RTX 3090 Ti Vs RX 7900 XT: 7 Games Tested

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Abde Manaf

At Tech4Gamers, I began as a comparison writer, analyzing GPU and CPU performance. Now, I focus on writing reviews and contributing to the best-ofs section, sharing personal insights after hands-on testing.

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Pros & Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Frequencies: The RTX 3090 Ti has a base clock of 1560MHz and a boost clock of 1860MHz. On the other hand,  the RX 7900 XT comes with a base clock of 1500MHz that can boost up to 2394MHz. This gives the RX 7900 XT a slight edge in terms of clock speeds.
2. Process Node: The RX 7900 XT is quite a bit newer than the RTX 3090 Ti, which leads to it using a more modern 5nm manufacturing process, whereas the RTX 3090 Ti uses an 8nm fabrication process. This can potentially lead to more efficient and powerful performance from the RX 7900 XT.
3. TDP: The RX 7900 XT also has a lower TDP (thermal design power) than the RTX 3090 Ti. The RX 7900 XT has a TDP of 275W compared to the RTX 3090 Ti’s TDP of 350W. This means that the RX 7900 XT may run cooler and consume less energy than the RTX 3090 Ti.
4. VRAM: Both of these cards boast large VRAM amounts, though the RTX 3090 Ti beats out its rival with 24GB of video memory, whereas the RX 7900 XT fits 20GB into its architecture. For those who need the extra VRAM for intense 4K gaming or rendering, the RTX 3090 Ti may be the better choice.
5. Ray Tracing Features: One area where the RTX 3090 Ti shines is its support for real-time ray tracing technology. This advanced feature allows for more realistic lighting and shadows in games. While the RX 7900 XT does have ray tracing capabilities, it may not be as powerful as the RTX 3090 Ti’s dedicated hardware for this function.

AMD outclassed the previous fastest GPU on the planet with their newer RX 7900 XTX when released in December of 2022, but what GPU performs equally to the mighty RTX 3090 Ti? Our RTX 3090 Ti vs RX 7900 XT comparison will answer whether AMD’s second-best GPU can hold up with the once-fastest GPU on the planet.

RTX 3090 Ti Vs RX 7900 XT: Benchmarks At 4K

Architectural differences aside, there is a lot that goes into making a graphics card perform well, which cannot be represented on a spec sheet. In this section, we’ll allow both these graphics cards to flex their muscles at 4K to show you the extent of their performance. These tests make use of DLSS Q and High RT wherever supported.

Testing Rig

• CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K
• MOBO: GIGABYTE Z690 AERO G
• CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
• Memory: XPG Lancer RGB 32B 6000MHz DDR5 RAM
• SSD: XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 2TB NVMe
• Power Supply: be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W 

Forza Horizon 5

• With high ray tracing paired with high settings, we noticed that the game ran smoothly on both cards. The RTX 3090 Ti averaged a framerate of 98 FPS, whereas the RX 7900 XT was 7.8% ahead with a framerate of 106 FPS.
• 1% lows served to be much smoother on the RX 7900 XT, which ran at a minimum of 92 FPS, whereas the RTX 3090 Ti had 1% lows of around 80 FPS

Spider-Man Miles Morales

• With high ray tracing, Spider-Man Miles Morales also ran on both graphics cards with minimal trouble. The RTX 3090 Ti averaged 81 FPS, whereas the RX 7900 XT got a small victory by 1.2% by getting an average of 82 FPS.
• 1% lows had the RTX 3090 Ti leading by one frame with a minimum of 71 FPS, whereas the RX 7900 XT had lows of 70 FPS.

Horizon Zero Dawn

• We saw that the RTX 3090 Ti got its first win over the AMD card in this PS port, getting an average framerate of 105 FPS, whereas the RX 7900 XT trailed 15.3% behind with an average of 90 FPS.
• 1% lows were much closer than the average framerates would suggest; 91 FPS for the RTX 3090 Ti and 90 FPS for the RX 7900 XT.

