Radeon RX 6950 XT vs RX Vega 64

Place in the ranking	129	17
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	22.63	27.14
Power efficiency	8.61	14.94
Architecture	GCN 5.0 (2017−2020)	RDNA 2.0 (2020−2024)
GPU code name	Vega 10	Navi 21
Market segment	Desktop	Desktop
Release date	7 August 2017 (7 years ago)	10 May 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$499	$1,099

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

RX 6950 XT has 20% better value for money than RX Vega 64.

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	4096	5120
Core clock speed	1247 MHz	1925 MHz
Boost clock speed	1546 MHz	2324 MHz
Number of transistors	12,500 million	26,800 million
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	295 Watt	335 Watt
Texture fill rate	395.8	743.7
Floating-point processing power	12.66 TFLOPS	23.8 TFLOPS
ROPs	64	128
TMUs	256	320
Ray Tracing Cores	no data	80

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 3.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x16
Length	279 mm	267 mm
Width	2-slot	3-slot
Supplementary power connectors	2x 8-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	HBM2	GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	16 GB
Memory bus width	2048 Bit	256 Bit
Memory clock speed	945 MHz	2250 MHz
Memory bandwidth	483.8 GB/s	576.0 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	1x HDMI 2.1, 2x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI	+	+

API compatibility

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

DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model	6.4	6.5
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	2.0	2.1
Vulkan	1.1.125	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 Vega 64 37.04

RX 6950 XT 72.99
+97.1%

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 Vega 64 14274

RX 6950 XT 28126
+97%

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 Vega 64 30824

RX 6950 XT 72228
+134%

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 Vega 64 55262

RX 6950 XT 119918
+117%

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 Vega 64 22501

RX 6950 XT 59882
+166%

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 Vega 64 127374

RX 6950 XT 229172
+79.9%

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 Vega 64 392304

RX 6950 XT 497297
+26.8%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04

RX Vega 64 84

RX 6950 XT 143
+69.9%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03

RX Vega 64 81

RX 6950 XT 188
+132%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02

RX Vega 64 23

RX 6950 XT 53
+133%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04

RX Vega 64 157

RX 6950 XT 284
+80.5%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01

RX Vega 64 58

RX 6950 XT 139
+140%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01

RX Vega 64 50

RX 6950 XT 77
+54.5%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01

RX Vega 64 111

RX 6950 XT 286
+158%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 energy-01

RX Vega 64 12

RX 6950 XT 29
+135%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 3dsmax-05

RX Vega 64 145

RX 6950 XT 451
+212%

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	118 −86.4%	220 +86.4%
1440p	78 −71.8%	134 +71.8%
4K	51 −62.7%	83 +62.7%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	4.23	5.00
1440p	6.40	8.20
4K	9.78	13.24

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

65−70

−148%

161
+148%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	81 −86.4%	150−160 +86.4%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	83 −59%	130−140 +59%
Battlefield 5	186 −26.3%	230−240 +26.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	68 −76.5%	120−130 +76.5%
Cyberpunk 2077	65−70 −120%	143 +120%
Far Cry 5	112 −4.5%	110−120 +4.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	108 −67.6%	180−190 +67.6%
Forza Horizon 4	321 +32.6%	240−250 −32.6%
Hitman 3	84 −53.6%	120−130 +53.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn	315 +19.3%	260−270 −19.3%
Metro Exodus	144 −7.6%	150−160 +7.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2	116 −6%	120−130 +6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	178 −75.8%	300−350 +75.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion	261 +70.6%	150−160 −70.6%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	158 +4.6%	150−160 −4.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	69 −91.3%	130−140 +91.3%
Battlefield 5	170 −38.2%	230−240 +38.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	65 −84.6%	120−130 +84.6%
Cyberpunk 2077	65−70 −96.9%	128 +96.9%
Far Cry 5	86 −36%	110−120 +36%
Far Cry New Dawn	93 −94.6%	180−190 +94.6%
Forza Horizon 4	294 +21.5%	240−250 −21.5%
Hitman 3	81 −59.3%	120−130 +59.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn	293 +11%	260−270 −11%
Metro Exodus	132 −17.4%	150−160 +17.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2	96 −28.1%	120−130 +28.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	164 −170%	442 +170%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	75−80 −106%	150−160 +106%
Watch Dogs: Legion	247 +61.4%	150−160 −61.4%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	51 −196%	150−160 +196%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	60 −120%	130−140 +120%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	54 −122%	120−130 +122%
Cyberpunk 2077	65−70 −87.7%	122 +87.7%
Far Cry 5	67 −74.6%	110−120 +74.6%
Forza Horizon 4	128 −89.1%	240−250 +89.1%
Hitman 3	73 −76.7%	120−130 +76.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn	100 −218%	318 +218%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	143 −177%	396 +177%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	77 −181%	216 +181%
Watch Dogs: Legion	54 −98.1%	107 +98.1%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

−38.2%

120−130
+38.2%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	70−75 −134%	160−170 +134%
Far Cry New Dawn	55−60 −96.5%	110−120 +96.5%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	40−45 −118%	85−90 +118%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	47 −100%	90−95 +100%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	45 −82.2%	80−85 +82.2%
Cyberpunk 2077	27−30 −221%	93 +221%
Far Cry 5	40−45 −95.3%	80−85 +95.3%
Forza Horizon 4	210−220 −28.4%	270−280 +28.4%
Hitman 3	50 −114%	100−110 +114%
Horizon Zero Dawn	80 −219%	255 +219%
Metro Exodus	79 −67.1%	132 +67.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	100 −194%	294 +194%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	50−55 −155%	130−140 +155%
Watch Dogs: Legion	243 +1.3%	240−250 −1.3%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

−90.3%

110−120
+90.3%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	59 −49.2%	85−90 +49.2%
Far Cry New Dawn	36 −91.7%	65−70 +91.7%
Hitman 3	38 −71.1%	65−70 +71.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn	102 −122%	220−230 +122%
Metro Exodus	52 −129%	110−120 +129%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	48 −200%	144 +200%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	29 −110%	60−65 +110%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	28 −111%	55−60 +111%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	25 −108%	50−55 +108%
Cyberpunk 2077	12−14 −283%	46 +283%
Far Cry 5	27 −85.2%	50−55 +85.2%
Forza Horizon 4	66 −100%	130−140 +100%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	59 −192%	172 +192%
Watch Dogs: Legion	21 −210%	65 +210%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

−165%

80−85
+165%

This is how RX Vega 64 and RX 6950 XT compete in popular games:

RX 6950 XT is 86% faster in 1080p
RX 6950 XT is 72% faster in 1440p
RX 6950 XT is 63% faster in 4K

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

in Watch Dogs: Legion, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the RX Vega 64 is 71% faster.
in Cyberpunk 2077, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RX 6950 XT is 283% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

RX Vega 64 is ahead in 8 tests (11%)
RX 6950 XT is ahead in 64 tests (89%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	37.04	72.99
Recency	7 August 2017	10 May 2022
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	16 GB
Chip lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	295 Watt	335 Watt

RX Vega 64 has 13.6% lower power consumption.

RX 6950 XT, on the other hand, has a 97.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.

The Radeon RX 6950 XT is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon RX Vega 64 in performance tests.

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