Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Total War: Shogun 2
Five graphics cards compared, from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 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
Total War: Shogun 2 does not push current hardware, so this guide compares cards by price, memory and what they leave for other games. 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 boost clock, 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.
Largest Video Memory
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G
The largest video memory here (16GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
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
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 EVO OC Edition 8GB
0dB fan stop at light load.
Best for: Buyers who want 0dB fan stop at light load.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 EVO OC Edition 8GB (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC
A triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Best for: Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Solid Runner-Up
XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600 8GB
A 2655MHz boost clock.
Best for: Buyers who want 2655MHz boost clock.
Our take Check price for XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600 8GB (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Largest Video Memory1 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 put video memory first.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It leaves more of the budget for the CPU, board and memory. On video memory it leads this guide at 16GB, ahead of the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC (12GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 9070 gpu; the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC has an RX 7700 XT gpu instead.
It also comes with 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.
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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory. Its 12GB video memory ranks second of 5 here, behind the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC (16GB) and ahead of the XFX 7600 SWFT210 (8GB). 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 ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, based on our last check.
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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 EVO OC Edition 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Dual EVO RX 7600 offers a 2715MHz boost with 0dB fan stop on a 2.5-slot cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want 0dB fan stop at light load.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the XFX 7600 SWFT210 at 8GB. It is the only pick here with a 2715MHz boost clock; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend has a 3320MHz boost clock instead. The ASUS Dual 7600 EVO 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 7600 EVO with the maker. When we checked, only the XFX 7600 SWFT210 and cheaper picks cost less, and the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7600
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 2715MHz
Pros
- 0dB fan stop at light load
- 2715MHz boost clock
- 2.5-slot dual-fan cooler
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB uses a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop and a reinforced metal backplate.
Best for
- Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Its 3320MHz boost is the highest among these cards. It matches the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and the XFX 7600 SWFT210 on video memory (8GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 9060 XT gpu; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC has an RX 9070 gpu instead.
A 3320MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the XFX 7600 SWFT210 uses a 2655MHz boost clock. It also offers 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend; 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 RX 9060 XT Steel Legend with the maker. The main gap: video memory of 8GB, behind the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC (16GB). If that matters, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 3320MHz
- Outputs: DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- Reinforced metal backplate
- 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus
- RX 9060 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory of 8GB, behind the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC (16GB)
Solid Runner-Up5 of 5
XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
XFX's SWFT210 RX 7600 offers a 2655MHz boost and three DisplayPort outputs on a dual-fan cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want 2655MHz boost clock.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
XFX builds it with a compact dual-fan SWFT cooler, which suits smaller cases. It carries 8GB of GDDR6, enough for 1080p at sensible settings. It matches the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend on video memory (8GB).
You get a 2655MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and its a 3320MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX 7600 SWFT210; 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 7600 SWFT210 with the maker. The trade-off is video memory; for more, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7600
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 2655MHz
- Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort
Pros
- 2655MHz boost clock
- Dual-fan SWFT210 cooler
- Three DisplayPort outputs
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC (16GB)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and boost clock, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 5 picks leave out boost clock.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC to the XFX 7600 SWFT210, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC give no boost clock; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC and the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO give no outputs.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend ($250 to $500) to the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Total War: Shogun 2
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Across these 5 picks video memory spans 8GB (the XFX 7600 SWFT210) to 16GB (the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC). For less, the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC is the runner-up at 12GB ($500 to $1000 tier).
Boost clock
The ASUS Dual 7600 EVO lists 2715MHz; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend lists 3320MHz; the XFX 7600 SWFT210 lists 2655MHz. Sort out boost clock before price: it splits 3 stated picks into groups of 1, 1 and 1.
Fit and compatibility
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The ASUS Dual 7600 EVO 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 ASUS Dual 7600 EVO: a 2715MHz boost clock. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend: a reinforced metal backplate. The XFX 7600 SWFT210: a dual-fan SWFT210 cooler.
How much to spend
$250 to $500 buys the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, the XFX 7600 SWFT210 and the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO; $500 to $1000 buys the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC at our last check.
How to Choose a GPUs for Total War: Shogun 2
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put video memory first | Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | The largest video memory here (16GB) |
| Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans | Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC | Three WINDFORCE fans |
| Buyers who want 0dB fan stop at light load | ASUS Dual 7600 EVO | 0dB fan stop at light load |
| Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop | ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | A triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop |
| Buyers who want 2655MHz boost clock | XFX 7600 SWFT210 | A 2655MHz boost clock |
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 Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC at 12GB. "Not listed" marks boost clock where the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Boost clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC | RX 7700 XT | 12GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual 7600 EVO | RX 7600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2715MHz |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | 3320MHz |
| XFX 7600 SWFT210 | RX 7600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2655MHz |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, sat in the $250 to $500 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC at $500 to $1000; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, XFX 7600 SWFT210, ASUS Dual 7600 EVO |
| About $500 to $1000 | Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC, Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the largest video memory: the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC or the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC?
The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC tops video memory at 16GB; the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC follows at 12GB, 33% apart. The XFX 7600 SWFT210 closes the ranking at 8GB.
Is the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC worth paying more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend?
On paper it adds video memory (16GB against 8GB). The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend sat in the $250 to $500 tier and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
What makes the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC the Largest Video Memory?
It earns the label for the largest video memory here (16GB). The Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC is next on video memory at 12GB, so this pick's 16GB is 33% further out. The ASRock RX 9060 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 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 ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and the XFX 7600 SWFT210 use RX 7600; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend uses RX 9060 XT.
What should I check before buying the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC?
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. In this guide it ranks second of 5, and second of 5 on video memory (12GB).
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 ASUS Dual 7600 EVO: 0dB fan stop at light load.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, chosen for the largest video memory here (16GB). Look at the Gigabyte 7700 XT Gaming OC for three WINDFORCE fans, the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO for 0dB fan stop at light load and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend for a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop if those matter more to you.
Check the card's power connector against your power supply before ordering.