XFX Speedster MERC310 AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX Black Gaming Graphics Card with 24GB GDDR6, AMD RDNA 3 RX-79XMERCB9

So, I am an avid VR player. I love playing VRchat with friends, going to events with 60+ people there, and to say it's GPU intensive is an understatement. My NVIDIA 3060 Ti could not keep up, not with it's 8GB of VRAM, and the only option was either accept hindered visuals and not being able to see everyone's avatar at once...or upgrade. I chose upgrade. It was Black Friday, so all the sales were going on.The question was "Do I wait for the 5000 series by NVIDIA, buy a 4070 Ti Super which is being scalped right now, or do I decide to buy from AMD and take a leap of faith?" I chose to take the leap. AMD has a rough reputation with GPU's, driver issues galore, and they used to be very fickle about working properly. But in the day and age where to get 4080~4090 performance, you need to shell out $1,500 or more, right when a new chipset is also around the corner, there's a reason to look at the competition rather than the "name brand". AMD is not the off-brand parts component supplier it used to be, it is a fighting force, and it has product that rivals NVIDIA at lower prices.The Radeon 7900XTX with 24GB of GDDR6 VRAM absolutely blew my expectations. I need to preface, I did have issues initially. My build is older. I'll give a spec sheet at the end of this, but long story short, I can't overclock my GPU without Blue screening. That's more likely due to my system specs than anything else. But that first night, despite PC crashes, I was capable of loading all 80 players with very poor optimization that VRchat has, while also using Full Body Tracking which also taxes GPU's, and it still had more fight in it. My 3060Ti would have been incapable of even running at 10 FPS, where it was running smoothly at 27~35 FPS with everything I could possibly throw at it to hinder my FPS, and just going to any room with less people instantly got me right back up to 45+ FPS. While it may not seem impressive, with my build, it shows this is putting in incredible work. It never even was using more than 60% of the GPU's utilization, which is either due to my build bottlenecking it, or the game itself.The incredible part of this GPU is that with that much VRAM, you can throw so much at games graphically, that you almost don't even need to worry about it. Almost no games currently run you so close to the limit of your VRAM capacity, unlike with the 3060Ti with only 8GB's of VRAM, where it was a constant limiting factor. Still functional, still can handle VR even, but with hinderances. I feel unhindered with this GPU, and with the black friday sale getting it down to $799.99? It was a steal. Expensive, most expensive computer component I've ever spent, but it was worth every penny. I will go ahead and say, if you have been running small(er) graphics cards like the 3060, you may find you cant fit this GPU in your case. You should double check it can fit before you put it in. Even with my current case I bought, it has enough room, but it's a closer fit. It's big. It's monstrous what it can do. I'm limited by everything else, and I think when I upgrade more, I'll see just how much it's capable of. If you can't or don't want to afford an NVIDIA GPU equivalent between a 4080 and 4090, this is a great card to get. Powerful, enough VRAM that games will take time to catch up with this much VRAM being normal in most computers for years, and I see no reason this GPU won't last me another 3 years easily if not longer. If it's on a substantial sale, or in a year or two you can buy one second hand working well, it's a great option. Even for VR. Drivers aren't bad, they aren't NVIDIA, but they are still responsive about getting them out. AMD is truly a competitor and worth looking into even their GPU's, which for years couldn't be trusted. If anything, while they have that reputation, you should capitalize on the bargain if Intel's new budget offering isn't to your liking.Spec Sheet:MSI Tomahawk B350AMD Ryzen 7 5800XAMD Radeon 7900XTXEVGA GQ Gold 1000 Watt PSU32GB DDR4 RAM (Sorry I don't remember specifics on the RAM sticks.)It performs well despite an older CPU and even older Motherboard, and seen 2 different upgrades. Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA 2070 Super to the Ryzen 7 5800X and 3060 Ti, to my current. It performs well for all VR tasks, with nearly if any issues. I run nearly every game on highest settings at 1440p, and desktop games run at stable 60+ FPS, usually higher almost always. It's a fantastic setup that really, I expect can coast me by for a good few years, I may invest more in the motherboard and CPU, go up to DDR5, but really, I'm not hindered by much with my system for my applications I play. This GPU has made a substantial difference, the previous was good, this is another ballpark. This was and is the first PC component I bought and felt excited to see installed, and am still so enthralled with it. I have some deep pride for my AMD 7900XTX.

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a flagship graphics card from AMD's Radeon lineup, designed to compete with the top-tier offerings from NVIDIA. It is built on the RDNA 3 architecture, promising significant performance improvements, power efficiency, and advanced features. This review covers the key aspects of the RX 7900 XTX, including its performance, features, and overall value.PerformanceThe RX 7900 XTX delivers outstanding performance across a variety of gaming scenarios. Powered by 96 compute units and 24 GB of GDDR6 memory, it handles 4K gaming with ease, providing smooth frame rates even in the most demanding titles. Benchmark tests show that the RX 7900 XTX consistently competes with NVIDIA's RTX 4090, offering a compelling alternative for high-end gamers.Ray Tracing and DLSSOne of the significant advancements in the RX 7900 XTX is its improved ray tracing capabilities. While AMD has traditionally lagged behind NVIDIA in this area, the RX 7900 XTX closes the gap significantly. Games that support ray tracing see substantial improvements in visual fidelity, although NVIDIA's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) still offers a slight edge in terms of performance boosts. AMD's FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) 2.0, however, is a strong competitor, providing impressive upscaling quality and performance enhancements.Power Efficiency and ThermalsThe RDNA 3 architecture is more power-efficient compared to its predecessors. The RX 7900 XTX has a TDP (thermal design power) of 350 watts, which is reasonable given its performance. In real-world usage, the card runs cooler and quieter than many competing high-end GPUs, thanks to its advanced cooling solutions. Custom cooling options from various manufacturers further enhance thermal performance and noise levels.FeaturesThe RX 7900 XTX comes with several noteworthy features:Infinity Cache: Improves bandwidth efficiency, reducing latency and boosting overall performance.Ray Accelerators: Enhance ray tracing performance, providing more realistic lighting and shadows in supported games.DisplayPort 2.1: Offers support for higher resolutions and refresh rates, future-proofing the card for upcoming display technologies.PCIe 5.0 Support: Ensures compatibility with the latest motherboards and peripherals, offering greater bandwidth for data transfer.Pricing and ValueThe RX 7900 XTX is priced competitively, offering excellent value for the performance it delivers. It provides a strong alternative to NVIDIA's high-end offerings, often at a lower price point. For gamers looking to build a high-performance system without breaking the bank, the RX 7900 XTX represents an attractive option.ConclusionThe AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a formidable graphics card that reaffirms AMD's position in the high-end GPU market. With its exceptional performance, improved ray tracing capabilities, and competitive pricing, it offers a compelling choice for gamers and enthusiasts alike. Whether you are looking to experience the latest AAA titles in 4K or prepare your system for future gaming advancements, the RX 7900 XTX is a worthy contender.ProsOutstanding 4K gaming performanceImproved ray tracing capabilitiesCompetitive pricingAdvanced features like Infinity Cache and DisplayPort 2.1ConsStill slightly behind NVIDIA in ray tracing performance and DLSS supportFinal VerdictThe AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a top-tier graphics card that combines excellent performance, advanced features, and great value. It is a strong competitor in the high-end GPU market and a fantastic choice for gamers seeking high performance without paying a ridiculous price tag.