Your PC in instalments (up to 12x)
By the FlowUP team, gaming PC builder in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 29 September 2026
In short: the RX 7700 XT (12GB) and RX 7800 XT (16GB) are Radeon cards from 2023 (RDNA 3 generation). In 2026, the 7700 XT matches an RTX 5060 Ti 16GB without ray tracing, and the 7800 XT sits between an RTX 4070 and an RTX 5070. They’re still good cards for 1440p, but they don’t have access to FSR 4 and they drop in ray tracing. If you’re buying new, the RX 9060 XT 16GB and the RX 9070 are now more sensible choices.
RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT: what you need to know in 2026
AMD launched both cards on 6 September 2023 to target the mid-range of its RX 7000 series, against the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4070. They use the same Navi 32 chip and were aimed at 1440p gaming.
Three years later, you’ll mostly find them at the end of their stock or on the second-hand market, facing a new generation: the Radeon RX 9000 (RDNA 4) and the GeForce RTX 50. Here’s what they’re really worth today, with numbers to back it up.
The RX 9000 generation has taken over from the RX 7700 XT and 7800 XT.
Technical sheet: RX 7700 XT vs RX 7800 XT
| Feature | RX 7700 XT | RX 7800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 3 (Navi 32) | RDNA 3 (Navi 32) |
| Compute units | 54 | 60 |
| Video memory | 12GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 192-bit | 256-bit |
| Bandwidth | 432 GB/s | 624 GB/s |
| Boost clock | 2,544 MHz | 2,430 MHz |
| Power consumption (TBP) | 245 W | 263 W |
| Release date | 6 September 2023 | 6 September 2023 |
| Launch price (USA) | $449 | $499 |
Sources: AMD and Wikipedia (Radeon RX 7000 series). Prices before tax at launch.
The difference that matters most over the long term is memory: 16GB on a 256-bit bus for the 7800 XT, versus 12GB on a 192-bit bus for the 7700 XT. We explain why VRAM matters so much in 16GB of VRAM, is that enough in 2026?
What performance in 2026?
| Graphics card | 1440p Ultra, without ray tracing (fps) | 1440p, with ray tracing (fps) |
|---|---|---|
| Radeon RX 9070 | 104.0 | 47.6 |
| GeForce RTX 5070 | 96.4 | 51.5 |
| Radeon RX 7800 XT | 84.7 | 33.5 |
| GeForce RTX 4070 | 77.8 | 38.6 |
| GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | 73.4 | 38.9 |
| Radeon RX 7700 XT | 72.7 | 25.3 |
| Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | 67.3 | 31.0 |
| GeForce RTX 5060 | 59.8 | 24.6 |
Average frames per second across Tom’s Hardware’s 2026 game suite (GPU ranking updated 24 June 2026).
Without ray tracing, both Radeons hold up very well: the RX 7800 XT beats the RTX 4070 and gets close to an average of 85fps at 1440p Ultra, while the RX 7700 XT is almost on par with an RTX 5060 Ti 16GB.
The moment ray tracing is enabled, the picture changes: the 7700 XT drops to the level of an RTX 5060, and the 7800 XT falls behind the RTX 4070. This is the big limitation of the RDNA 3 generation, partly corrected by the RX 9000s.
Without ray tracing, the RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT remain perfectly comfortable at 1440p.
What is the NVIDIA equivalent of the RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT?
- RX 7700 XT: at launch, it was aimed at the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB. In 2026, its equivalent is the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB without ray tracing, but only an RTX 5060 with ray tracing.
- RX 7800 XT: it was aimed at the RTX 4070, which it beats without ray tracing. In 2026, it sits between the RTX 4070 and the RTX 5070 in rasterisation, and behind the RTX 4070 in ray tracing.
The weak point in 2026: FSR 4 and ray tracing
FSR 4, which reconstructs the image using AI with quality close to DLSS, is officially reserved for Radeon RX 9000. The RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT remain on FSR 3.1, which is noticeably less sharp in Performance mode. On a card you plan to keep for several years, that’s a real drawback, because more and more games rely on upscaling to stay smooth.
If you mostly play competitive games or games without ray tracing, that’s not a deal-breaker. For big modern games with ray tracing, an RX 9000 or a GeForce RTX 50 is a better investment.
The RX 7800 XT’s 16GB of VRAM still remain its biggest advantage in 2026.
To see one of our PCs in real-world use, here’s the in-games test of our Rift PC (Radeon RX 9060 XT) by Mathis and Gauthier:
Mathis and Gauthier, review of the FlowUP Rift PC, September 2026.
RX 7700 XT or RX 7800 XT: which one should you choose, and do you still need to buy them?
| Your situation | Our advice |
|---|---|
| You already have an RX 7700 XT or RX 7800 XT | Keep it: they’re still perfectly decent for 1080p and 1440p without ray tracing |
| You’re torn between the two second-hand options | The RX 7800 XT, thanks to its 16GB and its clearly higher performance |
| You’re buying new for 1080p or 1440p | An RX 9060 XT 16GB: slightly less fast than the 7700 XT without ray tracing, but faster with it, and compatible with FSR 4 |
| You’re buying new for demanding 1440p | An RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT: significantly faster and compatible with FSR 4 |
To compare both brands more broadly, read AMD vs NVIDIA in 2026 and our comparison RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT.
Our gaming PCs with Radeon RX 9000
Rift PC, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
RX 9060 XT 16GB, Ryzen 5 7500F and 16GB of DDR5: the successor to the RX 7700 XT, with FSR 4.
Shadow V2 PC, Radeon RX 9070 XT
RX 9070 XT 16GB and Ryzen 7 9800X3D: well above an RX 7800 XT, for demanding 1440p and 4K.
Apex V2 PC, Radeon RX 9070 XT
RX 9070 XT 16GB, Ryzen 7 7800X3D and 32GB of DDR5: for demanding AAA games at 1440p.
FAQ: RX 7700 XT and RX 7800 XT
What is the NVIDIA equivalent of the RX 7700 XT?
Without ray tracing, it’s the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB (and the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB at the time of its release). With ray tracing, it’s more in the direction of an RTX 5060.
RX 7700 XT or RX 7800 XT?
The RX 7800 XT: around 16% faster in 1440p without ray tracing, according to Tom’s Hardware, and with 16GB of memory instead of 12GB.
Is the RX 7800 XT compatible with FSR 4?
Officially no: FSR 4 is reserved for Radeon RX 9000. The RX 7000 series uses FSR 3.1.
Is the RX 7700 XT good at ray tracing?
That’s its weak point: in 1440p with ray tracing, it lands at the level of an RTX 5060, far behind an RTX 5060 Ti 16GB.
Should you buy an RX 7800 XT in 2026?
Second-hand at a good price, yes for 1440p without ray tracing. New, an RX 9070 offers more performance, FSR 4, and better ray tracing.
