Radeon RX 6850M XT vs RX 7900 XT

Place in performance ranking	13	69
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	25.09	no data
Architecture	RDNA 3	RDNA 2 (2020−2022)
GPU code name	Navi 31 XT	Navi 22
Market segment	Desktop	Laptop
Release date	3 November 2022 (1 year ago)	4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$899	no data
Current price	$884 (1x MSRP)	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

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	5376	2560
Boost clock speed	2000 MHz	2463 MHz
Number of transistors	57,700 million	17,200 million
Manufacturing process technology	5 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	315 Watt	145 Watt
Texture fill rate	804.4	413.0

Form factor & compatibility

Information on Radeon RX 7900 XT and Radeon RX 6850M XT compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop video cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility). For notebook video cards it's notebook size, connection slot and bus, if the video card is inserted into a slot instead of being soldered to the notebook motherboard.

Laptop size	no data	large
Interface	PCIe 4.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x16
Length	276 mm	no data
Width	2-slot	no data
Supplementary power connectors	2x 8-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	GDDR6	GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount	20 GB	12 GB
Memory bus width	320 Bit	192 Bit
Memory clock speed	20000 MHz	18000 MHz
Memory bandwidth	800.0 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 2.1a, 2x DisplayPort 2.1, 1x USB Type-C	No outputs
HDMI	+	no data

API compatibility

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

DirectX	12 Ultimate (12_2)	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model	6.7	6.5
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	2.1	2.1
Vulkan	1.3	1.2

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 7900 XT 74.42
+67.3%

RX 6850M XT 44.47

RX 7900 XT outperforms RX 6850M XT by 67% based on our aggregated 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 7900 XT 28772
+67.4%

RX 6850M XT 17191

RX 7900 XT outperforms RX 6850M XT by 67% 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 7900 XT 75896
+80.6%

RX 6850M XT 42016

RX 7900 XT outperforms RX 6850M XT by 81% in 3DMark 11 Performance GPU.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

RX 7900 XT 63712
+87.9%

RX 6850M XT 33901

RX 7900 XT outperforms RX 6850M XT by 88% in 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

RX 7900 XT 259707
+50.1%

RX 6850M XT 172972

RX 7900 XT outperforms RX 6850M XT by 50% in 3DMark Cloud Gate GPU.

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	207 +51.1%	137 −51.1%
1440p	145 +76.8%	82 −76.8%
4K	95 +58.3%	60 −58.3%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

237
+48.1%

160

−48.1%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	110−120 +50.7%	75−80 −50.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	130−140 −20.5%	159 +20.5%
Battlefield 5	240−250 +69%	140−150 −69%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	150−160 +53.1%	95−100 −53.1%
Cyberpunk 2077	212 +55.9%	136 −55.9%
Far Cry 5	110−120 +31.4%	85−90 −31.4%
Far Cry New Dawn	140−150 +36.4%	100−110 −36.4%
Forza Horizon 4	220−230 +67.4%	130−140 −67.4%
Hitman 3	150−160 −28.7%	193 +28.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn	484 +180%	170−180 −180%
Metro Exodus	130−140 +25%	100−110 −25%
Red Dead Redemption 2	120−130 +21.6%	100−110 −21.6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	580 +95.3%	297 −95.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion	120−130 +5.9%	119 −5.9%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	110−120 +50.7%	75−80 −50.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	130−140 +1.5%	130 −1.5%
Battlefield 5	240−250 +69%	140−150 −69%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	150−160 +53.1%	95−100 −53.1%
Cyberpunk 2077	190 +79.2%	106 −79.2%
Far Cry 5	110 +150%	44 −150%
Far Cry New Dawn	79 −35.4%	100−110 +35.4%
Forza Horizon 4	220−230 +67.4%	130−140 −67.4%
Hitman 3	150−160 +36.4%	110−120 −36.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn	466 +169%	170−180 −169%
Metro Exodus	157 +45.4%	100−110 −45.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2	120−130 +21.6%	100−110 −21.6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	387 +200%	129 −200%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	483 +144%	198 −144%
Watch Dogs: Legion	120−130 +16.7%	108 −16.7%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	110−120 +50.7%	75−80 −50.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	130−140 +17.9%	112 −17.9%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	150−160 +53.1%	95−100 −53.1%
Cyberpunk 2077	179 +106%	87 −106%
Far Cry 5	110−120 +31.4%	85−90 −31.4%
Forza Horizon 4	220−230 +67.4%	130−140 −67.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn	350 +102%	170−180 −102%
Metro Exodus	142 +31.5%	100−110 −31.5%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	265 +117%	122 −117%
Watch Dogs: Legion	120−130 +51.8%	83 −51.8%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

120−130
+21.6%

100−110

−21.6%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	160−170 +88.6%	85−90 −88.6%
Far Cry New Dawn	140−150 +37.1%	100−110 −37.1%
Hitman 3	90−95 +63.2%	55−60 −63.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2	70−75 +106%	35−40 −106%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	80−85 +75%	45−50 −75%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	95−100 +11.8%	85 −11.8%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	110−120 +59.4%	65−70 −59.4%
Cyberpunk 2077	122 +122%	55 −122%
Far Cry 5	173 +74.7%	99 −74.7%
Forza Horizon 4	180−190 +94.7%	95−100 −94.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn	277 +180%	95−100 −180%
Metro Exodus	141 +72%	80−85 −72%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	325 +95.8%	166 −95.8%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	130−140 +106%	65−70 −106%
Watch Dogs: Legion	85−90 +41.7%	60 −41.7%

4K
High Preset

Far Cry 5	81 +189%	28 −189%
Far Cry New Dawn	120−130 +107%	55−60 −107%
Hitman 3	65−70 +78.4%	35−40 −78.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn	110−120 +103%	55−60 −103%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	110 +197%	35−40 −197%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	159 +121%	72 −121%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	60−65 +93.5%	30−35 −93.5%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	60−65 +27.7%	47 −27.7%
Battlefield 5	95−100 +83.3%	50−55 −83.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	80−85 +86.4%	40−45 −86.4%
Cyberpunk 2077	60 +131%	26 −131%
Forza Horizon 4	130−140 +116%	60−65 −116%
Horizon Zero Dawn	166 +186%	55−60 −186%
Metro Exodus	129 +169%	45−50 −169%
Watch Dogs: Legion	50−55 +117%	21−24 −117%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

80−85
+110%

40−45

−110%

This is how RX 7900 XT and RX 6850M XT compete in popular games:

RX 7900 XT is 51% faster in 1080p
RX 7900 XT is 77% faster in 1440p
RX 7900 XT is 58% faster in 4K

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

in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the RX 7900 XT is 200% faster than the RX 6850M XT.
in Far Cry New Dawn, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the RX 6850M XT is 35% faster than the RX 7900 XT.

All in all, in popular games:

RX 7900 XT is ahead in 69 tests (96%)
RX 6850M XT is ahead in 3 tests (4%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	74.42	44.47
Recency	3 November 2022	4 January 2022
Maximum RAM amount	20 GB	12 GB
Chip lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	315 Watt	145 Watt