AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE review – a mighty mid-range maverick

Competitors is fantastic and the brand new AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE is proof of that. The arrival of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous has undoubtedly served as a catalyst for AMD to rethink the GRE’s regional exclusivity (it was beforehand solely accessible in China), ensuing within the wider launch of a significantly compelling graphics card.

There isn’t any scarcity of contenders for the title of finest graphics card from each AMD and Nvidia proper now, with the GRE making for one more addition to the already crowded midrange market. I’ve spent the previous few weeks placing this pixel pusher by its paces, and it’s been a pleasantly stunning expertise, despite some anticipated, albeit delicate, weaknesses.

Radeon RX 7900 GRE specs

The Radeon RX 7900 GRE packs a Navi 31 GPU, like its siblings the Radeon RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX, however that is probably the most cut-down model of this chip that we’ve seen to date. Each specification you’d anticipate, together with stream processors, ray accelerators, and reminiscence bandwidth has been trimmed again, however there are additionally just a few sudden modifications which are key to understanding the GRE’s efficiency.

Whereas there’s little distinction between the RX 7900 GRE and RX 7900 XT in some respects, there’s a large gulf in others. On the face of it, the variations are small, with the 7900 GRE solely having 256 fewer stream processors, and 4 fewer ray accelerators, than the 7900 XT. Nevertheless, there’s an enormous distinction in clock velocity between the 2 playing cards. We’re taking a look at a 145MHz shortfall within the sport clock and 150MHz within the increase clock which, whereas not huge, is stunning.

Then there’s the reminiscence bandwidth of the RX 7900 GRE (576GB/s), which isn’t solely decrease than the RX 7900 XT (800GB/s) however is in truth decrease than the Radeon RX 7800 XT (624GB/s). Each the GRE and 7800 XT every have 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM at their disposal, using on a 256-bit reminiscence bus, however the latter has sooner reminiscence clocks, resulting in larger bandwidth.

This reminiscence spec continues to be nicely forward of Nvidia’s competing GPUs, although. The GRE’s reminiscence bandwidth exceeds each the GeForce RTX 4070 (504GB/s) and RTX 4070 Tremendous (504GB/s) on this regard. The RX 7900 GRE’s whole board energy (TBP) additionally is available in at 260W, 55W lower than the RX 7900 XT, discovering itself as soon as once more in shut firm to the RX 7800 XT with its 263W energy draw. That is why the GRE performs a lot nearer to its Navi 32 cousin, the Radeon RX 7800 XT, than to its Navi 31 siblings, as we’ll see in our benchmarks.

Radeon RX 7900 GRE efficiency

We captured Radeon RX 7900 GRE efficiency knowledge at native 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, in addition to upscaled resolutions utilizing FidelityFX Tremendous Decision (FSR). Nevertheless, for the sake of brevity and relevance, our evaluation and graphs will primarily concentrate on 1440p, as that is the decision that we discover most closely fits the graphics card.

In lieu of a reference card, with AMD opting to not make its cooler design accessible exterior of China and PC producers, our benchmarks have been captured with the attractive Sapphire Pure Radeon RX 7900 GRE. Its clock frequencies are barely increased than the reference ones, with a 1,972MHz sport clock and a pair of,333MHz increase. It additionally appears pretty to my eyes, with the attractive white coloration scheme and stable construct high quality of Sapphire’s Pure fashions.

RX 7900 GRE ray tracing benchmarks

Regardless of ray tracing sometimes being a weak level for AMD graphics playing cards, our Radeon RX 7900 GRE benchmarks largely buck that pattern. Throughout our suite, at 1440p, the GRE was 9% sooner than the Radeon RX 7800 XT however, extra importantly, got here out on high in comparison with the GeForce RTX 4070 with a 3% lead. The distinction between these two $549.99 playing cards can differ tremendously relying on the title in query, however this buying and selling of blows between AMD and Nvidia is a welcome sight.

