AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT Review: Is This GPU DOA at $900?

[Neatfeatguy]

I don't know if you saw, but I'm now on TPU now too. There are a lot of obvious trolls there and the people who seem to be real contributors aren't bashing the XTX.

Yep, saw you in the 7900XTX review topic making posts.

There are a few people you'll come to find there that are hardcore Intel/Nvidia/AMD fans. They can get to be too much at times, so I tend to put them on ignore for a bit.

 

[Hardware Geek]

"The 7900 XT was just 8% faster than the 6900 XT at 1440p in this game at 1440p."

But what was the resolution?

 

[Neatfeatguy]

Yeah Im in the UK and I can't believe how much Americans pay for medication let alone actual surgery or medical procedures. I'd rather be taxed more and not have the worry.

Don't fret none, taxes keep creeping up and insurance premiums keep creeping up, yet we don't benefit from things such as reduced insurance costs or reduced medications or reduced healthcare costs.

In my city, the school district (which has a shady as helI history - superintendent arrested by the FBI, mismanagement of school funds in the tune of $7 million. Even had someone in charge of city funds for a couple of city events that were held every year....they stole money from the funds so the city council pulled the events and they are no longer held; these were city events they've been doing for decades) passed a levy last year to raise funds for "better" school stuff for kids. Based on your property value, your property taxes would increase from $600 to $1800 the first year the levy was in effect (that was last January) and it will go up another $100-500 the next year and stay active for 5 years after that.

This coming January my property taxes will go up about $350. My taxes last January went up $1000. I went from paying around $2,800 in property taxes two years ago to about $4200 a year once January comes around and the new tax year starts.

You know what we got out of all this extra money we pay to the city for school? Reduced bus system - they're running half a dozen fewer buses this year and they pushed the distant from 1 mile to 2 miles from the school that makes you eligible to ride a bus. We live 1.5 miles from the kids' schools, so that means they don't get a bus to pick them up and they either have to walk or get a ride.

The kids also earned 5 extra days off during the school year. I don't even understand why.....apparently the teachers need days to "grade and catch up".

8 years ago the new High School was built and an additional $250 was put on everyone's property taxes and supposed to come off....it hasn't happened yet. We're also still paying an extra $500 for the new community center that was built 10 years ago.....

Taxes keep getting added on and they never come off. It sucks. Don't move here.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

Honestly I believe their really is a serious problem with the drivers and possibly a silicon problem. The driver team has been told to work through Xmas and if they can fix the problems I'm sure we'll see the 7900's gain quite a bit. But if it it needs a new silicon revision, that'll take 6 months and the prices will need to drop a lot. Let's face, AMD has LIED about the performance. In the past RDNA and RDNA2 presentations by AMD has shown performance right on the money of waht reviewers found. But in this case they are wildly inaccurate with RDNA3. AMD basically gave performance based on estimates and thought the drivers would have been sorted out by release. The fact they weren't and they still rushed the card out for the holidays is a disgrace and false advertising. If Intel did this they would deservedly get hammered. The performance other than in a handful of games is about half of what they claimed and that includes performance per watt.

I would not buy the 7900XT for any more than $599 based on current performance. I had high hopes for RDNA3 and at this stage all they do is make a great case for buying a 6900/6950XT. If Nvidia drops the price of the 4080 by at least $200, they'll sell out immediately and leave AMD in a world of pain.

Oh I should add that the price of the 7900XT makes no sense either, 16% less memory, 16% less cores, 11% less price. On average only 22% faster than 6900XT

 

[Nandiman]

I would not buy the 7900XT for any more than $599 based on current performance.

So basically what you're saying is that you wouldn't pay more than $600 for a 3090ti.

 

[m3tavision]

It may sell well for about a week....and drop big time within a month or two.
I like AMD, in fact my last 4 cards have been AMD but what a bunch of a-holes for this price tag.
IMO this is a $700 AT BEST.
As much as I don't like Nvidia I think I would rather splurge and get a 4090 before buying one of these cards from AMD. The performance gap is so huge and you're already spending a lot of cash. But that's just me....

Your post is an oxy-*****.

You are mad at AMD, because they have a superior price/performance ratio over nVidia... and they cost less, have more performance.... and that upsets you, so you might as well just spend +$500 more for an RTX 4090..?


What game do you play and what monitor do you use...?

 

[Mr Majestyk]

So basically what you're saying is that you wouldn't pay more than $600 for a 3090ti.

