AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT review – more VRAM but not much else

Previous to penning this Radeon RX 7600 XT overview, the announcement of the graphics card instilled equal components pleasure and disappointment inside me. Now, after testing it, I’m sadly left feeling no higher or worse than I did then. This GPU sadly isn’t fairly what the finances house wants, even when it’s a step in the appropriate path.

I’ve been utilizing the Radeon RX 7600 XT for the previous few days, testing its mettle to see if the AMD GPU is worthy of donning the most effective graphics card crown for value-oriented builders. Over the course of my testing, it’s confirmed to be a blended bag.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT specs

There are three issues that separate the Radeon RX 7600 XT specs from its non-XT counterpart, specifically clock speeds, energy consumption, and VRAM. Whereas two of those are improved from the Radeon RX 7600, one is made worse off as a consequence, albeit solely barely.

Recreation clock sees the largest improve, shifting as much as 2,470MHz (2.47GHz) on the Radeon RX 7600 XT from the Radeon RX 7600’s 2,250MHz (2.25GHz), for a rise of 220MHz. In the meantime, increase clock rises by a smaller 100MHz to 2,755MHz (2.78GHz). A lot as this improve is welcome, each do little to carry efficiency previous a couple of additional frames.

The headline function of the Radeon RX 7600 XT, although, is its 16GB of VRAM. It now joins the Intel Arc A770 in being considered one of simply two graphics playing cards to offer such capability within the finances house. Nevertheless, the 128-bit bus from the Radeon RX 7600 stays the identical, as does reminiscence bandwidth at 476.9GB/s.

Lastly, TBP for the Radeon RX 7600 XT will increase to 190W to accommodate these enhancements. That is solely 10W greater than the Radeon RX 7600, although, and isn’t price dropping sleep over.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT benchmarks

For our Radeon RX 7600 XT benchmarks, we’ve captured body fee information for the three hottest resolutions, 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. These findings are break up into sections that cowl ray tracing and rasterization efficiency, in addition to the impression of FSR. Every benchmark was run 3 times to provide a mean last end result, discarding anomalous entries. The outcomes beneath for all graphics playing cards are freshly captured, utilizing the most recent out there drivers.

Pairing the budget-leaning Radeon RX 7600 XT with the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is considerably egregious, on condition that it’s a far higher-range CPU than most consumers of this class of graphics card are going to be utilizing. Nevertheless, maintaining our selection of CPU constant makes comparisons to different graphics playing cards simpler, eliminating every other variables. For a extra good selection of chip to pair with this card, although, we’d suggest the Ryzen 5 7600X or Core i5 14600K.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT rasterization benchmarks

Non-ray traced rendering has classically confirmed to be among the many biggest strengths of AMD’s graphics playing cards, and the Radeon RX 7600 XT is not any exception. It joins its cheaper sibling, the Radeon RX 7600, in virtually all the time displaying up the GeForce RTX 4060 with regards to this type of rendering, and sometimes falls inside spitting distance of the dearer GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB.

Analyzing the Radeon RX 7600 XT in isolation in opposition to the GeForce RTX 4060 produces a 13-14% benefit in minimal and common body charges. On condition that it prices just below 10% extra ($29), the 7600 XT seems to offer strong worth on this respect versus the RTX 4060 from its efficiency alone, not to mention when you account for its bigger VRAM pool. It additionally constantly beats out the Intel Arc A770, making it the de facto 16GB graphics card to seize for beneath $350, ray tracing isn’t a precedence.

Nevertheless, bringing the Radeon RX 7600 into the fold complicates the worth of the Radeon RX 7600 XT. For all of the technical benefits the 7600 XT boasts, be it clock speeds or VRAM capability, they sadly don’t quantity to any sizable features. The truth is, on common, each minimal and common body charges are a mere 7-8% improved. That is diminished to only 1-2% when focussing completely on 1080p and 1440p outcomes; resolutions the cardboard is greatest suited to. This minute increase is of course problematic contemplating the $60 value distinction.

The truth is that the Radeon RX 7600 XT’s elevated clock speeds and VRAM capability do nothing to handle the underlying limitations of the Navi 33 GPU at its coronary heart and the 128-bit reminiscence bus it rides on. Nevertheless, as we’ll talk about additional into this overview, these modifications can show enormously helpful with regards to ray tracing. For now, although, let’s dive into the particulars of our rasterized benchmarks.

