Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Monkey Island 2
Three graphics cards ranked on video memory and GPU, where the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming has the largest video memory; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Monkey Island 2 does not need a high-end card, which leaves room to choose on price, memory and video outputs. Every pick has at least 16GB of video memory and cost $800 or less, ordered from the highest price.
The order reflects GPU, VRAM and memory from maker specifications; a missing power connector is flagged, not filled in rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Largest Video Memory
ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming OC 20GB
The largest video memory here (20GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming OC 20GB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G
A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Best for: Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Getting white-and-silver Steel Legend finish for the least money.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The largest video memory here (20GB). | Buyers who put video memory first. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming OC 20GB (opens in a new tab) |
| A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans. | Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans. | Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Getting white-and-silver Steel Legend finish for the least money. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Largest Video Memory1 of 3
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 put video memory first.
Skip if
- Pass on it if needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It was the least expensive 7900 XT here at the time of writing. Nothing else here matches its 20GB video memory; the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC comes closest at 16GB. No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7900 XT gpu; compare the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC, which has an RX 9070 XT gpu.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC and the rest.
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
- RX 7900 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 3
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's RX 9070 XT Gaming OC pairs AMD's top RDNA 4 chip with 16GB of GDDR6 and a WINDFORCE cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
At the time of writing it cost about half as much as the RTX 5080 cards we researched, which makes it the strongest value in the upper tiers. It matches the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on video memory (16GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9070 XT gpu; compare the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, which has an RX 7900 XT gpu.
You also get server-grade thermal conductive gel and RGB lighting. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9070 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 RX 9070 XT Gaming OC with the maker. On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the pricier ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9070 XT
- 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 ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 3
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- Look at the others if this bothers you: needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables.
Why we like it
It matches the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC on video memory (16GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7800 XT gpu; compare the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, which has an RX 7900 XT gpu. 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 Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC and every other pick on price 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
- 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 trails the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming (20GB)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up three cards on GPU, video memory, memory and power connector as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 3 picks leave out power connector.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming to the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC gives no power connector; the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC gives no boost clock.
- 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 ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Monkey Island 2
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Here video memory runs from 16GB on the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to 20GB on the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, a 25% spread. Start with the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming if video memory decides it.
Setup checks
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Extras that separate them
The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming: a triple-fan Phantom Gaming cooler. The Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC: server-grade thermal conductive gel. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend: a 700W recommended PSU.
Budget
$250 to $500 buys the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; $500 to $1000 buys the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC and the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Buyers who put video memory first: the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming. Getting white-and-silver Steel Legend finish for the least money: the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend.
How to Choose a GPUs for Monkey Island 2
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put video memory first | ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming | The largest video memory here (20GB) |
| Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans | Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC | A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans |
| 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 |
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 Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC at 16GB. "Not listed" marks power connector where the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC leaves the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Power connector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming | RX 7900 XT | 20GB | GDDR6 | 2 x 8-pin |
| Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC | RX 9070 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2 x 8-pin |
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 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 | Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC, ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the largest video memory: the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming or the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC?
Between the top two, it is 20GB on the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming against 16GB on the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC, a 25% difference.
What does the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming add over the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend?
The spec sheets show video memory (20GB against 16GB) in its favour. 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 in the $500 to $1000 tier, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
Why is the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming our Largest Video Memory pick?
It carries the badge for the largest video memory here (20GB). On video memory it leads the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC, 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 suits anyone who puts video memory first.
Do the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming and the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC differ on GPU?
The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming uses RX 7900 XT; the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC uses RX 9070 XT; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses RX 7800 XT.
Will the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC work with my setup?
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9070 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 RX 9070 XT Gaming OC with the maker. In this guide it ranks second of 3, and second of 3 on video memory (16GB).
What extras do the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming and the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC include?
The ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming: 80MB of Infinity Cache. The Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC: a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend: a white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock 7900 XT Phantom Gaming, chosen for the largest video memory here (20GB). Look at the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC for a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend for the lowest price of the group at our last check if those matter more to you.
Put leftover budget toward a higher-refresh monitor or an SSD.