Question 7800 XT vs 9060 XT

[math686u]

I’ve decided to build a new PC, but the only part I haven’t settled on yet is the GPU.

Originally, I chose the 7800 XT as the better option, but then I came across some reviews of the 9060 XT 16 GB, which made me question whether it might be the smarter choice.

I have no doubt that the 7800 XT is stronger in terms of raw performance, but the 9060 XT supports FSR 4. I’m having a hard time figuring out how much of a performance boost ray tracing with FSR 4 actually provides. I’ve heard that FSR 3 on the 7800 XT is pretty bad, and that FSR 4 won’t be carried over to the 7000 series platform.

I am on a budget, but I can afford the 7800 XT. However, if the performance difference doesn’t justify the extra cost, I wouldn’t mind saving the money and going with the 9060 XT instead. In Denmark, the price difference is currently around 800 DKK.

I currently play at 1080p but plan to upgrade to 1440p in the future. I play a variety of games — from racing titles like Assetto Corsa, to story games like the Horizon Zero Dawn series, to shooters like Hell Let Loose. I also enjoy a few arcade games. And of course, I’ll be playing GTA 6 once it’s released.

The GPU will be paired with a 750W PSU.

For reference I currently rely on a 1060 6GB. No matter which I chose, my world will change.

 

[Aeacus]

I’m having a hard time figuring out how much of a performance boost ray tracing with FSR 4 actually provides.

Read a review. It depends on the FSR preset and if you also enable Frame Gen or not.
Link: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapphire-radeon-rx-9060-xt-nitro-oc/38.html

Not all games play ball though. E.g Indiana Jones with RT and FSR enabled, crashed as soon as Frame Gen was also enabled, regardless FSR profile used.

 

[Math Geek]

the 9060xt performance about the same as the 7700xt from the reviews i saw.

is the jump from the 7700xt to the 7800xt worth the cost to you?

if you plan to hold on to the card as long as you did the 1060, then the extra money is probably worth it. i tend to go as big as i can within budget so i can use it as long as possible.

i bought one of the 9060xt's myself to replace a 1650 super. seemed like the right bang for the buck for me. i was thinking the 7700xt was good enough for me and this one is pretty similar but has whatever the current gen bells and whistles happen to be. will actually be the first current gen gpu i've bought in a very long time.

 

[math686u]

the 9060xt performance about the same as the 7700xt from the reviews i saw.

is the jump from the 7700xt to the 7800xt worth the cost to you?

if you plan to hold on to the card as long as you did the 1060, then the extra money is probably worth it. i tend to go as big as i can within budget so i can use it as long as possible.

i bought one of the 9060xt's myself to replace a 1650 super. seemed like the right bang for the buck for me. i was thinking the 7700xt was good enough for me and this one is pretty similar but has whatever the current gen bells and whistles happen to be. will actually be the first current gen gpu i've bought in a very long time.

Now it makes more sense.
So if the 9060 xt is equivalent to the 7700 XT, would the 9070 XT then be equivalent to the 7800 XT?
The 9070 XT is way out of my budget. They are at minimum 2000 dkk more expensive than the 7800 XT.

I'm not planning on going with the 7800 XT for 7 years as I have done with the 1060, but then again the 7800 XT was at higher level at release compared to the 1060 at release.
So maybe I am going to it keep for as long.

For me the extra money is worth it for the more raw performance. Especially since i'm whilling to wait a while for a potential discount.

The only thing that might sway me over was if the FSR4 would level the performance by so much that there would be no gain in getting the 7800 XT.

 

[math686u]

Read a review. It depends on the FSR preset and if you also enable Frame Gen or not.
Link: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapphire-radeon-rx-9060-xt-nitro-oc/38.html

Not all games play ball though. E.g Indiana Jones with RT and FSR enabled, crashed as soon as Frame Gen was also enabled, regardless FSR profile used.

Yea, that's actually a valid point. The 9060 XT has to rely on help from FSR to increase performance.
And that gives some issues. Not all games will support FSR4 and I remember reading that most games also favor Nvidias technology over AMD. Also relying on technologies like FSR could perhaps be quiet unreliable at some times.

The question I'm left with is how powerful is FSR4 actually in terms of leveling the playing field?
And who knows how much that techology is going the matter in the coming time?

But then again you don't have any questions about raw performance?
And the 7800 XT is just pure performance without much fancy help.

 

[Math Geek]

The 7800xt is a good bit slower than a 9070. So not really a direct comparison. The jump from 7700 to 7800 to 9070 is about the same give or take a few %

I'm looking at rasterization numbers. The fake frame stuff is on the side and not used enough yet to let it be a major fact in my decision at this time. Though that seems a lot better this gen from AMD if you get a game that uses it.

 

[Aeacus]

But then again you don't have any questions about raw performance?
And the 7800 XT is just pure performance without much fancy help.

Raw performance wise, on average, and depending on reso, RX 7800 XT is 15% - 22% better than RX 9060 XT,
source: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapphire-radeon-rx-9060-xt-nitro-oc/33.html

The question I'm left with is how powerful is FSR4 actually in terms of leveling the playing field?

Gimmicks (FSR, Frame Gen) do add up and depending on preset, can surpass RX 7800 XT performance;

Same game, same reso, same quality, no RT;

RX 7800 XT review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/amd-radeon-rx-7800-xt/10.html

And who knows how much that techology is going the matter in the coming time?

Who knows. Completely depends if the game supports FSR/Frame Gen or not.

Personally, i'd go with Nvidia. For Ray Tracing, and now, Path Tracing, Nvidia does it better than Radeon.