This isn’t to say that the Radeon RX 7900 GRE is now the defacto ray tracing graphics card to purchase inside this value vary, because it nonetheless trails behind the GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous by 12% on common, which prices simply $50 extra ($599.99). Nevertheless, this hole markedly shrinks to only 3% once you push up the decision to 4K, the place the additional VRAM and better reminiscence bandwidth of the GRE makes all of the distinction.

Whereas the Radeon RX 7900 GRE naturally falls behind the subsequent strongest graphics card within the Radeon 7000 sequence, the Radeon RX 7900 XT, the distinction in value between the 2 playing cards means the GRE gives a lot better worth. In spite of everything, on the MSRP ($599.99 vs. $899.99), that further $300 solely nets a 14% efficiency increase in response to our assessments. That stated, the 7900 XT is now incessantly on sale for as little as $689.99 on the time of writing, however even then he 7900 GRE continues to be a extra compelling choice.

So, whereas it’s not the ray tracing champion of the $500-600 value vary, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE does come a detailed second to its costlier competitor. That is the closest I’ve seen a Radeon graphics card come to its Nvidia rivals in such a rendering, and the primary to beat its principal competitor, the GeForce RTX 4070, and it makes me want AMD would see sense and formally cut back the MSRP of its more-expensive choices, together with the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, so we might see extra compelling competitors on the increased finish of the GPU value spectrum.

RX 7900 GRE 3DMark Velocity Method benchmark

3DMark Velocity Method is beneficial for setting a baseline expectation for real-world ray tracing efficiency on the Radeon RX 7900 GRE. On this check, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE finds itself sandwiched between the Radeon RX 7800 XT and GeForce RTX 4070, pulling forward of the previous by 387 factors and trailing behind the latter by 171 factors.

These variations are slight, however they illustrate that the distinction in ray tracing capabilities between the GRE and 7800 XT is bigger than between the GRE and the RTX 4070.

When it comes to percentages, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE is 10% sooner than the Radeon RX 7800 XT right here, however 4% slower than the GeForce RTX 4070. Nevertheless, as we’ll observe in our gaming benchmarks, these gaps in efficiency can range tremendously relying on the title in query.

RX 7900 GRE Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora ray tracing benchmark

In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE manages a mean body price of 59 frames per second (fps) utilizing the sport’s Extremely graphics preset. Whereas this does put it forward of the GeForce RTX 4070’s 57fps consequence, the margins are slim.

The scales tip additional in AMD’s favor, although, after we take minimal body price under consideration, the place the 7900 GRE supplies higher body consistency (50fps) in comparison with its Nvidia competitors (44fps). These outcomes aren’t indicative of efficiency with upscaling options, although, and FSR 3 can increase body charges on all of the playing cards within the graph above by upscaling and body era. In the meantime, Nvidia GPUs can get a lift from DLSS Tremendous Decision, which can be supported by this sport.

RX 7900 GRE Cyberpunk 2077 ray tracing benchmark

Cyberpunk 2077 ray tracing sometimes thrives on Nvidia’s Lovelace structure way over it does on AMD’s RDNA 3. As such, it supplies the one win the GeForce RTX 4070 enjoys towards the Radeon RX 7900 GRE in our ray-traced gaming benchmarks, utilizing the sport’s RT Extremely preset with upscaling options disabled.

Nevertheless, each graphics playing cards merely scrape a playable expertise in CD Projekt Crimson’s RPG, with the RTX 4070 mustering a 37fps common body price whereas the 7900 GRE clocks in at 32fps. Turning to minimal body charges, there’s only one body per second separating AMD (28fps) and Nvidia (29fps).

The middling nature of those outcomes does develop into simpler to abdomen taking the Radeon RX 7800 XT under consideration, as the additional $50 spent on the Radeon RX 7900 GRE does at the least make the distinction in playable body charges (however that is additionally true of the GeForce RTX 4070). Briefly, you’ll must allow both DLSS or FSR to make this sport playable on the RX 7900 GRE or RTX 4070 at 2,560 x 1,440, the place the latter has the advantage of official assist for DLSS 3 with body era.

RX 7900 GRE F1 23 ray tracing benchmark

In distinction to Cyberpunk 2077, F1 23 has usually confirmed a secure haven of kinds for AMD on the subject of ray tracing. On the tarmac, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE turns in a decent common body price of 74fps, pulling comfortably forward of the GeForce RTX 4070 with its 64fps consequence.

