I'm considering selling my 7800 XT for $525 and then picking up a 9060 XT for around $360 (tax included). I know some might see this as a downgrade, but I've heard the new AMD cards use better thermal solutions like thermal paste. I'm primarily focused on raster performance, and I don't care too much about ray tracing. I also plan to utilize frame generation and FSR upscaling for better FPS. I mainly game at 1440p but am thinking of getting a 1080p monitor as a secondary display to make this swap feel more future-proof, especially for demanding AAA titles. Given that I found a good deal on the 9060 XT, should I go for this switch?
3 Answers
This switch does seem like a significant drop in performance. The 7800 XT generally outperforms the 9060 XT, especially in rasterization. It might be worth holding onto the 7800 XT unless you're really in need of the new cooling setup.
Honestly, unless the cooling interface is a major concern for you, I'd suggest sticking with the 7800 XT. You should really get it repasted instead if that's the big issue. The 7800 XT is just a better card overall, especially for gaming at 1440p.
If you're not into ray tracing, then yeah, switching to the 9060 XT can be seen as a downgrade—about 20% less performance compared to the 7800 XT. Given your gaming preferences, it might be better to look for something like a 9070 XT instead, though it will cost a bit more. However, if you're stuck on the price you found for the 9060 XT, just be ready to experience some performance drops.
And make sure you really need that cooling upgrade—if the 7800 XT is running cool enough for you now, it's probably worth keeping.
Yeah, the 9070 XT does seem a bit overpriced. I agree it should be around $500, given how little AMD supports older models.