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Crucial T705 SSD review: fantastic speed for those who can afford it
2:14 pm | March 22, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

Crucial T705: Two-minute review

The Crucial T705 SSD is inarguably one of the fastest PCIe 5.0 drives to hit the market in recent months, making it a must-have for gamers, content creators, or anyone who needs outstanding storage performance.

Starting at $239.99/£245.99/AU$379.99 for 1TB without a heatsink, this isn't the best cheap SSD on the market, but you're getting a lot for what you pay for, and given that it is a strong contender for the best SSD you can get in 2024, the price isn't out of line with what you should expect to pay.

What you get for that investment is an incredibly fast SSD that reaches speeds that deliver on the promise of PCIe 5.0, including nearly 14,400MB/s sequential read speeds, so gamers especially are going to love the incredibly fast loading times you're going to get from this drive. 

Its sequential write speed topped out at 12,465 MB/s in my testing, so this drive is also going to be great as a working drive for content creators like video editors who need to save or export massive files on a regular basis.

That said, seeing as it is PCIe 5.0, this isn't the best PS5 SSD since you won't be able to take full advantage of the PCIe 5.0 lanes (the PS5 is limited to PCIe 4.0, which caps out at about 7,500MB/s), so you're better off with a Samsung 990 Pro, PNY XLR8 CS3140, or a Patriot Viper VP4300, which will get you the absolute fastest PCIe 4.0 speeds on the market (and will probably save you some money too).

In a properly capable PC motherboard though, this SSD will absolutely fly. All this performance comes at the price of significantly higher thermals though, so you will need a heatsink for this drive, whether that's the one on offer from Crucial or the one that comes with your motherboard.

And honestly, you're better off with either the Crucial or a more 'powered' heatsink that has some form of active cooling like a fan, because the heat generated by this SSD is not for the faint of heart.

So, in the end, the question is really whether you should be buying this SSD for your next rig or workstation, and the answer is unequivocally yes, assuming you have a setup that can take advantage of the PCIe 5.0 tech built into this drive.

Right now, all the best graphics cards are PCIe 4.0, so you don't have to worry about splitting any PCIe 5.0 lanes just yet, but if you're planning to run a top-tier system in the coming years, make sure your motherboard can support both your GPU and this SSD, since it's quite an investment and the rollout of PCIe 5.0 drives like the Crucial T705 has driven down the price of the best PCIe 4.0 drives a good bit.

If your motherboard can only support one or the other, and you're looking to snatch up the Nvidia RTX 5090 when it drops in late 2024/early 2025, you're going to get a lot more out of a PCIe 5.0 graphics card than a PCIe 5.0 SSD. If that's your situation, you might be better off opting for the top-of-the-line PCIe 4.0 SSDs like the 990 Pro, which you can get for much cheaper than this drive. But if high-end graphics card performance is less of a concern that fast loading times for gaming and rapid exports to disk from Adobe Premiere Pro, AutoDesk, or other similar content creation apps, than the Crucial T705 SSD is a fantastic drive to get you the kind of performance you need at a reasonable price-per-terabyte.

A Crucial T705 SSD on a pink desk mat

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Crucial T705: Price & availability

  • How much does it cost? Starting at $239.99/£245.99/AU$379.99
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Crucial T705 is available in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $239.99/£245.99/AU$379.99 for 1TB, without a heatsink. 

For those with beefy motherboards with M.2 slot heat sinks, this should be fine, but for high-performance machines and workstations, I recommend upgrading to an included heatsink for an extra $16/£20/AU$50, which does a better job of keeping the SSD cool.

The T705 is also available in 2TB ($399.99/£454.79/AU$729, without heatsink) and 4TB ($713.99/£833.99/AU$949, without heatsink), which puts it on the higher end of the best M.2 SSD options out there. The Samsung 990 Pro, for example, is the best PCIe 4.0 SSD currently and retails for $169.99 / £155 / AU$265 for 1TB, and going as high as 4TB for $464.99/£284/AU$699, before including an option for a heatsink.

This puts the Crucial T705 on the high-end of SSDs, but it's only slightly more expensive than the best PCIe 4.0 SSD going but delivers about twice the performance, so it's hard to argue that the T705 isn't an incredible value in the end. 

Crucial T705: Specs

A Crucial T705 SSD on a pink desk mat

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Should you buy the Crucial T705?

Buy the Crucial T705 if...

You want fast loading times for games and apps
With incrediblly fast sequential read speeds, this drive will load your games, apps, and even your OS in no time.

You need to write large files to disk frequently
If you're a content creator, exporting a work-in-progress to disk can be time consuming, but this drive makes it much easier.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget
This is hardly the cheapest PCIe 5.0 drive out there.

You're looking for a PS5 SSD
This drive's PCIe 5.0 interface makes it way more expensive than a PCIe 4.0 drive, so PS5 users are better off going with a cheaper SSD since you won't get the full performance of this drive on a console right now.

Crucial T705: Also consider

If my Crucial T705 review has you looking for other options, here are two more M.2 SSDs to consider...

How I tested the Crucial T705

  • I spent about a week testing this SSD
  • I used it for gaming, content creation, and general storage use
  • I used my standard suite of SSD benchmarks as well as daily use

To test the T705, I ran it through our standard benchmark suite, including CrystalDiskMark 8, PassMark, PCMark 10, 3DMark, and out proprietary 25GB file copy test.

I used this drive as my main system storage (C:\) drive for over a week on our test bench, where I used it extensively for loading games for benchmarking purposes, content creation, and more.

I've been reviewing PC hardware for several years now, in addition to earning my Master's Degree in Computer Science, so I know how an SSD of this caliber should perform for the price, and I leverage that knowledge to help you find the best SSD for your needs and budget, whether it's the Crucial T705 or an alternative.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2024

TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5: the best DDR5 RAM you’re going to find at this price
6:08 pm | March 14, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5: Two-minute review

The TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 isn't the effective default DDR5 RAM for most custom builds just for its pretty aesthetics, as it turns out.

It's been about two years now since the best DDR5 RAM kits started hitting the market, and as more and more consumers have upgraded their systems to DDR5-capable processors from Intel and AMD, TeamGroup's T-Force Delta RGB has been a mainstay for builders and casual upgraders alike for its mix of fantastic design, awesome performance, and accessible price.

The RAM kit I reviewed, currently priced at $109.99 (about £90 / AU$150), is not the cheapest DDR5 RAM on the market, but it is the best RAM at this price point that we've tested, offering an incredible value on balance against much more expensive kits on the market.

A set of TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 RAM modules in a motherboard

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The design of the Delta RGB DDR5 modules is sleek as hell, featuring an aluminum heat spreader finished in matte black. This choice not only provides an attractive (if aggressive) look but also ensures effective heat dissipation. 

While the branding on the heat spreader may not be to everyone's taste, it does little to detract from the overall design quality. Standing at a height of 46.1mm, these memory modules are built to fit comfortably under the best CPU coolers, though a compatibility check is always recommended before buying.

Given its RGB branding, illumination is a key feature of the Delta RGB DDR5, with RGB lighting integrated through a diffuser along the top, enhanced by a distinctive 'R' cut-out on the heat spreader for an even more captivating display. You'll need to check your motherboard compatibility for the RGB scheme, but given TeamGroup's prominence, you're likely to be fine as far as RGB compatibility goes.

Out of the box, the memory operates at DDR5-4800 with standard timings (which aren't great, to be honest), but engaging XMP profiles can raise the performance to DDR5-6000, with a slight adjustment in voltage and timings. This fine-tuning capability highlights the memory's balance between default efficiency and the potential for enhanced performance.

