At the moment we are saying hi there to the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE. GRE stands for Golden Rabbit Version. As you may need guessed given its title, it references the Yr of the Rabbit in Chinese language tradition. The cardboard was initially a China unique mannequin, launching in mid 2023, however it has been out there in OEM techniques within the wider marketplace for a number of months, although it has not been out there within the channel as a standalone buy.
That modifications from the twenty seventh of February, because the RX 7900 GRE can be out there worldwide to buy as a standalone graphics card. It plugs the sizable value and efficiency hole that exists between the Radeon RX 7800 XT and the RX 7900 XT. That places it proper within the crosshairs of the RTX 4070 and RTX 4070 Tremendous. The latter just lately launched at $599 whereas base RX 7900 GRE fashions will launch at $549, the identical stage because the RTX 4070 was dropped to.
By way of the core spec, the RX 7900 GRE is basically a trimmed down RX 7900 XT. It options the identical Navi 31 chiplet GPU however with a bit much less of, effectively, all the things. AMD can be hoping that the GRE’s cheap value, aggressive efficiency, and certainly its 16GB of VRAM will appeal to patrons.
The unique Made by AMD (MBA) GRE mannequin is not going to be out there within the retail channel, so you will solely be capable of purchase third-party variations. I’ve the Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 GRE available for evaluate and it is an absolute beast of a card, with all of the trimmings you’d count on from a premium tier mannequin, and at $599, it is markup of $50 may be very cheap.
However is the RX 7900 GRE too late to the celebration? Let’s not overlook we have really ticked over to the Yr of the Dragon, which at the very least makes the title appear a bit anachronistic.
Sapphire Pulse RX 7900 GRE fast verdict
The Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 GRE is a card effectively value contemplating if silence is paramount to you. It is hardly audible underneath sustained masses and my take a look at system’s AIO cooling followers had been way more noticeable throughout typical gameplay.
I can not communicate for different RX 7900 GRE fashions, however given the comparatively thrifty 260W TDP of this iteration of the Navi 31 GPU, it is a protected guess that just about any firm’s giant triple fan coolers could have zero issues dealing with the cooling necessities of the RX 7900 GRE.
Purchase if…
✅ You are do not care a lot about ray tracing efficiency: RT is right here to remain, however enabling it nonetheless ends in an enormous efficiency hit. Rasterization nonetheless issues and the RX 7900 GRE is superb at it.
✅You need a quiet card: The Sapphire Nitro+ is an exceptionally quiet card. It actually can’t be heard underneath commonest operational eventualities.
Do not buy if…
❌You care loads about ray tracing and DLSS: Increasingly trendy video games help ray tracing. Whereas the RDNA 3 era is an enormous step ahead on this regard, the RTX 4070 Tremendous’s DLSS help and ray tracing efficiency stays a step forward.
The Nitro+ is Sapphire’s prime RX 7900 GRE mannequin. I’ve written favorably about Nitro+ playing cards for a very long time. They’re undeniably premium playing cards in each method and the RX 7900 GRE model is not any totally different. It is received a wholesome manufacturing unit overclock, an enormous 3.5 slots value of cooling capability, a full-length metallic backplate, 2x HDMI 2.1a, 2x DisplayPort 2.1, twin BIOS and a header for controlling exterior ARGB merchandise.
However the card has a considerably minimalist look, at the very least from the entrance. The RGB mild bar working throughout the highest of the cardboard, nevertheless, seems to be improbable. As a chunk of contemporary tech, the cardboard feels strong, heavy and effectively constructed. In my expertise, Nitro+ playing cards are each bit nearly as good as one of the best playing cards from different AMD distributors.
Aside from reaching very low noise ranges, the Nitro+ cooler is ready to hold temperatures effectively inside verify, with a peak load temperature of 65°C. Sapphire may most likely be a bit of extra aggressive with its fan profile, however I am going to take silence over a number of further MHz of increase clock any day. Talking of increase clocks, the Nitro + RX 7900 GRE was capable of maintain a lift clock of two,276MHz. Unusually, that is decrease than its highest rated increase clock of two,391MHz.
Efficiency sensible, the RX 7900 GRE sits about precisely the place I anticipated it to even earlier than I might plugged it in; proper in the midst of the RX 7800 XT and RX 7900 XT. At 4K, the GRE is about 15% quicker than the RX 7800 XT on common, and 15% slower than the RX 7900 XT. Crucially, the Sapphire is on par with the RTX 4070 Tremendous whereas costing the identical $599.
