Both Nvidia and AMD are looking to launch their new graphics cards later this year. However, both of these companies tend to launch their higher-end hardware first. The problem is, I know a lot of people who want to upgrade right now, and they don’t need the performance that those cards could potentially offer. So, for all of you thinking of buying an RX 5500 XT, you need to decide which variant you want. If you’re wondering about the best RX 5500 XT GPUs right now, then read on.
The Best RX 5500 XT Graphics Cards You Can Buy
For 1080p gaming, there are a lot of great cards out right now. The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT is one such example. For 1080p gaming, it is definitely a worthy card. It’s good for 1080p gaming and is more efficient than the RX 580 and RX 590. Nvidia’s 1660 lineup might be more powerful, but for people going for an all AMD build, the 5500 XT will still get the job done well. These are our recommendations for the best RX 5500 XT variants out there right now. Whenever a certain newer card launches, people always have a certain level of brand loyalty as to which vendor they select. MSI is one of those vendors without a doubt. Their cards are known to be reliable, have good thermal performance, and also have great resale value, if that matters to you.
The MSI Gaming X Radeon RX 5500 XT is the best graphics card on this list, and for good reason. The first one is that the design is exceptionally good for a budget 1080p video card. MSI is using its patented Torx fan technology here, and it does a good job of providing efficient cooling. The fans stay idle when the graphics card is under 60 degrees, and start ramping up when the temperature goes above that. Despite that, the card doesn’t heat up that much at idle either, which is a good bonus. As you can guess, this card has a quiet operation. Other than that, it’s the best overall RX 5500 XT on our list, and you know what to expect performance-wise. 1080p gaming with efficient thermals? Yes, please. You can’t make a list that has anything to do with graphics card vendors and not mention ASUS. If you’ve bought a graphics card or two in the past, you’ve probably seen a lot of ROG Strix cards being best sellers. The Strix Radeon RX 5500 XT is no different, and on this list it is definitely the best performing RX 5500 XT.
The design is honestly easy to recognize at this point. ASUS uses a metal construction most of its cards, and it’s good to see a budget card getting the same treatment. This GPU feels sturdy and robust in the hand and should hold up quite well over time. It’s also Aura Sync ready, which means you can sync the RGB with certain ASUS motherboards. Out of the box, Strix cards are known to have the fastest performance. As usual, this card is overclocked as well, though not by much. It comes with a 1865MHz boost clock out of the factory. However, since the fans are of great quality, and thermal efficiency is good, you can push it much farther than that through manual OC. Just remember that the card is quite large, so if you were thinking of sticking it into an older pre-built, that could be an issue. Being a Strix card, it’s ever so slightly pricier than others, but sometimes you can find it for the same price. Whenever you’re looking for the best value you can find in a certain graphics card, you always look towards Gigabyte. They have been dominating these past two years providing the best value GPUs in any tier. The Gigabyte Radeon RX 5500 XT OC gets the same treatment.
The standout feature of this card is its competitive price point. It undercuts the competition by a small bit, but enough to make it cheaper than Nvidia’s GTX 1660 Super. As the $200 range is flooded with options these days, even a small change in pricing can make a world of a difference. In terms of construction, Gigabyte has done a good job of not making this card feel cheap. While it does feature a plastic construction, it is built quite well and feels solid. The backplate is also quite sturdy. It’s also a bit smaller than most dual-fan cards, so you might be able to stick it into an old pre-built PC. Thermals are also quite good, and I’ve never had any complaints with Gigabyte’s fans failing. All in all, this variant seems to be the best value RX 5500 XT card out there. With that said, this certain card does tend to have a bit of coil whine, which is definitely strange. Never have I ever come across a graphics card that was so aptly named. The XFX 5500 XT Thicc Pro II is a card that is massive in size and performance. While it may be a struggle to fit into smaller cases, the added size could provide some key benefits. At first glance, the Thicc II Pro is the best looking RX 5500 XT card on our list.
First off, this is one of those cards that can be found for a bit cheaper than its usual pricing, so in terms of value its a good buy. The design is a bit different compared to all the other graphics cards out there. There isn’t any RGB here, but the whole matte black look paired with the curved edges give it a compelling look. If I was putting together an all blackout build, this would be my go-to card. The fans are also quite a bit bigger than other variants out there, but this means that it has a better cooling performance. It’s also better suited to overclocking, and people who want more performance out of their card will appreciate it. However, the fans can get a bit loud so I wouldn’t be too aggressive with the fan curve. If you are thinking about using it with a smaller case, forget about it. However, if you like the aesthetics and can fit this in your case, it’s a good recommendation. The thing about the Powercolor 5500 XT is that it has pretty good performance and thermals across the board, but that’s all there is to say about it. Now I know that at this price point, you can’t expect much in terms of design and extra features. But when the big-name competitors are offering a better experience for around the same price, it’s a hard bargain.
The Powercolor RX 5500 XT is by no means a bad graphics card. In fact, it has decent thermal performance, and the fans aren’t that loud either, even at full load. It’s a smaller card, meaning you might be able to squeeze it into an ITX case. It does have a sturdy backplate, and the all-around construction is also solid. As for temperatures you’re looking at 65-70 degrees at full load or 100% usage. Sure, a few manufacturers offer better out of the box performance, but those numbers aren’t bad by any means. That’s the overall theme with this card, it’s not bad by any means but I’d go with a different vendor if possible. If not, this is still a solid card and performs quite well. It earns the title of the best budget RX 5500 XT on our list.
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