Overclocking the memory revealed substantial headroom, with minimal voltage increases yielding significant performance improvements, raising it to the top of the list of RAM kits running at 6000 MHz.

For most people, this is going to be more than sufficient for their needs, underscoring the TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5's appeal to enthusiasts who want both out-of-the-box efficiency and the ability to push their hardware beyond standard specifications.

A set of TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 RAM modules in a motherboard

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

In the end, it's easy to see why TeamGroup's T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 is often found in custom PCs and topping the lists of sought-after components for the PC build community, given the excellent balance of price, performance, and design. As far as midrange DDR5 RAM kits go, you really can't get much better.

A set of TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 RAM modules in a motherboard

(Image credit: TeamGroup)

TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5: Price & availability

  • How much does it cost? $109.99 (about £90 / AU$150)
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 RAM kit is available in the US, UK, and Australia. There are a whole plethora of speeds and timings available that make it unwieldy to track here, but the kit we reviewed, a 2 x 16GB kit running at 6,000MHz / CL30, will run you $109.99 (about £90 / AU$150).

 This is the lowest price of the various DDR5 RAM kits we've tested that are running at 6,000 MHz, and given that its performance generally outpaces its rivals, there's no question that this is among the best values you're going to find for a midrange DDR5 RAM kit right now.

TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5: Specs

Should you buy the TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5?

Buy the TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 if...

You want the best performing DDR5 RAM for the price
The best thing about this RAM kit is the level of performance on offer for the lowest price at this speed.

You want great looking RAM for your build
Between the stylish silouette and the RGB trim, this is some great looking RAM.

Don't buy it if...

You want the absolute fastest RAM
While I tested a midrange RAM kit, the T-Force Delta RGB caps out at a lower level than some other RAM kits.

You're on a restricted budget
At more than $100 (about £80/AU$140), this RAM kit is hardly the cheapest DDR5 kit on the market right now.

TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5: Also consider

If my TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 review has you looking for other options, here is another DDR5 option to consider...

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2024

AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE: AMD’s China-only card goes global—and upends the midrange market
7:42 pm | February 28, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE: Two-minute review

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE was originally launched in China back in July 2023, and from what everyone was told, that card was going to be exclusive to that region. 

Well, following the launch of the RTX Super series of GPUs last month, AMD's decided to surprise everyone and launch the RX 7900 GRE globally, starting this week, and it looks primed to upend the midrange GPU market in a pretty huge way.

That's because the RX 7900 GRE (Golden Rabbit Edition) is going on sale starting at $549, which puts it directly in competition with the Nvidia RTX 4070 on price, and undercuts the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super by offering competitive performance for just over 90% of the cost.

To be clear, the card that is being released globally is the same card that has already been available for Chinese consumers, and so it has been extensively benchmarked for months, with much of that data freely available online for everyone to see. 

This has no doubt driven much of the global interest in the RX 7900 GRE since it originally launched back in July, and I fully expect this card to fly off the shelves since it is without question one of the best graphics cards for the midrange you're going to find.

In terms of raw synthetic performance, the RX 7900 GRE follows the familiar AMD-Nvidia pattern where the Radeon card is better at pure rasterization while the GeForce card is the better ray-tracer, but the difference between the RX 7900 GRE and the RTX 4070 Super in ray-tracing performance isn't as wide as it might have been last generation.

What's more, when it comes to gaming, Nvidia's advantage in native ray tracing is overcome by the RX 7900 GRE as soon as you bring upscaling into the mix, which you invariably have to do whenever ray tracing above 1080p is involved.

The RX 7900 GRE is even a much more capable creative card than I was expecting, so long as you're not working with CUDA, but for graphic designers, photographers, and video editors, this is a surprisingly powerful GPU for a lot less money than it's rivals.

Overall, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE isn't so powerful that it completely knocks out Nvidia's RTX 4070 Super, but it's hitting Nvidia's newest GPU a lot harder than I think Nvidia was expecting so soon after launch. Unfortunately, this does put the only-slightly-cheaper-but-not-as-good AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT in a bit of an awkward position, but for gamers looking to get the best performance for their money, more options are better in this case.

An AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE from PowerColor on a desk with its retail packaging

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE: Price & availability

  • How much does it cost? $549 (about £440/AU$770)
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE is available starting February 27, 2024, with a US MSRP of $549 (about £440/AU$770). This is the same price as the Nvidia RTX 4070, $50 less than the RTX 4070 Super, and $50 more than the RX 7800 XT.

This launch doesn't include an AMD reference card, so you will need to buy the RX 7900 GRE from third-party partners like ASRock, Gigabyte, Sapphire, and others. The sample I was sent for review is the PowerColor Hellhound RX 7900 GRE, a model line that typically sells for AMD's MSRP or below (when on sale).

An AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE from PowerColor on a desk with its retail packaging

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE: Features & specs

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE is a modified Navi 31 GPU with four fewer compute units than the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, as well as slower clock speeds. It's power requirements are also officially lower at a starting TGP of 260W, but this will vary by which card you go for.

The Radeon RX 7900 GRE also has 16GB GDDR6 VRAM to the RX 7900 XT's 20GB, and while the RX 7900 XT has a 320-bit memory bus, the RX 7900 GRE has a slimmer — but still sizeable — 256-bit bus. With a memory clock of 2,250 MHz (compared to the RX 7900 XT's 2,500 MHz), the RX 7900 GRE comes in with an effective memory speed of 18 Gbps and a memory bandwidth of 576 GB/s, which is a notable decline from the RX 7900 XT's 800 Gbps and 800 GB/s, respectively.

Also notable are the two 8-pin power connectors, which won't require you to fuss around with a 16-pin connector like Nvidia's latest graphics cards require you to do, whether that's through an adapter or an ATX 3.0 power supply.

An AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE from PowerColor on a desk with its retail packaging

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE: Design

While there is an AMD reference card for the RX 7900 GRE, AMD has said that global availability will only come through AIB partners, so the design you get with your card will vary by manufacturer.

The card I tested, the PowerColor Hellhound RX 7900 GRE, sports a triple-fan cooler with RGB lighting in the fan. It's a long card to be sure, and even though it's technically a dual-slot card, the shroud makes for a tight fit.

The backplate of the Hellhound RX 7900 GRE has some notable features, like the Hellhound logo, the exposed GPU bracket, and a hole in the backplate opposite the third fan to leave an open path for air to pass over the GPU cooler's heatsink fins to improve cooling efficiency.

An AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE from PowerColor in a test bench

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE: Performance

Now we come to the heart of the matter. I can't tell if AMD was inspired by the release of the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super or not, but whatever convinced Team Red to bring the RX 7900 GRE out of China to the rest of the world, midrange gamers everywhere should be grateful because this is easily the best midrange graphics card on the market right now.

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE synthetic benchmark results

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)

Starting with synthetic benchmarks, the typical rasterization-ray tracing divide between AMD and Nvidia remains, but like we've seen with other cards this generation, the gap is narrowing. The Nvidia 4070 and RTX 4070 Super definitely pull ahead in terms of raw compute performance, but overall, the RX 7900 GRE is the champ of the under-$600s.

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Rx 7900 GRE creative benchmark results

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Rx 7900 GRE creative benchmark results

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Rx 7900 GRE creative benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE creative benchmark results

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Rx 7900 GRE creative benchmark results

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Rx 7900 GRE creative benchmark results

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)

For creative use, the RX 7900 GRE is the strongest rasterizer, but lags Nvidia with video editing, and serious stumbles when it comes to 3D rendering as seen in Blender Benchmark 4.0.0. 

