Radeon RX 7900 XT vs RX 6500 XT

Place in the ranking	221	12
Place by popularity	75	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	58.74	37.79
Power efficiency	16.03	17.30
Architecture	RDNA 2.0 (2020−2024)	RDNA 3.0 (2022−2024)
GPU code name	Navi 24	Navi 31
Market segment	Desktop	Desktop
Release date	19 January 2022 (3 years ago)	3 November 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$199	$899

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

RX 6500 XT has 55% better value for money than RX 7900 XT.

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	1024	5376
Core clock speed	2610 MHz	1387 MHz
Boost clock speed	2815 MHz	2394 MHz
Number of transistors	5,400 million	57,700 million
Manufacturing process technology	6 nm	5 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	107 Watt	300 Watt
Texture fill rate	180.2	804.4
Floating-point processing power	5.765 TFLOPS	51.48 TFLOPS
ROPs	32	192
TMUs	64	336
Ray Tracing Cores	16	84

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 4.0 x4	PCIe 4.0 x16
Length	no data	276 mm
Width	2-slot	2-slot
Supplementary power connectors	1x 6-pin	2x 8-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	GDDR6	GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	20 GB
Memory bus width	64 Bit	320 Bit
Memory clock speed	2248 MHz	2500 MHz
Memory bandwidth	143.9 GB/s	800.0 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 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a	1x HDMI 2.1a, 2x DisplayPort 2.1, 1x USB Type-C
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	6.6	6.7
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	2.2	2.2
Vulkan	1.3	1.3

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.

RX 6500 XT 24.86

RX 7900 XT 75.23
+203%

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.

RX 6500 XT 9558

RX 7900 XT 28929
+203%

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.

RX 6500 XT 22954

RX 7900 XT 75896
+231%

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.

RX 6500 XT 76445

RX 7900 XT 142489
+86.4%

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.

RX 6500 XT 15712

RX 7900 XT 63712
+305%

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.

RX 6500 XT 91909

RX 7900 XT 259707
+183%

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

RX 6500 XT 356129

RX 7900 XT 737404
+107%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04

RX 6500 XT 111

RX 7900 XT 347
+214%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03

RX 6500 XT 140

RX 7900 XT 342
+144%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02

RX 6500 XT 87

RX 7900 XT 373
+331%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04

RX 6500 XT 150

RX 7900 XT 481
+221%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01

RX 6500 XT 91

RX 7900 XT 176
+93.8%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01

RX 6500 XT 58

RX 7900 XT 288
+400%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01

RX 6500 XT 67

RX 7900 XT 278
+314%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 3dsmax-05

RX 6500 XT 157

RX 7900 XT 502
+221%

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	64 −220%	205 +220%
1440p	30 −347%	134 +347%
4K	16 −450%	88 +450%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	3.11 +41%	4.39 −41%
1440p	6.63 +1.1%	6.71 −1.1%
4K	12.44 −21.7%	10.22 +21.7%

RX 6500 XT has 41% lower cost per frame in 1080p
RX 6500 XT and RX 7900 XT have nearly equal cost per frame in 1440p
RX 7900 XT has 22% lower cost per frame in 4K

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2	64 −177%	170−180 +177%
Cyberpunk 2077	72 −229%	237 +229%
Elden Ring	79 −191%	230 +191%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5	75−80 −53.9%	110−120 +53.9%
Counter-Strike 2	40 −375%	190 +375%
Cyberpunk 2077	27 −293%	106 +293%
Forza Horizon 4	128 −353%	580 +353%
Metro Exodus	97 −68%	163 +68%
Red Dead Redemption 2	50−55 −156%	130−140 +156%
Valorant	100−105 −305%	400−450 +305%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5	75−80 −53.9%	110−120 +53.9%
Counter-Strike 2	28 −564%	186 +564%
Cyberpunk 2077	17 −459%	95 +459%
Dota 2	106 −70.8%	181 +70.8%
Elden Ring	63 −367%	290−300 +367%
Far Cry 5	43 −156%	110 +156%
Fortnite	120−130 −141%	300−350 +141%
Forza Horizon 4	107 −360%	492 +360%
Grand Theft Auto V	86 −101%	173 +101%
Metro Exodus	62 −160%	161 +160%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	150−160 −37.8%	210−220 +37.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2	50−55 −156%	130−140 +156%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	80−85 −115%	170−180 +115%
Valorant	100−105 −305%	400−450 +305%
World of Tanks	250−260 −8.6%	270−280 +8.6%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	75−80 −53.9%	110−120 +53.9%
Counter-Strike 2	24 −600%	168 +600%
Cyberpunk 2077	15 −493%	89 +493%
Dota 2	110 −67.3%	184 +67.3%
Far Cry 5	75−80 −85.5%	140−150 +85.5%
Forza Horizon 4	83 −411%	424 +411%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	150−160 −37.8%	210−220 +37.8%
Valorant	100−105 −305%	400−450 +305%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2	37 −330%	159 +330%
Elden Ring	19 −989%	200−210 +989%
Grand Theft Auto V	37 −330%	159 +330%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	170−180 +0%	170−180 +0%
Red Dead Redemption 2	21−24 −304%	90−95 +304%
World of Tanks	160−170 −213%	500−550 +213%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	50−55 −74%	85−90 +74%
Counter-Strike 2	21−24 −490%	124 +490%
Cyberpunk 2077	9 −578%	61 +578%
Far Cry 5	70−75 −122%	160−170 +122%
Forza Horizon 4	56 −480%	325 +480%
Metro Exodus	57 −147%	141 +147%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	35−40 −378%	170−180 +378%
Valorant	65−70 −415%	300−350 +415%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2	7 −614%	50 +614%
Dota 2	34 −415%	175 +415%
Elden Ring	6 −1767%	110−120 +1767%
Grand Theft Auto V	34 −415%	175 +415%
Metro Exodus	11 −691%	87 +691%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	75−80 −175%	200−210 +175%
Red Dead Redemption 2	16−18 −300%	60−65 +300%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	34 −415%	175 +415%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	24−27 −250%	90−95 +250%
Counter-Strike 2	21−24 −341%	95−100 +341%
Cyberpunk 2077	2 −1400%	30 +1400%
Dota 2	67 −128%	153 +128%
Far Cry 5	30−35 −218%	100−110 +218%
Fortnite	30−35 −210%	95−100 +210%
Forza Horizon 4	25 −592%	173 +592%
Valorant	30−35 −528%	200−210 +528%

This is how RX 6500 XT and RX 7900 XT compete in popular games:

RX 7900 XT is 220% faster in 1080p
RX 7900 XT is 347% faster in 1440p
RX 7900 XT is 450% faster in 4K

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

in Elden Ring, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the RX 7900 XT is 1767% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

RX 7900 XT is ahead in 62 tests (98%)
there's a draw in 1 test (2%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	24.86	75.23
Recency	19 January 2022	3 November 2022
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	20 GB
Chip lithography	6 nm	5 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	107 Watt	300 Watt

RX 6500 XT has 180.4% lower power consumption.

RX 7900 XT, on the other hand, has a 202.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 9 months, a 150% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 20% more advanced lithography process.

The Radeon RX 7900 XT is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon RX 6500 XT in performance tests.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.