As for which card you need to go for, the outdated AMD vs Nvidia tropes stay related right here. The RTX 4070 Tremendous has superior energy effectivity and ray tracing efficiency, whereas the RX 7900 GRE has higher raster efficiency. Nvidia nonetheless has a bonus with its DLSS 3 and Body Technology tech, however AMD is catching up with FSR 3 and its Fluid Movement Frames expertise.
Sapphire Pulse RX 7900 GRE specs
Notice that the specs listed under are for AMD’s reference fashions. That Sapphire I am reviewing right here comes with a better increase clock.
Header Cell – Column 0 | RX 7900 GRE | RX 7800 XT | RX 7900 XT | RX 7900 XTX |
---|---|---|---|---|
GPU | Navi 31 XL | Navi 32 XT | Navi 31 XT | Navi 31 XTX |
Shader cores | 5,120 | 3,840 | 5,376 | 6,144 |
Ray accelerators | 80 | 60 | 84 | 96 |
AI accelerators | 160 | 120 | 168 | 192 |
Enhance clock (MHz) | 2,245 | 2,430 | 2,400 | 2,500 |
Infinity (L3) cache | 64MB | 64MB | 80MB | 96MB |
Reminiscence | 16GB 18Gbps GDDR6X | 16GB 19.5Gbps GDDR6 | 20GB 20Gbps GDDR6X | 24GB 20Gbps GDDR6 |
Reminiscence bus | 256-bit | 256-bit | 320-bit | 384-bit |
TGP | 260W | 263W | 300W | 355W |
Launch date | July twenty seventh, 2023 | August twenty fifth, 2023 | November third, 2022 | November third, 2022 |
Launch value | $549 | $499 | $899 | $999 |
The RX 7900 GRE is predicated on AMD’s RDNA 3 structure and it is the third card to ship with the Navi 31 GPU after the RTX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT. The GRE has 5,120 stream processors, 80 Ray Accelerators and 160 AI processors. That is not all that far behind the RX 7900 XT, however its decrease 260W TDP means it has to sacrifice some clock speeds in comparison with the RX 7900 XT. Apparently, that 260W TDP is lower than the 263W TDP of the slower RX 7800 XT.
If you would like to learn extra concerning the RDNA 3 structure, it is effectively value testing Jacob’s evaluate of the reference RX 7900 XTX. The Navi 31 GPU introduces a radical (for a GPU) chiplet design that splits the Compute Models from the cache and reminiscence controllers. After all, there’s much more to it than simply that, however it’s a quite superb piece of engineering, particularly given the bandwidth calls for of contemporary GPUs. The necessity for bandwidth and the adoption of a chiplet design led to AMD creating what it calls the Infinity Hyperlink, which may present as much as 5.3 TB/s of bandwidth. Spectacular to say the least.
The GRE comes with 4 of the utmost six MCDs lively. This implies the reminiscence system is considerably lower down from the upper tier RX 7900 fashions. The top result’s a complete of 16GB of 18Gbps GDDR6 reminiscence and a 256-bit bus. By trendy requirements, that is fairly cheap—notably in comparison with the RTX 4070 Tremendous with its 12GB of reminiscence and 192-bit bus.
The Sapphire Nitro+ comes with twin HDMI 2.1a and twin DP 2.1. The latter remains to be lacking in motion on RTX 40-series playing cards. That DP 2.1 help is a type of little options that may finally into its personal with future screens with excessive resolutions and really excessive refresh charges, although each of these will arguably have little relevance to this card after they do arrive.
Different fascinating options embody an RGB header for controlling an exterior strip and twin BIOS with efficiency and quiet modes.
AMD has lengthy been at work creating its FSR and accompanying applied sciences. Fluid Movement Frames is only one instance. FSR 3 remains to be new, and it has an extended approach to go to catch as much as Nvidia’s ever increasing DLSS help, however it’s getting there. Video games like Starfield and COD: Trendy Warfare 3 are simply two notable examples of video games with FSR 3 help. A part of the complete function mixture of FSR 3 is its personal Body Technology engine, one which must be enabled on a per-game foundation by the devs, however AMD additionally has one other resolution.
Fluid Movement Frames is AMD’s sport agnostic Body Technology competitor. It is just like Nvidia’s model, however very totally different. Not like DLSS 3 Body Technology, AMD’s resolution is software program based mostly, and would not require machine studying capabilities. AFMF can also be ready for use in any DirectX 11 or 12 sport. Think about {that a} actually good worth add for a card just like the RX 7900 GRE in the event you’re struggling to hit or keep that each one vital 60 FPS threshold.
