Buying Guide

The Best GPUs for Escape from Tarkov

We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and card length, and the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger costs the least.

By The PC Journal editorial team

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 length, the guide says so.

Quick Picks

Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.

  1. Also Consider

    ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming OC 20GB

    80MB of Infinity Cache.

    Best for: Buyers who want 80MB of Infinity Cache.

    Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming OC 20GB (opens in a new tab)

  2. Premium Pick

    ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White 20GB OC

    The top of this price range, adding a white shroud and backplate.

    Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.

    Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White 20GB OC (opens in a new tab)

  3. Lowest Price Here

    ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC

    Undercutting the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on price when we checked.

    Best for: Keeping the budget tight.

    Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)

  4. Strong Alternative

    ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

    A dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.

    Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.

    Our take Check price for ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB (opens in a new tab)

  5. Worth a Look

    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)

Our Picks

ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming OC 20GB

Also Consider1 of 5

ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming OC 20GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

ASRock's Phantom Gaming OC offers a 2450MHz boost, 80MB of Infinity Cache and two 8-pin power connectors.

Best for

Buyers who want 80MB of Infinity Cache.

Skip if

Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables.

Why we like it

It was the least expensive 7900 XT here at the time of writing. It matches the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White on video memory (20GB). Like the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, it has an RX 7900 XT gpu, while the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger uses an RX 7800 XT gpu.

You get a 2450MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT and its a 2565MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT and the pricier ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, 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 dimensions & specs

  • GPU: RX 7900 XT
  • VRAM: 20GB
  • Memory: GDDR6
  • Power connector: 2 x 8-pin
  • Boost clock: 2450MHz

Pros

  • 20GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
  • 80MB of Infinity Cache
  • Triple-fan Phantom Gaming cooler
  • 2450MHz boost clock, the only one here

Cons

  • Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
  • No published cooler thickness
  • Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger at the time of writing
ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White 20GB OC

Premium Pick2 of 5

ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White 20GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The Phantom Gaming White is ASRock's white 7900 XT, with a white shroud and backplate on a 320-bit memory bus.

Best for

Spending more for the fullest feature set.

Skip if

Skip it if you need to know its cooler thickness before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.

Why we like it

A reinforced metal frame keeps the card from sagging in the slot. It shares an RX 7900 XT gpu with the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming; the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB goes with an RX 9060 XT 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 ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming the nearest cheaper option. 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.

Key dimensions & 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
  • The top of this price range, adding a white shroud and backplate

Cons

  • No published cooler thickness
  • Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger at the time of writing
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC

Lowest Price Here3 of 5

ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

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

Keeping the budget tight.

Skip if

Pass on it if needs two 8-pin PCIe power cable rules it out for your setup.

Why we like it

On video memory it ties with the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT at 16GB. It matches the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on cooler thickness (2.5-slot). It shares an RX 7800 XT gpu with the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT; the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White goes with an RX 7900 XT gpu.

It is the only pick here with a 2475MHz boost clock; the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB has a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock instead. Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 750W the maker's minimum PSU. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB was closest. What it gives up: video memory of 16GB, behind the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming (20GB); by contrast, the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming offers 20GB.

Key dimensions & 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
  • Video memory of 16GB, behind the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming (20GB)
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Strong Alternative4 of 5

ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

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 Challenger cost less when we checked.

Why we like it

On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT at 16GB. It matches the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger on cooler thickness (2.5-slot). An RX 9060 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White uses an RX 7900 XT gpu.

No other pick in this guide offers a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, which has a 2475MHz 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.

It was priced above the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and below the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT at the time of writing. There is no published card length figure, whereas the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger comes in at 267mm.

Key dimensions & 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
  • Cooler thickness of 2.5-slot, ahead of the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT

Cons

  • Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger at the time of writing
Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT

Worth a Look5 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

Choose another pick if you can't accept this: its 3-slot cooler covers the slots below.

