Radeon RX 6500 XT vs HD 5850
Aggregate performance score
RX 6500 XT outperforms HD 5850 by a whopping 379% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in performance ranking | 588 | 204 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | 83 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 0.81 | 23.33 |
| Architecture | Terascale 2 (2009−2015) | Navi / RDNA2 (2020−2022) |
| GPU code name | Cypress | Navi 24 |
| Market segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Release date | 30 September 2009 (14 years ago) | 19 January 2022 (2 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $299 | $199 |
| Current price | $120 (0.4x MSRP) | $274 (1.4x MSRP) |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.
RX 6500 XT has 2780% better value for money than ATI HD 5850.
Detailed specifications
General performance parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. These parameters indirectly speak of performance, but for precise assessment you have to consider their benchmark and gaming test results. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
| Pipelines / CUDA cores | 1440 | 1024 |
| Core clock speed | 725 MHz | 2610 MHz |
| Boost clock speed | no data | 2815 MHz |
| Number of transistors | 2,154 million | 5,400 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 40 nm | 7 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 151 Watt | 107 Watt |
| Texture fill rate | 52.20 | 180.2 |
| Floating-point performance | 2,088.0 gflops | no data |
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).
| Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Length | 241 mm | no data |
| Width | 2-slot | 2-slot |
| Supplementary power connectors | 2x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin |
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 | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 1 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory bus width | 256 Bit | 64 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 2000 MHz | 18000 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 128.0 GB/s | 143.9 GB/s |
| Shared memory | no data | - |
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 | 2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort | 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a |
| HDMI | + | + |
API compatibility
List of supported graphics and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 11.2 (11_0) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |
| Shader Model | 5.0 | 6.6 |
| OpenGL | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| OpenCL | 1.2 | 2.2 |
| Vulkan | N/A | 1.3 |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Non-gaming benchmark performance comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark performance 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.
RX 6500 XT outperforms HD 5850 by 379% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Passmark
This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark, part of Passmark PerformanceTest suite. 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.
Benchmark coverage: 25%
RX 6500 XT outperforms HD 5850 by 379% in Passmark.
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.
Benchmark coverage: 17%
RX 6500 XT outperforms HD 5850 by 575% in 3DMark 11 Performance GPU.
3DMark Vantage Performance
3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.
Benchmark coverage: 17%
RX 6500 XT outperforms HD 5850 by 476% in 3DMark Vantage Performance.
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:
| 900p | 59
−375%
| 280−290
+375%
|
| Full HD | 58
−5.2%
| 61
+5.2%
|
| 1440p | 6−7
−433%
| 32
+433%
|
| 4K | 3−4
−467%
| 17
+467%
|
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9−10
−700%
|
72
+700%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−11
−370%
|
45−50
+370%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 5−6
−920%
|
51
+920%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 12−14
−523%
|
80−85
+523%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 10−12
−355%
|
50−55
+355%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9−10
−500%
|
54
+500%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 10−12
−418%
|
55−60
+418%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 14−16
−357%
|
60−65
+357%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 24−27
−346%
|
100−110
+346%
|
| Hitman 3 | 10−11
−400%
|
50−55
+400%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 24−27
−577%
|
176
+577%
|
| Metro Exodus | 10−11
−700%
|
80−85
+700%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 14−16
−371%
|
65−70
+371%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 18−20
−611%
|
128
+611%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 21−24
−222%
|
74
+222%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−11
−370%
|
45−50
+370%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 5−6
−760%
|
43
+760%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 12−14
−523%
|
80−85
+523%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 10−12
−355%
|
50−55
+355%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9−10
−278%
|
34
+278%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 10−12
−418%
|
55−60
+418%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 14−16
−357%
|
60−65
+357%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 24−27
−346%
|
100−110
+346%
|
| Hitman 3 | 10−11
−130%
|
23
+130%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 24−27
−273%
|
95−100
+273%
|
| Metro Exodus | 10−11
−350%
|
45
+350%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 14−16
−371%
|
65−70
+371%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 18−20
−494%
|
107
+494%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 10−12
−736%
|
92
+736%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 21−24
−204%
|
70−75
+204%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−11
−370%
|
45−50
+370%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 5−6
−520%
|
31
+520%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 10−12
−355%
|
50−55
+355%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9−10
−233%
|
30
+233%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 10−12
−418%
|
55−60
+418%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 24−27
−346%
|
100−110
+346%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 24−27
−254%
|
92
+254%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 18−20
−361%
|
83
+361%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 10−12
−391%
|
54
+391%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 21−24
−8.7%
|
25
+8.7%
|
Full HD
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 14−16
−371%
|
65−70
+371%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 10−11
−370%
|
45−50
+370%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 7−8
−643%
|
50−55
+643%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 5−6
−420%
|
24−27
+420%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 7−8
−371%
|
30−35
+371%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 2−3
−750%
|
17
+750%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 8−9
−613%
|
57
+613%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 9−10
−444%
|
45−50
+444%
|
| Hitman 3 | 9−10
−222%
|
27−30
+222%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 12−14
−450%
|
66
+450%
|
| Metro Exodus | 3−4
−1800%
|
57
+1800%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 4−5
−650%
|
30−33
+650%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 2−3
−850%
|
19
+850%
|
1440p
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 9−10
−356%
|
40−45
+356%
|
4K
High Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 4−5
−500%
|
24−27
+500%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 3−4
−533%
|
18−20
+533%
|
| Hitman 3 | 1−2
−900%
|
10
+900%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 5−6
−460%
|
27−30
+460%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1−2
−1500%
|
16
+1500%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 1−2
−2700%
|
28
+2700%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 3−4
−400%
|
14−16
+400%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 2−3
−200%
|
6
+200%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 2−3
−600%
|
14−16
+600%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 0−1 | 4 |
| Far Cry 5 | 3−4
−367%
|
14−16
+367%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 4−5
−750%
|
30−35
+750%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 5−6
−540%
|
32
+540%
|
| Metro Exodus | 7−8
−186%
|
20
+186%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 1−2
−900%
|
10
+900%
|
4K
Epic Preset
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 6−7
−250%
|
21−24
+250%
|
This is how ATI HD 5850 and RX 6500 XT compete in popular games:
- RX 6500 XT is 375% faster in 900p
- RX 6500 XT is 5% faster in 1080p
- RX 6500 XT is 433% faster in 1440p
- RX 6500 XT is 467% faster in 4K
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the RX 6500 XT is 2700% faster.
All in all, in popular games:
- Without exception, RX 6500 XT surpassed ATI HD 5850 in all 69 of our tests.
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 5.15 | 24.67 |
| Recency | 30 September 2009 | 19 January 2022 |
| Cost | $299 | $199 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 1 GB | 8 GB |
| Chip lithography | 40 nm | 7 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 151 Watt | 107 Watt |
The Radeon RX 6500 XT is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 5850 in performance tests.
Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
Comparisons with similar GPUs
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
