In-Depth Review of AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE

Availability and Acquisition of the 7900 GRE

The Radeon 7900 GRE, priced at $650 MSRP, is not readily available for purchase in the US. In Australia, PLE is the exclusive retailer offering the GRE only as part of a full system build. This review involves purchasing the most affordable system with the GRE from PLE, extracting the GPU, and testing it independently.

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Specifications and Comparison with 7900 XT

The 7900 GRE is essentially a scaled-down version of the 7900 XT. It shares the same Graphics Compute Die but with notable reductions: it activates only four out of six Memory Cache Dies (MCDs), houses 80 Compute Units (resulting in 5,120 Stream Processors), and features 16GB of GDDR6 memory. This is a decrease from the 20GB and 24GB offered by the XT and XTX models, respectively. The memory bandwidth is also reduced by 28% compared to the XT. These downgrades raise questions about the GRE's positioning within the 7900 series.

Performance Analysis Methodology

The Radeon 7900 GRE was tested using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D test system with 32GB DDR5-6000 memory and the latest display drivers. The review includes data validation and an updated analysis of the GRE's performance in 15 games, with a focus on comparing it with current and previous generation GPUs.

Benchmark Results at 1440p: The Last of Us Part 1

In "The Last of Us Part 1," the GRE achieved 79 fps at 1440p, only 4% faster than the 6800 XT and 5% slower than the 6950 XT. This modest performance raises doubts about its classification as a 7900 series GPU. Compared to the 7900 XT, the GRE shows a 20% performance reduction, in line with its specifications.

4K Resolution Performance Analysis

At 4K resolution, the GRE falls behind the 6800 XT and is 18% slower than the 7900 XT. However, its performance compared to Nvidia's RTX 4070 Ti is more impressive, outperforming the standard 4070 by 17%. This comparison paints the GRE in a somewhat more favorable light against Nvidia's offerings.

Comparative Assessment and Market Positioning

The Radeon RX 7900 GRE's performance, particularly in relation to the 7900 XT and Nvidia's 4070 series, highlights its ambiguous position within the Radeon lineup. While it shows some advantages over select competitors, its reduced specifications and performance compared to other 7900 series GPUs question its value proposition, especially considering its limited availability and the necessity to purchase it as part of a system build.

Conclusion: Evaluating the Radeon RX 7900 GRE

The Radeon RX 7900 GRE presents a complex scenario for potential buyers. Its performance, while adequate in certain aspects, does not align with the expectations set by the 7900 series branding. The GPU's limited availability and the requirement to acquire it through a full system build further complicate its appeal. Ultimately, consumers must carefully consider these factors against their specific gaming and performance needs to determine if the 7900 GRE is a sensible choice for them.