ASUS Radeon RX 7900 GRE TUF OC

[W1zzard]

The ASUS Radeon RX 7900 GRE TUF OC comes with a dual BIOS feature and a premium all-metal cooling solution that runs whisper-quiet. The TUF also offers adjustable RGB lighting, and cooling performance that's among the best of all the GRE cards that we've tested.

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[Lew Zealand]

First thing I check on 7900 GRE reviews: does the memory OC still work? Yes, you can unlock the card's real performance potential.

 

[rv8000]

@W1zzard

Why is no support for DLSS listed as a con when AMD literally has no control/ability to support said feature? I get the idea behind a comment about support, but it being a con when it’s closed ecosystem doesn’t make sense/is redundant/is obvious.

 

[kapone32]

@W1zzard

Why is no support for DLSS listed as a con when AMD literally has no control/ability to support said feature? I get the idea behind a comment about support, but it being a con when it’s closed ecosystem doesn’t make sense/is redundant/is obvious.

Every reviewer on TPU was sent a Nvidia card for daily use as a result they miss things like AMD advantage. This also means that they will personally see no DLSS as a negative.

 

[Lew Zealand]

"No support for DLSS" is a reasonable con if you're writing a review to inform all audiences. For a high performance video card like this one it's not a big concern since the point is to run native, but it's something a reader should be reminded of. As someone who plays and tests games a lot on lower end hardware from AMD and Nvidia, DLSS is a very nice feature and I look forward to the day AMD makes improvements to the currently good-but-not-great FSR.

 

[Chrispy_]

Still more expensive than the competition, and this time it's not even the quietest or coolest card.

It's just ASUS tax, all the way.

 

[kapone32]

"No support for DLSS" is a reasonable con if you're writing a review to inform all audiences. For a high performance video card like this one it's not a big concern, but something a reader should be reminded of. As someone who plays and tests games a lot on lower end hardware from AMD and Nvidia, DLSS is a very nice feature and I look forward to the day AMD makes improvements to the currently good-but-not-great FSR.

Well I have a 7900XT and I do not need any upscaling tech to enjoy 4K native. That is the key that many reviews miss. I understand the hook of DLSS (I have a 3060) but it is still not native for me. With the price difference DLSS should be compared to price if it is the main mitigating factor between these cards. The fact that VRR is de facto also means that FPS does not matter as long as you are within the range. So what number the 7900GRE does in 4K vs it's Nvidia alternative is where it should start. 1440P is no longer difficult to achieve for cards of this calibre.

 

[W1zzard]

Every reviewer on TPU was sent a Nvidia card for daily use as a result they miss things like AMD advantage. This also means that they will personally see no DLSS as a negative.

Wait, what? Where's those cards? I think you stole it, also the gold bar that came with it!

No .. in all seriousness .. you're making accusations here that can hurt a lot of people, you and me included.. please don't do that

 

[kapone32]

Wait, what? Where's those cards? I think you stole it, also the gold bar that came with it!

No .. in all seriousness .. you're making accusations here that can hurt a lot of people, you and me included.. please don't do that

No slight against you. It is what it is. I know you guys were happy and I would be too.

 

[W1zzard]

No slight against you. It is what it is. I know you guys were happy and I would be too.

NVIDIA never sent anything to anyone on my team, except for me, because I review their cards

Edit: they sent an LDAT to our mouse reviewer

 

[Super Firm Tofu]

Well I have a 7900XT and I do not need any upscaling tech to enjoy 4K native. That is the key that many reviews miss. I understand the hook of DLSS (I have a 3060) but it is still not native for me. With the price difference DLSS should be compared to price if it is the main mitigating factor between these cards. The fact that VRR is de facto also means that FPS does not matter as long as you are within the range. So what number the 7900GRE does in 4K vs it's Nvidia alternative is where it should start. 1440P is no longer difficult to achieve for cards of this calibre.