RX 7600 XT – 3DMark rasterization benchmarks

3DMark supplies us with a normal estimation of a graphics card’s efficiency, with Time Spy and Time Spy Excessive testing their capabilities utilizing the DirectX 12 API.

The Radeon RX 7600 XT takes the bronze right here, falling behind the dearer Intel Arc A770 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB. It’s vital to notice, nonetheless, that the Arc A770 won’t carry out as nicely in real-world benchmarks, significantly DirectX 11 video games, as might be evident.

It’s right here that we see an unlucky fact concerning the Radeon RX 7600 XT first current itself, with its rating virtually mirroring the Radeon RX 7600. These benchmarks solely demand as much as 4GB of VRAM, leaving one of many RX 7600 XT’s core benefits to be of no use right here.

RX 7600 XT – Cyberpunk 2077 rasterization benchmarks

At 1080p, the Radeon RX 7600 XT pulls forward of each different graphics card in Cyberpunk 2077 utilizing the Extremely preset (minus FSR), save for the dearer GeForce RTX 4060 Ti. It pumps out minimal and common body charges of 67fps and 83fps, respectively, making for a easy expertise. Nevertheless, the Radeon RX 7600 follows shut behind, regardless of falling 4GB wanting the 12GB of VRAM demanded by this decision and high quality preset combo.

The efficiency gaps between the Radeon RX 7600 XT and its rivals narrows considerably at 1440p, with each graphics card falling beneath the perfect 60fps threshold. The one actual loser at this decision is the GeForce RTX 4060, which falls behind the pack in each common and minimal fps.

A lot because the Radeon RX 7600 XT has the VRAM capability to resist the calls for of Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K, the identical can’t be mentioned for its GPU. Alongside its rivals, it fails to hit the 30fps threshold and thus leaves native 2160p out of the query right here.

RX 7600 XT – F1 23 rasterization benchmarks

F1 23 tends to favor AMD GPUs, and this stays true with the Radeon RX 7600 XT. It comfortably leaves the Intel Arc A770 and GeForce RTX 4060 within the mud with its 77fps common at 1080p. Whereas the Radeon RX 7600 trails by simply 3fps, its minimal body fee is far decrease, giving the 7600 XT a decisive edge within the stability of its efficiency.

The lead in common body charges continues at 1440p and 4K, with the latter decision additionally seeing a recurrence of higher minimal fps from the Radeon RX 7600 XT in comparison with the Radeon RX 7600. F1 23 calls for 9-12GB of VRAM at this high quality preset, relying on output decision, and the elevated body buffer of 16GB is undoubtedly taking part in a bigger position than clock speeds in creating these variations.

RX 7600 XT – Returnal rasterization benchmarks

Returnal serves as an equalizer of kinds for the Radeon RX 7600 XT and GeForce RTX 4060, with each graphics playing cards performing kind of identically throughout all three resolutions. The truth is, the Radeon RX 7600 additionally mirrors them with margin-of-error variations.

Whereas these metrics don’t reveal any trigger for alarm when it comes to VRAM utilization, Returnal calls for at least 11GB of video reminiscence utilizing the Epic preset at 1080p, inherently making the Radeon RX 7600 and GeForce RTX 4060 extra liable to efficiency points. Conversely, the Radeon RX 7600 XT and Intel Arc A770 with their 16GB capability are greater than geared up for the job.

RX 7600 XT – Complete Struggle: Warhammer 3 rasterization benchmarks

As a DirectX 11 sport, Complete Struggle: Warhammer 3 creates efficiency issues for the Intel Arc A770, whereas the Radeon RX 7600 XT and GeForce RTX 4060 have none. Of the 2 remaining viable sub-$350 rivals, although, the real-time technique sport in the end prefers staff pink’s pixel pusher.

Inventive Meeting’s RTS is likely one of the much less VRAM hungry video games in our take a look at suite, calling for at least 8GB. All of the graphics playing cards in query listed below are as much as that process, however their GPUs are in the end solely highly effective sufficient to resist the Extremely preset at 1080p anyway.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT ray tracing benchmarks

It’s with ray tracing enabled that we see the benefit of the Radeon RX 7600 XT’s bigger VRAM pool extra clearly current itself. Nevertheless, this comes with some caveats. Common body charges stay principally unchanged, save for one end result whose impressive-sounding near-200% enchancment is altogether much less so, given the ultimate body fee stays unplayable. minimal body charges, although, one title that stumbled and stuttered on the Radeon RX 7600 is now much more playable.