Cyberpunk 2077

• Both cards were brought to their knees when rendering Cyberpunk 2077 using Ultra ray tracing. The RTX 3090 Ti managed to average 52 FPS, whereas the RX 7900 XT was 3.7% ahead at an average of 54 FPS.
• Both the RTX 3090 Ti and the RX 7900 XT obtained an identical 1% low average standing around 46 FPS.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• The performance gains were once again shifted to the Radeon card in RDR2, with the RTX 3090 Ti getting an average of around 84 FPS, whereas the RTX 7900 XT averaged a higher framerate of 92 FPS, gaining a 9% edge.
• The RTX 3090 Ti also lost in the department of 1% lows, with the RTX 3090 Ti getting minimum framerates of 67 FPS, whereas the RX 7900 XT hit slightly higher lows at 71 FPS.

Hitman 3

• We observed that the RX 7900 XT gained relative performance in Hitman 3 by quite a bit by a 22.9% margin, with an average framerate of 141 FPS, whereas the RTX 3090 Ti averaged around 112 FPS.
• Lows were also a world apart on both cards, with the RTX 3090 Ti getting 1% lows of 91 FPS, whereas the RX 7900 XT had lows of around 114 FPS.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

• Our final game, A Plague Tale: Requiem ran equivalently on both the RTX 3090 Ti and the RX 7900 XT, displaying an average of 54 FPS.
• The 1% lows did differ slightly between the two cards, though, with the RTX 3090 Ti getting lows of around 44 FPS, whereas the RX 7900 XT performed slightly better with lows of 46 FPS.

RX 7900 XT Vs RTX 3090 Ti: Overall Gaming Performance

We obtained the average framerate and saw that the RTX 3090 Ti averaged 84 FPS throughout the games, whereas the RX 7900 XT had a 6% higher average framerate of 87 FPS. The 1% lows for both cards had a more pronounced difference, with the RTX 3090 Ti averaging lows of 70 FPS, whereas the RX 7900 XT came on top with 76 FPS.

Power Consumption

The RTX 3090 Ti drew a very large average amount of power; 417 watts compared to the RX 7900 XT less consumption of 278 watts on average. Overall, the RTX 3090 Ti drew 50% more power than its competition. It is worth noting that the RTX 3090 Ti also offers more performance and features compared to the RX 7900 XT.

Thermal Efficiency

The Achilles’ Heel of the RX 7900 XT proved to be its temperature, as we found it averaging out to a temperature of 64°C. The RTX 3090 Ti remained 9.8% cool, with its average temperature of around 58°C.  This is due to the advanced cooling system of the RTX 3090 Ti, maintaining lower temperatures even while under heavy load.

Price And Value

The RTX 3090 Ti’s price has increased by 5.1% for its water-cooled variant while the base models are still being sold for the MSRP. The RX 7900 XT’s price has been dropped by 17.5% on average, whereas the cheapest model’s prices have been reduced as low as 20.8%. Therefore, the RX 7900 XT is around 94.5% cheaper than the RTX 3090 Ti.

Conclusion – Which One Would We Recommend?

RTX 3090 Ti: Concerning the RTX 3090Ti, we observe that it is an excellent flagship card from Nvidia that showed better thermal statistics and almost similar performance. However, it is unreasonably priced when we compare it with the RX 7900 XT, which is why we don’t recommend you get this card for the RX 7900 XT.

RX 7900 XT: The RX 7900 XT is a perfect card to choose when compared with the RTX 3090 Ti as it not only showed higher performance but also consumed less power. This is not it, the RX 7900 XT is also around 94.5% cheaper, which is why we recommend you blind buy the RX 7900 XT if you compare it with the RTX 3090 Ti.

The decision is clear-cut as all the advantages are bundled towards the RX 7900 XT. It would be reasonable for anyone to consider the RX 7900 XT due to the value it provides. However, we do not recommend buying blindly. You should choose your GPU according to your preferences and needs with the product.

More From RTX 3090 Ti

• RTX 3090 Ti Vs RTX 4080
• RTX 3090 Ti Vs RX 7900 XTX
• RTX 3090 Ti Vs RTX 3070 Ti

More From RX 7900 XT

• RTX 4070 Ti Super Vs RX 7900 XT
• RX 7800 XT Vs RX 7900 XT
• RTX 4070 Vs RX 7900 XT

Abde Manaf

[Comparisons Expert]

Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.

Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.

As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.

Get In Touch: manaf@tech4gamers.com