Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Thank Goodness You're Here
From the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to the XFX Swift 9060 XT White: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and cooler thickness, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Thank Goodness You're Here runs on almost any current graphics card, so the choice comes down to price, memory and outputs. Every pick has at least 8GB of video memory and cost $600 or less, ordered by memory.
We sorted these picks by GPU, VRAM and memory, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips thickness, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
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)
Also Consider
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G
Three WINDFORCE fans.
Best for: Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
32 compute units.
Best for: Buyers who want 32 compute units.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB OC Edition
A dual BIOS switch.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch.
Our take Check price for ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB OC Edition (opens in a new tab)
Solid Runner-Up
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB
A white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Our take Check price for XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
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
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables.
Why we like it
An RX 7800 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses an RX 9060 XT gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2520MHz boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which has 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 cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC the next step up. There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes in at 2-slot.
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
- Recommended power supply of 700W, behind the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (550W)
Also Consider2 of 5
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory. It is the only pick here with an RX 7600 XT gpu; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend has an RX 7800 XT gpu instead. 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. Its price falls between the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which comes in at 2-slot.
Key dimensions & 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
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- If budget leads, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. Like the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and XFX Swift 9060 XT White, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses an RX 7800 XT gpu. A 3290MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the XFX Swift 9060 XT White uses a 3320MHz boost clock.
It also comes with 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. Its price falls between the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & 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
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB brings to the table is a dual BIOS switch, plus dual ball fan bearings.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory and offers a 2.5-slot cooler thickness. It shares an RX 9060 XT gpu with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and XFX Swift 9060 XT White; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC goes with an RX 7600 XT gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 3330MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which has a 3290MHz boost clock.
The ASUS Prime 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 Prime 9060 XT 16GB with the maker. There is no published recommended power supply figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 550W.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 3330MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Dual BIOS switch
- Dual ball fan bearings
- 3330MHz (OC mode) boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Solid Runner-Up5 of 5
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The XFX Swift 9060 XT White stands out for a white triple-fan SWFT cooler, and it adds a boost clock of up to 3320MHz.
Best for
- Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory. Like the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses an RX 7800 XT gpu. A 3320MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB uses a 3330MHz (OC mode) boost clock.
No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift 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 Swift 9060 XT White with the maker. If video memory is your priority, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB) is the stronger choice.
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 SWFT cooler
- Boost clock of up to 3320MHz
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We compared five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 7 fields compared are stated for every pick, while cooler thickness and recommended power supply have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to the XFX Swift 9060 XT White, 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 XFX Swift 9060 XT White give no cooler thickness; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White 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 XFX Swift 9060 XT White ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Thank Goodness You're Here
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much cooler thickness you need
Here cooler thickness runs from 2.5-slot on the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB to 2-slot on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, a 20% spread. Start with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB if cooler thickness decides it. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White give no cooler thickness figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Recommended power supply across these picks
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB tops recommended power supply at 550W and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend sits lowest at 700W. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is the pick for recommended power supply. The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White 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. Sort out power connector before price: it splits 2 stated picks into groups of 1 and 1.
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 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. The ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB 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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB: 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus. The ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB: dual ball fan bearings. The XFX Swift 9060 XT White: a boost clock of up to 3320MHz.
How to Choose a GPUs for Thank Goodness You're Here
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 32 compute units | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | 32 compute units |
| Buyers who want dual BIOS switch | ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB | A dual BIOS switch |
| Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler | XFX Swift 9060 XT White | A white triple-fan SWFT cooler |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads on cooler thickness at 2-slot, ahead of the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB at 2.5-slot. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| XFX Swift 9060 XT White | RX 9060 XT | 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 XFX Swift 9060 XT White 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 RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, XFX Swift 9060 XT White |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB compare with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on cooler thickness?
Between the top two, it is 2-slot on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB against 2.5-slot on the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, a 20% difference. No cooler thickness figure is published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on recommended power supply?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 550W, with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at 700W. The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White are left out of this ranking because their recommended power supply 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 makes sense for 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 uses RX 7800 XT; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses RX 7600 XT; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White use RX 9060 XT.
What should I check before buying the XFX Swift 9060 XT White?
No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift 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 Swift 9060 XT White with the maker. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5.
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 RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB: 32 compute units.
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 RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB for 32 compute units and the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB for a dual BIOS switch if those matter more to you.
Match the card's video outputs to your monitor's HDMI or DisplayPort inputs.