Tuesday, December 08, 2020
There are three new AMD Radeon GPUs available, if you can find stock. Which one works best in your PC?
AMD recently revealed its "Big Navi" graphics cards (GPU) using RDNA 2 architecture, and many gamers are wondering which AMD RX 6000 graphics card they should buy. These cards rival NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 30-series GPUs, albeit at a lower cost and lower power draw. This should cement their place firmly in our best graphics card collection. We've laid out the information you need about the RX 6900 XT, RX 6800 XT, and RX 6800 to ensure you buy the right GPU for your needs.
AMD Radeon RX 6000 GPUs at a glance
AMD is kicking things off with three new GPUs: RX 6900 XT, RX 6800 XT, and RX 6800. These cards come in with differing performance and price points, giving each one an ideal usage scenario. Let's take a look at the raw specs of each of these GPUs.
| Category | Radeon RX 6900 XT | Radeon RX 6800 XT | Radeon RX 6800 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stream processors | 5,120 | 4,608 | 3,840 |
| Compute units | 80 | 72 | 60 |
| Texture units | 320 | 288 | 240 |
| Ray accelerators | 80 | 72 | 60 |
| Game clock | 2,015MHz | 2,015MHz | 1,815MHz |
| Boost clock | 2,250MHz | 2,250MHz | 2,105MHz |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Infinity Cache | 128MB | 128MB | 128MB |
| TDP | 300W | 300W | 250W |
| Recommended PSU | 850W | 750W | 650W |
| Slot size | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 |
| Launch Date | December 8 | November 18 | November 18 |
| Price | $999 | $649 | $579 |
Some of these specs are subject to change based on what third-party manufacturers cook up, but general usage will remain the same even if, say, clock speeds are slightly boosted in some cards.
Who should buy the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT?
AMD's Radeon RX 6900 XT is the ultimate GPU for a high-end 4K gaming experience.
The RX 6900 XT is the most powerful GPU AMD has to offer. It boasts 5,120 stream processors, 80 compute units, and a boost clock up to 2,250MHz. 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM is plenty for modern gaming, and a 128MB Infinity Cache reduces bottlenecks and improved bandwidth. It has the same 300W TDP as the RX 6800 XT, but AMD recommends an 850W power-supply unit (PSU) for this card. Perhaps the best part is that it's no bigger than the RX 6800 XT. Considering the RTX 3090 is a behemoth, you're getting a similar performance in a smaller package.
Speaking of performance, AMD first unveiled some comparisons between the RX 6900 XT and the RTX 3090 at its October 28 presentation. AMD buffed its numbers a bit with Rage Mode and Smart Access memory, but in any case, the RX 6900 XT rivaled or outright beat NVIDIA's monster in popular modern games at 4K.
Since then, AMD has created an interactive gaming benchmark list on its official website. At 4K with in-game settings maxed out, the RX 6900 XT delivers incredible performance, all for about $500 less than the RTX 3090.
Bottom line: It's clear from raw specs and game benchmarks that the RX 6900 XT is intended to deliver a high-end 4K gaming experience. It should be capable of handling 8K gaming, and it will be complete overkill for 1440p, but the best use is 4K with elevated frame rates.
6000-Series Beast
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT
If you're looking for the most power of the three initial RX 6000-series GPUs, this is it. Just cross your fingers and hope you find one for sale.
Who should buy the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT?
The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a tier below the RX 6900 XT, but that doesn't mean it's not an absolute beast as well. It even beats out the RTX 3090 in a bunch of games at a 4K resolution, according to AMD's interactive graphs. Considering the RX 6800 XT is expected to cost around $650, those who are comfortable with 4K gaming at slightly lower frame rates than the RX 6900 XT can save money. And you're still going to hit more than 60 FPS in many demanding modern games.
Compared to the 6900 XT, the RX 6800 XT has fewer stream processors, compute units, texture units, and ray accelerators. However, its game clock and boost clock are the same, and it's packed with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM. It's also the same size as the RX 6900 XT, so not really a huge difference overall other than the boost to 4K frame rates in the pricier card.
Bottom line: The RX 6800 XT is a great choice for 4K gaming at 60 FPS. It might not quite match up with the RX 6900 XT in terms of raw performance, but it still managed, in most cases, to deliver more than 60 FPS in a bunch of popular games. If you haven't upgraded to one of the best PC gaming monitors with 4K resolution and refresh rate above 60Hz, this card is the one you want.
Awesome 4K Gaming
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
This powerful GPU is built on AMD's RDNA 2 architecture. It can handle 4K gaming, ray tracing, and stacks up against the NVIDIA RTX 3080.
Who should buy the AMD Radeon RX 6800?
The Radeon RX 6800 is the lesser of the three new AMD GPUs, but that doesn't mean it's not also a top performer. AMD compares it directly to the NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti (the best of last-gen), and it looks as though the RX 6800 comes out on top even at 4K. Yes, you'll be able to game at 4K with the RX 6800, but it'll also do incredibly well at 1440p. In most cases, it even rivals the RTX 3080, though it's expected to cost less at about $580.
Compared to the RX 6900 XT and RX 6800 XT, the RX 6800 has fewer stream processors, compute units, texture units, and ray accelerators. Its clock speeds are also slower. However, it uses the same 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM, it has a lower 250W TDP, and it's physically smaller with a two-slot design. AMD recommends a 650W PSU for this card, which means fewer people will have to upgrade their power supply.
Bottom line: The Radeon RX 6800 can handle 4K gaming, but it will truly excel when paired up with a 1440p monitor with a high refresh rate. Considering it's priced below $600, this should prove to be an exceptionally popular GPU.
High-End 1440p
AMD Radeon RX 6800
This RDNA 2 GPU is the right option if you want to absolutely crush 1440p PC gaming.
When can you buy AMD RX 6000 GPUs?
The RX 6900 XT, RX 6800 XT, and RX 6800 have launched, though stock is limited. We'll keep you updated with any new developments, and be sure to have a look at our guide on where to buy AMD Radeon RX 6000 graphics cards for much more information.
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