Radeon RX 6850M XT vs GeForce RTX 3090

Place in the ranking	24	77
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	14.92	no data
Power efficiency	13.57	18.87
Architecture	Ampere (2020−2024)	RDNA 2.0 (2020−2024)
GPU code name	GA102	Navi 22
Market segment	Desktop	Laptop
Release date	1 September 2020 (4 years ago)	4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,499	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	10496	2560
Core clock speed	1395 MHz	2321 MHz
Boost clock speed	1695 MHz	2581 MHz
Number of transistors	28,300 million	17,200 million
Manufacturing process technology	8 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	350 Watt	165 Watt
Texture fill rate	556.0	413.0
Floating-point processing power	35.58 TFLOPS	13.21 TFLOPS
ROPs	112	64
TMUs	328	160
Tensor Cores	328	no data
Ray Tracing Cores	82	40

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop size	no data	large
Interface	PCIe 4.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x16
Length	336 mm	no data
Width	3-slot	no data
Supplementary power connectors	1x 12-pin	None

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	GDDR6X	GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount	24 GB	12 GB
Memory bus width	384 Bit	192 Bit
Memory clock speed	1219 MHz	2000 MHz
Memory bandwidth	936.2 GB/s	384.0 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors	1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort	No outputs
HDMI	+	-

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12 Ultimate (12_2)	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model	6.5	6.5
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	2.0	2.1
Vulkan	1.2	1.3
CUDA	8.5	-

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

RTX 3090 69.33
+52.6%

RX 6850M XT 45.44

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

RTX 3090 26719
+52.6%

RX 6850M XT 17511

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

RTX 3090 61518
+46.4%

RX 6850M XT 42016

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

RTX 3090 47241
+39.4%

RX 6850M XT 33901

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

RTX 3090 231612
+33.9%

RX 6850M XT 172972

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD	201 +38.6%	145 −38.6%
1440p	132 +51.7%	87 −51.7%
4K	87 +29.9%	67 −29.9%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	7.46	no data
1440p	11.36	no data
4K	17.23	no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

207
+29.4%

160

−29.4%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	159 +69.1%	90−95 −69.1%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	114 −39.5%	159 +39.5%
Battlefield 5	220−230 +56.3%	140−150 −56.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	110−120 +33.7%	85−90 −33.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	176 +29.4%	136 −29.4%
Far Cry 5	110−120 +25.8%	90−95 −25.8%
Far Cry New Dawn	160−170 +55%	100−110 −55%
Forza Horizon 4	230−240 +17.2%	200−210 −17.2%
Hitman 3	117 +23.2%	95−100 −23.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn	250−260 +40.6%	180−190 −40.6%
Metro Exodus	144 +5.1%	130−140 −5.1%
Red Dead Redemption 2	130 +30%	100−105 −30%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	290−300 +73.8%	160−170 −73.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion	200 +48.1%	130−140 −48.1%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	247 +163%	90−95 −163%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	105 −23.8%	130 +23.8%
Battlefield 5	220−230 +56.3%	140−150 −56.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	110−120 +33.7%	85−90 −33.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	151 +42.5%	106 −42.5%
Far Cry 5	110−120 +25.8%	90−95 −25.8%
Far Cry New Dawn	160−170 +55%	100−110 −55%
Forza Horizon 4	230−240 +17.2%	200−210 −17.2%
Hitman 3	117 +23.2%	95−100 −23.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn	250−260 +40.6%	180−190 −40.6%
Metro Exodus	144 +5.1%	130−140 −5.1%
Red Dead Redemption 2	120−130 +22%	100−105 −22%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	402 +55.2%	259 −55.2%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	140−150 +62%	90−95 −62%
Watch Dogs: Legion	199 +47.4%	130−140 −47.4%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	108 +14.9%	90−95 −14.9%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	91 −23.1%	112 +23.1%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	110−120 +33.7%	85−90 −33.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	134 +54%	87 −54%
Far Cry 5	110−120 +25.8%	90−95 −25.8%
Forza Horizon 4	217 +6.9%	200−210 −6.9%
Hitman 3	116 +22.1%	95−100 −22.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn	295 +63.9%	180−190 −63.9%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	351 +54.6%	227 −54.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	181 +48.4%	122 −48.4%
Watch Dogs: Legion	107 +28.9%	83 −28.9%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

129
+29%

100−105

−29%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	160−170 +87.5%	85−90 −87.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	110−120 +61.8%	65−70 −61.8%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	93 +89.8%	45−50 −89.8%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	79 −7.6%	85 +7.6%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	80−85 +52.8%	50−55 −52.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	93 +69.1%	55 −69.1%
Far Cry 5	80−85 +55.8%	50−55 −55.8%
Forza Horizon 4	270−280 +12%	240−250 −12%
Hitman 3	115 +94.9%	55−60 −94.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn	233 +135%	95−100 −135%
Metro Exodus	139 +69.5%	80−85 −69.5%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	266 +60.2%	166 −60.2%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	152 +124%	65−70 −124%
Watch Dogs: Legion	203 −1.5%	200−210 +1.5%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

127
+64.9%

75−80

−64.9%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	85−90 +89.1%	45−50 −89.1%
Far Cry New Dawn	65−70 +76.9%	35−40 −76.9%
Hitman 3	83 +124%	35−40 −124%
Horizon Zero Dawn	220−230 +15.3%	190−200 −15.3%
Metro Exodus	141 +139%	55−60 −139%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	153 +113%	72 −113%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	70 +126%	30−35 −126%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	57 +21.3%	47 −21.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	50−55 +75.9%	27−30 −75.9%
Cyberpunk 2077	46 +76.9%	26 −76.9%
Far Cry 5	50−55 +85.2%	27−30 −85.2%
Forza Horizon 4	153 +143%	60−65 −143%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	159 +72.8%	92 −72.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion	60 +150%	24−27 −150%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

111
+171%

40−45

−171%

This is how RTX 3090 and RX 6850M XT compete in popular games:

RTX 3090 is 39% faster in 1080p
RTX 3090 is 52% faster in 1440p
RTX 3090 is 30% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Red Dead Redemption 2, with 4K resolution and the Epic Preset, the RTX 3090 is 171% faster.
in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the RX 6850M XT is 39% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

RTX 3090 is ahead in 67 tests (93%)
RX 6850M XT is ahead in 5 tests (7%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	69.33	45.44
Recency	1 September 2020	4 January 2022
Maximum RAM amount	24 GB	12 GB
Chip lithography	8 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	350 Watt	165 Watt