Why we like it

It matches the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on video memory (16GB). On cooler thickness it trails the group at 3-slot, while the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger comes in at 2.5-slot. Like the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, it has an RX 7800 XT gpu, while the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White uses an RX 7900 XT gpu.

You get a 2565MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming and its a 2450MHz boost clock. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT with the maker. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the pricier ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, at the time of writing. The trade-off is video memory; for more, the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming offers 20GB.

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

Cons

  • Its 3-slot cooler covers the slots below
  • Video memory trails the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming (20GB)
  • Cooler thickness trails the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger (2.5-slot)

How We Chose

Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.

How these picks were ranked
We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
What every pick has in common
All 5, from the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming to the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
Where the specs have gaps
The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB give no card length; the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming and the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White give no cooler thickness.
Price range
From the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger to the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.

What to Look for in a GPUs for Escape from Tarkov

Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.

  1. How much video memory you need

    Here video memory runs from 16GB on the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT to 20GB on the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming. Start with the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming if video memory decides it.

  2. Cooler thickness

    Here cooler thickness runs from 3-slot on the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT to 2.5-slot on the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger. The ASRock 7800 XT Challenger is the pick for cooler thickness. No figure for the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming and the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White.

  3. Card length

    Here card length runs from 320mm on the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT to 267mm on the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger. Start with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger if card length decides it. No figure for the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB.

  4. Setup checks

    No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 267mm and 2.5 slots before ordering the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger. 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.

  5. Extras that separate them

    The ASRock 7800 XT Challenger: a dual-fan Challenger cooler. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB: 0dB fan stop at light load. The Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT: a 3-slot triple-fan Nitro+ cooler.

  6. Plan the power connector and PSU

    Cards use one or two 8-pin PCIe plugs or a single 16-pin 12V-2x6 plug. Confirm your power supply has the right cables and meets the maker's recommended wattage.

How to Choose a GPUs for Escape from Tarkov

By priority

PriorityConsiderWhy
Buyers who want 80MB of Infinity CacheASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming80MB of Infinity Cache
Spending more for the fullest feature setASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming WhiteThe top of this price range, adding a white shroud and backplate
Keeping the budget tightASRock 7800 XT ChallengerUndercutting the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on price when we checked
Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profilesASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GBA dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles
Buyers who want 2565MHz boost clockSapphire Nitro+ 7800 XTA 2565MHz boost clock

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Key specs side by side

The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming leads on video memory at 20GB, ahead of the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White at 20GB. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.

CardGPUVRAMMemoryLength
ASRock 7900 XT Phantom GamingRX 7900 XT20GBGDDR6Not listed
ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming WhiteRX 7900 XT20GBGDDR6Not listed
ASRock 7800 XT ChallengerRX 7800 XT16GBGDDR6267mm
ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GBRX 9060 XT16GBGDDR6Not listed
Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XTRX 7800 XT16GBGDDR6320mm

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger ahead of the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT on card length?

The ASRock 7800 XT Challenger comes out best at 267mm, with the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT at 320mm. The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB don't state a figure, so they sit outside this comparison.

What does the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White add over the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger?

On paper it adds video memory (20GB against 16GB). The ASRock 7800 XT Challenger was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.

Why is the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger our Lowest Price Here pick?

It earns the label for undercutting the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on price when we checked. It suits keeping the budget tight.

Do the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming and the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger differ on GPU?

The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming and the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White use RX 7900 XT; the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT use RX 7800 XT; the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB uses RX 9060 XT.

Will the Sapphire Nitro+ 7800 XT work with my setup?

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 fifth of 5.

What extras do the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming and the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White include?

The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming: 80MB of Infinity Cache. The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White: a white shroud and backplate. The ASRock 7800 XT Challenger: a 267mm length.

Bottom Line

Our first pick is the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, chosen for 80MB of Infinity Cache. Look at the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming White for the top of this price range, adding a white shroud and backplate, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger for undercutting the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on price when we checked 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.