Introduction
Immediately after the launch of the of yet another NVIDIA card with questionable value, AMD has released their brand new AMD Radeon RX 7600 graphics card, launching with an MSRP of $269 with solid performance metrics at 1080p, with decent legs at 1440p too. This card looks to significantly undercut NVIDIA and may be the go-to option for many consumers looking to find the next upgrade beyond the recently favourited Radeon 6000 generation of cards.
But is this card worth picking up at it’s given price point, especially considering the big VRAM issue that we’ve all been facing with modern games? And what kind of AIB models are available on the market right now for those that want some extra features, or fancier designs?
In this roundup we’ll be answering these very questions by taking a look at the best Radeon RX 7600 graphics cards to buy right now. We’ll be recommending a number of cards, and we’ll also delve into some performance benchmarks to see how the card fares against a number of options on the market.
Suggested Article: Best Power Supplies to Buy for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 in 2023
Our Recommendations
1. AMD Radeon RX 7600 (Reference Card)
👑 The cheapest Radeon RX 7600.
Introduction
Starting off this roundup, we’ve picked out the Reference Model, or the Founders Edition card that comes directly from AMD. This card is the one that AMD use as the baseline for all of their specs. Similar to NVIDIA, this card is the launch model, and will be available for MSRP alongside some other options from brands such as Sapphire, PowerColor, and others. Although this card is not the fanciest option on the market, it is the cheapest, and I personally believe that the Reference Cards have a great design.
AMD has gone through quite a few revisions of their reference cards, and I’d say that the current modern options are the best ones that we’ve seen in quite some time. Whilst this card doesn’t feature any fancy RGB, the dual-fan design looks pretty cool, and all of the angular accents makes this card standout versus some of the more plain cards that we’ve seen. Overall, this card is a simplistic design, but there’s excellence in simplicity, and I’d say this AMD reference card hits the nail on the head.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | AMD Radeon RX 7600 (Reference Card) |
|---|---|
| Video Memory | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128 bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.25 |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.62GHz |
| Stream Processors | 2048 |
| Power Consumption | 165W |
| Ray Accelerators | 32 |
| PCI-E Generation | PCI-E 4.0 |
| GPU Length | 204mm |
| Fans | 2 |
| RGB | No |
Things We Like
Solid design: AMD‘s older reference cards didn’t tend to look great, but I feel the revisions that they’ve done for the modern cards have served them well. Whilst there’s no RGB on this card, it does offer a sleek and sophisticated aesthetic.
MSRP price point: The reference card is one of the cheapest models available at launch. This card sits at MSRP, and is definitely worth considering if you’re looking for the cheapest option available.
Things We Don’t Like
Can be harder to pick up: The reference cards are generally harder to pickup, much like NVIDIA’s Founders Edition models. If you want one of these cards, you’ll have to be quick at launch.
Will have the weakest thermal design: The AMD reference cards tend to be the weakest when it comes to thermals. There are a number of options on the market that will provide better thermals and be designed for near-silent operation.
Summary
AMD’s RX 7600 reference card is a solid option for consumers looking to be price conscious about their purchases. This isn’t the strongest design we’ve seen, and nor is it the most thermally capable, but it is cheap! We recommend being rather quick if you’re looking to pick up one of these cards.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.1/5
Performance: 4/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Very small.
- Sits at MSRP.
- Design is sophisticated.
Cons
- Weaker thermal capability.
- More difficult to pick up.
Where to Buy
Buy the AMD Radeon RX 7600 on:
2. Gigabyte Gaming OC RX 7600.
👑 The best value AIB RX 7600.
Introduction
As the second card in our roundup is Gigabyte‘s Gaming OC RX 7600. This model is one of the cards to not release at an MSRP price point, but it does come very close. This card can be picked up for around $20-$30 more than the initial launch price, which I’d argue is pretty good, considering how cheap this card is, and all of the extra bonuses that you get by picking up an AIB card. Although the aesthetic of this card isn’t the best that we’ve seen, there is a nice sense of familiarity with this card. It sits at a similar size to the Eagle 3070 cards, which offered a design that was effectively the same as this one, but with a darker shroud.