Well 3090 Ti is old product and was heavily discounted, so you cannot compare prices. Also I said $599 based on current crippled performance of the 7900XT. I would pay $799 if they can fix it. It is overpriced compared to where it should be. Only 11% cheaper than XTX model but 16% less of everything.

 

[lesovers]

The AMD 7900xt graphics card is in stock everywhere here in Australia and the 7900xtx sold out almost instantly with no more new stock appearing anytime soon!

I have had Ati and AMD graphic cards since 2008 and much prefer these for the more vibrant colours and contrast and all in one Adrenalin software package. However both 7900xt and 7900xtx are very disappointing to me, I have a new computer built and a second computer upgrade waiting for the 7900xtx cards. The main issues for me include:

- Multi-Monitor and Video playback power is very high at 88 to 100 Watts compared to 42 Watts for my two-year-old 6900xt
- The fan and coil noise appears to be much much higher on the reference model underload compared to my 6900xt reference model (up to 20 dB higher)
- Average FPS improvement (without RT, upscaling etc) looking at over 10 reviews sites is just +35% comparing 6900xt to 7900xtx (+20% for 7900xt)
- New Asus TUF 6900xt can be purchased for just $1250 AU compared to 7900xt @ $1620 AU and 7900xtx @ $1790 AU

So I will skip this generation and purchased a new Asus TUF 6900xt for the new computer and look in 2 years for the new models from AMD and hopefully these issues are resolved and AMD is on top.

 

[toooooot]

The AMD 7900xt graphics card is in stock everywhere here in Australia and the 7900xtx sold out almost instantly with no more new stock appearing anytime soon!

I have had Ati and AMD graphic cards since 2008 and much prefer these for the more vibrant colours and contrast and all in one Adrenalin software package. However both 7900xt and 7900xtx are very disappointing to me, I have a new computer built and a second computer upgrade waiting for the 7900xtx cards. The main issues for me include:

- Multi-Monitor and Video playback power is very high at 88 to 100 Watts compared to 42 Watts for my two-year-old 6900xt
- The fan and coil noise appears to be much much higher on the reference model underload compared to my 6900xt reference model (up to 20 dB higher)
- Average FPS improvement (without RT, upscaling etc) looking at over 10 reviews sites is just +35% comparing 6900xt to 7900xtx (+20% for 7900xt)
- New Asus TUF 6900xt can be purchased for just $1250 AU compared to 7900xt @ $1620 AU and 7900xtx @ $1790 AU

So I will skip this generation and purchased a new Asus TUF 6900xt for the new computer and look in 2 years for the new models from AMD and hopefully these issues are resolved and AMD is on top.

I swear, if rx 6950 dropped to 600 dollars, it would become the best card for years in my opinion. Add a waterblock on it and it is a monster!
It is 800 right now. And so is 3090 but used unlike 6950. Choices are very good for a gpu upgrade, unfortunately that is excluding current gen cards.

 

[thewelshbrummie]

DOA?

Has such dramatic title has ever been used on any of Nvidia last two gens offerings because of their prices by Steve, Tim, HU or TS?

Anyways, you can manipulate this as you wish, one example, its faster than a 3090Ti, which launched at US$ 2K and that GPU was never called "DOA".

I do believe that AMD was beyond greedy and stupid in naming this 7900 XT, instead of what really is, a 7800 XT and not pricing it accordingly which should be US$ 550 to 650.

But really, DOA?

I am beyond disappointed with the AMD trashing on HU and TS.

Weird take considering that "Is it DOA?" is framed as a question in the subheadline, rather than a factual statement. And the phrase DOA doesn't actually appear anywhere in the article or the video, only in the subheadline above.

That said, you then say that the price should be around $600, give or take $50. Or 2/3 of the $900 MSRP, so by your assessment it's around 50% overpriced. Which is pretty much the definition of a product that is DOA. You can't have it both ways, either it is DOA because it's too expensive or it isn't because it's competitive for the price - and the reviews of the XT imply that it's not competitive for the MSRP vs the XTX or alternative offerings from both AMD or Nvidia.

 

[Tom Yum]

All I know is that 3090Ti's are still going for $AUD2000, whereas the 7900XT is $AU1600. And $400 less for more performance seems worthwhile to me if you can't stretch to the 7900XTX.

 

[poltevo]

A pointless card, like the rest of this generation. Get a 6900 xt for less and you don't even need to deal with the bugs. The tech press have gone far to easy on AMD for their marketing lies and half finished products for this launch. However, none of us consumers need to follow that narrative.

