler.
Check price for XFX Swift Radeon RX 9070 OC Triple Fan Gaming Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Largest Video Memory1 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White 20GB OC
The Phantom Gaming White is ASRock's white 7900 XT, with a white shroud and backplate on a 320-bit memory bus.
Best for
- Buyers who put video memory first.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
A reinforced metal frame keeps the card from sagging in the slot. On video memory it leads this guide at 20GB, ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB). You get an RX 7900 XT gpu here, which sets it apart from the XFX Swift RX 9070 and its an RX 9070 gpu.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming 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 ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White with the maker. At our last price check it topped the group, with the XFX Swift RX 9070 the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7900 XT
- VRAM
- 20GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- 20GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White shroud and backplate
- 320-bit memory bus
- RX 7900 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed cooler thickness, look to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB instead: it comes in at 2-slot, while this one gives no figure.
Lowest Price Here2 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
It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9070 on video memory (16GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7800 XT gpu; compare the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, which has an RX 9060 XT gpu. You get a 2520MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and its a 3290MHz 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 undercut the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
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
- RX 7800 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Video memory of 16GB, behind the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White (20GB)
The catch
The maker doesn't give its cooler thickness; if that figure matters, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes in at 2-slot.
Also Consider3 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
ASRock's Challenger gives the RX 9060 XT a full 16GB of memory in a two-slot, 249mm card.
Best for
- Buyers who want 32 compute units.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9070 at 16GB. It is the only pick here with a 3290MHz boost clock; the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB has a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock instead.
It also offers 32 compute units and 0dB fan stop at light load. Power for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 550W the maker's minimum PSU.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 249mm
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 550W
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 3290MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Short 249mm length suits compact cases
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A modest 550W PSU recommendation
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
The ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB offers a 3250MHz boost in OC mode with Quiet and Performance BIOS profiles and 0dB fan stop.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9070 at 16GB. It shares an RX 9060 XT gpu with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB; the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White goes with an RX 7900 XT gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which has a 3290MHz boost clock.
You also get 0dB fan stop at light load. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB 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 Dual 9060 XT 16GB with the maker. It was priced above the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and below the XFX Swift RX 9070 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 3250MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles
- 0dB fan stop at light load
- 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published recommended power supply figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 550W.
Worth a Look5 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
- Buyers who want XFX SWFT triple-fan cooler.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White offers 20GB.
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. On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB at 16GB.
An RX 9070 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses an RX 7800 XT gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2700MHz boost clock; compare the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, which has a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9070; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. It was priced above the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and below the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White 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
- Video memory trails the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White (20GB)
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
The catch
It gives ground on video memory, where the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White offers 20GB.
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.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and cooler thickness and recommended power supply are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White to the XFX Swift RX 9070, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift RX 9070 give no cooler thickness; the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9070 give no recommended power supply.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend ($250 to $500) to the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Escape from Tarkov
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White tops video memory at 20GB and the XFX Swift RX 9070 sits lowest at 16GB. If video memory is your first filter, the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White sets the ceiling at 20GB.
Cooler thickness
Here cooler thickness runs from 2.5-slot on the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB to 2-slot on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, a 20% spread. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is the pick for cooler thickness. The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift RX 9070 give no cooler thickness figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die Recommended power supply
Across these 2 picks recommended power supply spans 700W (the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend) to 550W (the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB). The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is the pick for recommended power supply. The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9070 give no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend lists 2 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB lists 1 x 8-pin. Settling power connector first narrows 2 picks to 1 or 1.
Setup checks
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
How to Choose a GPUs for Escape from Tarkov
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put video memory first | ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White | The largest video memory here (20GB) |
| 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 32 compute units | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | 32 compute units |
| Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles | ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB | A dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles |
| Buyers who want XFX SWFT triple-fan cooler | XFX Swift RX 9070 | An XFX SWFT triple-fan cooler |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White leads on video memory at 20GB, ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift RX 9070 leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White | RX 7900 XT | 20GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| XFX Swift RX 9070 | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend was the lowest-priced pick ($250 to $500) and the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White the highest ($500 to $1000) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend |
| About $500 to $1000 | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, XFX Swift RX 9070, ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on video memory?
The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White tops video memory at 20GB; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend follows at 16GB, 25% apart.
How does the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB compare with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on cooler thickness?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 2-slot, with the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB at 2.5-slot. The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift RX 9070 are left out of this ranking because their cooler thickness isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Which has the lowest recommended power supply: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB or the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend?
Between the top two, it is 550W on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB against 700W on the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, a 21% difference. No recommended power supply figure is published for the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9070, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What does the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White add over the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend?
On paper it adds video memory (20GB against 16GB). On our last price check the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend was in the $250 to $500 tier and the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White in the $500 to $1000 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
Why is the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White our Largest Video Memory pick?
It earns the label for the largest video memory here (20GB). On video memory it leads the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, 20GB against 16GB, a 25% margin. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the cheapest pick, sat in the $250 to $500 tier against $500 to $1000 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at anyone who puts video memory first.
Do the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend differ on GPU?
The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White uses RX 7900 XT; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses RX 7800 XT; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB use RX 9060 XT; the XFX Swift RX 9070 uses RX 9070.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, chosen for the largest video memory here (20GB). Look at the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend for the lowest price of the group at our last check, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB for 32 compute units and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB for a dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles if those matter more to you.
Tarkov is also CPU-bound; X3D chips help.
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 suppliesHow Much PSU Wattage Does Your PC Need?
- Similar guideThe Best AMD GPUs
- 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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