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1080p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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RX 7900 GRE 1440p gaming benchmarks

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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Rx 7900 GRE 4K gaming benchmark results

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When it comes to gaming, though, the RX 7900 GRE is the clear winner among midrange cards, with spectacular 1080p and 1440p gaming performance, with only slightly worse ray tracing performance than the RTX 4070 Super. 

As a 4K graphics card, however, the RX 7900 GRE isn't that far behind the RTX 4070 Ti, with the former getting an average 55 fps (30 fps minimum) and the latter getting an average of 63 fps (minimum 42 fps). The RTX 4070 Super, meanwhile, only averages 41 fps at 4K, with a minimum of 28 fps. 

Ultimately, the RTX 4070 Super can't really be considered among the best 4K graphics cards, but the RX 7900 GRE definitely can, thanks to its wider memory pool and larger memory bus.

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Power and Temperature benchmarks for the RX 7900 GRE

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Power and Temperature benchmarks for the RX 7900 GRE

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)

Of course, this performance comes at the cost of power draw. You can throw the official 260W TGP right out the window here, with the RX 7900 GRE pulling down 302W, but the strong cooling performance on the PowerColor Hellhound card did manage to keep the RX 7900 GRE below 53 degrees Celsius.

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Final benchmark results for the RX 7900 GRE

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Creative benchmarks for the RX 7900 GRE

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Final benchmark results for the RX 7900 GRE

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Final benchmark results for the RX 7900 GRE

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Final benchmark results for the RX 7900 GRE

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Final benchmark results for the RX 7900 GRE

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Final benchmark results for the RX 7900 GRE

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Final benchmark results for the RX 7900 GRE

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Overall, then, there's just no getting around the fact that the RX 7900 GRE effectively outperforms any other card in the midrange. And despite the RX 7900 GRE falling well short of the RTX 4070-series GPUs overall, it's worth keeping in mind that with Photoshop and similar rasterization-dependent programs, the RX 7900 GRE performs the best, and it doesn't fall too far behind the RTX cards when it comes to video editing. 

The weakness of the RX 7900 GRE is that most, if not all, 3D modeling software relies so heavily on Nvidia's CUDA that it heavily skews the creative performance averages, that it can be somewhat deceptive—unless you NEED this graphics card for 3D modeling. If that's the case, nothing else matters, and you need to go with an RTX 4070-class graphics card despite the RX 7900 GRE's superior performance everywhere else.

How many people will that stipulation apply to ultimately? Not enough to hold the RX 7900 GRE from claiming the crown as the best graphics card in the midrange, and since its final value score is just shy of the RX 7800 XT's, there really isn't any reason to opt for any other card right now. The RX 7900 GRE is honestly just that good.

An AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE from PowerColor on a desk with its retail packaging

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Should you buy the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE?

Buy the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE if...

You want the best midrange graphics card
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE is the best overall graphics card for under $600 you can get.

You want to game at 4K
Thanks to the RX 7900 GRE's 16GB VRAM and wide memory bus, you can absolutely game effectively at 4K with this card.

Don't buy it if...

You want the best ray-tracing graphics card
The AMD RX 7900 GRE is a good ray-tracing graphics card, but it's not as good as the RTX 4070 Super.

You do a lot of 3D modeling
If you're a 3D modeling professional (or even a passionate amateur), you need an RTX card, full stop.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE: Also consider

If my AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE review has you looking for other options, here are two more graphics cards to consider...

How I tested the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE

  • I spent about a week with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE
  • I tested its synthetic, creative, and gaming performance
  • I used our standard suite of benchmarks
Test system specs

This is the system I used to test the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE

CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K
CPU Cooler: MSI MAG Coreliquid E360 AIO Cooler
RAM: 32GB Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5-6000
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
SSD: Samsung 990 Pro 4TB NVMe M.2 SSD
Power Supply: Thermaltake PF3 1050W ATX 3.0
Case: Praxis Wetbench

I spent about a week testing the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE, including extensive benchmarking as well as general use of the card in my primary work PC.

I also made sure to benchmark other competing graphics cards in the same class with updated drivers to ensure correct comparable data, where necessary.

I've been reviewing computer hardware for years, and I have tested and retested all of the best graphics cards of the past two generations, so I know very well how a graphics card in a given class ought to perform.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2024

Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC review: a flashy makeover for those who want that RGB
5:00 pm | February 25, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC: Two-minute review

Following years of anticipation, Intel jumped into the GPU market dominated by AMD and NVIDIA with some respectable results last year. 

Both the Intel Arc A750 to the Intel Arc A770 showed real promise and managed to undercut the best graphics cards both chipmakers had to offer despite, at least on price if not necessarily matching performance benchmarks. 

Regardless, the A770's price just kept it from being one of the best cheap graphics cards for those looking for a GPU that could provide good ray-tracing alongside hardware-accelerated AI upscaling. Though it couldn’t match the sheer raw 1440p power of an AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT or Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti, general performance was more than respectable for the $349 launch price. 

With third-party variants of the A770 available, the Acer BiFrost Arc A770 OC might be a more attractive buy, especially now that the Intel Limited Edition cards are no longer being manufactured. There are a few things that lean in its favor including customizable RGB lighting through the Predator BiFrost Utility and overclocking capabilities. 

Sure, the lighting that comes with the BiFrost Arc A770 OC looks more attractive than the original A770, but that’s pretty much the biggest plus when it comes to this GPU over the Intel reference card. Performance power doesn’t increase much even with overclocking, which means that the dual-8-pin connection pulls even more power for no real reason, but you can make adjustments to its power draw if that's an issue. Be sure to make sure Resizable BAR is activated through your motherboard's BIOS settings as well because performance will absolutely tank if you don't. 

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An Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC on a gray deskmat

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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An Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC on a gray deskmat

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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An Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC on a gray deskmat

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

As mentioned previously, the Acer BiFrost Arc A770 OC comes feature-packed with ray-tracing and AI upscaling capabilities. When it comes to ray-tracing, it’s not going to deliver performance that matches AMD let alone Nvidia, but that doesn’t mean that ray-tracing performance wasn’t good. 

When tested with the Dead Space Remake and Cyberpunk 2077, framerates stayed within the 30 fps ball-park. On the other hand, Intel’s XeSS AI upscaling technology is as good as DLSS and AMD FidelityFX in games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023), Forza Horizon 5, and Hi-Fi Rush. Though 1440p performance is generally great, for more fps, brining it down to 1080p delivers better overall results.

There are around 70 games that support XeSS so far with more popular games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Counter Strike 2 missing from the list. During playtesting some games performed horribly including Crysis Remastered and Forza Motorsport (2023) even when dropped down to borderline potato settings. 

An Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC on a gray deskmat

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

As in TechRadar's original A770 review, older games may have performance issues due to driver compatibility, since games developed with DirectX 9 and Direct X 10 were not made with the Arc GPUs in mind, meanwhile, AMD and Nvidia drivers have over a decade of legacy support for these games built-in since earlier versions of the drivers were developed back when those games were first released. That said, DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 performance is much better, and Intel's drivers are being actively improved to support these games.

One thing that surprised me is that the A770 provides pretty decent performance when using Adobe Suite software like Premiere Pro and Photoshop if your project scope is kept reasonable. In the meantime, it’ll be interesting to see Adobe provide official support for the graphics card in the future.

Acer does have a Predator BiFrost Utility that allows users to change RGB lighting within its card, but outside of that, it’s not as useful as Intel’s own Arc Graphics utility driver. Both allow users to have various system overlays alongside overclock power limit, temperature limit, and fan speed. One thing's for sure, even when running at full power, the Acer BiFrost Arc A770 OC wasn’t incredibly loud compared to other power-hungry GPUs available.

An Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC on a gray deskmat

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC: PRICE & AVAILABILITY

  • How much does it cost? US MSRP $399 (about £320 / AU$560)
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC is currently available now in the US, UK, and Australia. Right now, there are ways to get around the $399 MSRP with some stores like Newegg selling the GPU for around $279. With the original A770 going for as high as $429, the BiFrost Arc A770 OC could be considered a better buy. 

For gamers on a more restricted budget looking for the best 1440p graphics card capable of playing many of the best PC games of the past couple of years, the BiFrost Arc A770 is definitely more accessible than comparable Nvidia and AMD graphic cards. Individuals who are working with a higher budget should definitely consider getting the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, which is just $50 more at $449 and provides much better 1440p performance. 

An Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC on a gray deskmat

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC: Specs

An Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC on a gray deskmat

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Should you buy the Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC?

Buy the Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC if...

You need for budget level price with nearly mid-tier performance
With solid ray tracing and AI upscaling capabilities, the 1440p performance on the BiFrost A770 OC is commendable.

You require a GPU to match your RGB ready desktop’s flyness
The dual fan design and RGB lighting does look cool compared to the original A770.

Don't buy it if...

You want the best midrange GPU
Due to developer support at the moment, the A770 lags behind AMD and NVIDIA, which means performance won’t be the best for many of the top-tier games.

You want a GPU that uses less power
The Acer BiForst Arc A770 uses a lot of power but the performance doesn’t really reflect that.

Also consider

If my Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC review has you looking for other options, here are two more graphics cards to consider...

How I tested the Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC

  • I spent around two weeks with the Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC
  • I used the Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC for gaming and creative test

Testing with the Acer Predator BiFrost Arc A770 OC happened over a two-week period on a second home computer where I split between gaming and creative tasks. On the gaming side, titles played during testing included Crysis Remastered, Call of Duty Modern Warfare III, Forza Horizon 5, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Dead Space (2023)

Creative usage was split between Premier Pro and Photoshop.  I’ve been testing gaming desktops alongside components for around three years for TechRadar and fully understand how GPUs are supposed to perform compared to similar tech. 

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2024

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S review: Netgear’s first Wi-Fi 7 router provides blistering performance
1:30 am | February 24, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets Servers & Network Devices | Comments: Off

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S: One-minute review

Netgear originally announced the Nighthawk RS700S as its first Wi-Fi 7 router back in March 2023, although it didn’t go on sale in the US until the end of the year. What's more, the Wi-Fi Alliance that oversees the development of Wi-Fi technology didn’t officially launch the new standard until CES 2024 – under the somewhat odd label ‘Wi-Fi Certified 7’ (also known as IEEE 802.11be, for the more technically inclined). 

So, what we have with the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S is some bleeding-edge tech that makes it a shoe-in for a spot on our best WiFi router page, though not without caveats.

Unsurprisingly, the state-of-the-art RS700S is seriously expensive, with a single unit costing $699.99 in the US, and a whopping £799.99 in the UK (not to mention the additional subscriptions that Netgear tries to sell you as well). 

To be fair, Wi-Fi 7 does blow away previous generations of Wi-Fi, with the tri-band RS700S boasting a top speed of 19Gbs using the 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz, and 6.0GHz bands. Netgear also claims that it has the ability to reliably connect to 200 devices all at once, though I don't have nearly that many devices to attempt to test such a claim. 

Of course, all of this is probably overkill for most of us – especially since there aren’t many computers or mobile devices that even support Wi-Fi 7 yet - but the RS700S certainly gives us a fascinating glimpse into a future where 8K video and VR headsets and gaming are the norm. 

And, of course, Wi-Fi 7 is still backwards-compatible with older computers and mobile devices, so it will still work with your existing devices as well, but if you don't have the kind of hardware that can take advantage of the new tech, you're better off waiting until you do.

A Netgear Nighthawk RS700S on a table

(Image credit: Future)

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S: Price & availability

  • How much does it cost? $699.99/£799.99/AU$1499.00
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where is it available? Available in the US, UK and Australia

There are very few Wi-Fi 7 routers currently available, so the RS700S doesn’t have many comparable rivals at any price. However, top-of-the-range Wi-Fi 6E routers such as the Asus Rapture GT-AXE11000, which runs at a still impressive 11Gbps, come in at around $400/£450/$700, so you’re paying quite a premium for the extra performance of Wi-Fi 7. It’s early days, though, so hopefully prices will begin to fall as rival manufacturers start to release their own Wi-Fi 7 routers and mesh systems throughout 2024.

A Netgear Nighthawk RS700S on a table

(Image credit: Future)

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S: Specs

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S: Design

The tall, upright design and blinking lights of the RS700S are certainly eye-catching, and a departure from the winged ‘Cylon battle-cruiser’ designs of previous Nighthawk routers. 

Standing a lofty 282mm high, the slimline black pillar looks more like the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey, with a series of LEDs on the front panel that provide information about both wired and wireless connections. 

Netgear also claims that this upright design helps the RS700S and its eight internal antennae to more effectively transmit a Wi-Fi signal through a full 360 degrees, giving it a reach of 3,500 sq. ft (quoted as 3,000 sq. ft in some countries due to differences in national regulations).

You also get some idea of the power of the RS700S when you spot the large cooling vents on both the top and bottom panels, and a glimpse at the spec sheet reveals that the router is driven by a powerful quad-core processor running at 2.6GHz, backed up by 2GB of memory and 512MB of internal storage. 

The size of the router also leaves plenty of room for additional connectivity features, including no less than six Ethernet ports on the back panel and a USB-A port for connecting a network hard drive.

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The mobile app interface for the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S

(Image credit: Future)
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The mobile app interface for the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S

(Image credit: Future)
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The mobile app interface for the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S

(Image credit: Future)
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The web interface for the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S

(Image credit: Future)

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S: Features

The ample ports give you an indication of the performance offered by the RS700S, as they include one 10 Gigabit Ethernet port for your Internet connection (via your existing broadband router or modem), along with a second 10 Gigabit port to provide a high-speed wired connection for a laptop, gaming console or other device that requires the fastest possible connection. 

There are also four Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections as well, with the ability to combine two ports (known as ‘link aggregation’) to provide a 2 Gigabit wired connection. 

Just as important, though, are the features provided by the Nighthawk app. It gets the basics right, walking you through the initial set-up process quickly and easily. 

To keep things simple for first-time users, the app has a Smart Connect feature that automatically connects your computers and mobile devices to the frequency band that provides the best performance in that particular room or location. 

However, you can turn this off and create separate networks for each frequency if you prefer, and also set different passwords for each network. And, for more experienced users, there’s also a web browser interface that provides more in-depth control over your network settings.

It's worth mentioning that the RS700S also includes a 12-month subscription to Netgear’s Armor security service, which can protect your network and devices from online threats such as malware and phishing websites. But, after 12 months, you’ll need to pay $99.99 per year to continue with the service. 

The RS700S also seems to be something of a work in progress, as there’s one important new feature in Wi-Fi 7, called ‘multi-link operation’ that allows devices that support Wi-Fi 7 to connect to all three frequency bands at once (rather than a single band, as is the case with previous versions of Wi-Fi). 

Netgear says that this feature will require a software update that is due in Q1 of 2024, so if you’re keen to see the full potential of Wi-Fi 7 it might be worth watching the Netgear website for updates.

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S: Performance

Benchmark results

Ookla Speed Test - 2.4GHz (download/upload)
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 123Mbps/80Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 78Mbps/45Mbps
Ookla Speed Test - 5.0GHz (download/upload)
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps/150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps/150Mbps
Ookla Speed Test - 6.0GHz (download/upload)
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps/150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps/150Mbps
20GB Steam Download - 2.4GHz
Within 5ft, no obstructions:  150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 70Mbps
20GB Steam Download - 5.0GHz
Within 5ft, no obstructions:  150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps
20GB Steam Download - 6.0GHz
Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbp

Even so, the RS700S still provides more than enough speed for most home and office networks. 