Comparisons to each the GeForce RTX 4060 and Arc A770 are much less favorable for the Radeon RX 7600 XT. Throughout our suite, the AMD card trails the less-expensive GeForce RTX 4060 by 12-14% at 1080p and 1440p, whereas its Arc competitor pulls forward by 3-5% on the identical resolutions. As talked about earlier on this overview, on condition that nothing substantial has modified from the core specs of the identical Navi 33 GPU discovered within the Radeon RX 7600, we discover ourselves as a rule experiencing déjà vu.

This leaves the Radeon RX 7600 XT in an ungainly place, as its 16GB of VRAM is most instantly helpful in a kind of rendering it nonetheless finds itself falling quick in in comparison with the competitors. Even with this benefit, the efficiency hole between the GeForce RTX 4060 stays substantial on the resolutions that matter most to it.

RX 7600 XT – 3DMark ray tracing benchmarks

3DMark supplies us with a normal estimation of a graphics card’s efficiency, with Pace Method and Port Royal testing their ray tracing capabilities utilizing the DirectX 12 API.

As anticipated, the Radeon RX 7600 XT and Radeon RX 7600 don’t fare in addition to their rivals in ray traced rendering. This weak point is true of all Radeon RX 7000 sequence GPUs, although, and that is, once more, an estimation of efficiency. As we will see, AMD’s GPUs can commerce blows with each Intel and Nvidia in some video games.

RX 7600 XT – Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora ray tracing benchmarks

Not like the opposite video games in our suite, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora doesn’t explicitly separate its ray tracing choices into separate presets or explicitly described settings. As such, its Extremely preset can catch you unawares in the event you’re not cautious.

This can be a very demanding sport, with the Radeon RX 7600 XT and the vast majority of its rivals falling shy of even a 50fps common at 1080p. Shifting up the decision ladder proves too troublesome for all however the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, with minimal body charges beneath 30fps.

The scale of Avatar’s efficiency footprint is matched solely by its starvation for VRAM, with a 13GB minimal utilizing the Extremely preset. This would go away even the dearer 12GB Radeon RX 7700 XT quick, and helps make the case all of the stronger for the likes of the Radeon RX 7600 XT (even when its GPU is weaker).

RX 7600 XT – Cyberpunk 2077 ray tracing benchmarks

Enjoying Cyberpunk 2077 utilizing the RT Extremely preset, sans efficiency boosting upscalers, is just too a lot to ask of the Radeon RX 7600 XT. Its 16GB of VRAM helps it keep higher afloat than the Radeon RX 7600, however this situation is just too demanding for principally the graphics playing cards in our suite right here. Even the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, with its extra highly effective ray tracing cores, can’t escape the constraints of its 8GB VRAM capability, with vastly totally different minimal and common fps.

Demanding 14GB of VRAM out of the gate, Cyberpunk 2077 suffers no would-be 8GB challengers. It isn’t till we make use of the likes of DLSS, FSR, and XeSS, that we get a playable expertise with minimal body charges of 30fps.

RX 7600 XT – F1 23 ray tracing benchmarks

The place as soon as the Radeon RX 7600 XT loved a snug lead in F1 23 with rasterization, it finds itself extra intently driving alongside its competitors with ray tracing enabled.

The Radeon RX 7600 XT is ready to drive steadily at 1080p, however buckles barely at 1440p with minimal body charges dipping beneath 30fps. In the meantime, the Intel Arc A770 and GeForce RTX 4060 nearly keep on monitor.

Naturally, 4K proves an excessive amount of for all concerned. Partly as a result of GPUs merely missing the ability to push so many pixels, but in addition attributable to VRAM constraints, as we are able to see evaluating the Radeon RX 7600 XT to the Radeon RX 7600.

RX 7600 XT – Returnal ray tracing benchmarks

In Returnal, the 16GB of VRAM within the Radeon RX 7600 XT proves to be its largest boon. At 1080p, minimal body charges soar from an abysmal 18fps on the Radeon RX 7600 to a much better 35fps.

Nevertheless, this victory solely serves to carry it according to its rivals, with the GeForce RTX 4060 even outclassing the Radeon RX 7600 XT with simply 8GB of VRAM.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT FSR benchmarks

Bringing FidelityFX Tremendous Decision (FSR) into the image, alongside competing options, primarily compounds the gaps between the Radeon RX 7600 XT and different sub-$400 graphics playing cards we see in native rendering. Nevertheless, when it comes to picture constancy, FSR leaves the 7600 XT behind each the GeForce RTX 4060 and Intel Arc A770.