This time round, it’s the Radeon RX 7800 XT that turns into a thorn within the aspect of the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, with simply 4fps separating the 2 (70fps vs 74fps). That’s a 5% efficiency lead at a ten% premium in value, which is of course lower than compelling. To the 7900 GRE’s credit score, although, it causes the identical downside for the GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous, which solely gives an additional 3fps with its 77fps consequence.

RX 7900 GRE Returnal ray tracing benchmark

Lastly, Returnal’s ray tracing results result in outcomes that mirror what we noticed earlier in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. The Radeon RX 7900 GRE comes out the winner within the $500-600 bracket, with a mean body price of 75fps, however its victory is hard-won because the GeForce RTX 4070 turns in a results of 72fps.

With simply 3fps separating the graphics playing cards in query, turning to minimal body charges as soon as once more places the Radeon RX 7900 GRE forward of the GeForce RTX 4070. This time, the margins are far more snug, with a 7fps lead.

Radeon RX 7900 GRE rasterization benchmarks

It ought to come as no shock that the Radeon RX 7900 GRE wipes the ground with its GeForce competitors with ray tracing results disabled. Nevertheless, the extent of its lead above the likes of the GeForce RTX 4070, RTX 4070 Tremendous, and even the RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous is superior to behold nonetheless.

In like-for-like eventualities, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE establishes an enormous 37% lead over the GeForce RTX 4070. As a reminder, each graphics playing cards share the identical $549.99 value, however this consequence makes AMD’s providing a special class of graphics card altogether. If this wasn’t proof sufficient, the GRE leads the costlier $599.99 GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous by 14% throughout our suite, and even manages to interrupt even with the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous, which prices $799.99.

Honestly, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE’s solely main supply of competitors right here is the Radeon RX 7800 XT. We measured a 5% efficiency distinction in favor of the GRE in our assessments, making the 7800 XT a better-value purchase when you couldn’t care much less about ray tracing. For many who desire to dabble in each sorts of rendering, although, the additional $50 for the GRE is the good selection.

RX 7900 GRE 3DMark Time Spy Excessive benchmark

3DMark Time Spy Excessive units a powerful baseline for the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, with a rating of 10,367, slotting between the GeForce RTX 4070 (9,701) and GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous (11,835). Rasterization stays a powerful swimsuit for AMD, with the Radeon RX 7900 GRE adopted intently by the cheaper Radeon RX 7800 XT, which turns in a rating of 9,356, beating the GeForce RTX 4070.

As we’ll observe in our gaming benchmarks under, each these playing cards dominate the primary and second positions within the present vary of $500-600 graphics playing cards on the subject of rasterization in video games.

RX 7900 GRE Cyberpunk 2077 rasterization benchmark

Evening Metropolis turns its again on Nvidia when it not calls for the splendor of ray-traced results, because the Radeon RX 7900 GRE leapfrogs forward of the GeForce RTX 4070 and GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous, managing to beat the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous too. Even with out upscaling, the cardboard manages a mean body price of 102fps, overwhelmed solely by the Radeon RX 7900 XT, and even then by a gentle 15fps.

Taking value under consideration, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE is well the best-value card of the bunch right here. The Radeon RX 7800 XT does put up a very good combat, with a 94fps common, however its body price consistency is far decrease. Because the GRE musters a minimal body price of 86fps, the 7800 XT falls brief at 57fps, as the previous supplies extra steady efficiency for a smoother gameplay expertise.

RX 7900 GRE F1 23 rasterization benchmark

Now we come to F1 23, the place there’s a photograph end between the Radeon RX 7900 GRE and Radeon RX 7800 XT, with only a few frames per second between the 2 graphics playing cards. In the meantime, not even the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous can sustain with the velocity set by AMD right here, with the GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous and GeForce RT 4070 falling even additional behind.