Even on the slower 2.4GHz band it outperforms the sluggish 85Mbps of our office router, hitting 123Mbps on the Ookla speed test for devices that are in the same room as the router. 

And, as I switch to the 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands, I feel as though the router is giving me the side-eye as both bands breeze along to the full 150Mbps provided by our office broadband. 

Longer, sustained downloads on Steam give the router more time to ramp up to speed and all three bands hit 150Mbps with no effort at all. Moving further away, to a back office separated by some partition walls, the Ookla test slows a little to 78Mbps when using the 2.4GHz band, while Steam downloads dip to 70Mbps. 

Even so, that’s still almost twice as fast as the 40Mbps that our normal router provides for both tests. And, needless to say, the 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands don’t have any trouble as I wander along the corridor to that back office, with both the Ookla and Steam tests maintaining a smooth and steady 150Mbps throughout. 

A Netgear Nighthawk RS700S on a table

(Image credit: Future)

Should You Buy The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S?

 Buy the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

  • First reviewed February 2024
Patriot Viper VP4300 review: a long-lasting SSD workhorse for PC and PS5
1:08 am | February 23, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets Storage & Backup | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Patriot Viper VP4300: Two-minute review

With Sony’s PlayStation 5 offering support for a handful of SSD drive types, PC and console gamers alike have more choices when it comes to expandable storage and the Patriot Viper VP4300 comes with a lot to recommend it. 

The Viper VP4300 SSD utilizes PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe technology and includes a DDR4 DRAM cache. It offers two heat shield design options: an aluminum heat shield & graphene heatshield, both available on the 1TB and 2TB variants. Patriot promises sequential read speeds up to 7,400MB/s and sequential write speeds up to 6,800MB/s, and this is born out in my testing. 

The 2TB SKU we got in for review has a US MSRP of $189.99 (about £155/AU$270), which isn't cheap, but few, if any, of the best SSD models that offer this kind of performance will be any cheaper right now. The 1TB SKU comes in much cheaper at $119.99 (about £100/AU$168), so if you're on something of a budget, you do have some options here.

Plus, there’s so much to appreciate with the Viper VP4300 SSD that it's easily the best M.2 SSD for gamers who might want to use it in their PC or PS5, making it a worthwhile investment. 

Whatever gaming machine you're buying it for, it'll work, and the graphene heatshield will help keep things cool inside your PS5 while the aluminum heatshield will do the same in your PC.

When it comes to PC Gaming, the SSD drive’s performance is respectable though there were some weak spots, like its lower PassMark Disk benchmark score. Its CrystalDiskMark 8 scores were excellent and in line with the promised speed and expectations for a drive such as this. 

This means that it’s speedy when it comes to tasks like installations or copying, saving, and transferring files, and my lived experience with it indicates that some anomalous scores we got during benchmarking were indeed outliers (but not all).  

A Patriot Viper VP4300 on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

However, PC gamers should know that there are definitely faster SSD choices out there, especially if you have a PCIe 5.0-capable system. 

VR games, for example, are notorious for long load times on PC and so the observed lower read speed on the Viper VP4300 could impact wait times with these kinds of cases. Even playing more visually low-impactful games like SuperHot VR and Cooking Simulator VR took nearly a full minute to get from SteamVR launching to the main menu screen. 

More traditional non-VR games were affected by lower reading times as well. Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 took a bit longer than usual to load from start up to main menu but weren’t annoyingly slow. Even the initial load from the main menu to the most recent checkpoint took a little bit more time. 

On the other hand, the Viper VP4300 may be great for gamers who are also creatives since export times to the drive in Adobe Premiere Pro were very zippy.

A Patriot Viper VP4300 in a motherboard

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

One huge positive in the Viper VP4300's column is its 2000TBW endurance rating, in addition to its standard five-year warranty. This means that theoretically, PC gamers who blow through their 2TB SSD drive storage can get a bigger storage replacement and use the Viper VP4300 on their PS5. Adding to those longer-lasting capabilities are the two heatsink options. 

Benchmarks

Here's how the Patriot Viper VP4300 performed in our benchmark tests:
CrystalDiskMark Sequential: 7,389 read / 6,799 write
CrystalDiskMark Random Q32: 4,459 read / 3,805 write
Second 25GB file copy: 16 seconds
25GB file transferrate : 1,677 MB/s
PCMark10 SSD Overall: 2,660
PCMark10 SSD Memory Bandwidth: 323.93 MB/s

Our review unit came with the aluminum and graphene heat shields, though these definitely aren't hot-swappable. During testing, the Viper VP4300 got as hot as 57 degrees C when gaming but poked out a bit.

The other graphene headshield does look a bit better and leaves a smaller profile, especially useful for devices like laptops or the PS5. More so than gaming performance, it’s clear that the Patriot Viper VP4300's real niche is in its endurance.

While its read speeds don't top the charts, the Viper VP4300’s respectable performance, especially in write-intensive tasks, and compatibility with PS5 make it a versatile option that any gamer should consider. Additionally, its robust 2000TBW endurance and five-year warranty underscore its longevity, making the Viper VP4300 a valuable investment for gamers and creatives seeking reliable, high-performance storage.

A Patriot Viper VP4300 on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Should you buy the Patriot Viper VP4300?

Buy the Patriot Viper VP4300  if...

You want an SSD compatible with Sony’s PS5
PC gamers and PlayStation 5 owners  in need of additional storage may have a viable option 

You require an SSD that’ll last a while
Having a 2000TBW endurance and five-year warranty means this SSD is going to last a long time. 

Don't buy it if...

You want the absolute best in gaming performance
Again, having lower reading benchmarks means gaming performance for loading may not be up to snuff compared to rival SSDs available around the same price.  

You need an SSD that’s affordable
The 2TB version of the Patriot Viper VP4300 is around $150 which many may find expensive compared to others that offer similar or better performance.  

Patriot Viper VP4300: Also consider

If my Patriot Viper VP4300 review has you looking for other options, here are two more SSDs to consider...

First reviewed January 2024

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super review: second only to the RTX 4090, and finally worth buying
5:00 pm | January 31, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super: two minute review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 wasn't my favorite graphics card - by a long shot - when it was released in late 2022, so in a lot of ways the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super that's just gone on sale has a pretty easy bar to clear, and it does so by delivering better performance than its non-Super sibling at a much lower price.

To be clear, you are mostly getting a price cut on the RTX 4080 with this card, with some extra performance akin to some well-tuned overclocking. In a different universe, this card could have been released in 2022 and pretty much buried the rival AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX out the gate, rather than give Team Red a chance to own the sub-$1000 premium tier essentially all on its own.

However, now that the Nvidia RTX 4080 Super is available for a US MSRP of $999.99 (about £800/AU$1,400), the market as it stands has just had a GPU whale-bellyflop its way into it, and there's only so much you can relitigate the past in a review like this.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

On its merits, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super is essentially the best graphics card you can buy right now, other than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. It provides a roughly 1.4% performance gain (geometric mean) on the Nvidia RTX 4080 with most of that coming in terms of synthetic benchmarks. 

On the other side, it manages to outperform the RX 7900 XTX by about a geometric average of about 7% both in synthetic performance and gaming, across raster and ray-traced workloads, both with graphics upscaling and native resolutions.

