I'm building in a Fractal Design Terra mini-ITX case. A PowerColor RX 9060 XT 16GB is currently almost the same price as an RX 9070 12GB, and there's also a 9070 GRE option. Is there any reason to choose the 9060 XT besides its smaller size? Would its reduced dimensions noticeably improve airflow or thermals in the Terra, or would the faster 9070 be the better long-term choice?
2 Answers
At the same price, the RX 9070-class card is the better buy. The performance difference is large enough that even undervolting the 9070 to reduce heat and power use should still leave it ahead of the 9060 XT. The extra 16GB of VRAM on the 9060 XT is useful, but probably not enough to outweigh the faster GPU at this price point.
The regular RX 9070 is still reasonably efficient, so it shouldn’t automatically cause thermal problems in the Terra. The case’s side panel provides the GPU with fairly direct access to outside air, which helps. Just verify the exact card’s length, thickness, and cooler clearance before buying, since those dimensions matter more than the GPU name in a compact build.
I’m leaning toward the 9070 GRE or regular 9070 now. I’m thinking the standard 9070 may stay useful for more years, even if it costs a bit more.