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RX 9070 XT vs RX 7800 XT

Too close to call. At 1440p there is only about 1% between them — buy whichever is cheaper.

99/ 100 index at 1440p

$599 at launch

98/ 100 index at 1440p

$499 at launch

The gap changes with resolution.

Graphics card differences grow with resolution, because higher resolutions load the GPU harder.

ResolutionRX 9070 XTRX 7800 XTDifference
1080p9998+1%
1440p9998+1%
4K98980%

In a real build with a Ryzen 5 9600X.

Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.

RX 9070 XT + Ryzen 5 9600X

Balanced

Neither part holds the other back.

Full verdict for this pairing →

RX 7800 XT + Ryzen 5 9600X

Balanced

Neither part holds the other back.

Full verdict for this pairing →
Game (1440p, paired with the Ryzen 5 9600X)RX 9070 XTRX 7800 XT
League of Legends362 fps360 fps
Counter-Strike 2311 fps310 fps
Grand Theft Auto V155 fps154 fps
Elden Ring127 fps126 fps
Cyberpunk 207797 fps96 fps
Starfield97 fps96 fps

Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.

So which should you buy?

Whichever is cheaper on the day. There is roughly 1% between them at 1440p, which you will not notice in a game.

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Common questions.

Straight answers on the RX 9070 XT versus the RX 7800 XT.

  • Is the RX 9070 XT better than the RX 7800 XT?

    They are close enough to call a tie. At 1440p the RX 9070 XT scores 99 on our index against 98 for the RX 7800 XT — a gap of about 1%, which is inside the margin where you would not feel a difference while gaming. Buy whichever is cheaper or easier to find.

  • Does the RX 9070 XT or RX 7800 XT bottleneck a Ryzen 5 9600X?

    Paired with a Ryzen 5 9600X at 1440p, the RX 9070 XT build comes out balanced, and the RX 7800 XT build comes out balanced. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.

  • Is it worth upgrading from the RX 7800 XT to the RX 9070 XT?

    No. A 1% index gap will not be visible in games, and the money is better spent on the other side of the build — usually the GPU.

  • Which is better value, the RX 9070 XT or the RX 7800 XT?

    On performance per dollar at MSRP, the RX 7800 XT wins. The RX 9070 XT lists at $599 for an index of 99, and the RX 7800 XT at $499 for 98.

Check either one against your build.

Pick a GPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.