Graphics Card Reviews – AMD Radeon RX Vega 64: Should You Buy It In 2023?

Should you buy an AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 in 2023? The media companies backed by big corporations would immediately tell you to buy the latest things for a piece of the pie, but we here aim differently. Scrolling through used markets, I’ve stumbled upon the RX Vega 64 graphics card. It was once near the top of the game, costing over half a grand in a lot of places, and it was here on sale for 120 dollars.

I got it down to a 100 and brought it home. Now that it’s here, I’ve decided to test it and see if it’s fit for gaming today. Despite the meh reviews it got when it came it out, I was surprised by the prowess that a 6-year-old graphics card can possess. It made me feel like a joke for paying 800 USD for an RTX 3070 TI and 500 USD for an RTX 3070.

Don’t get me wrong, while the Nvidia RTX 3070 and RTX 3070 TI are stronger than the Vega 64 (obviously) neither of them is two times stronger, and yet, I payed five to eight times more money. This just makes me want to backtrack and review all the used graphics cards I can get my hands on, because the stats for the Vega 64 are shocking.

Overview of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 Graphics Card

The Vega 64 has competitive stats even for todays market (when talking about mid graphics cards) with 8GB or memory and 4096 shaders. It goes up to 4K with ease and we’ve tested some AAA games and some more casual games as well as some older AAA games and had great results for the money. I’ve usually used Nvidia till now, so I had to do a lot of research to see just how fast I can make this graphics card go, and I was surprised by how many things AMD have done to make it competitive even to this day. We’ve mentioned this GPU in our article promoting used graphics cards, we recommend you check it out.

Recently Updated Drivers

Unlike for the GTX 10 series, the AMD RX Vega 64 graphics card is on an architecture that’s far more futureproof and functions better at higher resolutions as well. When it comes to the latest titles, while the Vega 64 GPU won’t be on par with the latest, it surely won’t give you a bad time. There are some other amazing features which bring it even closer to the competition when playing specific titles.

Features and Technologies of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is a high-end graphics card that comes packed with a range of features and technologies that enhance its performance and make it a great choice for demanding applications and games.

Graphics Card Hardware

One of the key features of the RX Vega 64 is its Vega 10 XT GPU architecture, which includes 4096 stream processors and 64 compute units. This architecture allows the card to handle large amounts of data and perform complex calculations quickly, making it well-suited for tasks like video rendering, scientific simulations, and machine learning.

The RX Vega 64 also comes equipped with 8GB of high-bandwidth memory (HBM2), which offers faster data transfer rates than traditional GDDR5 memory. This helps the card deliver smooth and responsive gameplay at high resolutions, even with demanding games and applications.

Graphics Card Software

In addition to its powerful hardware, the RX Vega 64 also includes a range of software features and technologies. For example, it supports Radeon Chill, a technology that dynamically adjusts the card’s performance based on the demands of the game or application, helping to reduce power consumption and heat output.

The RX Vega 64 also includes Radeon WattMan, a powerful overclocking tool that allows users to customize the card’s clock speeds and voltages to maximize performance. Other features include Radeon FreeSync, which synchronizes the card’s refresh rate with compatible monitors to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering, and Radeon ReLive, which allows users to capture and stream gameplay footage without much loss.

One of the best software additions that improves the speed of your graphics card is the Radeon Boost. It fluidly changes resolution size during gameplay for the most optimal FPS. It’s barely noticeable and improves performance greatly! Unfortunately, it only works with specific titles. Luckily, there is a decent amount of great games such as:

• Rise of the Tomb Raider
• Borderlands 3
• Metro Exodus
• Apex Legends
• PUBG
• Valorant
• Chivalry 2
• Halo Infinite
• And many more

Overall, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is a feature-rich graphics card that offers excellent performance and a range of technologies to enhance the user experience. Whether you’re a gamer or a professional, the RX Vega 64 is a great choice for high-quality graphics performance.

Performance and Benchmarking Results of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is a high-end graphics card that delivers excellent performance in demanding applications and games. In benchmark tests, the RX Vega 64 has demonstrated a strong performance, particularly at higher resolutions like 1440p and 4K.

In 3DMark Time Spy, a popular benchmarking tool, the RX Vega 64 scored around 8,000 points, which puts it in the same league as other high-end graphics cards of its time like the Nvidia GTX 1080 and the GTX 1080 TI. In terms of actual gaming performance, the RX Vega 64 has proven itself to be a capable performer in games like Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

At 1440p resolution with high graphical settings, the RX Vega 64 can achieve frame rates of 70-90 FPS in Battlefield V and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and around 60 FPS in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. At 4K resolution, the frame rates drop somewhat but remain respectable, with the RX Vega 64 delivering around 50 FPS in Battlefield V and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and around 40 FPS in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

Overall, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is a powerful graphics card that delivers strong performance in both benchmark tests and real-world gaming scenarios. It can handle demanding games and applications with ease, and is a good choice for gamers and professionals looking for high-quality graphics performance.