Moving onto the extra benefits that I alluded to previously, the biggest one is cooling. Reference cards might be perfectly fine for cooling, but they’re definitely not the strongest options on the market. Gigabyte’s WindForce cooling system offers alternate spinning fans that feature alongside a large heatsink and multiple copper heat pipes, providing better heat dissipation. The Gaming OC also is a much sturdier design, offering a metal backplate that will resist any drops, or wear over time. This card does also have some additional flair in the form of RGB at the top of the card, which can be customised using a variety of RGB software.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Gigabyte Gaming OC Radeon RX 7600 |
|---|---|
| Video Memory | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128 bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.25 |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.62GHz |
| Stream Processors | 2048 |
| Power Consumption | 165W |
| Ray Accelerators | 32 |
| PCI-E Generation | PCI-E 4.0 |
| GPU Length | 280mm |
| Fans | 3 |
| RGB | Yes |
Things We Like
Solid thermals: The Gaming OC offers a triple-fan design which features Gigabyte‘s renowned WindForce cooling system. This should keep thermals nice and cool even during an intense gaming session.
Reasonably sized: Although this card is bigger than the reference model, 280mm is about what we’d expect for a triple-fan AIB card. Most cases should support this GPU with no issues, which means it is unlikely you’ll need to purchase a new one to install the 7600.
Things We Don’t Like
More expensive than MSRP: The RX 7600 is a very reasonably priced graphics card coming in at a $269 price point. Unfortunately, the Gaming OC doesn’t quite have this price tag. So if you’re looking for the cheapest option, we’d recommend steering clear from this GPU.
Doesn’t offer much for aesthetic: Although I’m not entirely against the aesthetic of this card, it is one of the more plain options that we’ve had in the office. If you’re looking for some extra flair, we’d advise looking at some alternative AIB cards.
Summary
Gigabyte‘s Gaming OC model of the RX 7600 is a triple fan design that offers strong value versus a multitude of other AIBs on the market. Whilst this card isn’t the best looking option, I feel the price point makes it worth a consideration. It doesn’t have the same price tag as MSRP, but for only a little bit extra you get access to improved cooling, and a slight overclock that will enhance performance.
Features: 4/5
Design: 3.9/5
Performance: 4.2/5
Value for Money: 4.3/5
Pros
- Reasonably priced.
- Excellent thermal design.
- Isn’t gigantic.
Cons
- Not the best in terms of aesthetic.
- Doesn’t come in at MSRP.
Where to Buy
Buy the Gigabyte Gaming OC Radeon RX 7600 on:
3. Sapphire Pulse RX 7600
👑 The best MSRP AIB RX 7600.
Introduction
Next up in our roundup is Sapphire‘s Pulse RX 7600. This card is one of AMD‘s MSRP releases, and will be one of the go-to options for many consumers picking up a 7600 for the exceptional price point. Sapphire are a well known brand in the AMD space, and have been manufacturing AIB cards for Team Red for quite sometime. But if you’re an NVIDIA user, you may not recognise this brand as they don’t produce any cards for Team Green.
Looking at the card specifically, the Sapphire Pulse doesn’t seem to have changed much from the last generation cards. This particular model still features the signature black and red look which I do quite like, but it is a little bit disappointing that this card is basically the same as the RX 6000 options. Performance wise, this card won’t offer any boosts as this particular card doesn’t feature an overclock. However, thermals are pretty strong, with the larger fans aiding airflow and keeping your temperatures nice and low.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7600 |
|---|---|
| Video Memory | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128 bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.25 |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.62GHz |
| Stream Processors | 2048 |
| Power Consumption | 165W |
| Ray Accelerators | 32 |
| PCI-E Generation | PCI-E 4.0 |
| GPU Length | 280mm |
| Fans | 2 |
| RGB | No |
Things We Like
Solid aesthetic: The Sapphire Pulse 7600 offers a sleek red and black design that appears on the front of the graphics card and on the fans. I quite like this design, as it provides some uniqueness to the overall aesthetic of the card.
Can be picked up for MSRP: The Sapphire Pulse model is one of the few cards that can be picked up at the MSRP price tag. If you’re on a budget and looking for the cheapest option, we’d recommend taking a look at the Sapphire Pulse AIB.
Things We Don’t Like
Not much in the way of RGB: We love to see some extra RGB on graphics cards as they provide consumers with some customisation options for their build. Unfortunately the Sapphire Pulse 7600 is a little bit lacking on the lighting front.
Not great for Ray-Tracing: This applies to all of the 7600 variants, but we definitely don’t recommend this card for Ray-Tracing. You’ll want to pick up a better performing option to enjoy this setting without any hindrances.
Summary
The Sapphire Pulse version of the RX 7600 is an excellent option for consumers looking to pick up the cheapest option available. This card will sit at the $269 launch price, and for this you get a card with better cooling, a solid design, and excellent 1080p performance, which is difficult to argue with.
Features: 4.1/5
Design: 4.5/5
Performance: 4.2/5
Value for Money: 4.3/5
Pros
- Excellent 1080p and 1440p performance.
- Awesome design.
