Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 GRE evaluation

Right this moment we are saying hiya to the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE. GRE stands for Golden Rabbit Version. As you might need guessed given its title, it references the 12 months of the Rabbit in Chinese language tradition. The cardboard was initially a China unique mannequin, launching in mid 2023, but it surely has been accessible in OEM techniques within the wider marketplace for a number of months, although it has not been accessible within the channel as a standalone buy.

That adjustments from the twenty seventh of February, because the RX 7900 GRE will probably be accessible 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 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, nicely, all the pieces. AMD will probably be hoping that the GRE’s affordable value, aggressive efficiency, and absolutely its 16GB of VRAM will appeal to consumers.

The unique Made by AMD (MBA) GRE mannequin is not going to be accessible within the retail channel, so you will solely have the ability to purchase third-party variations. I’ve the Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 GRE readily available for evaluation and it is an absolute beast of a card, with all of the trimmings you’d anticipate from a premium tier mannequin, and at $599, it is markup of $50 may be very affordable.

However is the RX 7900 GRE too late to the occasion? Let’s not neglect we have truly ticked over to the 12 months 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 nicely value contemplating if silence is paramount to you. It is hardly audible beneath sustained hundreds and my check system’s AIO cooling followers had been far 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 secure wager that just about any firm’s giant triple fan coolers can have zero issues dealing with the cooling necessities of the RX 7900 GRE.

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 approach and the RX 7900 GRE model isn’t any totally different. It is acquired a wholesome manufacturing unit overclock, a large 3.5 slots value of cooling capability, a full-length steel 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 gentle bar operating throughout the highest of the cardboard, nonetheless, seems to be incredible. As a bit of recent tech, the cardboard feels stable, heavy and nicely constructed. In my expertise, Nitro+ playing cards are each bit pretty much as good as the perfect playing cards from different AMD distributors.

Aside from attaining very low noise ranges, the Nitro+ cooler is ready to maintain temperatures nicely inside verify, with a peak load temperature of 65°C. Sapphire might most likely be somewhat extra aggressive with its fan profile, however I will take silence over a number of additional MHz of enhance clock any day. Talking of enhance clocks, the Nitro + RX 7900 GRE was in a position to maintain a lift clock of two,276MHz. Unusually, that is decrease than its highest rated enhance 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 course of the RX 7800 XT and RX 7900 XT. At 4K, the GRE is about 15% sooner 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 it’s best 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 know-how. 

Sapphire Pulse RX 7900 GRE specs

Be aware that the specs listed under are for AMD’s reference fashions. That Sapphire I am reviewing right here comes with the next enhance clock.

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. Curiously, 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 nicely value trying out Jacob’s evaluation of the reference RX 7900 XTX. The Navi 31 GPU introduces a radical (for a GPU) chiplet design that splits the Compute Items from the cache and reminiscence controllers. After all, there’s much more to it than simply that, but it surely’s a reasonably wonderful piece of engineering, particularly given the bandwidth calls for of recent GPUs. The necessity for bandwidth and the adoption of a chiplet design led to AMD growing 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 fashionable requirements, that is fairly affordable—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 continues to be lacking in motion on RTX 40-series playing cards. That DP 2.1 help is a type of little options that can finally into its personal with future displays with excessive resolutions and really excessive refresh charges, although each of these will arguably have little relevance to this card once they do arrive.

Different attention-grabbing options embody an RGB header for controlling an exterior strip and twin BIOS with efficiency and quiet modes.

AMD has lengthy been at work growing its FSR and accompanying applied sciences. Fluid Movement Frames is only one instance. FSR 3 continues to be new, and it has an extended approach to go to catch as much as Nvidia’s ever increasing DLSS help, but it surely’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 characteristic 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 in a position for use in any DirectX 11 or 12 sport. Contemplate {that a} actually good worth add for a card just like the RX 7900 GRE in case you’re struggling to hit or keep that every 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, comparable 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 continues 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 Sapphire’s cooler is a match for any in the marketplace. It isn’t like the opposite playing cards, even reference ones do a foul job at cooling, however AMD’s RX 7000 reference coolers do must resort to larger noise ranges to offset their extra compact dimension. Chalk up a stable cause 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 unhealthy in that regard. Its 260W TDP offers it good efficiency per watt, and apparently, the RX 7900 GRE completely destroys the RX 6900 XT in each effectivity and efficiency, displaying what the change from RDNA 2 to three has delivered. There is no such thing as a cause to purchase a 6900 XT or 6950 XT anymore except you get one second hand or at a hearth sale.

General it is a pretty sturdy displaying for the RX 7900 GRE. Until—and also you simply know what I will say—you charge 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 will want to contemplate in the event that they’re vital to you. 

Sapphire Pulse RX 7900 GRE evaluation

I am somewhat 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 absolutely a response to Nvidia’s RTX Tremendous playing cards, but it surely’s additionally more likely 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 enchantment away from the RX 7800 XT. It must persistently 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 spot 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 sooner card, however solely in conditions the place ray tracing is absent, it is also $50 cheaper, though the Sapphire is priced on the similar $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 feel selecting between the 2 is troublesome. Personally, I’d simply lean in the direction of the RTX 4070 Tremendous, however by a hair’s width. Its extra mature software program ecosystem stays an excellent worth add.

The Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 GRE will set you again $50 over the price of base playing cards. For my part, it is nicely 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 gentle 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 somewhat shocked the Sapphire was not in a position to attain clocks far past the two,245MHz reference clock. It was in a position to maintain a median of two,276MHz over a future, 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 a giant step up in value, and the RX 7800 XT is instantly too costly. The RTX 4070 Tremendous is a really succesful and interesting competitor however the RX 7900 GRE stands up nicely. That is the type of competitors we prefer to see within the graphics card market.