 

[math686u]

Raw performance wise, on average, and depending on reso, RX 7800 XT is 15% - 22% better than RX 9060 XT,
source: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapphire-radeon-rx-9060-xt-nitro-oc/33.html


Gimmicks (FSR, Frame Gen) do add up and depending on preset, can surpass RX 7800 XT performance;

Same game, same reso, same quality, no RT;

RX 7800 XT review: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/amd-radeon-rx-7800-xt/10.html


Who knows. Completely depends if the game supports FSR/Frame Gen or not.

Personally, i'd go with Nvidia. For Ray Tracing, and now, Path Tracing, Nvidia does it better than Radeon.

This is actually a interesting benchmark. FSR does actually increase the performance by a big margin.
But for my liking there might just be too many if's. The game needs to support FSR, the technology has to be consistent and so on.

I'm interested, what would you actually go with, 5060 ti 16 GB, 7800 XT or 9060 16 GB?

I am at the moment pretty set on a AMD bulid so if you could also give an answer between the 7800 XT and 9060 that be very appreciateted.

If the 5060 ti 16 GB makes to good of a case to not chose. Then I could consider changing the build.

 

[math686u]

The 7800xt is a good bit slower than a 9070. So not really a direct comparison. The jump from 7700 to 7800 to 9070 is about the same give or take a few %

I'm looking at rasterization numbers. The fake frame stuff is on the side and not used enough yet to let it be a major fact in my decision at this time. Though that seems a lot better this gen from AMD if you get a game that uses it.

Okay, I understand it now. Thank you.

You make a good point. No doubts that the fancy technology is probably really great and much better than before, but I fell like there might be to many if's.

Like you mention is not used enough and then when it works, it has to work flawlessly all the time.
I have feeling I might end up feeling like i'm playing the lottery everytime I get a game.
Is FSR supported, how well balanced is it, is it consistent and so on.

 

[Aeacus]

I'm interested, what would you actually go with, 5060 ti 16 GB, 7800 XT or 9060 16 GB?

Personally, i'd go with Nvidia.

Nvidia drivers, usually, are better optimized than Radeon drivers are (less stutters/hiccups).
Also, RTX 5060 Ti can utilize DLSS 4, which is better than Radeon FSR 4.

Now, FSR 4 on 4K, is essentially equal to DLSS 4 in terms of image quality, but on 1440p, DLSS 4 is still better.
And there is, of course, game support issue for either of the two. FAR more games support DLSS 4 than those that support FSR 4.

Here's good article comparing the two of them,
link: https://www.techspot.com/article/2976-amd-fsr4-4k-upscaling/

While it is a long read, it has plenty of info about these two and at the end of the article, there is talk about game support.
Found also short (6min) video that compares the two as well (if you don't want to read that article);

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkGCwiEIdOA


Overall, DLSS 4 is a touch better than FSR 4, but main argument would be game support.
When you have mere 65 titles that support FSR 4, some 200 games that support FSR 3.1 but easy 700+ games that support DLSS 4, is there really much to think about which one to choose?

RTX 5060 Ti - DLSS 4 (or FSR 3.1)
RX 9060 - FSR 4 (or FSR 3.1)
RX 7800 XT - FSR 3.1 only

That is, even if you are going to use frame gen and FSR/DLSS for more FPS and better image quality.
Maybe you're good with native and doesn't want to use those gimmicks at all.

I, personally, would use native. 60 FPS is good enough for me and i play on 1080p. I can even manage 40 FPS. Also, i play small/indie titles (including pixel art games) and i don't look towards AAA titles with fancy graphics, where frame gen and/or FSR/DLSS would be used.

so if you could also give an answer between the 7800 XT and 9060 that be very appreciateted.

If you are going to use FSR, then RX 9060 XT is better because it supports FSR 4, which overall, is in between DLSS 3 and DLSS 4, in terms of quality.
RX 7800 XT is stuck with FSR 3.1, where you have no way to use FSR 4. Sure, there are a bit more games that support FSR 3.1 than those that support FSR 4, but with RX 9060 XT, you can use FSR 3.1 as well, when game doesn't support FSR 4.

Native performance is lower for RX 9060 XT, compared to RX 7800 XT, but another argument would be GPU lifespan.
RX 9060 XT launched June 5th, 2025, you can go with brand new GPU. RX 7800 XT launched Sep 3rd, 2023. So, any GPU you'd be buying, has been sitting on the shelf for 1.5 years now. Capacitors on GPU do age in time and you may get longer lifespan out of RX 9060 XT, than RX 7800 XT.

Another argument would be power consumption;
GTX 1060 6GB - 120W
RX 9060 XT - 160W
RX 7800 XT - 263W

Your call if you like to use GPU that consumes extra 103W for slightly better native performance but can't use FSR 4 and in turn, lags behind of RX 9060 XT when using FSR 4.

 

[NoobBuilder1]

FSR 4 won't matter if it is not supported enough. It is already worse than DLSS 4 in terms of quality and performance uplift, but the matter will be made worse if it never gets enough support. I think Aeacus is correct in saying that the 5060 TI would be a better choice. Against the 9060 XT, it's in the same price range, has similar performance, but has way better AI upscaling and ray tracing that help it pull ahead. Against the 7800 XT, a sacrifice in performance might be worth it for DLSS, better ray-tracing support, and future-proofing over the 7800 XT, depending on your priorities.

One more thing, the RX 7800 XT goes for about the same price as an RTX 5070. That's going to be a way better purchase since the card is way more recent. Purchasing the 5070 would get you a card capable of new technologies like those on the 9060 XT while being more powerful than the 7800 XT. If I were you and I had the money to buy a card in that price range, the 5070 would probably be the best choice.

I think it would be better to consider the 5060 TI against the 5070 since they will have better upscaling support while having similar performance at a similar price. I would recommend the 5070 between the two so that you can play GTA 6.