- Sits at MSRP pricing.
Cons
- Doesn’t offer much RGB.
- Can’t really handle Ray-Tracing.
Where to Buy
Buy the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 7600 on:
4. PowerColor Hellhound Radeon RX 7600
👑 The best compact Radeon RX 7600.
Introduction
For our third selection, we’ve picked out the PowerColor Hellhound version of the Radeon RX 7600. Much like Sapphire, PowerColor are another brand that won’t be particularly well known in the space if you’ve been an NVIDIA fan up until now. PowerColor provide excellent graphics cards, but these options are all AMD GPUs. PowerColor are considered one of the more budget-oriented manufacturers when it comes to graphics cards, hence their HellHound model being available for MSRP at launch.
This particular design is one of the smallest cards amongst the RX 7600 SKU, which is why we’ve given this the award of the most compact design. This card sits at 220mm in length and is 130mm wide, which is one of the smallest GPUs we’ve seen in a while. Gone are the days of triple-slot cards, or 2.5 slot GPUs, this graphics card is a 2-slot design. The HellHound 7600 also offers some RGB, with both of the fans sporting LED illumination which can be turned on or off via the LED switch located on top of the card.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | PowerColor HellHound Radeon RX 7600 |
|---|---|
| Video Memory | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128 bit |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.25 |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.62GHz |
| Stream Processors | 2048 |
| Power Consumption | 165W |
| Ray Accelerators | 32 |
| PCI-E Generation | PCI-E 4.0 |
| GPU Length | 220mm |
| Fans | 2 |
| RGB | Yes |
Things We Like
Finally, some RGB!: The PowerColor HellHound is one of the only cards within this roundup to actually feature any RGB lighting. It can easily be turned on or off by using the switch located on top of the GPU.
Nice and small: The HellHound is an absolutely tiny card, sitting at a length of 220mm. This card is absolutely perfect for a compact build. If you’re building a small PC, we’d definitely recommend picking up this model.
Things We Don’t Like
RGB switch is annoying: We’d much rather have the RGB turn on automatically, and it be customisable within some software. If you decide you don’t want the lighting on you’ll have to open up your case and turn it off, which is just annoying.
Can run quite hot: Under more intensive gaming workloads, the HellHound can run at 72 degrees, which I’d argue is pretty hot. There are better AIB options if you’re looking for a card that keeps temperatures lower.
Summary
PowerColor‘s HellHound RX 7600 is a great card for the RGB lovers out there. This is one of the few cards that actually has some RGB, whilst sporting a nice compact design that won’t restrict your case choices. Although thermals aren’t incredible, we imagine if you’re just playing games, temperatures shouldn’t be too bad, or reach any levels of danger, but you’ll need to make sure your PC has plenty of airflow.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.4/5
Performance: 4/5
Value for Money: 3.9/5
Pros
- Has RGB lighting.
- Small and compact design.
- MSRP price point.
Cons
- Not great temperatures.
- RGB switch is useful but in a stupid place.
Where to Buy
Buy the PowerColor HellHound Radeon RX 7600 on:
Is the Radeon RX 7600 Any Good?
So far we’re pretty impressed with the performance of the RX 7600. Whilst this card is definitely geared towards the budget 1080p market, it does have pretty decent legs in 1440p too. You will be at the edge of the VRAM because of this, but based on the price of this card, I’d argue its a very good option for those that are playing Esports titles and plan on upgrading to a 1440p monitor later down the line. Regardless of this, we’ve provided some benchmarks below to give you some more context on how well this card performs in a variety of games.
Hogwarts Legacy
First off in Hogwarts Legacy at 1080p, the Radeon 7600 was able to output an average framerate of around 105FPS. We were expecting performance to be much weaker in this game as Hogwarts Legacy is very GPU intensive in certain areas of the game. However, the RX 7600 held up very well, and actually managed to surpass NVIDIA’s most recent RTX 4060 Ti in this title.
We were hoping to this card reach the 144Hz sweet spot in this game, but it isn’t a deal-breaker that it wasn’t able to reach this mark. It is very clear to us from this benchmark that the Radeon RX 7600 is a strong competitor at 1080p, and is able to keep up against some of the budget titans from the previous generation, along with some of the new cards from NVIDIA.
Apex Legends
In Apex Legends we saw a massive uplift in performance with the RX 7600 pushing out 189 frames on average, which puts it almost on par with the previous generation’s Radeon RX 6750 XT. This is absolutely massive, and we were super impressed with the performance in this title. Apex Legends is pretty well optimised as a general rule, but this allows consumers to enjoy high refresh rates, which should give them an edge in gameplay.
