The best AMD graphics card in 2024: top GPUs from Team Red

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REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
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One of the best AMD graphics cards against a magenta techradar background
(Image credit: Future / AMD)

Finding the best AMD graphics card to meet your productivity and gaming demands can be a daunting prospect these days with so many options on the market. 

High-quality GPUs don’t come cheap, which means your search for the best graphics card is likely to cost you a fair old wedge. Luckily for cost-conscious buyers, AMD holds a market-dominating line in powerful yet economical graphics cards that meet all but the most excessive of demands. 

At the top of the pile, you can find options such as the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE, which represents the very best of their midrange lineup. Armed with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM, it can handle 4K textures in its sleep, making it a superb choice for entry-level 4K gaming. With a performance to rival its closest Nvidia counterparts and a price point that undercuts Nvidia's best midrange offerings, you’ll struggle to find a better graphics card for the money. 

If you find the RX 7900 GRE provides more power than you need, you can enjoy further savings by perusing their budget range of GPUs. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 comes with a much more modest price tag that’ll keep your bank balance looking a bit more cheerful, while still offering decent specs that assure an awe-inspiring performance at 1440p.

I’ve poured countless hours into testing all of AMD’s offerings, evaluating their performance across all manner of gaming and creative landscapes. Trust me when I say that if it’s worth knowing about, I know about it. So put your hand in mine, and let me walk you through the very best AMD graphics cards of 2024. 

The best AMD graphics cards in 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The best AMD graphics card overall

An AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE from ASRock on a pink desk mat with its retail packaging

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
The best graphics card overall

Specifications

Core Clock: 1,500MHz
Shaders: 5,376
Ray Processors: 84
AI Processors: 336
Memory: 16GB GDDR6
Memory Clock: 2,500MHz
Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin
TGP: 300W

Reasons to buy

+
Best-in-class performance
+
16GB VRAM
+
Costs the same as the RTX 4070

Reasons to avoid

-
Still expensive
-
No AMD reference card
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Still loses to Nvidia cards in 3D modeling

The AMD Radeon RX7900 GRE began its life as an available-in-China-only exclusive. AMD then surprised the world by following up the Chinese launch with a global roll-out, that set the cat among the pigeons in the midrange GPU market. 

Undercutting the price of Nvidia’s RTX 4070 (its closest rival) by approximately 10%, it offers a performance that stands tall against its competitor. With 16GB of VRAM under the hood, it provides a best-in-class performance at 1440p, with a very respectable 4K gaming performance to boot. 

Admittedly, it still loses out when it comes to things like native ray tracing, which is where Nvidia’s more expensive cards really shine, and it can’t compete on an equal footing with 3D modeling either - Nvidia’s trump card, thanks to their CUDA software. However, for graphic design and photo/video editing, it’s a veritable beast.

With a comparative performance at a more affordable price, the RX7900 GRE has asserted its dominance in its own category. It looks the part, too, with its cool Hellhound logo, and practical features, such as an extra hole in the backplate to improve the cooling efficiency of its heatsink, keeping it below 53 degrees Celsius.      

For gamers in particular, the RX7900 GRE should be firmly on your radar. Boasting a flawless performance at 1080p and 1440p, and a 4K performance that stands up well against that of the RTX 4070, this is one of the best midrange graphics cards you can buy. Whatever reasons AMD had for rolling out this former exclusive to the world, we can all be glad that they did. 

Read the full AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE review

The Best Budget AMD Graphics Card

An AMD Radeon RX 7600 on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
The best cheap AMD graphics card

Specifications

Stream Processors: 2048
Ray accelerators: 38
Boost clock: 2,625MHz
Memory: 8 GB GDDR6
Power draw (TDP): 165W
Memory clock: 18 Gbps
Power connectors: 1 x 8-pin
Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.1a, 3 x DisplayPort 2.1
Average FPS at 1080p (Tested): 62
Max power consumption (Tested): 164W

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic price
+
Outstanding 1080p performance
+
Decent enough 1440p performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Only 8GB VRAM
-
Ray tracing and FSR lag behind Nvidia

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 stands as the undisputed champion in the affordable graphics card category, especially for those seeking exceptional performance without breaking the bank. Priced under $300/£300, this card is a marvel of AMD's RDNA 3 technology, delivering an extraordinary performance that belies its modest price tag. 

When it comes to 1080p gaming, the RX 7600 not only excels but also competes fiercely with higher-end models like the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti 12GB, offering superb value for money. Its capabilities at 1440p are also impressive, particularly given its 8GB VRAM and a 128-bit memory bus.

In gaming performance, the RX 7600 is a game-changer, effortlessly achieving 60 fps in the top PC games at 1080p, most of which can run on the highest graphics settings. Even for more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, a few adjustments in settings make smooth gameplay entirely achievable, aided by AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution technology. 

While its ray tracing performance may trail slightly behind Nvidia's previous generation midrange cards, the RDNA 3 architecture significantly narrows this gap, ensuring that opting for this more affordable AMD card doesn't mean compromising on ray tracing capabilities. In summary, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is not just a budget-friendly option; it's the best cheap AMD graphics card available, setting a new standard for price-to-performance ratio in its segment.

