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The First Descendant GPU Benchmarks: NVIDIA RTX 40 vs AMD RX 7000 Graphics Cards

7/24/2024

The First Descendant GPU Benchmarks: NVIDIA RTX 40 vs AMD RX 7000 Graphics Cards

Introduction

In this benchmark comparison, we explore the performance of the Radeon RX 7900 and the rival GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs in “The First Descendant.” We’ve tested the game across different resolutions (1080p, 1440p, and 4K) with and without ray-tracing. Additionally, we’ll discuss upscaling and frame generation.

Test Bench

Before we delve into the benchmarks, let’s take a look at our test system:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
  • Cooler: Lian Li Galahad 360 AIO
  • Motherboard: MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi
  • Memory: 8 GB x2 @ 6000 MT/s CL30

Performance at Different Resolutions

1. 1080p, 1440p & 4K Benchmarks

  • Ultra Quality Preset:

    • GeForce RTX 4060: Falls short of 45 FPS
    • RTX 4070: Averages 83 FPS
    • Radeon RX 7900 series and RTX 4080 Super: Both average over 100 FPS

  • 1440p:

    • GeForce RTX 4070: Just below 60 FPS
    • Radeon RX 7900 XT: Achieves 78 FPS on average
    • RTX 4080 Super leads with 92.5 FPS, followed by the RTX 4090

  • 4K:

    • Only the RTX 4090 reaches close to 60 FPS
    • GeForce RTX 4080 Super: 55 FPS
    • RX 7900 XTX: 51 FPS
    • RX 7900 XT: 45 FPS
    • RTX 4070: 36 FPS

2. Ray Tracing Benchmarks

  • Ray-tracing puts GPUs to the test:

    • At 1440p, Radeon RX 7900 series averages ~40-45 FPS with ray tracing
    • GeForce RTX 4080 Super manages 62 FPS
    • RTX 4090 leads with 72 FPS
    • RTX 4070 performs similarly to the Radeons

  • Ray-traced 4K:

    • Not playable without upscaling (+frame generation for Radeons)
    • GeForce RTX 4090: 46 FPS
    • RTX 4080 Super: 37.5 FPS
    • RX 7900 XTX: 24.5 FPS

3. Upscaling & Frame Generation

  • Frame generation boosts performance:
    • RTX 4090 with DLSS “Performance” Frame Generation: Over 100 FPS (up from 74 FPS with upscaling alone)
    • Radeon RX 7900 XTX with FSR “Performance” upscaling: 95.8 FPS (from 24.5 FPS)
    • Sheer frame generation with FSR 3 “Native AA”: 44 FPS (upscaling alone: 53 FPS on average)

Conclusion

“The First Descendant” showcases the strengths and limitations of both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. Whether you’re aiming for high frame rates or exploring ray-traced visuals, understanding these benchmarks will help you make an informed choice.