Sapphire Pulse RX 7900 GRE benchmarks
Sapphire Pulse RX 7900 GRE efficiency
At 1080p, we see the RX 7900 GRE edging out the RTX 4070 Tremendous total in historically rasterized titles, however in video games with ray tracing, equivalent to Cyberpunk 2077 and to a lesser extent, Metro Exodus Enhanced, the RTX 4070 Tremendous retakes the lead. We have heard this all earlier than, have not we? The RX 7900 GRE is a really succesful card, however Nvidia’s competing RTX fashions stay a step forward in ray tracing efficiency.
1440p is the candy spot for the GRE, able to hitting round 90 FPS+ in non-ray traced video games. At 4K the cardboard begins to expire of a little bit of horsepower, although enabling scaling applied sciences will imply the RX 7900 GRE remains to be a succesful 4K card, so long as you do not ask an excessive amount of of it by cranking up the ray tracing eye sweet.
The RX 7900 GRE destroys the RX 6900 XT in each effectivity and efficiency.
The Sapphire’s cooler is a match for any in the marketplace. It is not like the opposite playing cards, even reference ones do a nasty job at cooling, however AMD’s RX 7000 reference coolers do must resort to greater noise ranges to offset their extra compact dimension. Chalk up a strong motive to spend the additional $50 for the Sapphire proper there. It truly is a quiet card.
The ability consumption numbers are about as anticipated. The RTX 4070 and RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous playing cards are amazingly energy environment friendly, however the GRE is not too dangerous in that regard. Its 260W TDP offers it good efficiency per watt, and curiously, the RX 7900 GRE completely destroys the RX 6900 XT in each effectivity and efficiency, exhibiting what the change from RDNA 2 to three has delivered. There isn’t any motive to purchase a 6900 XT or 6950 XT anymore until you get one second hand or at a hearth sale.
Total it is a pretty robust exhibiting for the RX 7900 GRE. Until—and also you simply know what I will say—you fee DLSS 3, Body Technology and ray tracing efficiency extremely. They have not been fringe applied sciences for a very long time, so it is one thing you have to to think about in the event that they’re vital to you.
Sapphire Pulse RX 7900 GRE evaluation
I am a bit of bit curious as to why AMD initially selected to solely launch the RX 7900 GRE in China solely, and why it is now opening that restriction up. I suppose it is a mixture of things. It is certainly a response to Nvidia’s RTX Tremendous playing cards, however it’s additionally prone to have decrease margins given its complexity. Anyway, it is right here, and it is a welcome competitor within the higher mid-range graphics card market.
The RX 7900 GRE is quicker than the RX 7800 XT and slower than the RX 7900 XT, precisely as anticipated. What it does do is take some attraction away from the RX 7800 XT. It must constantly drop under $500 to stay related. In any other case spending the additional $50 on the GRE is a little bit of a no brainer. Similtaneously the discharge of the GRE, AMD is formally asserting a value drop for the RX 7700 XT to $419, which creates a little bit of a niche for the 7800 XT to fall into. AMD has not introduced a 7800 XT value drop although.
The RX 7900 GRE is an excellent RTX 4070 Tremendous competitor. You possibly can say the GRE is the quicker card, however solely in conditions the place ray tracing is absent, it is also $50 cheaper, though the Sapphire is priced on the identical $599 as base RTX 4070 Supers. The GRE has a reminiscence bandwidth and capability benefit, whereas the Tremendous retains the sting in energy effectivity. I believe selecting between the 2 is tough. Personally, I would just lean in direction of the RTX 4070 Tremendous, however by a hair’s width. Its extra mature software program ecosystem stays an excellent worth add.
I really feel as if the RX 7900 GRE is at the moment probably the most interesting card of the RX 7000-series lineup
The Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 GRE will set you again $50 over the price of base playing cards. In my view, it is effectively value the additional moolah. The cooler alone is value the additional cash. It is constructed like a battleship, it is all however silent and it is greater than able to taming a 260W TDP. The RGB mild bar seems to be nice and also you get a superb PCB with twin BIOS and an ARGB header.
That is the primary 7900 GRE card I’ve examined, so I can’t say the way it stacks up efficiency sensible to different variations, however I used to be a bit of shocked the Sapphire was not capable of attain clocks far past the two,245MHz reference clock. It was capable of maintain a mean of two,276MHz over a long term, in order that’s nonetheless higher. Maybe we’re seeing energy constraints kick in, because the TDP of the is a few 40W lower than the RX 7900 XT.
In conclusion, I really feel as if the RX 7900 GRE is at the moment probably the most interesting card of the RX 7000-series lineup. Premium RX 7900 XT’s are an enormous step up in value, and the RX 7800 XT is all of the sudden too costly. The RTX 4070 Tremendous is a really succesful and interesting competitor however the RX 7900 GRE stands up effectively. That is the sort of competitors we wish to see within the graphics card market.