AMD has released two new graphics cards, the RX 7700 XT and the RX 7800 XT, to compete with Nvidia in the mid-range segment. Whether they succeed is explained in our article on MeinMMO.
The main points at a glance:
- AMD has launched the RX 7700 XT and the RX 7800 XT as mid-range graphics cards for gamers.
- The GPUs provide enough performance for WQHD (1440p) and high FPS in Full-HD (1080p).
- With FSR, AMD offers an alternative to Nvidia’s DLSS.
- The graphics cards have a large video memory of 12 GB (RX 7700 XT) and 16 GB (RX 7800 XT).
- In ray tracing, the performance of AMD graphics cards is still lagging behind those of Nvidia.
With the RX 7700 XT and the 7800 XT, AMD has brought two new graphics cards to the market. Both GPUs target gamers who do not want to spend more than 600 euros on a mid-range model.
Nvidia also offers two graphics cards in the same segment: the RTX 4060 Ti and the RTX 4070. MeinMMO explains what the two graphics cards offer and which one may be worth it for which type of gamer.
- RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT Overview
- RX 7700 X and RX 7800 XT – Data and Facts
- RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT Test Overview
- How good is the RX 7700 XT in Full-HD, WQHD, and 4K?
- How good is the RX 7800 XT in Full-HD, WQHD, and 4K?
- Who benefits from the RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT?
RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT – The Facts at a Glance
Who is the graphics card aimed at? AMD presents the two graphics cards at gamescom 2023 and is targeting gamers looking for a graphics card for WQHD. Indirectly, the direct competitors mentioned are the RTX 4060 Ti and the RTX 4070. Above the two GPUs are the Radeon RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX.
What the RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT offer: With the two graphics cards, AMD aims to provide enough performance for WQHD (1440p) or high FPS in Full-HD (1080p). With FSR, AMD also delivers an alternative to Nvidia’s DLSS. The pricing is slightly below that of the competition.
With the two graphics cards, AMD also aims to close the significant gap between RX 7600 and RX 7900 XT(X). No more graphics cards should officially follow for the 7000 series.
The most important data at a glance:
| Radeon RX 7700 XT | Radeon RX 7800 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Base clock | 2,171 MHz | 2,124 MHz |
| Boost clock | 2,544 MHz | 2,430 MHz |
| Memory size | 12 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory interface width | 192-bit | 256-bit |
| TDP (Power consumption) | 245 Watts | 263 Watts |
| Price (MSRP) | 489 Euros | 549 Euros |
What the testers say about the RX 7700 XT and 7800 XT
In the following section, we present excerpts from independent tests. Following that, we present the advantages and disadvantages of the two new graphics cards.
| Tester | Tester Statement |
|---|---|
| Hardwareluxx.de | The Radeon RX 7700 XT performs better against the GeForce RTX 46060 Ti than the Radeon RX 7800 XT does against the GeForce RTX 4070. Thus, AMD provides a good alternative to NVIDIA’s offering, and that is exactly what NVIDIA needs – competition. Especially, you don’t have to worry about graphics memory for the Radeon RX 7700 XT, which is a concern with the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti with 8 GB. |
| Computerbase.de | The overall packages of both graphics cards are comparable, with various advantages and disadvantages. Customers should decide based on their personal priorities; there is no real winner. For someone who owns a Radeon RX 6800 XT or larger from the previous generation, the Radeon RX 7800 XT is not worth it. |
| PCWelt.de | The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is an interesting graphics card for QHD gamers at a fair price. Although the performance increase compared to its predecessor, the RX 6800 XT, is modest, AMD has also lowered the price by 100 Euros. The graphics card enables 1440p gaming with maximum graphics settings and offers the best price-performance ratio currently in the mid-range. |
| PCGamesHardware.de | If you have been waiting to buy a Radeon RX 6800 XT until today, the matter is clear: the Radeon RX 7800 XT is in every respect the better graphics card and also comparably priced – buy the new model; there is no catch. |
What do the testers praise? With the RX 7700 XT and the RX 7800 XT, you get two very good graphics cards that offer you lots of performance for your money. With the large video memory (12 GB for the RX 7700 XT and 16 GB for the 7800 XT), the graphics cards are future-proof and are often ahead of Nvidia’s graphics cards.
Especially in terms of price-performance ratio, AMD scores important points compared to Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4070.
What do the testers criticize? AMD’s RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT still lag significantly behind Nvidia’s graphics cards in performance when it comes to ray tracing. Some critics also say that the gap between the new 7000 series cards is noticeably smaller than the leap from the last generation. However, the same situation applies to Nvidia’s 4000 series graphics cards.
Colleagues from Computerbase further criticize that the naming of the RX 7800 XT is misleading. Because the RX 7800 XT is more on par with the RX 6800 and not the XT variant. This is especially disappointing for buyers who expect a significant performance jump when purchasing.
How good is the RX 7700 XT in Full-HD, WQHD, and 4K?
The RX 7700 XT consistently outperforms the competing RX 4060 Ti in tests. Sometimes it is 20% more powerful than Nvidia’s graphics card. Also, the new GPU is about 30% ahead of the older RX 6700 XT.
The performance of the RX 7700 XT is sufficient thanks to the 12 GB of video memory for both Full-HD and WQHD gaming at high to maximum graphics settings. The RX 7700 XT can even handle ray tracing. However, the performance of the RX 7700 XT is no longer sufficient for 4K.
How good is the RX 7800 XT in Full-HD, WQHD, and 4K?
The 7800 XT offers excellent performance in Full-HD and WQHD gaming. You can also play games in 4K, but you will need to lower the details. The graphics card also performs well with ray tracing. However, the RX 7800 XT is not a true 4K graphics card.
When it comes to 4K resolution with ray tracing enabled, the RX 7800 XT becomes too slow. Demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 no longer achieve stable 60 FPS.
Who benefits from the RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT?
In principle, one should be aware that the new graphics cards do not offer much more performance than the old generation. The advantage lies in only a few percentage points and slightly improved efficiency.
Especially for gamers who want to upgrade from an older graphics card, the two new GPUs are worth considering. For those who already have a RX 6800 XT or faster installed in their gaming PC, the RX 7700 XT and 7800 XT are not worth it.
Is Nvidia worth considering as an alternative? It depends on what you value and how much you are willing to pay:
- The RTX 4070 remains a good alternative, as it delivers better performance in ray tracing.
- The RTX 4060 Ti with its 8 GB is not recommended, but the 16 GB variant of the RTX 4060 Ti is at least an option if it becomes cheaper than the RX 7700 XT.
It still holds that Nvidia offers the more modern feature set: with FSR 3, AMD can reduce the gap to DLSS, but Nvidia is still ahead. On the other hand, Nvidia graphics cards are significantly more expensive. AMD graphics cards, in turn, have the advantage of being equipped with significantly more video memory.
Therefore, Computerbase concludes that “there is no real winner” when comparing the current mid-range models of AMD and Nvidia.
How important is it whether I buy AMD or Nvidia for a graphics card?
