Saturday, July 31, 2021
There are now five AMD Radeon 6000 GPUs available, if you can find stock. Which one works best for 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, cementing 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, RX 6800, RX 6700 XT, and the latest RX 6600 XT to ensure you buy the right GPU for your needs.
AMD Radeon RX 6000 GPUs at a glance
AMD kicked things off with three new GPUs, but later released the RX 6700 XT. Most recently, AMD announced the RX 6600 XT, a GPU intended for high-end 1080p gaming. 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 | Radeon RX 6700 XT | Radeon RX 6600 XT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stream processors | 5,120 | 4,608 | 3,840 | 2,560 | 2,048 |
| Compute units | 80 | 72 | 60 | 40 | 32 |
| Texture units | 320 | 288 | 240 | 160 | 128 |
| Ray accelerators | 80 | 72 | 60 | 40 | 32 |
| Game clock | 2,015MHz | 2,015MHz | 1,815MHz | 2,424MHz | 2,359MHz |
| Boost clock | 2,250MHz | 2,250MHz | 2,105MHz | 2,581MHz | 2,589MHz |
| Memory | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 | 12GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Infinity Cache | 128MB | 128MB | 128MB | 96MB | 32MB |
| TDP | 300W | 300W | 250W | 230W | 160W |
| Recommended PSU | 850W | 750W | 650W | 650W | 500W |
| Slot size | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Price | $999 | $649 | $579 | $479 | $379 |
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 improves 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 Oct. 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. Check out our roundup of the best AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT graphics cards for some third-party options.
Bottom line: The RX 6900 XT is likely best reserved for creators, developers, and gamers who want to push 4K to the limits.
6000-series beast
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT graphics card
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. 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 well above 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. Our collection of the best AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT GPUs has some awesome third-party options to browse.
Bottom line: The RX 6800 XT is a great choice for 4K gaming. It might not quite match up with the RX 6900 XT in terms of raw performance, but it still manages, in most cases, to deliver more than 60 FPS in a bunch of popular games. If you've upgraded to one of the best PC gaming monitors with 4K resolution and high refresh rate, this card is the one you want.
Awesome 4K gaming
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT graphics card
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 AMD Radeon RX 6800 is the lesser of the three original AMD 6000 GPUs, but that doesn't mean it's not also a top performer. It beats out the RTX 3070 in raw performance in most demanding titles, and even at 4K it pushes 60 FPS in the most intensive games.
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. Can't decide on a third-party option? Check out our roundup of the best AMD Radeon RX 6800 GPUs.
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.
High-end 1440p
AMD Radeon RX 6800 graphics card
This RDNA 2 GPU is the right option if you want to absolutely crush 1440p PC gaming. It can also dabble in 4K.
Who should buy the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT?
While the RX 6800 is an exceptional choice for absolutely destroying 1440p gaming, its ability to hit 4K benchmarks might not be necessary for many people. That's where the RX 6700 XT comes in, with comparatively lower specs but still enough power for QHD gaming that rivals the RTX 3070 and RTX 3060 Ti.
You're looking at 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM (down from 16GB), a smaller 96MB Infinity Cache, fewer compute units, and fewer stream processors. Still, it's a worthy addition to the Radeon line, and it will no doubt be quite popular with anyone who doesn't want to pay RX 6800 prices.
Bottom line: Want a high-end 1440p gaming experience and don't want to dabble in 4K? Save some money over the RX 6800 and go with the RX 6700 XT.
Affordable 1440p
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card
If you're looking for a budget-friendly GPU that can handle quality 1440p gaming, this is the one to get. It's also the least expensive of the four RDNA 2 cards.
Who should buy the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT?
AMD's latest GPU is the RX 6600 XT, and it's set to go on sale Aug. 11 at a $379 list price. That's about $100 less than the list price for the RX 6700 XT, which should make 1080p gamers quite happy. Of course, stock shortages are no doubt still going to be an issue.
In any case, the RX 6600 XT has 8GB of VRAM, 2,048 stream processors, and a 160W TDP. It is expected to demolish 1080p, with AMD claiming some seriously impressive performance numbers. Compared to the NVIDIA RTX 3060, it's looking like about 15% better performance at 1080p with max settings in many modern AAA games. Of course, the RTX 3060 is also about $50 cheaper when it's not being scalped, so gamers will have to balance budget and performance.
The RX 6600 XT will have access to plenty of AMD's extra goodies, like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution, Smart Access Memory, Infinity Cache, and more.
Where can you buy AMD RX 6000 GPUs?
The RX 6900 XT, RX 6800 XT, RX 6800, and RX 6700 XT have launched, but 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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