AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE review: the most compelling RDNA 3 graphics card yet

RT benchmarks: Dying Light 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Control.

Review by Richard Leadbetter Technology Editor, Digital Foundry

Published on 26 Feb 2024

Since the arrival of Intel Arc and RTX 40-series GPUs, we've adopted a revised test suite that aims to better reflect the future of gaming technology. That means we're zeroing in on titles using key engines and low-level gaming APIs, while we've beefed up representation for ray tracing and image reconstruction. Our primary focus on the "mid-tier" 7900 GRE means that we're prioritising 1440p performance here, though the 4K stats are also relevant.

Ray tracing is no longer a second-class citizen with the latest generation of GPUs, and we're seeing some of the most intensive GPU workloads you can get delivered at really decent frame-rates - even before we factor in image reconstruction technologies like DLSS and FSR2.

Our benchmarking system below offers a number of ways to get to the data you want, the presentation varying according to the device you're looking at right now. You'll get a basic overview of our findings on mobile, with metadata from the video capture of each GPU being translated into simple bar charts with average frame-rate and lowest one per cent measurements for easy comparisons.

On a desktop-class browser, you'll get the full-fat DF experience with embedded YouTube videos of each test scene and live performance metrics. Play the video, and you'll see exactly how each card handled the scene as it progresses. Below the real-time metrics is a bar chart, which you can mouse over to see different measurements and click to switch between actual frame-rates and percentage differences. All the data here is derived from video captured directly from each GPU, ensuring an accurate replay of real performance.

Dying Light 2

We've 'ported over' our most recent test data from the RTX 4080 Super review, which covers all the key contenders. Really, it's 70-tier RTX offerings that are the focus, alongside RX 7800 XT and the new RX 7900 GRE. Based on 1440p results, the GRE does relatively well here - it's a touch faster than the RTX 3080 and effectively on par with the RTX 4070.

However, in RT performance terms, clearly AMD is still behind the incumbent leader - the RTX 4070 Super is more expensive but offers a nigh-on 21 percentage point lead. Also, the GRE is delivering proportionately more performance for the money compared to the 7800 XT. That's good for the GRE, but really, value should scale higher with cheaper cards - and the same argument can be levelled at the vanilla RTX 4070 too.

Dying Light 2, High RT, TAA

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 - operating in pure RT mode here at ultra settings with no upscaling - is an absolutely punishing work-out for any GPU, up to and including the RTX 4090, which only brings home a 47fps average. The GRE has issues here. The RTX 3080 should be a good yardstick for GRE performance but here, the 2020 Nvidia card is 24 points clear and even the RTX 4070 easily bests it.

This game is a close collaboration between Nvidia and CD Projekt RED, so perhaps there's little surprise in seeing how optimally the GeForce cards perform relative to Radeon. Again, while the RTX 4070 Super costs more, the GRE is designed to take it on - but the Nvidia card is 40 percent more performant for less than ten percent more money.

Cyberpunk 2077, Ultra RT, TAA

Control

Remedy's Control has proven problematic multiple times over for the RTX 40-series and you can see the problem here. In theory, RTX 4070 should be as fast as the RTX 3080 at 1440p, but it is not. The RTX 3080 is, in fact, 17 percent faster. RDNA 3 is slower, but it fares better than in the prior games.

The RX 7900 GRE is right up there with the RTX 4070, though the more attractive RTX 4070 Super offers a nigh-on 17 percentage point lead. Control also offers DLSS support and was never updated to support FSR 2, meaning that unofficial mods are the only way to add upscaling support to the game... which is still a fantastic ray tracing showcase.