Read the full AMD Radeon RX 7600 review

The best 4K graphics card from AMD

An AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX on a table against a white backdrop

(Image credit: Future)
The best 4K graphics card from AMD

Specifications

Stream Processors: 4,864,
Core Clock: 1,900MHz (2,500MHz Boost)
Memory: 24GB GDDR6
Memory Clock: 20Gbps (960GB/s bandwidth)
Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x USB Type-C
Power Connectors: 2x PCIe 8-pin
Average FPS at 4K (Tested): 80
Max power consumption (Tested): 359W

Reasons to buy

+
Phenomenal performance
+
Well-priced for a premium card
+
Can fit in most cases
+
No 16-pin connector

Reasons to avoid

-
Just OK creative performance
-
Ray tracing is still a generation behind Nvidia's newest cards
-
Very power hungry

Asserting its dominance in the 4K gaming realm, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX not only marks AMD's most exceptional offering in this category but also sets a new benchmark for 4K performance. Released at the tail end of 2022, this powerhouse GPU has redefined excellence in gaming graphics, especially considering its sub-$1,000 price tag. It notably outshines Nvidia's pricier RTX 4080, offering superior value.

The introduction of 2nd-gen ray accelerators in the RX 7900 XTX is a game-changer, elevating 4K gaming experiences to unprecedented levels with ultra settings and ray tracing - a feat its predecessor, the RX 6950 XT, could not fully achieve. While it does have its limitations, such as trailing behind Nvidia's RTX 4000-series in ray tracing capabilities (yet surpassing the RT performance of the Nvidia RTX 3090) and exhibiting some inconsistencies in creative workload performance, these are minor when weighed against its overall prowess.

In essence, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX stands as the quintessential choice for anyone seeking to upgrade their GPU, particularly after enduring prolonged graphics card shortages. Its remarkable balance of price, performance, and 4K gaming capabilities firmly establishes it as AMD's premier 4K graphics card.

Read the full AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX review

The best AMD RDNA 2 graphics card

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT on a coffee table

(Image credit: Future)
A top-notch AMD graphics cards for 4K workloads

Specifications

Stream Processors: 4,608
Core Clock: 2,015 MHz (2,250 MHz boost)
Memory: 16GB GDDR6
Memory Clock: 16Gbps
Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin
Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, HDMI 2.1 VRR and FRL

Reasons to buy

+
Ray tracing for AMD
+
Strong DX11 performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Doesn't dethrone Nvidia

Though most AMD graphics cards are great thanks to their value to power ratio, there are a few AMD models that have the muscle to compete for space in the high-end GPU market. The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is one of those cards with its robust 4K performance.

Yes, its ray tracing isn’t as good as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080. And, its performance lags a little behind in some instances as well. But, in others, it actually outperforms the RTX 3080, specifically when running on DX11. In our testing, we found the 6800 XT to be up to 9% faster in certain games such as Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Grand Theft Auto V. If you’re looking for a GPU from Team Red to work or play in 4K, then consider the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT. 

Read our full AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT review

The best last-gen budget AMD graphics card

AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT on a book in front of a window

(Image credit: Future)
An affordable 1080p AMD GPU powerhouse

Specifications

Stream processors: 2,048
Core clock: 1,968
Memory: 8GB GDDR6
Memory clock: 16Gbps
Power connectors: 1 x 8-pin
Outputs: 1.4 with DSC DisplayPort, HDMI 2.1 VRR and FRL

Reasons to buy

+
Strong 1080p performance
+
Great thermal efficiency
+
Low power consumption

Reasons to avoid

-
Should be cheaper
-
Only slightly better than the RTX 3060

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is possibly the best option in the company’s lineup if you’re looking for a GPU for 1080p gaming. It might not be the cheapest but it’s still affordable so you don’t have to splurge for that power. And, it can handle just about anything at 1080p with aplomb. It also offers great thermal performance and doesn’t consume too much power.

Its fiercest competition is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. And, while the 3060 is $50 / £50 cheaper, we found the 6600 XT to perform ten to fifteen percent better in most of our testing. That difference in pricing and performance does make choosing between the two a bit more difficult than it should be. 

While its ray tracing leaves a bit to be desired – an ongoing theme with AMD cards – the inclusion of Radeon Boost, a software feature that prioritizes performance over image fidelity, will appeal to competitive gamers.

Read our full AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT review

How we test the best graphics cards

When we review graphics cards, we adhere to a uniform testing methodology, assessing their performance using a set of approximately 8-10 games, testing it at various resolutions and using the latest drivers. 

Furthermore, we conduct fresh tests on all current-generation graphics cards each time a new one enters the market, ensuring they are all evaluated using identical hardware. This involves the same processor, memory at an equivalent speed, the same motherboard, and the same SSD. This approach is crucial for accurately gauging the performance of the graphics card itself and facilitates a more dependable comparison with its competitors.

Our thorough documentation covers all aspects, including the graphics card's power consumption and temperature under load. Additionally, we examine the features offered by each graphics card, although these typically do not vary significantly from one generation to the next.

Today's best AMD graphics card deals

John Loeffler
Components Editor

John (He/Him) is the Components Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY. 

Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.

You can find him online on Threads @johnloeffler.

Currently playing: Baldur's Gate 3 (just like everyone else).

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