AMD’s Radeon RX 7700 XT is an excellent 1440p capable graphics card hitting the market with a solid MSRP that easily beats out the competition. The RX 7700 XT is a big hit in the mid-range market. However, with a myriad of options readily available to purchase, how do you determine which is the best RX 7700 XT graphics card to buy?
In order to figure out which RX 7700 XT is the best graphics card, we’ve put together a buyers guide covering a range of 7700 XT cards, recommending a range of models that are best suited to a plethora of different buyers.
Our Top Pick: Gigabyte RX 7700 XT Gaming OC
Gigabyte’s RX 7700 XT Gaming OC is the best graphics card within the RX 7700 XT range. This card comes in at MSRP and offers solid performance improvements such as thermal capability and an enhanced boost clock speed. Gigabyte’s Gaming OC variant of the RX 7700 XT is a card that thrives in the mid-range market because of its MSRP price point while offering design improvements versus the competition. This makes it a tantalising purchase amongst a vast range of options to choose from.
The Best RX 7700 XT GPUs to Buy
1. Gigabyte RX 7700 XT Gaming OC
Gigabyte’s Gaming OC RX 7700 XT offers noticeable boosts to both the base and boost clock speeds, while providing stronger thermals due to its triple fan design. This naturally results in a small improvement to frame rates in a number of games, while ensuring your card stays cool even within tougher workloads.
The Windforce cooling system is responsible for high efficiency heat dissipation thanks to the unique fan blade design and large heatsink underneath the GPU’s shrouding. Gigabyte’s 3D active fan system will also turn off the fans once your system reaches a lower load, minimising any excess power draw.
| Key Specs | Gigabyte RX 7700 XT Gaming OC |
|---|---|
| Video Memory Capacity | 12GB GDDR6 |
| Bus Width | 192-Bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 1.7GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.59GHz |
| Stream Processors | 3456 |
| Ray Accelerators | 54 |
| Length | 302mm |
| Power Draw | 245W |
The MSRP price point that the Gigabyte RX 7700 XT Gaming OC sits at is the biggest strength of this card. There are few GPUs that sit at AMD’s original launch price, while offering solid performance improvements across the entire design. Hence why we believe Gigabyte’s Gaming OC variant to be a worthwhile option.
As for the aesthetics, most the RX 7700 XT Gaming OC is relatively simplistic, with an all black shroud that sports a few etchings to create a cybernetic look. Ultimately this restricted and somewhat basic design won’t be for everyone, especially if you’re building a lighter-themed system.
Pros
- MSRP price point
- Boost speed overclock
- Small in size
Cons
- Lacklustre design
- Minimal RGB
Suggested Article: Best Power Supplies to Buy for AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
2. Sapphire RX 7700 XT Pulse
As AMD’s premier partner brand, it’s no surprise to see the Sapphire RX 7700 XT Pulse pop up in this roundup. This GPU is the closest that you’ll get to the reference card that AMD provides, but with an alternative look. And despite the lack of performance enhancements, the original RX 7700 XT design will have more than enough firepower to provide smooth 1440p gameplay in a range of different titles.
The only major difference compared to the reference card is the aesthetic, as the Sapphire Pulse boasts a more eccentric black and red colour scheme across the shroud. This allows Sapphire’s variant to stand out slightly more than the monotone look found on the reference design, adding some much-needed variation to the cheaper MSRP designs.
| Key Specs | Sapphire Pulse RX 7700 XT |
|---|---|
| Video Memory Capacity | 12GB GDDR6 |
| Bus Width | 192-Bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 1.7GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.54GHz |
| Stream Processors | 3456 |
| Ray Accelerators | 54 |
| Length | 280mm |
| Power Draw | 230W |
While the price of the Sapphire 7700 XT Pulse is pretty tantalising, the lack of any bonuses other than a slightly altered design is a little bit disappointing. There are a few other cards that come in at MSRP that provide some nice extras making them a worthwhile consideration. However, when those options aren’t available, the Sapphire RX 7700 XT Pulse comes in at a price that we can’t really argue with.
Pros
- Sits at MSRP
- Black and red design
- Won't restrict case choices
Cons
- No boost speed improvement
- Weaker thermal design
3. ASUS TUF Gaming RX 7700 XT OC
The TUF Gaming RX 7700 XT OC Edition offers an industrial appearance which is used throughout the ASUS TUF Gaming collection. Compared to AMD’s reference model, the TUF Gaming RX 7700 XT OC design looks significantly bulkier due to it’s less rounded form factor. On top of this, the lighter shade and hint of RGB lighting allows this design to stand out more than most designs, making it a solid choice for more luxurious gaming PCs.
One of the main strengths of this card is the enhanced boost clock capability. With a stronger clock speed, consumers can expect better performance in a number of games and applications. The OC mode of the TUF 7700 XT reaches 2.59GHz, which will provide a noticeable improvement to framerates in your favourite titles.
Unfortunately this ASUS OC variant is not an MSRP card, coming in close to $500. Ultimately, at this price the slightly more powerful sibling (the RX 7800 XT) becomes available, which is worth considering if you’re looking to maximise your framerates at 1440p.
Pros
- Cool design
- Boost clock enhancement
- Low power draw
Cons
- May restrict case choices
- Not competitively priced
How We Tested the Best RX 7700 XT Graphics Cards
To be able to provide informed product recommendations, we test all of our graphics cards rigorously, at a range of varying resolutions alternating settings within a number of triple A and Esports titles. To ensure our testing is fair and repeatable across the board, all of our settings are detailed in a how we test graphics cards article. There you’ll find an in-depth run down of our full testing suite for GPUs.
RX 7700 XT Benchmarks
Starfield @ 1440p
For our first benchmark, we fired up Starfield and ran the game at 1440p high settings. Performance in this game can only described as average. All of the cards that we’ve tested in this game did suffer to a degree, which is a testament to how unoptimised this title is. But regardless of the poor optimisations, the RX 7700 XT pushed through offering around 74FPS on average, which is more than can be said of the 4060 Ti.
Warzone @ 1080p
In Warzone 2.0 at high settings with FSR/DLSS settings enabled, the RX 7700 XT managed to hit 145FPS on average. This makes it an ideal choice for competitive gaming at 1080p, as it will match the output of a 144Hz gaming monitor. This result is also fairly impressive when compared to the rest of the market, as the RX 7700 XT outperformed the RX 6800 and RTX 4060Ti.
Warzone 2.0 @ 1440p
It was a similar story at 1440p, as the RX 7700 XT managed to outperform a lot of NVIDIA’s mid-range, including the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4070. With an average of 137FPS, this graphics card will provide smooth and responsive gameplay while bumping up the visual fidelity.
Hogwarts Legacy @ 1080p
In Hogwarts Legacy, the RX 7700 XT impressed yet again. Compared to the rest of the mid-range market, this GPU managed to eclipse them all, outperforming the likes of NVIDIA’s RTX 4070 and AMD’s own RX 6750 XT pretty comfortably. With an 111FPS average at 1080p high settings, this graphics card will provide a smooth ride through this wizarding world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the RX 7700 XT Support FSR 3?
Yes. FSR 3 is set to run on all of AMD’s Radeon 7000 series graphics cards, and even supports NVIDIA and Intel GPUs as well.
How Much Does an RX 7700 XT Cost?
On release, the RX 7700 XT stands at an MSRP of $449. However, alternative models will vary in price and could easily reach up to the $500 mark.
Is 12GB VRAM Good for Gaming?
12GB VRAM should be more than enough for most games at 1440p and 4K. However, the increasing demands of games could see this change soon.
