RX 7900 XTX vs RTX 3090 – flagship RDNA 3 vs Ampere
Reviewed By: Kevin Pocock
Table of Contents
Sales for AMD XT and XTX have not been as great as Team Red might've expected them to be. People have been going all in for Nvidia GPUs and old-generation units. These kind of decisions might be due to price drops and the performance difference between the RX 7900 XTX vs RTX 3090. However, objectively there is a big leap between the flagship 7000 AMD series and the flagship Nvidia 30-series.
They are both designed for gaming enthusiasts and professionals who need top-of-the-line performance for demanding applications. However, despite their similarities, there are also significant differences between the two cards. In this comparison article, we will take a closer look at the features, specifications, and performance of the RX 7900 XTX and the RTX 3090, to help you decide which one best fits your needs.
7900 XTX vs 3090: Specs
The RX 7900 XTX and the RTX 3090 are both high-end graphics cards that are designed for gaming enthusiasts and professionals who need top-of-the-line performance for demanding applications. However, despite their similarities, there are also significant differences between the RX 7900 XTX vs RTX 3090. One of the main differences is that the RX 7900 XTX is a newer GPU from AMD while the RTX 3090 is from Nvidia.
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In terms of memory, both cards have 24 GB of GDDR6 and GDDR6X, respectively, and a 384-bit memory bus. However, the RTX 3090 has a slightly higher bandwidth of 936.2 GB/s compared to the RX 7900 XTX’s 960.0 GB/s.
| RX 7900 XTX | RTX 3090 | |
|---|---|---|
| Memory size | 24 GB GDDR6 | 24 GB GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 384 bit | 384 bit |
| Bandwidth | 960.0 GB/s | 936.2 GB/s |
| Base Clock speed | 1855 MHz | 1395 MHz |
| Boost clock speed | 2499 MHz | 1695 MHz |
| Higher floating-point performance | 61 TFLOPS | 35.58 TFLOPS |
| L3 Cache | 96 MB | – |
| TDP | 355 W | 350 W |
| MSRP | 999 USD | 1,499 USD |
In terms of clock speeds, the RX 7900 XTX has a base clock speed of 1855 MHz and a boost clock speed of 2499 MHz. The RTX 3090 has a base clock speed of 1395 MHz and a boost clock speed of 1695 MHz. As a result, the RX 7900 XTX has a higher clock speed, meaning it will perform better in terms of gaming and other demanding applications.
The RX 7900 XTX also has a higher floating-point performance of 61 TFLOPS compared to the RTX 3090’s 35.58 TFLOPS. Additionally, the RX 7900 XTX has 96 MB of L3 cache, while the RTX 3090 does not have any.
The TDP of both cards is similar, with the RX 7900 XTX having a TDP of 355 W and the RTX 3090 having a TDP of 350 W. However, the MSRP of the RTX 3090 is significantly higher, with a price tag of $1,499, while the RX 7900 XTX is priced at $999.
In summary, both cards are high-end GPUs that are designed for demanding applications. However, the newer RX 7900 XTX from AMD has some advantages over the RTX 3090 from Nvidia in terms of clock speeds, floating-point performance, and L3 cache. On the other hand, the RTX 3090 has a higher bandwidth but is significantly more expensive.
7900 XTX vs 3090: Price
MSRPs and overall prices need a little context to be fully understood. While it's true that Nvidia tends to overprice its GPU, it must be maintained that when the 3090 dropped, GPU demand was sky-high. This meant prices followed accordingly. However, although demand has dropped off somewhat now, Nvidia hasn't come back down to earth. The RTX 4090 was released with an MSRP similar to the 3090: $1,599.
On the other side. AMD hasn't gone above the $1,000 mark on their GPU releases. The RX 7900 XTX, a top-of-the-line GPU, was launched with an MSRP of $999. This is a $500 difference for an objectively better GPU that will let you run 4K video games with a super-smooth, super-speedy performance.
7900 XTX vs 3090: Performance
The performance of the RX 7900 XTX and the RTX 3090 is similar in many aspects, but there are also significant differences between the two cards. For more, we recommend checking out our full RX 7900 XTX review which goes over the performance, design, features, price, and more for the full story.
Floating-point performance is a measure of a GPU’s ability to perform complex calculations. It is important for tasks such as scientific simulations, 3D rendering, and machine learning. The RX 7900 XTX has a higher floating-point performance of 61 TFLOPS, compared to the RTX 3090’s 35.58 TFLOPS. This means that the RX 7900 XTX will perform better in tasks that require a lot of floating-point calculations.
This difference in floating-point performance can be seen in tasks such as scientific simulations and 3D rendering, where the RX 7900 XTX will be able to perform the calculations faster and more efficiently than the RTX 3090. For example, in 3D rendering software, the RX 7900 XTX will be able to render a scene in less time, with more complex and detailed elements than the RTX 3090.
Final thoughts
One of the main differences between the two cards is the price. The RTX 3090 is significantly more expensive than the RX 7900 XTX, with an MSRP of $1,499 compared to $999. This means that the RX 7900 XTX offers similar performance to the RTX 3090 at a much more affordable price point.
It’s worth noting that the RTX 3090 was considered one of the most powerful GPUs on the market and it’s perfect for high-end gaming, 4K resolution, and AI workloads. However, AMD has changed the race. With the introduction of the 7000-series, they get the podium back, offering a better balance between price and performance.
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