I agree with this article 100%: if you really must spead $900+ on a GPU then just spend 300 more for a 4080. Its amazing since the 4080 at $1200 is such a rip-off but that's what AMD has done! However, I'd recommend saving $200 and get a 6900 xt instead (if the prices are still this good!). If you can go used then a 6900xt is a no brainer for pure raster.

Unfortunately, people buy bad products all the time based false marketing, so we are fighting a uphill battle here. Its just a shame that AMD gets a pass in some corners, from the misplaced idea that they deserve something from us. No, they deserve nothing this generation unless they can give us a good product at good price.

 

[HardReset]

A pointless card, like the rest of this generation. Get a 6900 xt for less and you don't even need to deal with the bugs. The tech press have gone far to easy on AMD for their marketing lies and half finished products for this launch. However, none of us consumers need to follow that narrative.

I agree with this article 100%: if you really must spead $900+ on a GPU then just spend 300 more for a 4080. Its amazing since the 4080 at $1200 is such a rip-off but that's what AMD has done! However, I'd recommend saving $200 and get a 6900 xt instead (if the prices are still this good!). If you can go used then a 6900xt is a no brainer for pure raster.

Unfortunately, people buy bad products all the time based false marketing, so we are fighting a uphill battle here. Its just a shame that AMD gets a pass in some corners, from the misplaced idea that they deserve something from us. No, they deserve nothing this generation unless they can give us a good product at good price.

Always nice to see these unlimited budget things. Like if you can spend 700, you can spend 900, then you can spend 1200 and because of that you can spend 1500 ""

How about telling better card at 7900XT price?

 

[takaozo]

By this logic, why just buy a video card and not buy the Nvidia Co.

 

[MasterMace]

Hardware specs for the cards in the review:
View attachment 88731

I'm gonna say I'm getting the same vibes that I got from the 970s when it comes to the ROP counts being reported for AMD's cards. Typically, a card's performance by comparison to other cards tracks with its ROP counts. The last time we saw this type of drop was with Nvidia's 970, where we found out after that they did not have the advertised ROP count.

 

[neeyik]

Typically, a card's performance by comparison to other cards tracks with its ROP counts.

That’s not really the case any more. ROPs used to be directly linked to L2 cache partitions but now they’re linked to shader partitions. In the Navi 21 and Navi 31, each Shader Engine has a bank of 32 ROPs; for the AD102 and AD103, each GPC has a bank of 16 ROPs. The GTX 970 was initially advertised as having the full amount of L2 cache but it turned out that one partition was disabled, and given that ROPs were tied to that partition, the count was lower than first stated.

 

[scavengerspc]

VS the 4080. 12% slower but 28% cheaper.
Sorry, but it is actually a great deal compared to the 4080.

Though the 7900 XTX is by far the best deal of the 3.
(Slightly faster than a 4080 and 20% cheaper)
(13% faster than the 7900XT and only 11% more)

The numbers are always king.

EDIT - I thought I would include a fun fact
The 7900 XT is 8% faster than a 3090 Ti, but 38% cheaper.

 

[Lounds]

Don't fret none, taxes keep creeping up and insurance premiums keep creeping up, yet we don't benefit from things such as reduced insurance costs or reduced medications or reduced healthcare costs.

In my city, the school district (which has a shady as helI history - superintendent arrested by the FBI, mismanagement of school funds in the tune of $7 million. Even had someone in charge of city funds for a couple of city events that were held every year....they stole money from the funds so the city council pulled the events and they are no longer held; these were city events they've been doing for decades) passed a levy last year to raise funds for "better" school stuff for kids. Based on your property value, your property taxes would increase from $600 to $1800 the first year the levy was in effect (that was last January) and it will go up another $100-500 the next year and stay active for 5 years after that.

This coming January my property taxes will go up about $350. My taxes last January went up $1000. I went from paying around $2,800 in property taxes two years ago to about $4200 a year once January comes around and the new tax year starts.

You know what we got out of all this extra money we pay to the city for school? Reduced bus system - they're running half a dozen fewer buses this year and they pushed the distant from 1 mile to 2 miles from the school that makes you eligible to ride a bus. We live 1.5 miles from the kids' schools, so that means they don't get a bus to pick them up and they either have to walk or get a ride.

The kids also earned 5 extra days off during the school year. I don't even understand why.....apparently the teachers need days to "grade and catch up".

8 years ago the new High School was built and an additional $250 was put on everyone's property taxes and supposed to come off....it hasn't happened yet. We're also still paying an extra $500 for the new community center that was built 10 years ago.....

Taxes keep getting added on and they never come off. It sucks. Don't move here.

