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

PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
One of the best AMD graphics cards against a red background
(Image credit: Future)

As we venture into 2024, finding the best AMD graphics card remains at the forefront for gaming enthusiasts and budget-conscious consumers alike. Renowned for their commitment to delivering top-notch performance at an affordable price point, AMD continues to dominate the market with its latest RDNA 3 generation. These graphics cards are not just a testament to AMD's prowess in offering economical solutions but are also a staple in the arsenal of any serious gamer.

Acknowledged widely for their cost-effectiveness, the best AMD GPU options, including the formidable AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT and the powerhouse AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, have carved their niches, not just for their value proposition but for their exceptional performance. These models have rightfully earned their spots on our coveted best graphics card list. For those on a quest for an unbeatable deal, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 stands out as the reigning champion among the best cheap graphics cards available today.

With our extensive background in scrutinizing and evaluating AMD's offerings across diverse gaming and creative landscapes over the years, we are poised to steer you towards the perfect AMD GPU. Our guidance is tailored to meet your specific needs and budget, ensuring that whether you're on the hunt for the best 1080p graphics card, the best 1440p graphics card, or even the best 4K graphics card from Team Red, you're well-equipped to make an informed decision.

As you navigate through the myriad of options, let our expertise be your compass, leading you to the best AMD graphics card of 2024 – a choice that promises not just to meet but exceed your gaming and creative aspirations.

The best AMD graphics cards in 2024

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An AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The best AMD graphics card overall

The best graphics card overall

Specifications

Core Clock: 1,295 MHz (2,430 MHz Boost)
Shaders: 3,840
Ray Processors: 60
AI Processors: 120
Memory: 16GB GDDR6
Memory Clock: 19.4 Gbps effective
Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.1, 3 x DisplayPort 2.1
Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin
TDP: 263W
Passmark 3D Graphics Score, As Tested: 28,430
GeekBench 6 Compute (Avg), As Tested: 148,636
PugetBench for Photoshop, As Tested: 1,578
HandBrake 1.6, 4K to 1080p (FPS), As Tested: 168
Average 1080p Gaming FPS, As Tested: 111
Average 1440p Gaming FPS, As Tested: 86
Average 4K Gaming FPS, As Tested: 56

Reasons to buy

+
Better rasterization than RTX 4070
+
Improved ray tracing performance
+
16GB VRAM and AI cores

Reasons to avoid

-
Only marginally than the RX 6800 XT
-
Ray tracing and upscaling still lag behind Nvidia
-
Still power hungry

The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, AMD's latest update to its midrange lineup, made a significant impact following its highly anticipated release in 2023. This launch came after a notable delay, positioning it well after the introduction of AMD's other high-end models, the RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT. The RX 7800 XT emerged as the pinnacle of AMD's graphics card lineup, addressing the market's need for a powerful, midrange option.

Featuring the cutting-edge RNDA 3 GPU architecture, the RX 7800 XT stands as AMD's best offering in this generation, skillfully overcoming challenges that rival Nvidia encountered. It is equipped with an impressive 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM and a wide memory bus, adeptly handling and rendering 4K textures with remarkable efficiency. Although initially marketed as a 1440p card, the RX 7800 XT has demonstrated exceptional 4K gaming capabilities, asserting its versatility and superior performance.

In comparative analyses, the RX 7800 XT not only matched but marginally surpassed the performance of the previously leading GeForce RTX 4070, offering a small yet significant advantage in overall gaming performance (approximately 2% higher). While its ray tracing capabilities are slightly below those of the RTX 4070, the RX 7800 XT excels in rasterization performance, ensuring that users experience a comprehensive range of features, a notable improvement over previous generation AMD cards.

Moreover, the RX 7800 XT's pricing is more competitive than Nvidia's equivalent models, further cementing its status as the premier choice for unmatched performance at an appealing price point. The only slight drawback is its incremental generational performance improvement, which might fall short of some expectations. Nonetheless, its performance firmly establishes the RX 7800 XT as AMD's best and most desirable graphics card in its category.

An AMD Radeon RX 7600 on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The Best Budget AMD Graphics Card

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.

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

(Image credit: Future)

The best 4K graphics card from AMD

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.

An AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT on a table with its retail packaging

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The best 1440p graphics card from AMD

4. AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT

The best budget GPU for 1440p

Specifications

Compute Units: 2,560
Core Clock: 2,150 MHz (2,600 MHz boost)
Memory: 12GB GDDR6
Memory Clock: 18 Gbps
Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin
Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1 VRR and FRL
Average FPS at 1440p (Tested): 55
Max power consumption (Tested): 220W

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent thermal performance
+
Low power consumption

Reasons to avoid

-
Too expensive
-
Performance too similar to RTX 3060

Believe it or not, I'm still working on our full AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT review (I'm going for the full last-gen completion acheivement!). But with all the latest-gen cards dropping over the past few months, I've actually put more time in with the RX 6750 XT than I would have if I'd just reviewed it, and I have to say, the performance on this card is pretty spectacular.

It has its limitations, to be fair, and mostly that comes in the form of lagging ray-tracing performance, something that plagued the entire RDNA 2 generation. But for pure rasterization performance at 1440p, the RX 6750 XT is one hell of a contender. If you don't factor in ray tracing or upscaling tech, the RX 6750 XT is able to easily clear 80 fps on maximum settings at 1440p, on average.

This puts it even ahead of the Nvidia RTX 3070! Of course, once you turn on ray tracing, that all changes, with the RX 6750 XT averaging about 32 fps at 1440p with max settings, compared to the RTX 3070's 47 fps average over the same test suite. AMD FSR helps close the gap with an average of 52 fps with RT turned on and FSR set to performance. The RTX 3070, meanwhile, pumps out 68 fps with DLSS set to performance and RT turned on.

And while the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti has much better ray tracing and upscaling performance, the RX 6750 XT manages to beat Nvidia's midrange GPU pretty handily in pure raster gaming performance, 82 fps to 73 fps, on average.

We'll have more when we formally review the card in the next few weeks, but given everything I've seen, you definitely don't want to sleep on this card, especially now that it's price has dropped considerably now that AMD RDNA 3 and Nvidia Lovelace cards are on the market.

- John Loeffler, Components Editor

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT on a coffee table

(Image credit: Future)

The best AMD RDNA 2 graphics card

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. 

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

(Image credit: Future)

The best last-gen budget AMD graphics card

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.

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).

With contributions from