Radeon RX 7900 XT vs RX 6500 XT

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Radeon RX 6500 XT and Radeon RX 7900 XT, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

RX 6500 XT
2022
8 GB GDDR6, 107 Watt
24.83

RX 7900 XT outperforms RX 6500 XT by a whopping 203% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking22014
Place by popularity83not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation58.6937.78
Power efficiency15.9117.18
ArchitectureRDNA 2.0 (2020−2024)RDNA 3.0 (2022−2024)
GPU code nameNavi 24Navi 31
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Release date19 January 2022 (2 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 cores10245376
Core clock speed2610 MHz1387 MHz
Boost clock speed2815 MHz2394 MHz
Number of transistors5,400 million57,700 million
Manufacturing process technology6 nm5 nm
Power consumption (TDP)107 Watt300 Watt
Texture fill rate180.2804.4
Floating-point processing power5.765 TFLOPS51.48 TFLOPS
ROPs32192
TMUs64336
Ray Tracing Cores1684

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).

InterfacePCIe 4.0 x4PCIe 4.0 x16
Lengthno data276 mm
Width2-slot2-slot
Supplementary power connectors1x 6-pin2x 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 typeGDDR6GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount8 GB20 GB
Memory bus width64 Bit320 Bit
Memory clock speed2248 MHz2500 MHz
Memory bandwidth143.9 GB/s800.0 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 Connectors1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a1x 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.

DirectX12 Ultimate (12_2)12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model6.66.7
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL2.22.2
Vulkan1.31.3

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 24.83
RX 7900 XT 75.20
+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 9569
RX 7900 XT 28977
+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 HD62
−231%
205
+231%
1440p28
−375%
133
+375%
4K16
−438%
86
+438%

Cost per frame, $

1080p3.214.39
1440p7.116.76
4K12.4410.45

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 72
−229%
237
+229%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 50−55
−183%
150−160
+183%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 51
−165%
130−140
+165%
Battlefield 5 80−85
−196%
240−250
+196%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
−140%
120−130
+140%
Cyberpunk 2077 54
−293%
212
+293%
Far Cry 5 55−60
−107%
110−120
+107%
Far Cry New Dawn 65−70
−185%
180−190
+185%
Forza Horizon 4 140−150
−68.3%
240−250
+68.3%
Hitman 3 50−55
−158%
120−130
+158%
Horizon Zero Dawn 110−120
−135%
260−270
+135%
Metro Exodus 85−90
−82.4%
150−160
+82.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2 60−65
−92.2%
120−130
+92.2%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 80−85
−281%
300−350
+281%
Watch Dogs: Legion 100−110
−48.5%
150−160
+48.5%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 50−55
−183%
150−160
+183%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 43
−214%
130−140
+214%
Battlefield 5 80−85
−196%
240−250
+196%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
−140%
120−130
+140%
Cyberpunk 2077 34
−459%
190
+459%
Far Cry 5 55−60
−107%
110−120
+107%
Far Cry New Dawn 65−70
−185%
180−190
+185%
Forza Horizon 4 140−150
−68.3%
240−250
+68.3%
Hitman 3 50−55
−158%
120−130
+158%
Horizon Zero Dawn 110−120
−135%
260−270
+135%
Metro Exodus 85−90
−82.4%
150−160
+82.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2 60−65
−92.2%
120−130
+92.2%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 107
−360%
492
+360%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 50−55
−206%
160−170
+206%
Watch Dogs: Legion 100−110
−48.5%
150−160
+48.5%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 50−55
−183%
150−160
+183%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 31
−335%
130−140
+335%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
−140%
120−130
+140%
Cyberpunk 2077 30
−497%
179
+497%
Far Cry 5 55−60
−107%
110−120
+107%
Forza Horizon 4 140−150
−68.3%
240−250
+68.3%
Hitman 3 50−55
−158%
120−130
+158%
Horizon Zero Dawn 92
−280%
350
+280%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 83
−411%
424
+411%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 54
−391%
265
+391%
Watch Dogs: Legion 25
−512%
150−160
+512%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 60−65
−92.2%
120−130
+92.2%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 45−50
−253%
160−170
+253%
Far Cry New Dawn 35−40
−195%
110−120
+195%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 24−27
−242%
85−90
+242%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 23
−322%
95−100
+322%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 27−30
−193%
80−85
+193%
Cyberpunk 2077 17
−618%
122
+618%
Far Cry 5 27−30
−200%
80−85
+200%
Forza Horizon 4 140−150
−92.2%
270−280
+92.2%
Hitman 3 27−30
−276%
100−110
+276%
Horizon Zero Dawn 66
−320%
277
+320%
Metro Exodus 57
−147%
141
+147%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 56
−480%
325
+480%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 30−33
−360%
130−140
+360%
Watch Dogs: Legion 140−150
−71.4%
240−250
+71.4%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 40−45
−193%
120−130
+193%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 24−27
−267%
85−90
+267%
Far Cry New Dawn 18−20
−263%
65−70
+263%
Hitman 3 10
−570%
65−70
+570%
Horizon Zero Dawn 120−130
−78%
220−230
+78%
Metro Exodus 27−30
−336%
120−130
+336%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 28
−468%
159
+468%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 14−16
−320%
60−65
+320%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 6
−917%
60−65
+917%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 14−16
−271%
50−55
+271%
Cyberpunk 2077 4
−1400%
60
+1400%
Far Cry 5 14−16
−257%
50−55
+257%
Forza Horizon 4 30−35
−300%
130−140
+300%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 25
−592%
173
+592%
Watch Dogs: Legion 10
−400%
50−55
+400%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
−300%
80−85
+300%

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

  • RX 7900 XT is 231% faster in 1080p
  • RX 7900 XT is 375% faster in 1440p
  • RX 7900 XT is 438% faster in 4K

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

  • in Cyberpunk 2077, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RX 7900 XT is 1400% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Without exception, RX 7900 XT surpassed RX 6500 XT in all 72 of our tests.

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 24.83 75.20
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 202.9% 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.

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AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Radeon RX 6500 XT
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
Radeon RX 7900 XT

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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