You do realize that all of your screenshots that you post of your "Games" (sic) and their FPS show that you're using the AMD HYPR-RX settings, and that means you are using upscaling (FSR) and fluid motion frames to get those framerates, right? Right?

https://www.amd.com/en/products/software/adrenalin/hypr-rx.html#features

 

[kapone32]

You do realize that all of your screenshots that you post of your "Games" (sic) and their FPS show that you're using the AMD HYPR-RX settings, and that means you are using upscaling (FSR) and fluid motion frames to get those framerates, right? Right?

View attachment 343259

https://www.amd.com/en/products/software/adrenalin/hypr-rx.html#features

I do not use that. It shows that as if it can be enabled. I make sure I turn it off. I do not need the extra FPS.

 

[rv8000]

"No support for DLSS" is a reasonable con if you're writing a review to inform all audiences. For a high performance video card like this one it's not a big concern since the point is to run native, but it's something a reader should be reminded of. As someone who plays and tests games a lot on lower end hardware from AMD and Nvidia, DLSS is a very nice feature and I look forward to the day AMD makes improvements to the currently good-but-not-great FSR.

Point being theres no mention of FSR or XeSS in the pro/con summary. Simply “Con: Does not support DLSS”. Which, again, is obvious as its a closed ecosystem/proprietary software solution.

It’s poorly phrased, pitches it as theres just DLSS, and (whether intended or not) promotes a bias. Most informed people understand DLSS is generally the better (scuff)upscaler, but let’s not pretend XeSS and FSR don’t also provide benefits to those who decide to enable it.

 

[Denver]

Every reviewer on TPU was sent a Nvidia card for daily use as a result they miss things like AMD advantage. This also means that they will personally see no DLSS as a negative.

No, that doesn't make sense, and it sounds very strange to expect a product to integrate a rival's closed technology... I'm not even going to get into the argument that upscaling is a joke.

However, the cons should be something like: "Lack of alternative equivalent to DLSS" or "Absence of a comparable alternative to DLSS."

 

[kapone32]

No, that doesn't make sense, and it sounds very strange to expect a product to integrate a rival's closed technology... I'm not even going to get into the argument that upscaling is a joke.

However, the cons should be something like: "Lack of alternative equivalent to DLSS" or "Absence of a comparable alternative to DLSS."

I am not saying it is a joke. It is just that cards like the 7900 series and 4080/4090 do not need that to give the user a compelling experience.

 

[Ruru]

Whoa, I didn't even realize that performance boost what the newer drivers with their higher VRAM OC limit gives. Nice that AMD didn't limit the VRAM overclocking potential forever like they did with 6700 XT.

 

[Macro Device]

Nice that AMD didn't limit the VRAM overclocking potential forever like they did with 6700 XT.

This card (7900 GRE) would've been complete bananas otherwise. With VRAM at 18 GHz, it offers too little extra over the 7800 XT. With VRAM faster than 7800 XT's, it's a decent product, albeit no plug'n'play.

Well I have a 7900XT and I do not need any upscaling tech to enjoy 4K native.

In some games, you need either upscaling or otherwise loosened settings for 4K60 to become real. Cyberpunk 2077 with RT is impossible at 4K60 with no upscaling for example. Nor is Lords of the Fallen possible. Alan Wake 2, Hogwarts Legacy... You name it.

theres no mention of FSR or XeSS in the pro/con summary

FSR is developing so slowly it's safe to assume it being worse than DLSS 2.x for the rest of 2020s. Thus, that's the last resort option. Games at DLSS Performance look better than at FSR Quality, or at least on par with, in 99% cases (4K; didn't test other resolutions).
XeSS is developing nice and smoothly but AMD GPUs don't run it perfectly. Framerate is significantly lower than with FSR. Also DP4a mode isn't particularly eye-candy. Better than FSR in most games though.

