Gigabyte RX 7800 XT Gaming OC 16GB Graphics Card Review

How Much Does it Cost?

So as I mentioned before, a Gaming OC model of any GPU will cost a little more than MSRP, but Gigabyte cater for that with the Eagle range of cards which arguably are still very good and very capable, but the Gaming OC just goes a little further and that comes at a cost. While we don’t have concrete pricing, you can normally expect to pay around another $50 on top of the $499 MSRP price tag and for that you get a well built card from a respectable brand that should last you.

Overview

In terms of the design, there isn’t really much to say as we’ve seen it before and it’s nothing new, but that’s the whole point. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it and that’s why we only really see the Gaming OC change for a completely new series, like the 7000 series RDNA3 GPUs and how it changed slightly from the cooler used on the 6000 RDNA2-based cards. What is clear to see is that normally that change involves size, and the Gaming OC has got a lot bigger due to demands from the GPU needing to be kept cool, which is something it did a good job on.

The GPU, hotspot and memory temperatures were all under control, and inside your machine, you’ll have no worries about the boost clock staying high during those long gaming sessions, but I do worry about the noise. At over 2100 RPM, it’s loud and comparatively so when putting it up against other, similar priced 7800 XT’s on the market from the likes of Sapphire with their Nitro+ card, and XFX with their MERC 319 model which both come in so much quieter and I’m a little unsure as to why the Gaming OC is so bad in this area.

Maybe it’s been nerfed slightly to sell higher-end SKUs like the AORUS range of cards, though upon looking at Gigabyte’s website, I don’t think that’s the case, as it seems at the time of writing this, there are no other 7800 XT SKUs available, but that could change after launch.

That aside, when you’re gaming, the last thing you’re going to be able to hear is the fan noise, as you’ll have your speakers blaring, or headphones on, so I guess it’s not a deal breaker, but I want to make it clear that other models are available and are for the same price, just that little bit better.

The one big selling point that the Gigabyte Gaming OC has is that it can look great inside any system, whether you’re into the gamery look or want something that looks a bit more “professional”. It can cater for both markets

Should I Buy One?

While it has a drawback with the acoustic side of things with the fans spinning high, that can be tweaked in a sacrifice for a few degrees in terms of temperatures, but that aside, it’s a solidly built card with a tried and tested cooler that will do the job just fine and without breaking the bank.