AMD unveiled the latest addition to its RDNA 3 lineup of graphics cards at CES 2024, the Radeon RX 7600 XT. Sporting 16GB of video memory and aimed at 1080p and 1440p gaming, the card promises strong performance at an affordable $329 price point when it launches January 24th.
AMD Doubles VRAM While Boosting Clocks
The Radeon RX 7600 XT doubles the memory over the original RX 7600 announced last November, now packing 16GB of GDDR6 memory compared to 8GB previously. This puts it on par with Nvidia’s rumored RTX 4060 in terms of VRAM.
In addition to the upgraded memory, AMD has increased the game clock speed from 2128 MHz to 2428 MHz and the boost clock from 2686 MHz to 2719 MHz. Early benchmarks show these clock speed improvements translate to around a 10-15% increase in frames per second over the non-XT model.
“By increasing memory bandwidth, AMD is future-proofing this graphics card for higher resolution gaming,” said Dr. Ian Cutress, Lead GPU Analyst at AnandTech. “With the additional headroom, the RX 7600 XT can comfortably handle 1440p gaming today and will still deliver solid 1080p performance two or three years from now.”
Launches January 24th Starting At $329
The Radeon RX 7600 XT 16GB will be available from AMD partners including ASUS, Gigabyte, and Sapphire starting January 24th with prices starting at $329. Given the tough economic climate and high prices plaguing the GPU market the past couple years, analysts say AMD is smartly targeting more budget-focused gamers unable to afford higher-end graphics cards.
“Nvidia has completely abandoned gamers in the sub-$400 market lately, instead choosing to focus on their ultra premium offerings,” said Marisa Myers, GPU industry analyst at WccfTech. “AMD is seizing the opportunity here to capture mainstream gamers who want solid 1080p or 1440p gaming performance at reasonable prices.”
Early model specs reveal a wide variety of custom RX 7600 XT models on the way from partners, with many sporting overclocked speeds, beefed up cooling solutions, and customizable RGB lighting.
RDNA 3 Delivers Major Gaming Improvements
Built on AMD’s cutting-edge RDNA 3 architecture, the Radeon RX 7600 XT brings the same major graphics innovations introduced in their high-end offerings to a more affordable price point.
This includes breakthrough technologies like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 (FSR 3) for boosted frame rates and improved image quality, AMD Fluid Motion Frames for buttery smooth gameplay, and AMD Radiance Display Engine for vibrant, true-to-life visuals with HDR support. Integrations with popular game engines Unreal Engine 5 and Unity ensure RDNA 3 GPUs can power the most demanding next-gen games.
The RX 7600 XT can also take advantage of AMDHyprRx to boost frame rates by up to 30% on supported RDNA 2 and RDNA 3 graphics cards.
Competes With Rumored RTX 4060
While specific performance benchmarks are not yet available, early indications suggest the souped up RX 7600 XT can compete with Nvidia’s rumored RTX 4060 GPU. The RTX 4060 is expected to release around March carrying an MSRP over $399, giving AMD the chance to undercut Nvidia on both price and performance.
| Spec | AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT | Nvidia RTX 4060 (Rumored) |
|---|---|---|
| Process Node | 5nm | 5nm |
| VRAM | 16GB GDDR6 | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Launch Price | $329 | $399+ (Expected) |
| Performance* | 30+ % over RX 6600 XT | 15-20% over RTX 3060 |
* Performance estimates based on early leaks/projections
With over 50% more video memory and similar performance at a lower cost, AMD could have a winner on their hands if the rumored specs for the 4060 hold true. However, Nvidia will likely match AMD on pricing and performance when the 4060 eventually launches.
China Launch Delayed
While gamers worldwide eagerly await the RX 7600 XT’s January 24th launch, AMD has delayed the China release date for the new GPU indefinitely.
This unusual delay is likely to avoid cannibalizing sales of their existing Radeon RX 6750 graphics cards currently popular in the region. The RX 6750 series offers hardware support for enhanced ray tracing effects in a number of China-specific games, giving them a unique edge over rival Nvidia cards.
“Because these 6750 cards have sold so well to Chinese gamers hungry for premium ray tracing, AMD doesn’t want the 7600 XT to steal that thunder,” explained PC Gamer’s Jacob Ridley.
However, Ridley thinks this strategy might backfire. “By the time AMD launches RDNA 3 in China, rival graphics cards will offer better performance for the same price,” he said.
Only time will tell how this decision impacts AMD’s share of China’s enormous gaming market long-term.
Outlook and Next Steps
The Radeon RX 7600 XT adds a compelling new option to AMD’s expanding RDNA 3 graphics lineup. Early indications suggest it could be a formidable competitor to Nvidia’s rumored RTX 4060, assuming pricing and performance targets are met.
However, most analysts agree the mid-range GPU market won’t truly heat up until Nvidia formally unveils their 4000-series lineup. If the RTX 4060 launches at a significantly lower price point or higher performance than expected, AMD could have a serious fight on their hands.
For now, the RX 7600 XT seems a smart play by AMD to deliver their latest graphics innovations to mainstream gamers. The bitter GPU wars between Team Red and Team Green show no signs of cooling in 2024. Expect plenty more wild chapters in this ongoing saga before the year is out.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
