AMD Radeon PRO W7700

AMD Radeon PRO W7700: Power for Professionals and Enthusiasts
April 2025
Introduction
The AMD Radeon PRO W7700 graphics card is a hybrid solution that combines professional-level performance with gaming capabilities. Released at the end of 2024, it fills the niche between workstations and gaming systems. In this article, we'll explore what sets the W7700 apart, how it performs in various tasks, and who it is suitable for.
Architecture and Key Features
RDNA 3 Pro: Foundation for Professionals
The W7700 is built on the RDNA 3 Pro architecture, tailored for demanding workloads. The production process utilizes 5nm technology from TSMC, ensuring high transistor density and energy efficiency.
Unique Technologies
- FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 (FSR 3): Enhances fps in games through upscaling and frame generation. Supports resolutions up to 8K.
- Ray Accelerators: Hardware blocks for ray tracing. The W7700 features 48 of them, which is 20% more than the gaming Radeon RX 7800 XT.
- ProRender: Optimization for professional rendering applications (Blender, Maya) with support for OpenCL and HIP.
Important: Unlike NVIDIA RTX, FSR 3 works on any GPU, simplifying cross-platform projects.
Memory: Speed and Capacity
GDDR6X and 16GB
- Memory Type: GDDR6X with a 256-bit bus.
- Capacity: 16GB — sufficient for rendering complex scenes and working with 8K video.
- Bandwidth: 640 GB/s (20 Gbps per module). For comparison, the NVIDIA RTX A4500 (16GB GDDR6) offers 576 GB/s.
Tip: For tasks involving high-resolution textures (e.g., 3D sculpting in ZBrush), 16GB reduces the risk of performance drops.
Gaming Performance
1440p and 4K: Ideal Balance
- Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, RT Medium + FSR 3): 68 fps at 1440p, 48 fps at 4K.
- Horizon Forbidden West (Ultra): 90 fps at 1440p, 60 fps at 4K.
- Alan Wake 2 (RT High): 55 fps at 1440p with FSR 3.
Ray Tracing: Enabling RT reduces fps by 25-35%, but FSR 3 compensates for losses by adding 15-20 frames.
Summary: The W7700 is not a purely gaming card, but it is suitable for 1440p/60 fps with RT. For 4K, using FSR 3 is recommended.
Professional Tasks
Video Editing and 3D Rendering
- DaVinci Resolve (8K RAW): Editing without proxy files thanks to 16GB of memory.
- Blender (Cycles): Renders the BMW scene in 2.1 minutes (compared to 2.5 minutes on the RTX A4000).
- SolidWorks: Supports OpenGL 4.6 and real-time performance in RealView mode.
Scientific Calculations
- ROCm 5.5: Accelerates machine learning. ResNet-50 test — 1200 images/sec (on par with NVIDIA A4000 with CUDA 12).
Hack: For working with CUDA applications via HIP, code can be converted, but this requires time.
Power Consumption and Cooling
TDP 220W: System Requirements
- Recommended PSU: 650W (750W for overclocking).
- Cooling: Dual-slot cooler with three fans. Temperature under load is 72°C (noise: 34 dB).
Tip: The card fits in Mini-ITX cases, but requires good ventilation (e.g., Lian Li Q58).
Competitor Comparison
AMD Radeon PRO W7700 vs NVIDIA RTX A4000
- Price: $899 (W7700) vs $1200 (A4000).
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6X vs 16GB GDDR6.
- Rendering Performance: W7700 is 15% faster in Blender, but A4000 excels in CUDA-optimized applications (e.g., Adobe Premiere).
Within AMD's Lineup
- W7700 vs W6800: +20% performance in OpenCL tasks and +30% energy efficiency.
Conclusion: The W7700 is more advantageous for projects focused on OpenCL and HIP, as well as for mixed (gaming + work) scenarios.
Practical Tips
Power Supply and Compatibility
- Minimum PSU: 650W with PCIe 8+6 pin.
- Platform: Compatible with PCIe 5.0, but functions on 4.0 without losses.
Drivers
- Pro vs Adrenalin: For stability in professional tasks, use PRO drivers. Gaming optimizations are available in the Adrenalin Edition.
Warning: Installing both types of drivers simultaneously may cause conflicts.
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Optimization for professional applications.
- Support for FSR 3 and Ray Accelerators.
- Affordable price for the PRO segment.
Weaknesses
- Limited optimization for CUDA.
- High noise level under peak loads.
Final Verdict: Who is the Radeon PRO W7700 for?
This graphics card is an ideal choice for:
1. Professionals: 3D designers, video engineers, and scientists who need a balance of price and performance.
2. Enthusiasts: Gamers involved in streaming or video editing.
3. Studios on a budget: The W7700 is cheaper than many analogs but does not compromise on most tasks.
Price: $899 (recommended).
If you're looking for a GPU for "heavy" professional tasks with future-proofing in mind, the Radeon PRO W7700 is worth the investment. However, for purely gaming PCs, it's better to consider specialized models.