So, on one hand, yes, DLSS is not a possibility for a reason; on the other hand, lack thereof massively sucks. And it deserves being listed as a disadvantage. Also a lot of people don't boast long memory spans so they should be reminded of what they already know: AMD have no DLSS.

With the way the gaming industry is currently moving I don't see a scenario when it doesn't matter:
• Cheapest GPUs are doomed to use upscaling even at 1080p. DLSS is the least ugly option so having it onboard is a plus.
• Mediocre GPUs are bearable without upscaling but not for long. At some point, you will have to enable it, or in case you upgrade your monitor.
• Mid-high tier GPUs generally suffer from enabling RT and also aren't that brilliant at 4K. Also suffer at 3440x1440.
• Top tier GPUs are excellent for UW 1440p no upscaling no RT but when you kick RT and/or 4K in, this becomes a necessity in some games. Also upscaling in general looks much better at 4K so it's rather free performance than image quality degradation (yet it's there, I don't deny that).

Having access to DLSS or none thereof is important. If you personally are allergic to upscaling artifacts and image distortion I understand you and I agree upon all upscalers having these issues but DLSS has it the least bad.

________________________________________________

This TUF OC GPU is ginormously huge. What a pity you can't get past 2803 MHz on the core clock. With cooling like this, 3200 MHz must be a possibility.

 

[Denver]

I am not saying it is a joke. It is just that cards like the 7900 series and 4080/4090 do not need that to give the user a compelling experience.

Well, but I say for you; Upscaling is a joke, and a stick in the hands of studios to deliver poorly optimized games to us.

Regardless, the suggested correction to the article maintains its relevance within the context of the review narrative.

 

[kapone32]

This card (7900 GRE) would've been complete bananas otherwise. With VRAM at 18 GHz, it offers too little extra over the 7800 XT. With VRAM faster than 7800 XT's, it's a decent product, albeit no plug'n'play.

In some games, you need either upscaling or otherwise loosened settings for 4K60 to become real. Cyberpunk 2077 with RT is impossible at 4K60 with no upscaling for example. Nor is Lords of the Fallen possible. Alan Wake 2, Hogwarts Legacy... You name it.

FSR is developing so slowly it's safe to assume it being worse than DLSS 2.x for the rest of 2020s. Thus, that's the last resort option. Games at DLSS Performance look better than at FSR Quality, or at least on par with, in 99% cases (4K; didn't test other resolutions).
XeSS is developing nice and smoothly but AMD GPUs don't run it perfectly. Framerate is significantly lower than with FSR. Also DP4a mode isn't particularly eye-candy. Better than FSR in most games though.

So, on one hand, yes, DLSS is not a possibility for a reason; on the other hand, lack thereof massively sucks. And it deserves being listed as a disadvantage. Also a lot of people don't boast long memory spans so they should be reminded of what they already know: AMD have no DLSS.

With the way the gaming industry is currently moving I don't see a scenario when it doesn't matter:
• Cheapest GPUs are doomed to use upscaling even at 1080p. DLSS is the least ugly option so having it onboard is a plus.
• Mediocre GPUs are bearable without upscaling but not for long. At some point, you will have to enable it, or in case you upgrade your monitor.
• Mid-high tier GPUs generally suffer from enabling RT and also aren't that brilliant at 4K. Also suffer at 3440x1440.
• Top tier GPUs are excellent for UW 1440p no upscaling no RT but when you kick RT and/or 4K in, this becomes a necessity in some games. Also upscaling in general looks much better at 4K so it's rather free performance than image quality degradation (yet it's there, I don't deny that).

Having access to DLSS or none thereof is important. If you personally are allergic to upscaling artifacts and image distortion I understand you and I agree upon all upscalers having these issues but DLSS has it the least bad.

________________________________________________

This TUF OC GPU is ginormously huge. What a pity you can't get past 2803 MHz on the core clock. With cooling like this, 3200 MHz must be a possibility.