It even comes within 18% overall of the RTX 4090, which is a hell of a thing considering it costs about 40% less at MSRP. In short, if you're an enthusiast looking for the best 4K graphics card but you're not a creative professional who needs the kind of power that an RTX 4090 brings to the table, then the RTX 4080 Super is the perfect card for you.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

If you're lucky enough to pick up a Founders Edition of the RTX 4080 Super, you'll get the same gorgeous black finish that we saw on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super, and considering how quickly these cards are probably going to sell out, these might be something of a showpiece for those wanting to flex.

That said, if you're the type of gamer who lives and breathes RGB, then one of Nvidia's AIB partners will likely offer a better card for your build. Expect them to run higher than MSRP, however, which unfortunately negates the key advantage of this card.

There's no doubt that this card is a seriously premium purchase no matter which way you go though, so someone looking for the best cheap graphics card or the best 1440p graphics card to satisfy a midrange price point will still only be window shopping the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super, but at least with the Super, it might not be so out of your reach as it once was.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super: Specs & features

While you are getting more from the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super in terms of specs — including more compute units, faster clock speeds, and faster memory — the TGP of the card is still 320W, so even though you have more of everything, you everything ends up just a bit underpowered as a result, leading to a card that is slightly faster in terms of performance, but not by much.

You would need about 336W to power all of the added hardware in the RTX 4080 Super to the same extent that the base RTX 4080's hardware was, so if you have an overclocking target, you know where you need to be. Thankfully, Nvidia does let you overclock its cards, so you do have some headroom if you want to squeeze the most out of those extra shaders.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super: Price & availability

  • How much is it? US MSRP listed at $999.99 (about £800, AU$1,400)
  • When is it out? It was released on January 31, 2024
  • Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super is available in the US, UK, and Australia (among other markets) from January 31, 2024, with a US MSRP of $999.99 (about £800 / AU$1,400).

This puts it directly against the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX in terms of price, and effectively takes the lead as the best value among the top-tier premium cards. It's also about 17% cheaper than the RTX 4080 it effectively replaces. 

Considering that the original launch price of the RTX 4080 essentially knocked 1.5 stars off its final score from me, that $200 price difference really is that big a deal at this stage since it puts enough room between it and the $1,600 price point of the RTX 4090 to make the RTX 4080 worth buying.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super: Performance

In terms of performance, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super offers the best bang for your buck of any of the top-tier premium cards, rivaling the performance of even the RTX 4090.

Of course, this was true of the base RTX 4080, but where the RTX 4080 Super really delivers is bringing this level of performance below the $1,000 price point that separates the enthusiast segment from the creative professional class who have company money to throw around.

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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Synthetic benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)

On synthetic performance, the RTX 4080 Super is second only to the RTX 4090 overall, and where it falters against the RX 7900 XTX is mostly when dealing with 3DMark Fire Strike and Time Spy workloads (both regular as well as Extreme and Ultra versions), but as expected, whenever ray tracing is involved, the RTX 4080 Super shines. 

The RTX 4080 Super also outperforms the RX 7900 XTX when it comes to raw compute performance, so machine learning workloads will run much better on the RTX 4080 Super than the RX 7900 XTX.

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Creative benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Creative benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Creative benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Creative benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Creative benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Creative benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)

In terms of creative performance, the RTX 4080 Super walks away the winner against the RX 7900 XTX, even if you don't factor in the fact that Blender Benchmark 4.0.0 workloads wouldn't even run on the RX 7900 XTX (though the RX 7900 XT was able to run them, just not nearly as well).

The RTX 4090 is still the card you'll want for creative workloads, 100%. But if money is a bit tighter than it used to be now that interest rates are non-zero and money means something again to VCs, the RTX 4080 Super is a good compromise.

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Gaming benchmark results for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)

The gaming performance of the Nvidia RTX 4080 Super is likewise second only to the Nvidia RTX 4090, with strong native 4K ray tracing performance before you even factor in DLSS, which — thanks to Frame Generation and Nvidia Reflex — drives frame rates up even further on games that support it. 

While barely a blip higher than the RTX 4080 non-Super in gaming performance (about 0.4% better overall), it is about 7% better than the RX 7900 XTX, which retails for the same price currently.

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Final performance figures for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Final performance figures for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Final performance figures for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Final performance figures for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)
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Final performance figures for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Final performance figures for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Final performance figures for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Final performance figures for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

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Final performance figures for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / InfoGram)

With an average (geomean) frame rate of about 80 fps at 4K compared to the RTX 4090's 87 fps average, the RTX 4080 Super all but eliminates any real need to splurge on the RTX 4090 if you're just looking to game. 

The RTX 4090 might be the best graphics card for creatives or machine learning scientists out there, but for gamers, you are much better off with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super, since that extra $600 can buy you a whole lot of other components like the best SSD or best processor for gaming, something even the PC gaming enthusiasts out there can appreciate.

A masculine hand holding the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Should you buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super?

Buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

How I tested the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super

I spent about a week and a half with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super all together, with much of that time spent benchmarking the card on our test bench.

I did use the card as my primary workstation GPU for content creation, and in addition to my standard battery of benchmark tests, I also used the card for high-end 4K gaming on titles like Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.

I've been reviewing computer hardware for years now, and having extensively tested and retested every major graphics card release of the last two generations, with nearly two dozen graphics card reviews completed in the last 18 months, I know how a card like this is supposed to perform given its price and target audience, so I'm well-equipped to give you the buying advice you need to help you make the right decision with your money.

First reviewed in January 2024

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT review: decent enough, but not as good a value as it should be
6:55 pm | January 24, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT: two minute review

Well, not everything can be fixed by giving it an extra 8GB VRAM.

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is Team Red's latest play at the lower midrange graphics card market, and for what it is, it's a decent enough graphics card, offering great 1080p performance with some very solid 1440p performance to boot. 

It offers substantially better ray tracing performance than the AMD Radeon RX 7600, making one of the best 1080p graphics cards on the market right now, but the card unfortunately doesn't live in a vacuum. 

With a US MSRP of $329.99 (about £265/AU$420) and with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 offering better performance overall for about $30 less, the RX 7600 XT becomes a lot harder to recommend, which is frustrating since this market segment is much more price sensitive than the midrange and premium tiers are.

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An AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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An AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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An AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

There's no reference card model from AMD, so as with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, you're limited to whatever AIB partners like XFX and ASRock produce. This means that the design of the cards are going vary considerably, as will their prices and clock speeds.

Essentially, what you're getting with the RX 7600 XT is an overclocked RX 7600 with an extra 8GB VRAM. It's specs are otherwise pretty much identical, which goes a long way to explaining the level of performance you're getting with this card.

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)

In terms of synthetic performance, the RX 7600 XT comes in about 2% better than the RX 7600, and about 2% worse than the RTX 4060, with the expected difference between stronger rasterization performance for the RX 7600 XT and better ray tracing for the RTX 4060 holding true here.

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)

For gaming, the RX 7600 XT is pretty great for a 1080p card, as was the RX 7600 before it, and the extra VRAM does help it get some extra 1440p performance, especially when it comes to minimum frame rates which help determine a game's stability. Its ray tracing performance is also generally improved over the RX 7600 as well.

Compared to the RTX 4060, however, it comes in about 5% behind overall, which is where we were really hoping to see the RX 7600 XT differentiate itself thanks to the extra VRAM.

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

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Benchmark results for the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)

In 1440p gaming performance, the extra VRAM does give the RX 7600 XT about 10% better performance on average compared to the RX 7600, and it ekes out a win against the RTX 4060 in non-ray-traced gaming performance at 1440p, but it gets about 25% lower ray-traced 1440p performance than the RTX 4060.

Given the price difference here, the RTX 4060 is simply the better value for both 1080p and 1440p gaming, despite having 8GB less VRAM.