Surprisingly, the Radeon RX 7800 XT repeatedly pulls forward of the Radeon RX 7900 GRE in F1 23. On condition that the Radeon RX 7900 XT performs higher than both graphics card, it’s clear {that a} CPU bottleneck isn’t guilty on this occasion. The one affordable conclusion we are able to draw, given the remainder of our outcomes, is that this anomaly has extra to do with the sport than both the GRE or 7800 XT.

RX 7900 GRE Returnal rasterization benchmark

Surviving Atropos’ biomes with ray tracing disabled is best on the Radeon RX 7900 GRE in comparison with its rivals, because it additionally emerges because the $500-600 champion in Returnal. The cardboard’s common body price of 116fps is nice, and whereas the 72fps minimal is a good bit decrease, that’s nonetheless nicely above 60fps, and we’ve noticed this disparity in all of the GPUs we’ve examined on this sport.

Additional cementing the truth that the Radeon RX 7900 GRE punches nicely above its weight, the GPU is a mere 4fps behind the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous on this check. Nearer to dwelling, although, it makes the GeForce RTX 4070 look particularly poor, with Nvidia’s graphics card returning a a lot decrease 90fps common body price.

RX 7900 GRE Complete Conflict: Warhammer 3 rasterization benchmark

Neither AMD nor Nvidia have any options like FSR or DLSS supporting them in Complete Conflict: Warhammer 3, so that is actually a good sport for the Radeon RX 7900 GRE and its competitors. Nonetheless, the GRE as soon as once more emerges victorious and nips on the heels of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous, with that further $250 solely netting the GeForce card an additional 3fps over the GRE’s 83fps common.

The Radeon RX 7900 GRE runs rings across the GeForce RTX 4070’s 62fps consequence, and continues to be nicely forward of the 73fps dropped at the desk by the GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous. As soon as once more, although, the Radeon RX 7800 XT makes the state of affairs considerably uncomfortable for the GRE, nipping at its heels with a spot of simply 4fps.

RX 7900 GRE FSR benchmarks

Whereas the Radeon RX 7900 GRE already impresses on the subject of uncooked efficiency, it might probably go even additional with FidelityFX Tremendous Decision behind it. Assist for the most recent model of the characteristic suite, FSR 3, is rising, however we’re nonetheless but to see AMD’s Body Technology tech arrive in Cyberpunk 2077, placing it at an unlucky drawback towards its GeForce RTX 4000-series rivals, which have DLSS 3 at their disposal.

FSR 2, then, offers the Radeon RX 7900 GRE a big efficiency increase in Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing enabled. We’re taking a look at nearly double the efficiency at native rendering, from a mean body price of 32fps to a way more palatable 57fps. Nevertheless, DLSS 3 places the GeForce RTX 4070 nicely forward of the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, with a mean body price of 87fps. DLSS Body Technology is making a big distinction right here, as Tremendous Decision by itself solely turns in a results of 67fps which, whereas nonetheless forward of the GRE, doesn’t shut the hole massively.

Body charges solely inform a part of the story, although, because the picture high quality of these frames is far increased on the GeForce graphics playing cards than on the Radeon playing cards. That is partly as a result of variations in method to upscaling, with Nvidia benefitting from utilizing its Tensor {hardware} for DLSS Tremendous Decision, but in addition due to its DLSS Ray Reconstruction tech, which returns extra detailed ray traced results.

Outcomes are rosier when ray tracing is disabled on this sport, with the Radeon RX 7900 GRE managing to carry off the beneficial properties made by the likes of the GeForce RTX 4070 and GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous. FSR offers the AMD GPU a wholesome uplift from 102fps to 129fps, which whereas not as transformative because the aforementioned ray tracing outcomes, are nonetheless nonetheless welcome.

Each the GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous and Radeon RX 7900 GRE end this benchmark with a mean body price of 129fps. This is a superb consequence for the GRE, significantly as its minimal body charges are a lot sooner than the more-expensive Nvidia GPU, at 110fps in comparison with its 62fps.

Most significantly, although, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE nonetheless probably has extra to offer in Cyberpunk 2077 when CD Projekt Crimson finally will get spherical to updating its RPG with FSR 3. It’s unimaginable to say how a lot of a distinction AMD’s body era tech will make right here, however it’s going to actually be sufficient to place this mid-range graphics card within the lead with out ray tracing.