That is the thing for me. If I don't use RT in CP2077 I get over 150 FPS at 4K. That is it though all of those Console ports you mentioned work fine for me at 4K without any of the issues that people complain about. I would also argue that the percentage of Games that support DLSS vs do not is still very huge and must also be mentioned.

For me get the GPU for the resolution and you are great.

1080P: 4060/6600/6600XT/7600 : $240 to $500 CAD
1440P: 4070/6700XT/7700XT/6800XT : $400-$700 CAD
1440P UW: 4070 TI/6900XT/7900GRE $600-$900 CAD
4K: 4080/4090/7900XT/7900XTX $700-$3000 CAD

If you are willing to pay up to $1000 more for DLSS then price must be taken into account. At the top of the 1080P card, is more expensive than the 6700XT. I know that where I live (Canada) the 6600 is the best selling DGPU on Newegg and has been for over a year.

We now have 4K 240Hz monitors available but they are also very expensive. If money is no object get what you want but in today's climate you can build a 4K capable PC and still have money left over if you get a 7900XTX vs a 4090 alone and then still have to buy the rest of the components. Is DLSS worth that much?

Even if FSR is blurrier it still is at the driver level and usable on all Nvidia GPUs vs DLSS being reserved for version and generation of card. Is DLSS 1 better than FSR 3? Unless you buy a 40 series card you are not getting the best DLSS can offer.

 

[Lew Zealand]

This TUF OC GPU is ginormously huge. What a pity you can't get past 2803 MHz on the core clock. With cooling like this, 3200 MHz must be a possibility.

The clocks on RDNA 3 don't seem to like those speeds unless you have a very light load like simple DX11 games. I think I got Tomb Raider (2013) to 3150 MHz OC on my 7700 XT but then in current games like The Last of Us with identical settings, the clocks are in the 2700-2800 range. So the circumstances where you'll see these very high clocks are the ones where you don't need them as you're already at 200+ FPS at max settings.

 

[Macro Device]

If I don't use RT in CP2077 I get over 150 FPS at 4K.

You can't be serious. 150 FPS at pure 4K is only a possibility if all the settings are at their lowest, and still highly doubted. My 6700 XT only gets 25 to 30 FPS at 4K Medium-High and 7900 XT is not, I repeat, is NOT 5+ times faster. 3 at the very most.

the percentage of Games that support DLSS vs do not is still very huge and must also be mentioned.

Most games that don't support DLSS are lightweight/old and run fine on 300-dollar GPUs at 4K regardless.

Is DLSS worth that much?

Yes. 4090 is faster by itself and DLSS Performance is none worse than FSR Quality in most games. So I'm getting 40 to 90 percent raster performance more. Not to mention how hard AMD GPUs suck at ray tracing.

The clocks on RDNA 3 don't seem to like those speeds unless you have a very light load like simple DX11 games. I think I got Tomb Raider (2013) to 3150 MHz OC on my 7700 XT but then in current games like The Last of Us with identical settings, the clocks are in the 2700-2800 range. So the circumstances where you'll see these very high clocks are the ones where you don't need them as you're already at 200+ FPS at max settings.

It's not power or heat related, is it? I'm pretty sure I've seen 7900 series GPUs reaching 3+ GHz. I might be off with 3200 but 3000 is totally doable with such cooling.

 

[kapone32]

You can't be serious. 150 FPS at pure 4K is only a possibility if all the settings are at their lowest, and still highly doubted. My 6700 XT only gets 25 to 30 FPS at 4K Medium-High and 7900 XT is not, I repeat, is NOT 5+ times faster. 3 at the very most.

Most games that don't support DLSS are lightweight/old and run fine on 300-dollar GPUs at 4K regardless.

Yes. 4090 is faster by itself and DLSS Performance is none worse than FSR Quality in most games. So I'm getting 40 to 90 percent raster performance more. Not to mention how hard AMD GPUs suck at ray tracing.

