The Ryzen 7 9700X has now launched and is available for purchase. This means that the race to complete your build is on, and if you were looking for a GPU to complement its processing prowess, we’ve got you covered.
To help you save the hassle of going through a long list of GPUs, we’ve reviewed a number of GPUs and have selected the ones that we think are the right fit for the processor. We put all of them through rigorous testing to get an idea of their real-life performance so you don’t end up wasting your money on the wrong card.
If you want to beat the bots and get your hands on the 9700X as soon as possible, we’ve got your back over there as well. That said, without wasting another moment, let’s jump right into it.
- Best GPU for Ryzen 7 9700X overall
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4070 Super OC Edition
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
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- Best budget GPU for Ryzen 7 9700X
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC
- GPU: Navi 33
- Stream Processors: 2,048
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 2029 MHz
- Best high-end GPU for Ryzen 7 9700X
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 9728
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 716.8 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2205 MHz
How we picked
First, we went through several options from Nvidia and AMD and selected the ones that offered the best value for money. On top of that, we kept several other factors in mind, such as price, performance, design, and compatibility.
We then took a hands-on approach and tested the GPUs ourselves, choosing only those that seemed right for the 7 9700X. You can check out our testing process to get a better idea of our methods.
Our top picks
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
- 20% more CUDA cores
- Better value for money than original card
- Strong performance in 1440p and 4K
- Some partner cards get expensive
- Still uses 16-pin adapter
If you want a GPU that is not as expensive as some high-end options like the RTX 4090 but still packs a punch when it comes to performance, then we’d recommend the RTX 4070 Super. We think that this is the best GPU you can get for the Ryzen 7 9700X. And in our RTX 4070 Super review, the card managed to exceed our expectations in 1440p and even 4K gaming. In fact, it is one of the best GPUs for 1440p 144Hz.
To begin with, to make sure you don’t run into any memory related issues in demanding games, the RTX 4070 Super comes with 12 GB of GDDR6X VRAM paired with a 192-bit memory interface.
On top of that, it has a base clock of 1,980 MHz, which you can boost up to 2,475 MHz for better performance. However, this will also depend on your variant, as the unit we tested, the ASUS TUF RTX 4070 Super OC Edition, has a max boost frequency of 2,565 MHz.
This is a card that excels in 1440p but does decently in 4K, too.
PC Guide
We tested the card in The Finals, where it gave us 256 FPS at 1080p, which dropped to 150 at 1440p. We then switched the resolution to 4K, and the card was still able to deliver 73 FPS. In games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, which are pretty demanding, we got 117 and 80 FPS at 1440p, respectively. At 4K, we were still getting more than playable FPS, 74 and 60.
Overall, the RTX 4070 Super justifies its price, and it can help you run demanding games smoothly. Of course, if you want to boost the number of FPS you’re getting, you can always use DLSS.
What users say
On Amazon, users who purchased this card are satisfied with it, with most of them praising its performance. One of them mentioned: “This card was easy to install and setup. Works flawless in games I play. You don’t hear it and it stays very cool.”
- GPU: Navi 31
- Stream Processors: 5,376
- VRAM: 20GB GDDR6
- Memory bus: 320-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,387 MHz
- Game Clock speed: 2.2025 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2,500 MHz
- Bandwidth: 800 GB/sec
- TDP: 300 W
- Strong pricing
- Excellent gaming performance
- Tons of VRAM
- Slower GDDR6 memory
- Power users will want the XTX
If you’re planning to get a card from Team Green and want something from Team Red instead, then you can opt for the RX 7900 XT. This is another excellent card that shows strong performance in 1440p and 4K gaming, and we tested this ourselves in our in-depth RX 7900 XT review.
For starters, the 7900 XT boasts 20GB of GDDR6 VRAM, which should be more than enough for almost every game. However, compared to the 4070 Super, this one offers a GDDR6 VRAM, which is a bit slower than the X version.
Coming down to the speeds, the 7900 XT runs at 1,387 MHz at its base level, but it can be boosted up to 2,500 MHz. On top of that, it has a game clock speed of 2,202 MHz. We also observed that the card is well-designed and made from high-quality materials. On top of that, it is not as big as the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, so you’ll be able to fit it inside most cases.
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT’s new price point and powerful performance put it firmly in competition with some of Nvidia’s best mid-range GPUs.
PC Guide
Let’s get down to the most important part: performance. We tested the card in several games, and we were disappointed by its performance.
In Cyberpunk 2077, which is a demanding title, the card managed to hit 119 FPS at 1440p and 62 FPS at 4K. In another demanding game, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the FPS stayed close to 90 at 4K, while the number went above 140 at 1440p.
In FPS titles like CS:GO and Overwatch 2, we got 313 and 160 FPS at 4K, which shot up to 555 and 291 at 1440p. So, if you have a high refresh rate monitor, then you’ll benefit greatly from this GPU. On top of that, you can use AMD FSR, which increases the FPS without negatively affecting the visual quality.
Overall, the RX 7900 XT is a card worth pairing with the Ryzen 7 9700X. Since you’ll be using both products from AMD, you will also benefit from different smart technologies, such as AMD Smart Access Graphics, Smartshift RSR, and Smart Access Memory.
What users say
According to reviews on Amazon, the card can run almost anything at 1440p and 4K. Most of the users are also happy with the value they are getting for the money they’ve spent. One of them said: ” If you want the best bang-for-your-buck high-end card in the current gen, this right here is the one to buy. Anything else is either inferior performance or grossly overpriced.”
