Buying Guide
The Best RX 7800 XT Cards, Premium First
Three graphics cards compared, from the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan to the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
The RX 7800 XT has 16GB and suits 1440p. Every pick is an RX 7800 XT, ordered with the most expensive first.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: GPU, VRAM and memory come from each maker's published specs; a missing length is flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Premium Pick
Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
The top of this price range, adding a 280mm length.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7800 XT Gaming OC 16G
Two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs.
Best for: Buyers who want two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte Radeon RX 7800 XT Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
PowerColor Twin Fan AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
A lower price than the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for PowerColor Twin Fan AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The top of this price range, adding a 280mm length. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT (opens in a new tab) |
| Two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs. | Buyers who want two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs. | Check price for Gigabyte Radeon RX 7800 XT Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab) |
| A lower price than the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC and the rest when we checked. | Spending as little as possible. | Check price for PowerColor Twin Fan AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Premium Pick1 of 3
Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Sapphire's Pulse 7800 XT is 280mm long with a 2.5-slot dual-fan cooler and a 2430MHz boost.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- The maker gives no recommended power supply, so look elsewhere if that figure decides it for you.
Why we like it
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT with the maker. It also brings 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures. Worth noting too: 280mm length.
It makes the most sense for spending more for the fullest feature set, since it offers the top of this price range, adding a 280mm length. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC. Buyers who need a confirmed recommended power supply should compare it with the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC, which offers 700W.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7800 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 280mm
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 2430MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 280mm length
- 2.5-slot dual-fan cooler
- The top of this price range, adding a 280mm length
Cons
- No published recommended power supply
- Costs more than the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 3
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7800 XT Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's Gaming OC offers a 2565MHz boost and two HDMI plus two DisplayPort outputs under a triple-fan Windforce cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs.
Skip if
- Its card length is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC: the maker suggests a PSU of 700W or more. Worth noting too: 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures.
It also brings lowest recommended power supply of the picks (700W). On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan and the pricier Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its card length; if that figure matters, the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan comes in at 260mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7800 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Recommended PSU: 700W
- Boost clock: 2565MHz
- Outputs: 2 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs
- WINDFORCE triple-fan cooler
- Lowest recommended power supply of the picks (700W)
Cons
- No published card length
- Costs more than the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 3
PowerColor Twin Fan AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
PowerColor's Twin Fan is 260mm long, the shortest RX 7800 XT here, with two 8-pin connectors.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Pass on it if needs two 8-pin PCIe power cable rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
The card is 260mm long, needs two 8-pin power connectors and lists a 750W minimum system power rating. You also get a dual-fan cooler. Power for the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 750W the maker's minimum PSU.
Another plus is 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures. It also brings short 260mm length suits compact cases. It undercut the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The trade-off is video memory; for more, the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7800 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 260mm
- Recommended PSU: 750W
- Power connector: 2 x 8-pin
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Short 260mm length suits compact cases
- 260mm length, the shortest 7800 XT here
- Dual-fan cooler
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Recommended power supply of 750W, behind the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC (700W)
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 card length, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT to the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan, state GPU, video memory and memory and share RX 7800 XT GPU and GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC gives no card length; the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT gives no recommended power supply.
- Price range
- From the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan to the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in an RX 7800 XT Cards, Premium First
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Card length
Here card length runs from 280mm on the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT to 260mm on the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan. The PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan is the pick for card length. No figure for the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC.
How much recommended power supply you need
Here recommended power supply runs from 750W on the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan to 700W on the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC. Start with the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC if recommended power supply decides it. No figure for the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT.
Fit and compatibility
Measure for 280mm and 2.5 slots before ordering the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan is 260mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit.
Features beyond the spec table
The Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT: a 2.5-slot dual-fan cooler. The Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC: a WINDFORCE triple-fan cooler. The PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan: a dual-fan cooler.
How much to spend
All 3 sat in one tier when we checked, from the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan at the low end to the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT at the top, so decide on features first.
How to Choose an RX 7800 XT Cards, Premium First
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT | The top of this price range, adding a 280mm length |
| Buyers who want two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs | Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC | Two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs |
| Spending as little as possible | PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan | A lower price than the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC and the rest when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan leads on card length at 260mm, ahead of the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT at 280mm. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 280mm |
| Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 260mm |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the shortest card length: the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan or the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT?
The PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan comes out best at 260mm, with the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT at 280mm. The Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC doesn't state a figure, so it sits outside this comparison.
How does the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan compare with the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC on recommended power supply?
The Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC comes out best at 700W, with the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan at 750W. The Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT doesn't state a figure, so it sits outside this comparison.
Is the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT worth paying more than the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan?
On the figures both makers state, it adds little. It does not win everywhere: the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan still leads on card length (260mm). The PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if a feature outside the spec sheet matters to you.
What makes the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT the Premium Pick?
It earns the label for the top of this price range, adding a 280mm length. It suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
Do the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT and the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC differ on boost clock?
The Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT uses 2430MHz; the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC uses 2565MHz. The maker of the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan doesn't say.
What should I check before buying the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan?
The PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan is 260mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit. Power for the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 750W the maker's minimum PSU. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Lowest Price Here pick.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Sapphire Pulse 7800 XT, chosen for the top of this price range, adding a 280mm length. Look at the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC for two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs and the PowerColor 7800 XT Twin Fan for a lower price than the Gigabyte 7800 XT Gaming OC and the rest when we checked if those matter more to you.
Check the three-fan models for lower noise.