That is the problem. People use Ultra settings to get benchmark numbers I turn off Vsync and leave everything at high. It is not my problem if you don't believe me. You do not need low. The 6700XT and 7900XT are 2 different classes of GPUs. Just think that a 7900XT is about 40% faster than a 6800XT at 4K. The 6700XT is not a 4K card.

Saying that most Games that don't support DLSS are lightweight has not seen BG3 or Rogue Trader. I also play TWWH3 but I guess those are lightweight Games.

If you think a 4090 is 40 to 90% faster than a 7900XTX in raster at 4K you are welcome to believe that.

 

[Macro Device]

and leave everything at high.

Then the absolute maximum you can get is 100 FPS. Not 150+.

The 6700XT and 7900XT are 2 different classes of GPUs

BREAKING NEWS! What I'm trying to tell you is that your information is fake since I tested 6700 XT and 7900 XTX first hand and I've never seen the latter getting more than 450 percent performance of the former. You're trying to sell me the story of 7900 XT getting 800+ percent the 6700 XT's performance. Which is only possible in alternate realities.

has not seen BG3

It's CPU limited if you put anything more impressive than a 2080 Ti at 4K so I'd call it pretty much lightweight, GPU speaking.

Rogue Trader

Doesn't ring a bell. Still, you can't get me more than 10 examples of DLSS-devoided games that can't run 4K60 on GPUs cheaper than $400 USD.

If you think a 4090 is 40 to 90% faster than a 7900XTX in raster at 4K you are welcome to believe that.

Try to actually read what's written. Raw performance is maybe 20 to 30 percent higher. However, at DLSS Performance numbers are another 30 to 40 percent higher over the FSR Quality. This adds up to 40 to 90 percent advantage on the 4090's side. Not to mention that DLSS even at Performance is usually looking better.

 

[Lew Zealand]

It's not power or heat related, is it? I'm pretty sure I've seen 7900 series GPUs reaching 3+ GHz. I might be off with 3200 but 3000 is totally doable with such cooling.

I've been testing a lot of different GPUs lately, I could be remembering wrong. I'll fire it up and check.

 

[kapone32]

Then the absolute maximum you can get is 100 FPS. Not 150+.

BREAKING NEWS! What I'm trying to tell you is that your information is fake since I tested 6700 XT and 7900 XTX first hand and I've never seen the latter getting more than 450 percent performance of the former. You're trying to sell me the story of 7900 XT getting 800+ percent the 6700 XT's performance. Which is only possible in alternate realities.

It does not matter to me if you don't believe me. If TPU was different I would record a video of 5 to 10 minutes of Gameplay.

It's CPU limited if you put anything more impressive than a 2080 Ti at 4K so I'd call it pretty much lightweight, GPU speaking.

That is why you take advantage of the CPU wars and get a modern CPU that can push those frames.

Doesn't ring a bell. Still, you can't get me more than 10 examples of DLSS-devoided games that can't run 4K60 on GPUs cheaper than $400 USD.

In my 860+ GOG Galaxy cluster I am sure I can find some maybe Everspace 2, Redout 2, and so on but I have a 144hz monitor and that is what I aim for. If I wanted 4K 60 I would have kept my 6800XT for Gaming.

Try to actually read what's written. Raw performance is maybe 20 to 30 percent higher. However, at DLSS Performance numbers are another 30 to 40 percent higher over the FSR Quality. This adds up to 40 to 90 percent advantage on the 4090's side. Not to mention that DLSS even at Performance is usually looking better.

Exactly and do you know what that means at 4K? If you are going into it looking for DLSS then there is no argument from me. All I am saying is the 7900 cards are fine for 4K high in just about every Game. Just so you understand it. I have made many posts about how the complaints about PS5 and Xbox1 Console ports to PC don't seem to affect me. I have even bought Games to confirm my theory. You see if those Games are programmed on AM4 and RDNA2, any combination that is faster than that will give you butter smooth performance if you are using the same thing. It gets even worse because AMD Advantage has been transitioned to the desktop