- GPU: Navi 33
- Stream Processors: 2,048
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 2029 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2539 MHz
- Good 1080p performance
- Competitive pricing
- Capable of 1440p
- Native performance is hit and miss
- Lags behind RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti
- Not powerful enough for creators
We understand that not everyone has a high budget to get a top-tier GPU, or you simply have no use for an extremely powerful GPU. In that case, we’d recommend the RX 7600 XT, another card from Team Red. However, even though it may be a budget option, it still offers excellent performance. In our RX 7600 XT review, we tested it in several games, and it didn’t disappoint us at all.
The RX 7600 XT comes with a base clock speed of 2,029 MHz and a max boost clock speed of up to 2,539 MHz. However, we won’t recommend running the GPU at such a high speed, as this can damage it in the long run due to overheating issues. And to help keep the temps low, we’d recommend getting one of the best Airflow cases and installing some of the best 140mm case fans inside it for optimal airflow.
As far as the VRAM is concerned, the RX 7600 XT shares the same type of memory as the 7900 XT, GDDR6. This one offers 16 GB of memory, which is pretty impressive for its price. Even if a game is giving you a difficult time, you can always use FSR to boost the FPS.
The AMD RX 7600 XT holds up well in 1080p and can offer decent native 1440p performance.
PC Guide
When it comes to performance, the 7600 XT does not disappoint. In our tests, it managed to hit 86 FPS at 1080p in Cyberpunk 2077 and 53 FPS at 1440p. In Doom Eternal, which isn’t as demanding as Cyberpunk 2077, we got 221 FPS at 1080p and 158 FPS at 1440p.
However, this isn’t a card for those who want to enjoy the benefits of Ray Tracing, as the FPS dropped to 24 at 1080p when we turn RT on in Cyberpunk 2077. But other than that, you will be more than fine in most games at both 1080p and 1440p. And as this is a budget option, don’t expect it to deliver playable FPS at 4K.
Overall, the RX 7600 XT offers the perfect blend of affordability and performance. Sure, it isn’t as powerful as the other two cards on our list, but it still gets the job done. So, when you pair it with the Ryzen 7 9700X, you will not run into any issues.
What users say
The reviews of the 7600 XT on Amazon are nothing but great. One of the reviewers mentioned: “Used this for my first PC build. Very intuitive to install. Able to handle basically all the online games I play with uncapped frames.”
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 9728
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 716.8 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2205 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2505 MHz (OC Mode: 2535 MHz)
- Excellent 4K gaming performance
- Huge memory pool
- Good overhead for the future
- Ridiculously overpriced
- Replaced by the RTX 4080 Super
- RX 7900 XTX is better value
If budget is not an issue for you, then we’d recommend pairing the 9700X with the RTX 4080. This is one of the most powerful GPUs available in the market, and it delivers excellent 4K gaming performance. In our RTX 4080 review, the card was able to deliver high FPS in several demanding titles.
To begin with, the RTX 4080 offers 9,728 CUDA cores and a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/sec. So, compared to most GPUs in the market, it has a much better data transfer speed. It also has a TDP of 320W, and Nvidia recommends a 700W PSU for it. However, to stay on the safe side, we’d recommend getting an 800W PSU at least.
As far as the memory is concerned, the 4080 has 16 GB of GDDR6X VRAM. This is faster than the regular GDDR6 memory type found in AMD cards and helps improve the overall performance of the GPU. And with 16 GB of VRAM, you will be able to adjust the in-game graphics settings in demanding titles without worrying about running out of memory.
The RTX 4080 delivers excellent gaming performance for the price it comes at.
PC Guide
To find out how powerful the GPU is, we decided to test it in several games, including Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
With everything set to Ultra in Cyberpunk 2077, we were getting 151 FPS at 1080p, 121 FPS at 1440p, and 51 FPS at 4K. On the other hand, in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the GPU managed to hit 150, 139, and 95 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. The card also didn’t disappoint us in Avatar, as we were constantly getting 96 FPS at 4K, which increased significantly after we switched to 1440p and 1080p.
Overall, the RTX 4080 is easily the best high-end option for the Ryzen 7 9700X. Its specs, TDP, and 16 GB of GDDR6X VRAM make it a solid choice for 4K gaming.
What users say
Amazon reviewers only have good things to say about the RTX 4080. One of them mentioned: “The Asus TUF RTX 4080 graphics card is an absolute powerhouse that delivers stunning performance and exceptional stability, making it an excellent choice for serious gamers and professionals alike.”
How to select the best GPU for this CPU
Selecting a GPU for your rig may seem like a simple task, but it actually isn’t. Once you enter the market, you’ll be surprised at the number of options that are available. So, it’s pretty common to get confused during the selection process, and you may also end up choosing the wrong graphics card if you try to rush the process. To help you out, we’re going to list down a few factors that you should consider before making a final purchase.
Budget
Your budget will play the biggest role in deciding which GPU you can get for your rig. While you may want to get a GPU that can push past 100 FPS at 4K in almost every game, it is also important to understand that such GPUs come with a premium price tag.
So, if budget is not an issue for you, then you can even go with the likes of RTX 4090 or RX 7900 XTX, which are some of the most powerful GPUs in the market. But if your budget is below $1000, then you’ll need to explore mid-range options.
Usage
If you don’t have a high-end 4K monitor and are not planning to play games at the highest graphical settings, then there is no need to spend a large chunk of money on a high-end GPU. Instead, you’ll be fine with options such as the 7900 XT or RTX 4070 Super, which can be picked for under $700 and deliver excellent performance in 1440p and 4K gaming. In case you want to explore more budget options, you can check out our top picks for the best GPUs under $500 and the best GPUs under $400.
