Gameplay Performance
We are going to focus on 1440p gameplay performance with the SAPPHIRE PULSE AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT GAMING 12GB Video Card. We will include DLSS and FSR performance on the same graph in the games that are supported. We will use DLSS on NVIDIA GPUs and FSR on AMD GPUs. Ray Tracing performance will be shown on a separate page.
When comparing video cards in this review, we are using a SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 6750 XT 12GB, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB Founders Edition. Keep in mind prices by MSRP when looking at the performance, the Radeon RX 6750 XT launched at $549, the Radeon RX 6700 XT launched at $479, and the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB FE launched at $399. The SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT GAMING 12GB Video Card has a launch MSRP of $449.
Returnal
Returnal was launched on the PC in February of 2023 and is based on Unreal Engine 4. The game supports real-time ray tracing effects, particle systems, and volumetric rendering. We utilize the graphics preset to set EPIC graphics settings with unlocked framerate, and everything is enabled except ray tracing, we have screen-space reflections on. We use the built-in benchmark.
In Returnal, we are playing at 1440p with EPIC settings, and the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT GAMING 12GB is more than playable at 87FPS offering a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience. When we compare performance to the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is 18% faster. When we look at the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT compared to the previous generation, we find that it is 19% faster than the Radeon RX 6750 XT and 26% faster than the Radeon RX 6700 XT, for a nice generational upgrade in performance at a lower price than the last generation. Overclocking the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT adds 5% more performance.
Forspoken
Forspoken was released on January 24th, 2023, on the PC and uses the Luminous Engine. The game supports all upscaling methods and Ray Tracing. We are going to customize the settings and enable the highest graphics settings, including Ultra High Texture Memory. We use the built-in benchmark.
In Forspoken, we are running at the highest possible settings at 1440p and the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT once again allows a very playable experience at 72FPS average. It is the best card for this game at 1440p and the highest settings, beating the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB by quite a margin, which is not playable without upscaling. The SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is 33% faster than the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti. Compared to the previous generation the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is 20% faster than the Radeon RX 6750 XT and 24% faster than the Radeon RX 6700 XT. Enabling FSR takes it to nearly 100FPS, again beating everything here. Overclocking adds 4% more performance.
The Callisto Protocol
The Callisto Protocol was released in December of 2022 on the PC and is based on Unreal Engine 4. We run the game in DX12 mode with unlimited framerate, and all graphics settings enabled and at the highest graphics settings. This game supports ray tracing, and FSR upscaling only, we use FSR2 for testing. We use the built-in benchmark.
In The Callisto Protocol, the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is also more than playable at nearly 80FPS at 1440p and the highest settings. The previous generation is not as playable, but the new SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is very playable. The SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is 17% faster than the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti. Compared to the previous generation it is 40%+ faster! When we add overclocking, that boosts performance by 4%.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare II
Call of Duty Modern Warfare II was released on October 27, 2022, on the PC and uses the IW 9.0 gaming engine. The game supports all upscaling methods, and we use the highest quality option of each. We customize every graphics setting to the maximum value for the best image quality and enable everything. We use the built-in benchmark.
Wow is all we can say in Call of Duty Modern Warfare II, the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT ends up being 47% faster than the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti! Compared to the Radeon RX 6750 XT it is 41% faster, and compared to the Radeon RX 6700 XT it is 49% faster. Overclocking adds 2% more performance.
Chernobylite Enhanced Edition
Chernobylite, based on Unreal Engine 4, was released on the PC in 2021, but the Enhanced Edition update for the game was released in April 2022. The Enhanced Edition provides a visual overhaul of the game with better textures, plus introduces tessellation and ray tracing features. It features raytraced reflections, raytraced translucency, raytraced caustics, and raytraced dynamic diffuse global illumination. It supports upscaling, and we use the highest quality. We use the built-in benchmark.
Chernobylite Enhanced Edition is very playable at 97FPS on the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT at 1440p with maximum settings. This is one game where the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti did edge it out on performance, though it was very minor, the RTX 4060 Ti is only 5% faster. Compared to the last generation the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is 19% faster than the Radeon RX 6750 XT and 25% faster than the Radeon RX 6700 XT. Overclocking adds 4% more performance.
Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2 was released in February 2022 on the PC and uses Techland’s C-Engine. The game supports Ray Tracing, DLSS, and FSR2. We use the built-in preset to set “HIGH QUALITY” which sets the highest game graphics, without Ray Tracing. We manually enable DX12 and ASYNC Compute. We use the built-in benchmark.
In Dying Light 2 the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is very playable at 100FPS, and is the only video card to provide this level of performance at 1440p and the highest settings. The SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is 14% faster than the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti. Compared to the previous generation the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is 11% faster than the Radeon RX 6750 XT and 16% faster than the Radeon RX 6700 XT. Overclocking adds 2% more performance.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 was released in December 2020 and uses the REDengine 4. We have the game patched to version 1.62 and utilize the built-in benchmark. We test using the Graphics Preset option to set graphics settings to “Ultra”. We utilize the highest quality upscaling.
In Cyberpunk 2077 the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT brings in incredible performance in this game at 1440p and “Ultra” game settings. While all the other video cards hover around 60FPS, the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is pushing 80FPS gameplay. The SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is 25% faster than the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti. Compared to the previous generation the SAPPHIRE PULSE Radeon RX 7700 XT is 33% faster than the Radeon RX 6750 XT and 39% faster than the Radeon RX 6700 XT. Overclocking adds 3% more performance. With FSR enabled, performance is in the 90s.