If we look at the competition, I’d argue that the RX 7600 held up very well versus the older Radeon 6000 cards, and the new RTX 4000 range. Although the RX 7600 wasn’t quite able to surpass the 195FPS mark, you won’t really notice a 6FPS different between the 7600 and the 4060 Ti. It definitely seems that the RX 7600 is the better option for 1080p gaming.
Overwatch 2
For our final game, we tested Overwatch 2 at 1440p ultra settings. In this title the RX 7600 offered similar performance to what we saw in Apex Legends. Although the 7600 sat at the bottom of the graph in comparison to all of the other options, 177FPS is still pretty solid overall. This allows consumers to enjoy a high refresh rate along with a buttery smooth display experience too.
We can see from this benchmark that the 7600 is definitely weaker at 1440p, as resolution will be pushing the GPU to the end of its utilisation. However, if you do plan on picking up a 1440p display, I’d argue that the performance metrics are pretty solid. This card will struggle in less optimised titles, but I’d say that performance overall is more than playable.
Is 8GB of VRAM Enough for Gaming?
The VRAM question is a massive point of contention in the PC gaming space at the moment due to the rising performance demand of games at low and high resolutions. In the past few months we’ve seen the release of unfinished triple A titles that even the RTX 4090 and 4080 struggled to run at a reasonable level. Although these are anomalies to a degree, there are clear indicators that gaming at even 1080p is requiring graphics cards that need more VRAM, and better hardware to be able to push frames that are well above the 60FPS mark.
8GB of VRAM used to be considered high-end if we look back four of five years ago. Cards like the RX 480 or 580 came with 8GB of VRAM as standard, and this was overkill for 1080p. This is back when 4GB and 6GB cards were still being manufactured on the regular for consumers to be able to build budget systems that didn’t cost an absolute fortune. But in recent years modern triple A titles are causing GPUs to be at nearly 100% utilisation at times. Star Wars Jedi Survivor is a perfect example of this, where we saw this title using 10GB or even 12GB of VRAM during benchmarks, which is insane!
To play Devil’s Advocate, if we steer away from triple A games and look at Esports titles, 8GB is more than enough. These popular and older titles would run fine on much older hardware, so the new hardware is effectively overkill, even if you’re running an 8GB card. So if you play these games, it isn’t particularly likely that you’ll need much more than 8GB of VRAM. But keep in mind, as we see more titles release in the next couple of years the demand is going to increase more and more, and it is unlikely that many consumers will still be playing the newest games on an 8GB card without running into problems.
Why You Can Trust Us
For all of our written and video content, our team of hardware enthusiasts put many hours into research and benchmarking all of the components that we get in the GeekaWhat offices. We then put together an impartial view on said product by using the data that we’ve compiled to assess strengths and weaknesses. This is then relayed to our audience through a range of articles and videos. We also ensure that we remain impartial by making sure that any of our opinions remain uninfluenced by external parties or brands. For more information about our editorial team, check the About Us section.
How We Tested the Best Radeon RX 7600 Graphics Cards
In order to test and evaluate the best Radeon RX 7600 graphics cards, there are a number of factors that we take into account, these are:
- Performance
- Thermal Capability
- Aesthetic
- Size
- Value for Money
Conclusion
Best Radeon RX 7600 Graphics Card: Gigabyte Gaming OC RX 7600
Wrapping up this roundup, we’ve picked out Gigabyte‘s Gaming OC as the best RX 7600 option. The Gigabyte card is available for a price tag very close to MSRP, and by paying a little bit extra, you get a surplus of benefits. This card has a great aesthetic, offers a triple-fan design that should help keep the card nice and cool, and a modest overclock that will provide some extra performance. Definitely worth a consideration for those wanting the best value option.
Read our full Gigabyte Gaming OC RX 7600 Review, or Buy the Gigabyte Gaming OC RX 7600 on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Play Games at 4K with the RX 7600?
You can, but we wouldn’t recommend it. This card is not designed for 4K games, and thus the performance overhead is rather significant. This card will take a massive performance hit at 4K.
How Big is the RX 7600?
Not very big! If you’re building a compact system, this card shouldn’t pose any issues. This will be dependent on the model that you’ve picked up, but the majority of these cards are rather small even with triple-fan designs.
Is RGB Important?
No! But it does depend on your preferences. If you enjoy some extra flair for your build, then RGB graphics cards might be worth taking a look at. But overall RGB will not affect performance.
Can You Buy Liquid Cooled Graphics Cards?
Yes you can. Although these cards are much more expensive and harder to find, there are a few manufacturers that produce liquid cooled GPUs straight out of the box!
