Best AMD graphics cards AMD GPUs 2021

Best AMD graphics cards AMD GPUs 2021

Best AMD graphics cards AMD GPUs 2021

The best AMD graphics cards are no longer just the budget alternatives to Nvidia’s offerings. Even with the affordable Nvidia GeForce contenders like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, Team Red’s graphics cards are killing it as well in power and performance as they are in the value department. In fact, our recent Resident Evil Village tests prove they tend to deliver slightly better performance than their Nvidia counterparts without ray tracing.With the best AMD graphics cards delivering performances that rival those of Nvidia’s offerings in the mid-range and high-end while keeping the price still very accessible to most users, they’re now the top choices for budget-minded gamers and creative professionals. Luckily, there’s an AMD GPU out there for most people, whether it’s for playing the latest PC games, creating 3D designs, or video editing.

From the Radeon RX 6800XT and the AMD Radeon RX 6800 down to the more affordable Radeon RX 5700 XT, the best AMD graphics cards make such excellent propositions, no matter your need. One of these will definitely see you through your graphics-intensive computing needs.

The best AMD GPUs at a glance

  1. AMD Radeon RX 6800
  2. AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
  3. AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
  4. AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
  5. AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
  6. AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT
  7. MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X
  8. AMD Radeon RX 570
  9. MSI Aero Radeon RX 560

AMD Radeon RX 6800

(Image credit: AMD)

1. AMD Radeon RX 6800

AMD’s return to the high-end graphics card market

Stream Processors: 3,840 | Core Clock: 1,815 MHz (2,105 MHz boost) | Memory: 16GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 16Gbps | Power Connectors: 2 x 8 pin | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, 1 x HDMI 2.1 VRR and FRL

Excellent performance
Finally, AMD ray tracing
Low power consumption
Ray-tracing performance behind the competition
More expensive than RTX 3070

Nvidia no longer sits uncontested in the high-end market, with AMD making a grand comeback with the AMD Radeon RX 6800. Going head to head with Nvidia’s RTX 3070 in 4K gaming, this GPU also brings AMD ray tracing to the table, although it isn’t quite as good as Nvidia’s at 4K. Still, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 is more than able to deliver a solid 4K 60 fps experience, and ray tracing at 1440p is impressive.

Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX 6800

AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

(Image credit: AMD)

2. AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

Another high-end swing from AMD

Stream Processors: 2,560 | Core Clock: 2.32 GHz (2.58 GHz boost) | Memory: 12GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 16 Gbps | Power Connectors: 8 pin + 6 pin | Outputs: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC

Excellent 1440p performance
Ray tracing
Lightweight card with no sag
Ray-tracing performance is weak
No FidelityFX Super Resolution

Those comfortable messing with your BIOS and looking for a 1440p graphics card that’s slightly more accessible, price-wise, will appreciate AMD’s latest high-end offering. This Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti rival delivers a solid 1440p performance with ray tracing to boot. It comes at the right time as well, with 1440p gaming monitors’ growing popularity. Its price is a bit closer to the more powerful RTX 3070, but if you’re an AMD fan, it’s still an excellent contender.

Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT

(Image credit: AMD)

3. AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT

Nvidia better watch out

Stream processors: 3,584 | Core clock: 1,506 | Memory: 11GB GDDR5X | Memory clock: 10Gbps | Power connectors: 2 x 8-pin | Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, HDMI 4K60 Support

Generation-defining performance
Affordable
Only 6GB of VRAM

If you’re looking for the best AMD graphics card for 1080p gaming, consider the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT has to offer. This AMD card beats the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 with its more affordable price tag while delivering high frame rates and plenty of software features as well as requiring less power. It doesn’t have the competition’s ray tracing and deep learning supersampling (DLSS), and it only has 6GB of VRAM. However, for raw performance and value, AMD’s contender comes out as the winner.

Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT

AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT

(Image credit: AMD)

4. AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT

Best 1440p AMD graphics card

Stream Processors: 2,560 | Core Clock: 1,605 MHz (1,905 MHz boost) | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin and 1 x 6-pin | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, 1 x HDMI with 4K60 Support

Excellent 1440p gaming performance
Affordable
No ray tracing

If you’ve got a lot of cash to spare, splurging a little on the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT might be a sound investment. This graphics card directly rivals the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 in terms of performance, and like the cheaper Radeon RX 5700, this one is a true powerhouse, giving you excellent 1440p gaming at the highest settings. The only reason that it’s not higher on our AMD graphics cards list is its price. It could be cheaper, especially since the Super RTX cards that Nvidia just rolled out.

Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT

Radeon RX 6800 XT

(Image credit: AMD)

5. Radeon RX 6800 XT

Best 4K graphics card

Stream Processors: 4,608 | Core Clock: 2,015 MHz (2,250 MHz boost) | Memory: 16GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 16Gbps | Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin | Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, HDMI 2.1 VRR and FRL

Ray tracing for AMD
Strong DX11 performance
Doesn’t dethrone Nvidia

It’s been a while since Nvidia has been given a proper challenge in the high-end sphere. But with AMD rolling out its Radeon RX 6800 XT, Team Green is seeing a decent contender, one that delivers a solid performance in DirectX 11 games and maybe unlocked for a 10% extra juice if you dig around in your BIOS. This doesn’t exactly knock Nvidia off its premium throne, but it’s a promising start to what could be AMD’s epic revival in the high-end GPU market.

Read the full review: Radeon RX 6800 XT

AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT

(Image credit: AMD)

6. AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT

AMD Navi hits the budget segment

Stream Processors: 1,408 | Core Clock: 1,717 MHz (1,845 MHz boost) | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14Gbps | Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pincompu | Outputs: 1.4 with DSC, 4K60 HDMI Support

Affordable
Solid 1080p performance for the price
Not particularly exciting
Struggles in demanding 1080p games

Designed with 1080p gaming in mind, the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT is plenty powerful for gamers on the budget. Sure, it isn’t the most powerful graphics card out there, but it’s powerful enough for its price point, and an easy choice when put up against the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 for the value. With this GPU, you can run most games at 60fps, though it might struggle with extremely demanding titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Metro Exodus. If you want the best budget option for 1080p, this is one of the best AMD graphics cards for you.

Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT

MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X

(Image credit: MSI)

7. MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X

Great but pricey

Stream Processors: 2,560 | Core Clock: 2,514 MHz (2,622 MHz boost) | Memory: 12GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 16Gbps Power | Connectors: 8-pin x 2 | Outputs: DisplayPort v1.4 x 3, HDMI x 1

Excellent performance
Stays cool
Obnoxiously expensive

Only those with deep pockets would want to go for this Radeon RX 6700 XT from MSI. This GPU impresses, delivering at most 4% faster than AMD’s version. Expect solid 1440p performance on max settings and a whole lot of esports-worthy 1080p power. To top that off, it stays cool under pressure and looks nice. It’s hard to recommend to everyone due to its price, but if you have the money, it might just be worth it for you.

Read the full review: MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X 

AMD Radeon RX 570

(Image credit: AMD)

8. AMD Radeon RX 570

Best mid-range AMD graphics card

Stream Processors: 2,048 | Core Clock: 1,168MHz (1,244MHz boost) | Memory: Up to 8GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 7Gbps | Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin, 1 x 6-pin | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DVI

Affordable
Good gaming performance
Not the most powerful

It’s in the mid-range level where AMD traditionally shines, and the Radeon RX 570 is a perfect example of why. This is an extremely affordable AMD graphics card, but one that’s capable of running many AAA PC titles at high settings and still reaches 60 fps. It’s not quite as powerful as the AMD Radeon RX 590, but you’re saving quite a bit of cash for an impressive performance. Just remember to go for an 8GB model, rather than the 4GB.

MSI Aero Radeon RX 560

MSI Aero Radeon RX 560 is great if you’re on a budget. (Image credit: MSI) (Image credit: MSI)

9. AMD Radeon RX 560

Best budget AMD graphics card

Stream Processors: Up to 1,024 | Core Clock: 1,175MHz (1,275MHz boost) | Memory: Up to 4GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 7Gbps | Power Connectors: N/A | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DVI

Extremely affordable
Don’t need external power
Not too powerful

If you’re on a budget, picking up a pricey graphics card doesn’t really make a lot of sense – especially when there are a few budgets AMD graphics cards out there. Take the AMD Radeon RX 560, for example. We’ll be straight with you – this is not the most powerful GPU on hand right now. However, when you’re spending as little as a hundred bucks in the US, it’s hard to complain.