Oh I know, I lived and worked in PA. Property taxes don't really exist in the UK apart from Stamp Duty which a buyer pays when purchasing a property it's based on a % of different price brackets, so a £250k house would usually have a one off payment of £2500 in stamp duty (property tax), but we do pay annual council tax on our properties (so maybe this is similar) which pays for local fire services, police, libraries, bin collection, social services etc and that ranges from £1400-4k a year depending on the size of the property.

I think the biggest shock was how much people pay for regular medication, a friend of mine was paying $150 a month in drugs, my mum paid £120 ($100) for the year to have as much prescriptions as she needed.

 

[Avro Arrow]

I don't think the review scores are based solely on performance, but also price, right? If so, 70 seems like a very generous score for this card that's at least several hundred dollars more expensive than it should be.

It's not that generous because the RTX 4080, a card that's just as badly over-priced as the RX 7900 XT, was initially given a score of 90 and the excuse that they tried to give was exactly that, performance. Now THAT is generous!

Pretty much everyone said "You have GOT to be kidding us!" and they dropped it to 80. It was like "If performance was the reason it got 90, does that mean the RTX 4090 gets 100?" which is, of course, absurd.

Personally, I agree with you. I think that neither the RTX 4080 nor the RX 7900 XT deserves a score greater than 70 because of their terrible pricing.

Unfortunately, that's not how things are done at Techspot.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Yeah Im in the UK and I can't believe how much Americans pay for medication let alone actual surgery or medical procedures. I'd rather be taxed more and not have the worry.

"You try and tell the American people of today that, and they won't believe you!"
(Using my best Michael Palin impression).

 

[Avro Arrow]

Yep, saw you in the 7900XTX review topic making posts.

There are a few people you'll come to find there that are hardcore Intel/Nvidia/AMD fans. They can get to be too much at times, so I tend to put them on ignore for a bit.

I just leave them on ignore permanently. It makes the internet seem like it has so many fewer psychos that way.

 

[systemBuilder]

Thank you for the imaginative and creative results that a card with 16.67% fewer CUs and less memory bandwidth is 19% slower than its big brother. This means that if it had 100% fewer CUs it would run at -15% speed!

These cards are known to easily overclock by 15-20% and sometimes 25% over game clocks. Its clear that you want GPUs to be as cheap as possible after we've had 10% inflation for the past 2 years and you are using your soapbox to imagine reasons why your fantasy should come true. But others who have benchmarked these cards have found a far, far more narrow difference in performance (maybe not a $100 difference but perhaps a $110 difference) and as a reviewer you never have a problem getting a flagship card because the manufacturer just sends it to you but as a customer, we never have a snowball's chance in hell of getting a flagship card unless its horribly overpriced like the RTX 4080 which includes that ever so useful feature, puddle rendering ('RTX') which allows you to see enemies in puddles (can you shoot the puddles?) which is a thing, right?

 

[poltevo]

Always nice to see these unlimited budget things. Like if you can spend 700, you can spend 900, then you can spend 1200 and because of that you can spend 1500 ""

How about telling better card at 7900XT price?

Why? The XT is an upsell card to encourage consumers to buy the XTX, but at that price the 4080 is a better buy. No one should be buying an XT - it’s the worst value card of all three! As I said, get the 6900xt while it’s hot. My advice is based on real GPUs not random prices, so nothing to do with “unlimited budget“.

 

[HardReset]

Why? The XT is an upsell card to encourage consumers to buy the XTX, but at that price the 4080 is a better buy. No one should be buying an XT - it’s the worst value card of all three! As I said, get the 6900xt while it’s hot. My advice is based on real GPUs not random prices, so nothing to do with “unlimited budget“.

I see. But this budget problem still exists. See, if you have limited budget, most buyers actually have, and you cannot exceed that budget, then best card with that budget is best you can get.

This can make "bad" card to be actually good. Like with 6500XT. "Bad" card Techspot said but some weeks later they realized there is nothing better available for same price ..

 

[poltevo]

By this logic, why just buy a video card and not buy the Nvidia Co.

If someone is spending 900 (actually it’s 1000+ when you add tax) they can save a bit more and get the better value XTX card. However, does anybody(other than AMD fans) really want to spend 1000+ and miss out of the latest features? That’s not how the ultra enthusiast market works. So even though the 4080 is one of the worst value cards of all time, AMD cards still look bad compared to it. If AMD were serious about the GPU market, they would price these way lower, but they are happy to take the high margins instead, while losing good will with shady marketing.