AMD had a stellar 2019. Between new lines of Navi graphics cards, Ryzen processors, and Threadripper processors all released last year, it’s not hard to see why. The long-time competitor of Intel and Nvidia seems to have finally had a breakthrough, and AMD is hoping to keep that trend going into 2020 by doubling down on its best GPUs and graphics technology.
In 2020, AMD’s GPU manufacturers have already released some new models of Radeon RX graphics cards, AMD’s flagship GPUs. And at the end of 2020, when both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are released, AMD’s Navi GPUs will be built into those, too. If you’re ready to upgrade your PC with a new GPU, AMD might just be your best bet in 2020. Whether you’re looking for a replacement or you’re building a brand new PC, AMD has a ton of options for new GPUs with its Radeon RX line, including the 5700, 5700 XT, 5600, 5600 XT, and 5500 models, that are both budget friendly and powerful.
We can’t list them all, so instead, we’ve rounded up seven of the best AMD Radeon 5000 GPU options available in 2020, sorted by cost.
1. XFX RX 5700 XT THICC III
Yes, that’s actually its name. XFX isn’t known to many PC builders outside of #TeamRed loyalists (PC builders who only build with AMD GPUs), because when it comes to graphics cards, the manufacturer only swings AMD. The Radeon RX 5700 XT THICC III is XFX’s flagship GPU, as both the highest-end card AMD offers and the best version of that card that XFX makes.
This card takes a few diversions from the design of most popular GPUs, including a black metal backplate that blends together with the matte black plastic casing, as well as a venting grate on the open end of the GPU. Visually, it’s one of the best looking cards there are, and that includes Nvidia GPUs. Its specs are equally impressive, coming home at a boost clock of 2025 MHz, 8 GB of high-speed memory, 2560 Stream Processors, and an absolutely massive maximum display resolution. It’s one of the most powerful AMD cards on the market, and it costs about the same as a low-to-mid-range GPU from Nvidia.
2. GIGABYTE Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming OC
GIGABYTE’s Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming OC returns to typical AMD GPU design practices, with a more rigid and blocky design reminiscent of GIGABYTE’s other cards. It looks like any other GPU on the market, but it’s packed with the GIGABYTE seal of approval, which means a lot, considering it’s one of the most trusted PC parts manufacturers in the industry. Picking up a GPU is a long-term commitment that can span years before you upgrade again, so it’s important to pick one from a reliable manufacturer.
That reputation goes a long way with this card, because this is the most popular AMD 5000-series GPU on Newegg at the time of publishing.
3. MSI Radeon RX 5700 MECH OC
The MSI RX 5700 MECH OC is the first AMD GPU on this list that isn’t considered a “flagship” model. RX 5700 GPUs tend to run anywhere from $50 to $100 less than 5700 XT GPUs, and they sometimes come in smaller form factors, too. So consider going the 5700 route if your rig doesn’t have room for a beefy three-fan 5700 XT.
This 5700’s clock speed isn’t quite as fast as the 5700 XT GPUs on our list, but its memory and memory speed are of the same caliber. The MECH OC comes in one-fan and two-fan variants, making it considerably more compact than other cards on this list.
4. XFX Radeon RX 5700 DD Ultra
XFX’s RX 5700 DD Ultra copies similar design philosophies as its more impressive 5700 XT cousin, but it’s not quite as powerful as those top-end AMD GPUs. The difference isn’t noticeable, though, until you dive into top-tier Triple-A games and mess with fine tuned graphical settings. Considering the price difference and smaller size, that small step down in terms of raw firepower may be worthwhile to many builders.
5. XFX RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO
XFX offers an even more affordable card with the RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO. It’s essentially the last-gen, lower-cost little brother to the 5700 XT THICC III we started this list with. The 5600 XT takes another dip in performance, but ranges around $150 less than the 5700 XT. AMD GPUs are all about accessibility. The goal of the 5600 is to bring more gaming and production-ready graphics to those who can’t justify big spends. Its specs aren’t as good as the 5700 XT’s, but this card’s capabilities are certainly nothing to scoff at. In fact, it has a boost clock of 1620 MHz.
6. SAPPHIRE NITRO+ Radeon RX 5500 XT
PC builders everywhere should recognize the two manufacturers at the bottom of our list. Both of them have established solid reputations for their budget friendly parts that don’t sacrifice quality or longevity. Sapphire, in particular, has been running the show with AMD GPUs for years. It’s one of the most popular and reliable brands on Newegg.
The Nitro+ RX 5500 XT further solidifies that reputation. It’s small, sleek, cheap, and it gets the job done. For nearly half the cost of a 5700 XT, that’s a big deal.
7. PowerColor RED DRAGON Radeon RX 5500 XT
PowerColor’s Red Dragon keeps the trend of cheap-but-mighty going, with the small form factor Radeon RX 5500 XT. If you’re really looking for a GPU to pick up on a budget, this is the one.
It’s designed like any top-end GPU, but it comes in even cheaper than Sapphire’s 5500 XT. On a per-card basis this GPU hasn’t been rated and reviewed quite as much as the Sapphire offering, but if you’re building your first PC, or budget is your bottom line, then a PowerColor card might be the right choice for you.
Shop all Radeon RX 5000 Graphics Cards on Newegg.