Power Consumption and Heat Output of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64

The power consumption and heat output of the RX Vega 64 is unfortunately above average even for the graphics cards it’s comparable with.

Vega 64 usually consumes up to 295 watts but under heavy loads, the Vega 64 can consume even more power, with some reports suggesting that it can draw up to 400 watts. As a result, users may need to ensure that their power supply unit is capable of delivering enough power to the card and that their system is well-ventilated to prevent overheating.

In terms of heat output, the Vega 64 is also a relatively hot-running card. At full load, the card can reach temperatures of around 80-85 degrees Celsius, which can be higher than some other high-end graphics cards. To manage this heat output, the Vega 64 comes equipped with a large heatsink and fan, which help to dissipate heat away from the card and keep temperatures under control.

Overall, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is a powerful graphics card that requires a significant amount of power and produces a fair amount of heat under heavy loads. However, with proper ventilation and a suitable power supply unit, the Vega 64 can deliver excellent performance for demanding applications and games.

Price and Value of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64

Looking at the benchmark results, it’s easy to see why I was surprised. The AMD RX Vega 64 GPU works brilliantly for the value I got it for (100 dollars). The games I used for the benchmark all had support for the Radeon Boost. Afterwards, I turned on some other fun games such as Cyberpunk and Risk of Rain 2. I was able to run Cyberpunk on high at 2K with a decent amount of FPS and Risk of Rain 2 consistently ran over 60 FPS on 4k Ultra settings.

It’s unnecessary for me to say that the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is the best graphics card for the money I own because it’s obvious. If you can find it at a bargain, I suggest you buy it. There are other used graphics cards that are great options and that I’ll probably review in the future such as the:

• Nvidia GTX 1080 TI (150-250 USD)
• Nvidia RTX 2070 (200-300 USD)
• AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (120-200 USD)
• AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (200-300 USD)
• And many more

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RTX 2060 Still Good In 2023?

The RTX 2060 is still good in 2023 but far from best. The RTX 2060 is good for casual gaming and if it’s in a budget setup, but even then it’s better to acquire a higher end model from a previous generation such as the Nvidia GTX 1080 or an AMD Vega 64 which surpass it in performance. We suggest you don’t buy an RTX 2060 unless there is an excellent bargain deal for it, but even then, there are models in its price bracket that are better.

How Many Monitors Can Vega 64 Support?

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 graphics card can support up to 6 displays simultaneously. This is possible due to the card’s six DisplayPort 1.4 connectors, which allow for multiple displays to be connected to the card at the same time. Additionally, the card also supports AMD Eyefinity technology, which allows for seamless multi-display configurations and enables ultra-wide gaming experiences. Overall, the Vega 64 is a great choice for users who require multiple displays or who want to experience immersive gaming across multiple monitors.

How Much Power Does Vega 64 Use At Idle?

How much power Vega 64 uses depends on other components as well, but it usually varies from 15-25 watts. This isn’t bad but is slightly above average sometimes. The consumption of a Vega 64 goes up to 295 watts which is quite high, which is why we recommend you use a power supply of at least 600 watts, with the sweet spot at 650 watts.

Does Vega 64 Support 4K?

Vega 64 does support 4K and it supports it extremely well when compared to the GPUs of its own generation. If you’re on a very tight budget and want something that performs at 4K, AMD Radeon EX Vega 64 can be a great option for you. Vega 64 is the best graphics card for gaming at 4K from its generation.

What Resolution Is Best For Vega 64?

The resolution best for Vega 64 is 4K (3840×2160). Despite its old age, the Vega 64 graphics card uses a great architecture that advances with the times, making it suitable for even 4K gaming with more recent titles than its competitors from 2017. You can still use the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 at lower resolutions such as 2K and full HD effortlessly.

What Resolution Is Best For Max FPS?

What resolution is best for max FPS depends on the game and monitor you’re using. That being said, what usually works most of the time is setting the resolution to 1600×900 (900p) which is a 30% loss of pixels when compared to 1920×1080 (1080p or Full HD). That being said, gaining FPS by lowering the resolution is one of the worst ways to boost your performance – you should first try lowering the graphics to a minimum and use graphics software and 3rd party software to help with setting up a well-structured performance mode.

Is Vega 64 Loud?

Vega 64 is not as loud as it used to be. Thanks to the plethora of software fixes which made it function too wildly, it now is nowhere near as loud as it used to be. It is on par with a GTX 1080 TI unless you overclock it, in which case it does get louder. This shouldn’t be a deal breaker however – if you don’t intend to push the card to its limits, there won’t be such a problem.

Final Verdict: Is the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 a Good Buy in 2023?

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is a good buy in 2023 because it’s specs still hold up to this day, allowing for 4K gaming on a very tight budget. Is it the best graphics card 2023? Not by a long shot but you can make a beast of a computer with only three to four hundred dollars using this graphics card. It is the best budget graphics card 2023 hands down, unless you’re willing to spend 50-120 dollars more for something like an RX 5700 XT. If you’re making a budget setup, you should always go for used graphics cards, and the Vega 64 gets my recommendation.