Radeon RX 7900M vs RX 6850M XT

Place in the ranking	77	33
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Power efficiency	18.88	22.69
Architecture	RDNA 2.0 (2020−2024)	RDNA 3.0 (2022−2024)
GPU code name	Navi 22	Navi 31
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Release date	4 January 2022 (2 years ago)	19 October 2023 (1 year ago)

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	2560	4608
Core clock speed	2321 MHz	1825 MHz
Boost clock speed	2581 MHz	2090 MHz
Number of transistors	17,200 million	57,700 million
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	5 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	165 Watt	180 Watt
Texture fill rate	413.0	601.9
Floating-point processing power	13.21 TFLOPS	38.52 TFLOPS
ROPs	64	192
TMUs	160	288
Ray Tracing Cores	40	72

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).

Laptop size	large	large
Interface	PCIe 4.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x16
Supplementary power connectors	None	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	12 GB	16 GB
Memory bus width	192 Bit	256 Bit
Memory clock speed	2000 MHz	2250 MHz
Memory bandwidth	384.0 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

No outputs

Portable Device Dependent

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	6.5	6.7
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	2.1	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 6850M XT 45.44

RX 7900M 59.57
+31.1%

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 6850M XT 17511

RX 7900M 22956
+31.1%

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 6850M XT 42016

RX 7900M 59943
+42.7%

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 6850M XT 33901

RX 7900M 50241
+48.2%

3DMark Time Spy Graphics

RX 6850M XT 11837

RX 7900M 19434
+64.2%

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	145 −15.2%	167 +15.2%
1440p	87 −37.9%	120 +37.9%
4K	67 −47.8%	99 +47.8%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

160

−25%

200−210
+25%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	90−95 −26.6%	110−120 +26.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	159 +59%	100−105 −59%
Battlefield 5	140−150 −28.2%	180−190 +28.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	85−90 −21.3%	100−110 +21.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	136 −25%	170−180 +25%
Far Cry 5	90−95 −17.2%	100−110 +17.2%
Far Cry New Dawn	100−110 −26.6%	130−140 +26.6%
Forza Horizon 4	200−210 −10.3%	220−230 +10.3%
Hitman 3	95−100 −24.2%	110−120 +24.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn	180−190 −21.1%	210−220 +21.1%
Metro Exodus	130−140 −11.7%	150−160 +11.7%
Red Dead Redemption 2	100−105 −14%	110−120 +14%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	160−170 −36.3%	220−230 +36.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion	130−140 −8.9%	140−150 +8.9%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	90−95 −26.6%	110−120 +26.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	130 +30%	100−105 −30%
Battlefield 5	140−150 −28.2%	180−190 +28.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	85−90 −21.3%	100−110 +21.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	106 −22.6%	130−140 +22.6%
Far Cry 5	90−95 −17.2%	100−110 +17.2%
Far Cry New Dawn	100−110 −26.6%	130−140 +26.6%
Forza Horizon 4	200−210 −10.3%	220−230 +10.3%
Hitman 3	95−100 −24.2%	110−120 +24.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn	180−190 −21.1%	210−220 +21.1%
Metro Exodus	130−140 −11.7%	150−160 +11.7%
Red Dead Redemption 2	100−105 −14%	110−120 +14%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	259 +13.1%	220−230 −13.1%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	90−95 −29.3%	110−120 +29.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion	130−140 −8.9%	140−150 +8.9%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	90−95 −26.6%	110−120 +26.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	112 +12%	100−105 −12%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	85−90 −21.3%	100−110 +21.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	87 −26.4%	110−120 +26.4%
Far Cry 5	90−95 −17.2%	100−110 +17.2%
Forza Horizon 4	200−210 −10.3%	220−230 +10.3%
Hitman 3	95−100 −24.2%	110−120 +24.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn	180−190 −21.1%	210−220 +21.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	227 −51.5%	344 +51.5%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	122 −37.7%	168 +37.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion	83 −77.1%	140−150 +77.1%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

100−105

−14%

110−120
+14%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	85−90 −39.8%	120−130 +39.8%
Far Cry New Dawn	65−70 −30.9%	85−90 +30.9%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	45−50 −32.7%	65−70 +32.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	85 +23.2%	65−70 −23.2%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	50−55 −28.3%	65−70 +28.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	55 −27.3%	70−75 +27.3%
Far Cry 5	50−55 −28.8%	65−70 +28.8%
Forza Horizon 4	240−250 −11.6%	270−280 +11.6%
Hitman 3	55−60 −37.3%	80−85 +37.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn	95−100 −37.4%	130−140 +37.4%
Metro Exodus	80−85 −22%	100−105 +22%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	166 −50%	249 +50%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	65−70 −41.2%	95−100 +41.2%
Watch Dogs: Legion	200−210 −11.2%	220−230 +11.2%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

75−80

−27.3%

95−100
+27.3%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	45−50 −39.1%	60−65 +39.1%
Far Cry New Dawn	35−40 −38.5%	50−55 +38.5%
Hitman 3	35−40 −29.7%	45−50 +29.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn	190−200 −11.2%	210−220 +11.2%
Metro Exodus	55−60 −40.7%	80−85 +40.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	72 −61.1%	116 +61.1%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	30−35 −41.9%	40−45 +41.9%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	47 +11.9%	40−45 −11.9%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	27−30 −41.4%	40−45 +41.4%
Cyberpunk 2077	26 −15.4%	30−33 +15.4%
Far Cry 5	27−30 −40.7%	35−40 +40.7%
Forza Horizon 4	60−65 −39.7%	85−90 +39.7%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	92 −42.4%	131 +42.4%
Watch Dogs: Legion	24−27 −37.5%	30−35 +37.5%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

40−45

−36.6%

55−60
+36.6%

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

RX 7900M is 15% faster in 1080p
RX 7900M is 38% faster in 1440p
RX 7900M is 48% faster in 4K

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

in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the RX 6850M XT is 59% faster.
in Watch Dogs: Legion, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RX 7900M is 77% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

RX 6850M XT is ahead in 6 tests (9%)
RX 7900M is ahead in 60 tests (91%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	45.44	59.57
Recency	4 January 2022	19 October 2023
Maximum RAM amount	12 GB	16 GB
Chip lithography	7 nm	5 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	165 Watt	180 Watt

RX 6850M XT has 9.1% lower power consumption.

RX 7900M, on the other hand, has a 31.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, a 33.3% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 40% more advanced lithography process.

The Radeon RX 7900M is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon RX 6850M XT in performance tests.

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