Final words and conclusion
The XFX Mercury Limited Edition Magnetic Air Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics card impresses with its performance, though its noise level may not be ideal. XFX has effectively enhanced the card's factory settings, delivering a noticeable improvement that will excite many enthusiasts. This graphics card not only looks great but also performs exceptionally well. Personally, I find the XTX model more appealing than the XT version. This Radeon RX 7900 XTX competes closely with NVIDIA's RTX 4080S, positioning itself as a strong contender in the high-performance GPU market. Despite being slightly older, AMD's flagship GPU within the rDNA3 series remains competitive. It sometimes even surpasses the NVIDIA 4080S and, in certain aspects, the more expensive NVIDIA 4090, especially when it comes to raw shader performance. However, the Radeon RX 7900 series does have some limitations. AMD has heavily relied on a significant amount of L3 cache, known as the infinity cache, which is beneficial but mainly in scenarios limited by CPU capabilities, fill rates, or drivers, rather than at very high resolutions like UHD at 3840x2160. This reliance on caching is helpful but might not be optimal for all uses, particularly where higher-resolution support is needed. And while agile and adequate, the Raytracing performance from NVIDIA is at another level. XFX has a nice offering with the MagAir fans, these float and spin at relatively low RPM. And albeit the DBA meter jumps to 42 DBA, you can hardly hear them. And if you like to clean them, pull them out and do your thing.
AMD's Achilles heel in the graphics card market continues to be its ray tracing performance. While AMD has made strides with each new generation, its capabilities still lag behind NVIDIA's, especially evident in high-demand tasks like ultra-high definition (UHD) rendering. Nevertheless, the latest AMD card, particularly the XTX model, shows notable improvements over the previous generation. Despite these improvements, the high-performance demands of UHD rendering can still challenge AMD's hardware, though it's not overwhelming. This makes it essential to consider how AMD positions its products in the market. Here, AMD presents a more budget-friendly option without compromising too much on quality. For example, the card priced at ~$999 competes favourably with NVIDIA’s 4080 Super. AMD also incorporates technologies like FSR to boost its ray tracing capabilities, enhancing overall performance. The card significantly outperforms its predecessor, the 6900 series, particularly in raw shader performance, providing a more cost-effective solution in a market where high prices often deter consumers.
Performance
You've seen the numbers, and we've already let the cat out of the bag. It all comes down to gaming performance and, of course, rendering quality. The RX 7900 XTX provides more value for the money than seen from the 4080, as we're getting close to raw performance levels that easily enable gaming at 4K resolution. Most enthusiast gamers play at UWHD, QHD, or UHD monitor resolutions. This card is designed for precisely that kind of gamer.
The old rasterizer engine breaks right through the previous limit of extreme performance. Realistically the 7900 XTX often sits at the performance level of a 4080. Mind you that the results differ per gaming API (DX11,DX12, DXR, Vulkan) This chart is based on raw shader engine performance; when NVIDIA flicks on Raytracing and DLSS3 with its frame generator, AMD will be left behind, even with FSR3. However, in general, we're happy with what we're seeing performance-wise for the XTX.
Cooling & noise levels
Initially, we were quite impressed with the cooling performance of the reference cooler. The XFX RX 7900 XTX Magnetic Air maintains temperatures between 60-65 degrees Celsius, which is excellent. In terms of sound, the card starts off being virtually inaudible. However, under prolonged heavy use, it does heat up and the noise level increases to a moderate 41-42 decibels. Surprisingly, it still sounds relatively quiet. The cooler's design is not only effective but also visually appealing with its sleek, dark aesthetics. Under stress, expect the temperature to hover around 65°C using the default BIOS settings. Keep in mind, the actual temperature can vary based on the airflow in your computer case. Additionally, thermal imaging tests reveal no concerning hotspots. It’s worth noting that opting for a custom version of the card from another manufacturer might lead to higher power usage. This increase is often due to enhanced total graphics power (TGP) settings and additional features like RGB lighting and liquid cooling pumps. Overall, the cooling solution on this card does a commendable job in managing heat, even under intense operations.
Energy
The Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a top-tier gaming graphics card that consumes a significant amount of power, especially when it's running at full capacity. On average, the standard model uses around 350 watts of power. This high energy consumption directly contributes to the amount of heat produced by the GPU, especially since it operates within the confined space of a computer case. It's important to note that when in unlocked mode, the power usage can reach close to 400 watts. Despite this, the RX 7900 XTX manages to use its power relatively efficiently.
Coil whine
Any card will exhibit a notch of coil whine once is reaches a high FPS. Is it annoying? It's at a level you can hear it when you hit incredibly high framerates. In a closed chassis, that noise would fade away in the background. However, you can hear the coil whine/squeal with an open chassis. Graphics cards all make this in some sort or form, especially at high framerates this can be perceived. It's as good as it can get, and we have not been bothered by it.
Pricing
The reference version is priced at $999, which is quite high for a device primarily used for playing PC games. It seems to be a better deal compared to similar products like the RTX 4080 and 4090, provided the price remains stable. However, it's expected that only a few of these cards will be available initially, and versions from other brands may be priced higher. Despite potential criticisms about the cost, these products are likely to sell well regardless of commentary. XFX anticipates selling this model for between $950 and $999.
Tweaking
The graphics card performs well when tweaked. Start by increasing the power limit by 15%, which is a quick and effective first step. This adjustment allows the card to operate beyond its default power capacity, enhancing its performance. The boost clock speed can be effectively increased to between 3000 and 3200 MHz, though the actual frequency can vary depending on the game being played. Additionally, you can enhance the memory speed to approximately 21.5 Gbps. Together, these tweaks can lead to an overall performance improvement of about 6-9% in demanding graphical situations compared to the standard settings.
Conclusion
The Magnetic Air model stands out due to its magnetic levitating fans, which operate reasonably quietly and are easy to clean. However, we didn't notice significant advantages compared to other models that use standard fans, which may perform better and more quietly. Despite this, the innovation is appreciated. The XTX card represents a significant improvement in performance and features. At ultra-high definition (UHD) resolutions, it competes with NVIDIA’s top model, the GeForce RTX 4090, but sometimes struggles. With the help of its infinity cache, the card occasionally surpasses the 4090 at lower resolutions and in less demanding scenarios. While its UHD performance could be better, it competes well with the RTX 4080 (Super) and is cheaper. The 7900 XTX series offers good value and energy efficiency for UHD gaming. Although its ray tracing is slightly inferior, games supporting FSR can boost its performance, similar to NVIDIA’s DLSS enhancement. In the end, the XFX card meets all our expectations with decent sound levels, it is priced at $980. This card overall is truly impressive and remains so even in 2024 (considering the age of the GPU).
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