Launch MSRPs, release cycles and deals windows as of November 9, 2026.
This is a cross-brand comparison between the AMD RX 7800 XT (RX 7000, High-end, superseded by the AMD RX 9070) and the NVIDIA RTX 4090 (RTX 4000, Enthusiast, superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5090), released 10 months apart. Against the RTX 4090, the RX 7800 XT costs $1,100 less at launch MSRP ($499 vs $1,599, 69% cheaper), has 8 GB less VRAM (16 GB vs 24 GB) and draws 187W less at rated TDP (263W vs 450W).
This GPU is no longer the current generation. It has been replaced by the AMD RX 9070.
Superseded by RX 9070
Best for: 1440p gamers who can find a used unit near or below the $499 MSRP — at current above-MSRP new prices, the RX 9070 is the better buy.
Full details →This GPU is no longer the current generation. It has been replaced by the NVIDIA RTX 5090.
Superseded by RTX 5090
Best for: 4K enthusiasts who can find a well-priced used RTX 4090 and don't need DLSS 4 or Blackwell's efficiency improvements.
Full details →| AMD RX 7800 XT | NVIDIA RTX 4090 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | High-end | Enthusiast |
| Generation | RX 7000 | RTX 4000 |
| VRAM | 16 GB | 24 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| TDP | 263W | 450W |
| Upscaling | FSR3 | DLSS3 |
| Ray Tracing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Launch MSRP | $499 | $1599 |
| Editor score | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Released | Sep 6, 2023 | Oct 12, 2022 |
| Cycle length | ~550 days | ~840 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Superseded |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Clearance |
| Successor | RX 9070 | RTX 5090 |
New prices (~$1,000) are well above MSRP due to the memory shortage — used units around $500 are the only remaining value path.
Same VRAM as its successor — no VRAM compromise.
Well-optimized after 18+ months of updates.
More VRAM than the RTX 5080 (16GB), relevant for AI workloads and 4K texture packs even in the Blackwell era.
New retail units are scarce and priced above MSRP. The used market (eBay, local classifieds) is the only viable path to value.
Over 3 years of driver optimizations make this one of the most stable GPUs available.
Released Sep 6, 2023, the RX 7800 XT has been on the market for 3 years 2 months. It has been superseded by the AMD RX 9070, which launched Mar 6, 2025, so it's no longer a current-generation buy — new stock is clearance, and the rest of the market is second-hand.
Released Oct 12, 2022, the RTX 4090 has been on the market for 4 years. It has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5090, which launched Jan 30, 2025, so it's no longer a current-generation buy — new stock is clearance, and the rest of the market is second-hand.
Both cards are superseded. If you're buying new, their replacements — the AMD RX 9070 and NVIDIA RTX 5090 — are where current pricing and timing advice apply.
At launch MSRP the RX 7800 XT is $1,100 cheaper than the RTX 4090 ($499 vs $1,599, 69% less). Per gigabyte of VRAM that's $31.2 for the RX 7800 XT and $66.6 for the RTX 4090 — the RX 7800 XT gives more memory for the money. Launch MSRP is only a reference point for a superseded card; its real price is whatever clearance or used stock sells for today.
RX 7800 XT (deals window to Dec 5, 2026, rated Caution): Black Friday 2026 — analysts do not expect memory supply to normalise before late 2027, so real clearance pricing is unlikely. Only buy if a deal lands below the $499 MSRP.
RTX 4090 (deals window to Jun 30, 2027, rated Wait): New units are listed above $4,400 as of October 2026 and used units sell around $2,500–$3,000 — far above the $1,599 MSRP. Only consider a used unit if it comes well below current RTX 5090 street prices. Otherwise, the RTX 5090 at MSRP is better value.
Our pick: NVIDIA RTX 4090
Both of these cards are superseded, so if you're buying new, compare the AMD RX 9070 and NVIDIA RTX 5090 instead. The rest of this verdict applies to clearance or used units.
Our pick is the RTX 4090: it carries the higher editor score (9.0 vs 8.5), and it also has 8 GB more VRAM (24 GB vs 16 GB).
Go for the RX 7800 XT instead if you want lower power draw: 263W vs 450W rated TDP, or if you want the newer card: it launched 10 months later.
Buy/Wait and deals ratings come from release-cycle and pricing data, not benchmarks. How we rate →
Where they're level: buy/wait signal (Superseded for both).