Radeon RX 7900 GRE value

At $550, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE’s value is likely one of the best we’ve seen on this era of graphics playing cards. Put bluntly, there’s little motive to purchase a GeForce RTX 4070 on the similar value, given how constantly the Nvidia card loses to its AMD competitor in each rasterization and ray tracing, not forgetting its smaller pool of VRAM too.

Nevertheless, the RX 7900 GRE can’t match the breadth and high quality of the RTX 4070’s characteristic set, together with the likes of DLSS 3 body era and DLSS 3.5 ray reconstruction, though FSR 3 adoption is steadily rising, so this might simply change within the close to future. To be truthful, although, this stays true for all comparisons between the Radeon RX 7000 and GeForce RTX 40 sequence.

The largest problem dealing with the RX 7900 GRE, nevertheless, is the hyper-competitive house in its crowded market phase, the place it finds itself beset on both aspect by the GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous and Radeon RX 7800 XT. At $600, the RTX 4070 Tremendous supplies stronger ray-tracing body charges, however can’t sustain with the RX 7900 GRE when the ray-traced lights exit, and solely gives 12GB of VRAM, leaving it extra on the mercy of reminiscence saturation at increased resolutions.

In the meantime, the $500 Radeon RX 7800 XT gives the lion’s share of efficiency you will get from the RX 7900 GRE, making that further $50 solely worthwhile for individuals who need that handful of additional frames per second.

Regardless of the attract of its competitors, although, the excellent worth of the RX 7900 GRE is obvious. Its arrival is prone to be disruptive too, and I anticipate each the RX 7800 XT and RTX 4070, and probably even the RTX 4070 Tremendous as nicely, to drop in value, resulting in comparable knock-on results for Radeon RX 7700 XT and GeForce RTX 4060 Ti costs.

Radeon RX 7900 GRE conclusion

If the Radeon RX 7900 GRE is the final graphics card to affix the Radeon RX 7000 sequence, then AMD is nicely and actually going out with a bang with this era. This mid-range maverick is such a powerful competitor to the GeForce RTX 4070 at $549.99, that it’s significantly troublesome to justify shopping for the Nvidia card over the GRE. If it weren’t for the RTX 4070’s wider DLSS 3 assist, in addition to the upper high quality of DLSS in comparison with FSR, the RTX 4070 can be virtually out of date.

It’s clear that by playing cards just like the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, as with the Radeon RX 7800 XT earlier than it, AMD can actually compete with Nvidia if it costs its {hardware} aggressively sufficient. Annoyingly, although, the $50 distinction between these two AMD GPUs creates a troublesome resolution that would have been prevented if AMD diminished the value of the 7800 XT alongside the GRE’s international relaunch. Significantly, had been no classes discovered following the launch of the Radeon RX 7700 XT?

Along with outperforming the GeForce RTX 4070, the 7900 GRE’s 16GB of VRAM additionally supplies larger confidence in its capability to function a longstanding part in your system as texture sizes in at this time’s video games proceed to develop, significantly at increased resolutions. Briefly, for individuals who need a mid-range graphics card that serves as a jack of all trades, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE is the GPU to purchase.

Radeon RX 7900 GRE ray options

If the Radeon RX 7900 GRE isn’t fairly the correct graphics card for you, take a look at these options:

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous

Barely costlier than the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, the GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous primarily justifies its increased price ticket with higher ray tracing efficiency. Whereas it does characteristic much less VRAM, at 12GB in comparison with the GRE’s 16GB, it does include assist for increased high quality performance-enhancing options by DLSS 3, in addition to bonuses similar to RTX HDR.

Learn our Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous overview for extra info.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT

The Radeon RX 7800 XT performs equally to the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, and is barely cheaper, however falls a contact behind on the subject of ray tracing efficiency. Apart from this distinction, although, it packs the identical 16GB of VRAM, albeit with barely extra reminiscence bandwidth.

Learn our AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT overview for extra info.