Chelsea Tang
Oct 4, 20232 min
When it comes to choosing a graphics card for your gaming rig, the decision can often be a challenging one. Price, performance, and value for money are all critical factors to consider. The key question: Is spending an extra $100 on the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT justified, or does the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT offer more bang for your buck?
Let's start with the basics. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, with its 12GB of GDDR6 memory, is priced at S$695, while the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, equipped with 16GB of GDDR6 memory, comes in at S$799. Both cards have their merits, and it's essential to understand how they perform in real-world scenarios.
In our testing, both GPUs showcased their prowess at 2K resolution with the highest graphics settings. Games like CSGO ran flawlessly on both cards, with the 7800 XT achieving an impressive average of 360 FPS, only slightly ahead of the 7700 XT's 320 FPS. The difference, while notable on paper, might not be perceivable to most gamers.
Moving on to the demanding title of Cyberpunk 2077, the 7800XT maintained an average of 70 fps with ultra ray tracing, while the 7700XT reached the same level with FidelityFX Super Resolution enabled. This technology, found in game or the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, optimises gameplay without compromising visual fidelity. It's a testament to the 7700XT's capabilities that it can match the 7800XT's performance with this feature enabled.
Red Dead Redemption 2, another graphically intensive game, saw both cards performing admirably, averaging 120 fps. The 7800XT edged ahead by a minor 10 fps, but the overall experience was smooth on both GPUs.
It's worth noting that throughout our testing, neither card experienced lag or overheating, with temperatures consistently around 60 degrees Celsius.
When it comes to power consumption, although both GPUs are acceptable, Nvidia still holds the lead in this aspect, consuming less power for similar performance levels but does costs a few hundred dollars more.
Now, the question of whether the extra $100 for the 7800XT is justified. From a pure performance standpoint, the gains are relatively modest. Unless you have specific requirements that demand the newer card, such as a preference for native performance in demanding titles or a need for additional VRAM, you might find better value for your money with the 7700 XT. It's a capable GPU that can handle most games effortlessly, and the price difference could be better invested elsewhere in your gaming setup, enhancing other components for an overall better experience.