In the end, the memory bandwidth, constrained by a 128-bit memory bus, is simply too small for the larger frame buffer to really make a substantial enough impact. For that, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT becomes harder to recommend than it should be.

An AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT: Price & availability

  • How much is it? US MSRP listed at $329.99 (about £265/AU$420)
  • When is it out? It is available January 24, 2024
  • Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia

You can get the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT starting on January 24, 2024 with an AMD MSRP of $329.99 in the US, which converts to about £265 in the UK and AU$420 in Australia.

Since there's no reference model for this card, you'll also likely find this GPU selling for higher once all the added bells and whistles like RGB lighting and such are factored in.

This is easily the biggest disadvantage of this card, considering that the Nvidia RTX 4060 is $30/£24/AU$36 cheaper, and the RX 7600 is even cheaper than that at $269.99 (about £215/AU$380). Still, for some who want to make sure that their gaming PC is setup for the future with the extra VRAM, the extra investment might be worth it.

An AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT on a table

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Should you buy the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT?

Buy the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

How I tested the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT

I spent about a week with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, putting it through a full battery of benchmarks and general performance testing, including playing some of the best PC games on the market on the highest settings available at 1080p.

I've been reviewing PC hardware for several years now, and I have extensively tested and retested every major graphics card release of the past two generations of graphics cards, so I am intimately familiar with their varying degrees of performance. As such, I know how well a card needs to perform for a given price, relative to the market, and given my lifelong passion for PC gaming, I also know what the intended audience for a graphics card is going to demand, and whether the cards I review meet these exacting standards.

First reviewed in January 2024

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super review: the true RTX 4080, overshadowed by the looming RTX 4080 Super
5:00 pm | January 23, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets | Tags: , , , , | Comments: Off

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super: two minute review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super is a difficult card to rate, despite it being without a doubt one of the best graphics card releases of this generation.

For a US MSRP of $799.99, you're essentially getting a pared-down Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, including 16GB GDDR6X VRAM, a wider 256-bit memory bus so you can actually play the best PC games at 4K (with tweaks), with noticeably less power draw. On the flipside, you're also getting a card that is only marginally better than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, despite its seriously upgraded specs.

As far as the design goes, unfortunately, there is no Founders Edition for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super, so you don't get the sleek-as-hell all-black metallic finish of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super. Instead, you'll have about a half-dozen or so board partners like Asus, MSI, and others making these GPUs. Which card you get will determine a lot from overclock settings to cooling and RGB lighting effects.

The Asus Tuf Gaming model I reviewed is identical to the Asus Tuf Gaming RTX 4070 Ti I reviewed, and it's a massive chonky card for what it's worth. Given the power requirements and the need to dissipate a lot of heat, you can fully expect that whatever RTX 4070 Ti Super card you pick up, it's going to be a triple-slot monster.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super sitting on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

In terms of performance, there's no getting around the fact that this is essentially the Nvidia RTX 4080 we should have gotten a year ago (it's built off the RTX 4080's AD103 GPU, rather than the RTX 4070 Ti's AD104), and for that, it is one of the best 4K graphics card models to hit the market this year. It's gaming performance is superb pretty much across the board, with the only area it struggles to be playable is where every other graphics card struggles other than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, and that's native ray tracing at 4K.

Even there, however, this card manages to average about 32fps (though its average minimum/1% fps dips below the 24fps that registers as fluid motion, so yeah, it can sometimes be a bit of a slideshow). 

Unfortunately, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is also right there further complicating the picture for this card. Outside of creative workloads that rely on CUDA (like Blender or V-Ray), the RX 7900 XT goes toe-to-toe with the RTX 4070 Ti Super in terms of gaming performance, though the RTX 4070 Ti Super will generally handle ray tracing better.

Surprisingly though, AMD's FSR seems to be at the point where it is battling Nvidia DLSS to a draw by and large, with the only real difference being whether you have ray tracing turned up to its highest setting or not. Given the recent price cut for the RX 7900 XT down to $749.99 in the US, anyone looking at the RTX 4070 Ti Super will have to ask themselves some hard questions.

This is especially true given the big looming release set to drop at the end of January, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super. Though 25% more expensive at MSRP than the RTX 4070 Ti Super, given the high cost of entry for this card, it suffers from a similar problem as the original RTX 4080 had; it's too close in price to a clearly better card, and so ultimately, you'll almost certainly be better off buying the RTX 4080 Super in a week's time. Which is a shame, because the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super is a fantastic card that really should have hit the scene a whole lot sooner than it is.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super sitting on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super: Price & availability

  • How much is it? MSRP listed at $799.99 (about £640, AU$1,120)
  • When is it out? It was released on January 24, 2024
  • Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super goes on sale January 24, 2024 for a listed MSRP of $799.99 in the US, which is about £640 in the UK and AU$1,120 in Australia.

This is the same MSRP as the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti is replaces, which is definitely a positive given the generally terrible pricing of Nvidia best graphics cards this generation.

As stated above though, AMD isn't sitting on its laurels, and it's dropped the price of its competing RX 7900 XT graphics card to counter this release. And, given, their relative levels of performance, it's a smart move as it makes the RX 7900 XT a better value as a result, at least enough to be competitive in the absence of any RX 7050 XT-series releases thus far.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super sitting on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super: Specs & features

  • 16GB VRAM
  • Wider memory bus
  • Slightly faster clock speed

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super sitting on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super: Performance

  • Marginally better than RTX 4070 Ti
  • Loses to RX 7900 XT in gaming performance
  • Extra VRAM makes 4K gaming much smoother

Where it counts, the RTX 4070 Ti Super is a fantastic graphics card for work and play, though it's definitely more of a refresh of the RTX 4070 Ti, which is unfortunate since it really should have shown better performance given its specs.

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Benchmark results for the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

In terms of synthetic performance, the RTX 4070 Ti Super averages about 4.5% better performance than the RTX 4070 Ti, and about 13% slower performance than the RTX 4080, which more or less matching the RX 7900 XT. On this latter point, much like other AMD vs Nvidia comparisons, in pure rasterization, AMD comes out on top with Nvidia winning out in ray tracing workloads.

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Creative benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Creative benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Creative benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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Creative benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)

For creative performance, the RTX 4070 Ti Super greatly outperforms the RX 7900 XT, but falls well short of where the RTX 4080 lands. If you're looking for the best creative graphics card, then, the RTX 4080 Super is definitely going to be one to look out for considering it's only going to retail for $200 more and should be much more powerful.

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1080p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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In gaming performance, no card really comes close to the RTX 4080, but the RTX 4070 Ti Super more or less ties the RTX 4070 Ti and the RX 7900 XT.

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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1440p gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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In 1440p gaming performance, the additional 4GB VRAM in the RX 7900 XT starts to become a factor to the RTX 4070 Ti's detriment, but overall, the RTX 4070 Ti Super comes up about 3.5% behind the RX 7900 XT, and roughly tied with the RTX 4070 Ti.

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

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4K gaming benchmarks for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)

At 4K, the additional 4GB VRAM in the RTX 4070 Ti Super vs the RTX 4070 Ti starts to really have an impact, giving the RTX 4070 Ti Super about 6.5% better performance on average but a nealy 10% higher fps floor at 4K than the RTX 4070 Ti. 

The RTX 4070 Ti Super also runs about even with the RX 7900 XT as well.

