Buying Guide
The Best RX 7900 XTX Graphics Cards
Four RX 7900 XTX cards compared on length, thickness, clocks and power guidance.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read4 products evaluated
The RX 7900 XTX is AMD's 24GB RDNA 3 flagship. Partner cards are long and thick, so dimensions and power guidance matter as much as clocks.
We compared listed specifications from the card makers and retailer listings; we did not benchmark these cards.
Quick Picks
Which of the 4 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price at Writing
ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming OC 24GBThe least expensive RX 7900 XTX here at the time of writing.
Best for: Budget-conscious 4K builds.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming OC 24GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best DisplayPort 2.1 Pick
PowerColor Hellhound AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTXDisplayPort 2.1 outputs with an 800W PSU stated.
Best for: High-refresh 4K monitors.
Check price for PowerColor Hellhound AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Highest Listed Boost
Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-XA 2680MHz boost on a vapor chamber cooler.
Best for: Roomy cases that want the fastest card.
Check price for Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Slimmest 7900 XTX
Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTXA 2.7-slot, 313mm cooler.
Best for: Cases where thickness matters.
Check price for Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The least expensive RX 7900 XTX here at the time of writing. | Budget-conscious 4K builds. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming OC 24GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| DisplayPort 2.1 outputs with an 800W PSU stated. | High-refresh 4K monitors. | Check price for PowerColor Hellhound AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A 2680MHz boost on a vapor chamber cooler. | Roomy cases that want the fastest card. | Check price for Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A 2.7-slot, 313mm cooler. | Cases where thickness matters. | Check price for Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price at Writing1 of 4
ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming OC 24GB
ASRock's Phantom Gaming OC offers a 2615MHz boost, 96MB of Infinity Cache and 0dB silent cooling at light load.
Best for
- Budget-conscious 4K builds.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when calls for a 800W or larger PSU is a problem.
Why we like it
It was the least expensive 7900 XTX here at the time of writing. It boosts to 2615MHz with 24GB of GDDR6, 96 compute units and 96MB of Infinity Cache. The Phantom Gaming triple-fan cooler sits on a reinforced metal frame.
You get a 2615MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX and its a 2525MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. It undercut the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its card length; if that figure matters, the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX comes in at 313mm.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7900 XTX
- VRAM
- 24GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Recommended PSU
- 800W
- Boost clock
- 2615MHz
Pros
- 24GB of VRAM, room for large local AI models as well as games
- 96MB of Infinity Cache
- 0dB silent cooling at light load
- 2615MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Calls for a 800W or larger PSU
- No published card length
- No published cooler thickness
Best DisplayPort 2.1 Pick2 of 4
PowerColor Hellhound AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
PowerColor's Hellhound is 320mm long, uses DisplayPort 2.1 outputs and states an 800W minimum power supply.
Best for
- High-refresh 4K monitors.
Skip if
- Pass on it if calls for a 800W or larger PSU rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It has 6,144 stream processors and a switch between an OC mode at 2,330MHz and a quieter Silent mode at 2,270MHz game clock. The Silent mode suits a quiet room. The card measures 320 x 118.5 x 62mm, so check case clearance first.
It carries 24GB of GDDR6 and 6144 stream processors. It matches the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX on card length (320mm). The PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX is 320mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit.
PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX: the maker suggests a PSU of 800W or more. Its price falls between the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming and the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7900 XTX
- VRAM
- 24GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 320mm
- Recommended PSU
- 800W
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Pros
- 24GB of VRAM, room for large local AI models as well as games
- DisplayPort 2.1 outputs
- 800W minimum PSU stated by the maker
Cons
- Calls for a 800W or larger PSU
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming at the time of writing
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX, which comes in at 2.7-slot.
Highest Listed Boost3 of 4
Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X
Sapphire's Nitro+ Vapor-X offers a 2680MHz boost, the highest of these 7900 XTX cards, on a 3.5-slot, 320mm vapor chamber cooler.
Best for
- Roomy cases that want the fastest card.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: its 3.5-slot cooler covers the slots below.
Why we like it
It game-clocks up to 2510MHz with 24GB on a 384-bit bus at 20Gbps. At 3.5 slots and 320mm long, it needs a roomy case. On card length it ties with the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX at 320mm.
No other pick in this guide offers a 2680MHz boost clock; compare the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming, which has a 2615MHz boost clock. It also offers two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX with the maker. It was priced above the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX and below the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7900 XTX
- VRAM
- 24GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 320mm
- Thickness
- 3.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 2680MHz
- Outputs
- 2 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI
Pros
- 24GB of VRAM, room for large local AI models as well as games
- Vapor-X vapor chamber cooler
- Two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs
- 2680MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Its 3.5-slot cooler covers the slots below
- Card length trails the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX (313mm)
- No published recommended power supply
The catch
It gives ground on card length, where the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX comes in at 313mm.
Slimmest 7900 XTX4 of 4
Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Sapphire's Pulse is a 2.7-slot, 313mm RX 7900 XTX, thinner than the Nitro+, with a 2525MHz boost.
Best for
- Cases where thickness matters.
