So what GPU should you pick if you are a content creator?
Should you go with AMD Radeon 7900 XTX or the Nvidia RTX 4090?
In this video, we will analyze the latest PugetBench benchmark results to determine
which of these GPUs is the better option for content creation.
In the past, Nvidia GPUs have generally performed better than AMD GPUs in tasks such as video
editing and other content creation workloads.
So will the new AMD Radeon 7900 XTX surpass Nvidia RTX 4090 and claim the top spot?
Let's find out!
Let's start with "GPU effects" benchmark that measures the performance of a GPU in tasks
related to OpenFX effects.
These effects include warping, transformation, texturing, temporal effects, as well as a
variety of other effects offered by Davinci Resolve Studio Edition.
This benchmark is particularly intensive in terms of GPU usage, as it also measures the
GPU's performance in noise reduction, which is typically a very demanding task.
So Radeon 7900 XTX comes very close to RTX 4080 scoring 173 points which is just shy
of 2 points.
But the top dog is still Nvidia’s RTX 4090 that scores 235 points and maintains a solid
35% performance lead over Radeon 7900 XTX
Next let's take a look at the hardware decoding benchmark.
This test measures a GPU's ability to efficiently handle the hardware decoding of H.264 and
HEVC codecs.
These codecs are among the most commonly used in consumer cameras, and as such, they are
likely to be encountered frequently by video editors in their workflow.
A high score in this test indicates that the GPU is capable of smooth video playback and
smooth scrubbing through the timeline during video editing.
This is important for content creators who rely on smooth and seamless video editing,
as a GPU that struggles with decoding certain codecs can lead to frustrating performance
issues and delays .
So, in the hardware decoding benchmark, AMD Radeon 7900 XTX scored 124.4 points, which
is higher than the 123.9 points scored by the Nvidia RTX 4090.
This is a significant win for the AMD Radeon 7900 XTX, as Nvidia GPUs have traditionally
had better media decoders and have been the preferred choice for video editing PCs.
Looks like Radeon 7900 XTX is now a strong contender for use in content creation workflows,
especially video editing.
Next, let's take a look at a RAW debayering test that measures the performance of a GPU
in handling the debayering of RAW footage from RED and BRAW cameras.
In this test, the AMD Radeon 7900 XTX scored 92.9 points, outperforming the Nvidia RTX
4090 by over 12%.
This is a particularly impressive result for the Radeon 7900 XTX, as it represents a massive
62% increase in performance compared to the previous generation Radeon 6900 XT.
However, it is worth noting that the Nvidia RTX 4090 has been experiencing some driver
optimization issues that have caused it to underperform in this test.
In fact, the Nvidia RTX 30-series cards have even been able to outperform the RTX 4090
in this test.
Hopefully, Nvidia will release updates to fix these issues and improve the performance
of the RTX 40-series cards in the RAW debayering test.
Finally, let's take a look at the extended overall benchmark score that measures the
overall performance of a GPU in a variety of tasks commonly used in Davinci Resolve.
This benchmark is a good indicator of the performance that a typical Davinci Resolve
user can expect on their PC.
In this case, the AMD Radeon 7900 XTX performs exceptionally well, achieving a 30% performance
boost compared to the previous generation Radeon 6900 XT.
This puts it at the top of the chart, beating the Nvidia RTX 4090 by a narrow margin.
However, it is worth noting that the performance of both the RTX 4090 and the Radeon 7900 XTX
is within the margin of error, meaning that their performance is likely to be comparable.
Despite this, the AMD Radeon 7900 XTX still comes out ahead due to its lower retail price
of under $1000, which is $600 cheaper than the retail price of the Nvidia RTX 4090.
So how on earth is AMD’s Radeon 7900 XTX performing so well in the Puget Bench test
for Davinci Resolve?
It's largely due to several architectural changes that AMD has implemented in this current
generation of GPUs.
One of these changes is doubling the total number of media encoders and decoders.
This allows Radeon 7900 XTX to process and encode media files faster and more efficiently,
leading to improved performance in tasks such as video editing and rendering.
Secondly, AMD has introduced something called Smart Acess Video technology.
This is a significant innovation that has the potential to greatly improve performance
in media processing tasks.
This technology allows the media encoders present in the 7900 XTX GPU to be combined
with the media encoders present in AMD Ryzen CPUs, creating a more powerful and efficient
system for encoding and decoding media files.
To accomplish this, AMD has developed a new unified API and accompanying software stack
that allows supported video editing software to take full advantage of all available media
encoders.
This API and software stack allow for the distribution of encode and decode workloads
across all media encoders found in Ryzen 7000 series CPUs and Radeon RX 7900 XTX GPUs.
This means that when you are rendering a high-resolution video, the media encoders in the Radeon RX
7900 XTX GPU work in conjunction with those present in the Ryzen 7000 series CPU to provide
optimal performance.
This ability to utilize all available media encoders allows for faster and more efficient
processing of media files, improving the overall performance of the system.
The Smart Access Video technology also allows for more efficient use of system resources,
as tasks can be distributed across the GPU and CPU more effectively.
Overall, the introduction of this technology has greatly enhanced the capabilities of the
7900 XTX and has made it a potential top choice for professionals in the media industry.
I think it is exciting to see AMD's Radeon RX 7900 XTX performing so well in video editing
and content creation space, as it provides much-needed competition for Nvidia.
Previously, many streamers and content creators relied on Nvidia GPUs due to their superior
performance in video editing tasks.
This was largely due to Nvidia's strong track record in creating high-quality video drivers
and hardware encoders and decoders.
However, the success of the Radeon RX 7900 XTX in tasks such as the Puget Bench test
for Davinci Resolve has shown that AMD is capable of delivering excellent performance
in these areas as well.
The fact that the RX 7900 XTX is able to outperform the Nvidia RTX 4090 in some tests may prompt
Nvidia to respond by lowering its prices in order to remain competitive.
Overall, I think that the increased competition in the video editing and content creation
space is a positive development for consumers, as it will lead to more affordable and high-performing
options for media professionals.
Right now, both the Nvidia RTX 4090 and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX are sold out at most
retailers.
This has led to a situation where both of these GPUs are being sold for significantly
higher prices on sites like eBay.
The Radeon RX 7900 XTX is going for at least $1500, while the RTX 4090 is being sold for
well over $2200.
It is unclear when this high demand and resulting price inflation will end, but it is likely
that prices will eventually return to more reasonable levels as supply catches up with
demand.
Now if you are planning to build a PC that will be able to accommodate large GPUs such
as the Nvidia RTX 4090 or the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, it is important to choose a case
that will have enough space to hold them.
Watch this video over here where I list the best cases that you can buy right now that
will easily fit all these GPUs.
By selecting a case that is suitable for your large GPU, you can ensure that your PC will
run smoothly and efficiently.
So go ahead and watch that video, and I will see you guys in my next video