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Final benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Final benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Final benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Final benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Final benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Final benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Final benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Final benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)
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Final benchmark results for the RTX 4070 Ti Super

(Image credit: Future / Infogram)

Wrapping things up, a couple of other points I definitely want to hit on, namely that the biggest thing holding this card back in a lot of ways is its TGP. With the same TGP as the RTX 4070 Ti, you get the sense that this card leaves something on the table in terms of performance given its specs. On the plus side though, it does manage to squeeze some extra performance from the same amount of power, which is a good thing. If you want to try and overclock this card to tap into its full potential, have at it.

It's not going to run particularly hot (unless you overclock the hell out of it) and it's gaming performance is exceptional, even into 4K, where you can expect to average about 70 fps at 4K when not using ray tracing, or you can turn ray tracing on and flip DLSS to balanced or performance for the same amount of frames or better.

It's ultimate value proposition isn't as good as the RX 7900 XT's, but it's better than the RTX 4070 Ti's, and since AIBs are likely to be switching themselves over to the Super rather than keep putting out non-Super RTX 4070 Ti's, this card is effectively giving you something extra for no additional cost.

The ultimate value tell though will be how the Nvidia RTX 4080 Super performs, and it's unfortunately the case that the success of this card depends very much on how well Nvidia's last major graphics card of this generation is received.

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super sitting on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Should you buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super

Buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

How I tested the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super

Test system specs

This is the system we used to test the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super:

CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K
CPU Cooler: MSI MAG Coreliquid E360 AIO Cooler
RAM: 32GB Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5-6000
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
SSD: Samsung 990 Pro 4TB NVMe M.2 SSD
Power Supply: Thermaltake PF3 1050W ATX 3.0
Case: Praxis Wetbench

I spent about a week working with the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super, running our standard battery of tests on it and similar cards in its price category.

I ran it through a number of real world use cases where it will be used, primarily  gaming and content creation. 

I've been reviewing computer hardware, including graphics cards, for years now, and I am intimately familiar with the kind of performance you should expect from a graphics card at this price point. I bring that knowledge to bear on my graphics card reviews and make sure that every graphics card I compare to the card under review is retested using the most up-to-date drivers to get the best relevant data for comparison, even (as in this case) it means I only test the most relevant competing cards to provide the reader with the most important comparative data when they are considering making their next graphics card purchase.

First reviewed in January 2024

I spent about a week working with the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super, including using it as my main work PC graphics card for content creation work. I ran our standard battery of tests on it and its two main competitor cards due to time constraints (you can see my RTX 4070 review for its relative performance versus many more cards, and than consider a roughly 12%-15% better performance over that for the RTX 4070 Super). 

I've been reviewing computer hardware, including graphics cards, for years now, and I am intimately familiar with the kind of performance you should expect from a graphics card at this price point. I bring that knowledge to bear on my graphics card reviews and make sure that every graphics card I compare to the card under review is retested using the most up-to-date drivers to get the best relevant data for comparison, even (as in this case) it means I only test the most relevant competing cards to provide the reader with the most important comparative data when they are considering making their next graphics card purchase.

XPG Core Reactor II 1200W ATX 3.0 80 PLUS Gold review: a midrange powerhouse
11:00 pm | January 19, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Computing Components Gadgets | Tags: | Comments: Off

XPG Core Reactor II 1200W ATX 3.0 80 PLUS Gold: Two-minute review

The XPG Core Reactor II 1200W ATX 3.0 80 Plus Gold PSU is the company's latest compelling mid-range component for builders and follows off its success in the more premium-tier Platinum-certified power supply segment with its Cybercore II series. 

The Core Reactor II series then, which covers the spectrum from 650W units to its highest wattage 1200W PSU, leads this venture, showcasing XPG's ability to strike a crucial balance between performance, quality, and cost. This series is designed for users who want reliable performance without splurging, but also need some higher-tier power to power the best gaming PCs you can build.

Those high-end motherboards, processors, and graphics cards don't come cheap in terms of power draw, and so the Core Reactor II 1200W, an 80 Plus Gold certified unit, stands out for its practical design and consistent performance. It represents XPG's commitment to affordable quality and aims to meet the diverse needs of mid-range computing environments.

In terms of packaging, the Core Reactor II 1200W PSU comes in a robust, visually appealing box, complete with essential accessories like mounting screws, an AC power cable, and decorative stickers. The PSU itself is a blend of aesthetics and functionality, featuring a sleek matte black finish with embossed geometric patterns and a geometric fan cutout. Its 160mm length slightly exceeds conventional ATX size, but it is short enough to ensure compatibility with the best PC cases with ATX compliance.

An XPG Core Reactor II 1200W power supply on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The front of the PSU is minimalist, housing only the on/off switch and AC receptacle, while the rear is thoughtfully designed for easy and accurate cable connections. The unit's modular cable system includes an array of uniformly black cables, with most being neatly sleeved.

Performance-wise, the Core Reactor II 1200W PSU aligns with its 80 Plus Gold certification, demonstrating commendable efficiency and thermal management. The fan operates optimally, maintaining reasonable internal temperatures, even at significant power output and under various testing conditions. 

After running the XPG Core Reactor II in my main workstation at the office under some pretty heavy loads, the fan stayed mostly quiet and the temperature stayed well below its rated operating temperature without issue. This PSU is rated for operation at an ambient temperature of 50°C, a testament to its robustness and reliability, especially in demanding environments.

An XPG Core Reactor II 1200W power supply on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Electrical performance is a highlight, with the primary 12V rail showing impressive regulation and effective voltage filtering. The PSU also passes tests for primary protections like Over Current, Over Voltage, Over Power, and Short Circuit, ensuring reliable performance.

In terms of internals, the Core Reactor II combines a robust build quality with a unique design, incorporating high-grade 105°C Japanese capacitors for enhanced reliability and durability. The PSU excels in power quality, achieving good energy conversion efficiency and maintaining steady efficiency across most load ranges. Its thermal management is effective, with the fan adjusting speed according to the load, ensuring efficient cooling while keeping noise levels minimal.

That said, if you're pushing this unit hard, such as with overclocking or loading up on the add-in cards, it can get a bit loud when load nears 100%, though never so much to be bothersome.

That said, if you're pushing this unit hard, such as with overclocking or loading up on the add-in cards, it can get a bit loud when load nears 100%, though never s much to be bothersome.range should add to their component shortlists.

An XPG Core Reactor II 1200W power supply on a desk

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

XPG Core Reactor II 1200W ATX 3.0 80 PLUS Gold: Price & availability

  • How much does it cost? $204.99 (about £165 / AU$290)
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US. UK and Australia availability is spotty

The XPG Core Reactor II 1200W ATX 3.0 80 PLUS Gold is currently priced at $204.99 in the US and backed by a 10-year warranty, giving the Core Reactor II 1200W PSU a good value for its performance. As far as midrange PSUs go, this one is positioned as an appealing option for those seeking a balance between cost, efficiency, and reliability.

While it might not have a platinum rating, its performance is more than enough for most builders out there who need to run some high-powered components like the best processors and best graphics cards for gaming or content creation, without worrying about running hot at all hours under heavy industrial-grade workloads. 

XPG Core Reactor II 1200W ATX 3.0 80 PLUS Gold: Specs

Should you buy the XPG Core Reactor II 1200W ATX 3.0 80 PLUS Gold?

Buy the XPG Core Reactor II 1200W ATX 3.0 80 PLUS Gold if...

You want a high-powered PSU for a decent price
For the price you're paying, this is one of the highest wattage 80Plus Gold-rated ATX 3.0 power supplies going.

You want a modular PSU
As a modular PSU, cable management is much easier when you only use what you need.

Don't buy it if...

You need something more heavy-duty
While 80Plus Gold-rated is fantastic, if you need something more robust for a heavy-duty workstation, you might want to check out the Cybercore II Platinum-rated PSUs from XPG.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2024

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