Launching alongside the Radeon RX 7600 XT is AMD Fluid Movement Frames, a driver-based body technology answer that goals to carry body technology to each DirectX 12 and 11 sport no matter whether or not the developer has applied native DLSS or FSR Body Era. Higher nonetheless, it’s suitable with each Radeon RX 7000 and 6000 sequence graphics playing cards. Sadly, I wasn’t capable of spend sufficient time testing this function previous to overview to provide knowledgeable impressions, given when our pattern arrived, however you’ll be able to count on a separate function on the expertise quickly.

With FSR 2 enabled, the Radeon RX 7600 XT finds itself freed as much as present better ranges of rasterized efficiency in Cyberpunk 2077. It matches the 1080p minimal body fee of the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB, at 80fps, falling simply shy of its competitor’s 114fps common by simply 5fps.

As resolutions improve, the Intel Arc A770 begins to catch as much as the Radeon RX 7600 XT, ultimately turning into neck and neck with 33fps and 32fps, respectively, at 4K. In the meantime, the GeForce RTX 4060 can’t handle a playable body fee at such a excessive decision.

Even with FSR, the ray tracing efficiency of the Radeon RX 7600 XT nonetheless leaves a lot to be desired in comparison with the GeForce RTX 4060 utilizing DLSS 2. We’re a 50% deficit right here when it comes to common body charges at 1080p, and that’s with out contemplating the variations in picture high quality too.

That mentioned, the sport is no less than playable, in the event you’re keen to endure a 30fps cap. If, you’ll want to show your consideration away from the Radeon RX 7600 XT.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT value

The Radeon RX 7600 XT value is $329, which is a sum that evokes emotions akin to these I’ve in direction of the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, albeit not fairly as damaging. The additional $60 AMD is asking for right here over the RX 7600 versus the $100 by Nvidia is definitely extra palatable, however nonetheless feels too costly for the product you find yourself with.

As with the Radeon RX 7600, I want that AMD had been extra aggressive with its pricing. At $299, matching the GeForce RTX 4060, the Radeon RX 7600 XT can be a way more disruptive pressure and all of the extra attractive of a purchase order. As issues stand, nonetheless, there are simply too many caveats and nuances required to successfully justify its value.

Is the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT price it?

It’s frustratingly troublesome to outright suggest the Radeon RX 7600 XT to most individuals, on condition that this must be the finances graphics card we’ve been clamoring for. It ought to present higher worth than the Radeon RX 7600 in the long term, given its bigger VRAM pool, however this feels much less pronounced within the right here and now. Whereas you will notice advantages in some video games, others will solely see marginal enhancements.

The issue right here is that the Radeon RX 7600 is principally simply pretty much as good because the Radeon RX 7600 XT usually, give or take a couple of frames, making the latter’s greater value a cause to pause. Then there’s the uncomfortable hole between it and the cheaper GeForce RTX 4060 when it comes to ray tracing and upscaling high quality, additional hampering the enchantment of what must be the finances king of kinds.

For these whose major concern is non-ray traced gaming, nonetheless, the Radeon RX 7600 XT is the graphics card to go for in case your finances is restricted, don’t plan to improve for some time, and couldn’t care much less about upscaling. VRAM bottlenecks is probably not so obvious but on 8GB playing cards outdoors of ray tracing, nevertheless it gained’t be lengthy till we see extra system necessities demand extra reminiscence from our graphics playing cards.

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT alternate options

If the Radeon RX 7600 XT isn’t the proper match on your system, try these alternate options:

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060

The GeForce RTX 4060 is each cheaper and extra performant than the Radeon RX 7600 XT with regards to ray tracing. It additionally delivers a extra sturdy function set for efficiency enhancements, with DLSS Tremendous Decision and Body Era proving to be of a better high quality than FSR 3. Simply keep in mind that its 8GB VRAM capability might show to be a constraint in years to return.

Learn our GeForce RTX 4060 overview to be taught extra.

AMD Radeon RX 7600

In case your finances can’t stretch above $300, then the Radeon RX 7600 is the graphics card to go for. It shares many similarities with the Radeon RX 7600 XT, corresponding to the flexibility to carry out nicely at 1080p in rasterized rendering. Nevertheless, it solely has 8GB of VRAM, in comparison with the 16GB discovered within the XT.

Learn our Radeon RX 7600 overview to be taught extra.