Skip if
- Its recommended power supply is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
Its boost clock reaches up to 2525MHz, and the 24GB of GDDR6 sits on a 384-bit bus. The cooler is 2.7 slots thick and 313mm long, and the outputs are two HDMI and two DisplayPort. It measures 313mm long and 2.7 slots thick, and it carries 24GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus with two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs.
Its 313mm card length is the shortest here; the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX comes next at 320mm. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX with the maker. It was the highest-priced of the 4 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX and the rest.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7900 XTX
- VRAM
- 24GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 313mm
- Thickness
- 2.7-slot
- Boost clock
- 2525MHz
Pros
- 24GB of VRAM, room for large local AI models as well as games
- 2.7-slot cooler, thinner than the Nitro+
- 313mm length
- Shortest card length of the picks (313mm)
Cons
- No published recommended power supply
- Costs more than the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is video memory; for more, the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming offers 24GB.
How We Chose These RX 7900 XTX Cards
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We set side by side four cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 8 fields compared are stated for every pick, while card length and cooler thickness have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 4, from the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming to the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX, state GPU, video memory and memory and share RX 7900 XTX GPU and GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming gives no card length; the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming and the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming ($1000 to $1500) to the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX (over $1500).
What to Look for in an RX 7900 XTX Card
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much card length you need
The Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX tops card length at 313mm and the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX sits lowest at 320mm. Start with the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX if card length decides it. The ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming gives no card length figure, so 3 of 4 picks are compared here.
Cooler thickness across these picks
Across these 2 picks cooler thickness spans 3.5-slot (the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX) to 2.7-slot (the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX). The Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX is the pick for cooler thickness. The ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming and the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX give no cooler thickness figure, so 2 of 4 picks are compared here.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card What to check at home
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX is 320mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit. Measure for 320mm and 3.5 slots before ordering the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX.
Features beyond the spec table
The PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX: an 800W minimum PSU stated by the maker. The Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX: two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs. The Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX: a 313mm length.
Where your budget lands
$1000 to $1500 buys the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming, the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX and the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX; over $1500 buys the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX at our last check.
How to Choose an RX 7900 XTX Card
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-conscious 4K builds | ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming | The least expensive RX 7900 XTX here at the time of writing |
| High-refresh 4K monitors | PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX | DisplayPort 2.1 outputs with an 800W PSU stated |
| Roomy cases that want the fastest card | Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX | A 2680MHz boost on a vapor chamber cooler |
| Cases where thickness matters | Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX | A 2.7-slot, 313mm cooler |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX leads on card length at 313mm, ahead of the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX at 320mm. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming leaves the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming | RX 7900 XTX | 24GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX | RX 7900 XTX | 24GB | GDDR6 | 320mm |
| Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX | RX 7900 XTX | 24GB | GDDR6 | 320mm |
| Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX | RX 7900 XTX | 24GB | GDDR6 | 313mm |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming, sat in the $1000 to $1500 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX at over $1500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $1000 to $1500 | ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming, PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX, Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX |
| Over $1500 | Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX compare with the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX on card length?
The Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX comes out best at 313mm, with the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX at 320mm. The ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming doesn't state a card length figure, so it sits outside this comparison; 3 of 4 picks are ranked.
Is the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX ahead of the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX on cooler thickness?
The Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX is lowest on cooler thickness at 2.7-slot; the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX follows at 3.5-slot, 23% apart. No cooler thickness figure is published for the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming and the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX, which leaves 2 of 4 picks ranked here.
What makes the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming the Lowest Price at Writing?
It carries the badge for the least expensive RX 7900 XTX here at the time of writing. It is aimed at budget-conscious 4K builds.
Do the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming and the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX differ on boost clock?
The ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming uses 2615MHz; the Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX uses 2680MHz; the Sapphire Pulse 7900 XTX uses 2525MHz. The maker of the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX doesn't state boost clock, so 3 of 4 picks are covered here.
What should I check before buying the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX?
The PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX is 320mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit. PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX: the maker suggests a PSU of 800W or more. In this guide it ranks second of 4, as our Best DisplayPort 2.1 Pick, and second of 3 on card length (320mm).
Beyond the specs, what sets the ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming and the PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX apart?
The ASRock 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming: 96MB of Infinity Cache. The PowerColor Hellhound 7900 XTX: DisplayPort 2.1 outputs. The Sapphire Nitro+ 7900 XTX: a Vapor-X vapor chamber cooler.
Bottom Line
ASRock's Phantom Gaming OC was the best-priced RX 7900 XTX here at the time of writing. Sapphire's Nitro+ lists the highest clock, and the Pulse is the slimmest card.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best CPUs for the RX 7900 XTX
- Related guideThe Best AMD Radeon Graphics Cards
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 4K Gaming
- Lower budgetThe Best Budget Graphics Cards
- Similar guideThe Best RX 7900 XT Graphics Cards
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power supplies12V-2x6 vs 12VHPWR vs 8-Pin PCIe: What Your PSU Needs to Provide
- Similar guideThe Best RX 7900 XTX Graphics Cards
- Topic hubAll graphics cards guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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