Radeon RX 6500 XT vs RX Vega M GH

Place in the ranking	316	218
Place by popularity	not in top-100	85
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	no data	58.58
Power efficiency	11.90	16.17
Architecture	GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)	RDNA 2.0 (2020−2024)
GPU code name	Polaris 22	Navi 24
Market segment	Laptop	Desktop
Release date	1 February 2018 (6 years ago)	19 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	no data	$199

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

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	1536	1024
Core clock speed	1063 MHz	2610 MHz
Boost clock speed	1190 MHz	2815 MHz
Number of transistors	5,000 million	5,400 million
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	6 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	100 Watt	107 Watt
Texture fill rate	114.2	180.2
Floating-point processing power	3.656 TFLOPS	5.765 TFLOPS
ROPs	64	32
TMUs	96	64
Ray Tracing Cores	no data	16

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	medium sized	no data
Interface	IGP	PCIe 4.0 x4
Width	no data	2-slot
Supplementary power connectors	no data	1x 6-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	4 GB	8 GB
Memory bus width	1024 Bit	64 Bit
Memory clock speed	800 MHz	2248 MHz
Memory bandwidth	204.8 GB/s	143.9 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	1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI	-	+

API compatibility

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

DirectX	12 (12_0)	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model	6.4	6.6
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	2.0	2.2
Vulkan	1.2.131	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 M GH 17.07

RX 6500 XT 24.81
+45.3%

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 M GH 6586

RX 6500 XT 9569
+45.3%

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 M GH 14302

RX 6500 XT 22954
+60.5%

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 M GH 10248

RX 6500 XT 15712
+53.3%

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 M GH 59162

RX 6500 XT 91909
+55.4%

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 M GH 357446
+0.4%

RX 6500 XT 356129

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	58 −8.6%	63 +8.6%
1440p	31 +3.3%	30 −3.3%
4K	26 +52.9%	17 −52.9%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	no data	3.16
1440p	no data	6.63
4K	no data	11.71

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

−84.6%

72
+84.6%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	44 −22.7%	50−55 +22.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	27−30 −82.1%	51 +82.1%
Battlefield 5	55−60 −44.6%	80−85 +44.6%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	36 −38.9%	50−55 +38.9%
Cyberpunk 2077	30 −80%	54 +80%
Far Cry 5	40−45 −42.5%	55−60 +42.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	52 −25%	65−70 +25%
Forza Horizon 4	100−110 −34.3%	140−150 +34.3%
Hitman 3	30−35 −51.5%	50−55 +51.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn	85−90 −34.1%	110−120 +34.1%
Metro Exodus	55−60 −46.6%	85−90 +46.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2	39 −64.1%	60−65 +64.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	83 −1.2%	80−85 +1.2%
Watch Dogs: Legion	80−85 −22.6%	100−110 +22.6%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	35−40 −42.1%	50−55 +42.1%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	27−30 −53.6%	43 +53.6%
Battlefield 5	33 −145%	80−85 +145%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	32 −56.3%	50−55 +56.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	23 −47.8%	34 +47.8%
Far Cry 5	40−45 −42.5%	55−60 +42.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	41 −58.5%	65−70 +58.5%
Forza Horizon 4	100−110 −34.3%	140−150 +34.3%
Hitman 3	30−35 −51.5%	50−55 +51.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn	85−90 −34.1%	110−120 +34.1%
Metro Exodus	55−60 −46.6%	85−90 +46.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2	48 −33.3%	60−65 +33.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	68 −57.4%	107 +57.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	35−40 −35.9%	50−55 +35.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion	80−85 −22.6%	100−110 +22.6%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	21 −157%	50−55 +157%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	27−30 −10.7%	31 +10.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	21 −138%	50−55 +138%
Cyberpunk 2077	23 −30.4%	30 +30.4%
Far Cry 5	40−45 −42.5%	55−60 +42.5%
Forza Horizon 4	100−110 −34.3%	140−150 +34.3%
Hitman 3	30−35 −51.5%	50−55 +51.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn	56 −64.3%	92 +64.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	57 −45.6%	83 +45.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	34 −58.8%	54 +58.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion	80−85 +236%	25 −236%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

−129%

60−65
+129%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	39 −20.5%	45−50 +20.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	24−27 −46.2%	35−40 +46.2%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	16−18 −52.9%	24−27 +52.9%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	14−16 −64.3%	23 +64.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	13 −115%	27−30 +115%
Cyberpunk 2077	4 −325%	17 +325%
Far Cry 5	20−22 −40%	27−30 +40%
Forza Horizon 4	90−95 −53.3%	140−150 +53.3%
Hitman 3	20−22 −45%	27−30 +45%
Horizon Zero Dawn	41 −61%	66 +61%
Metro Exodus	30−35 −83.9%	57 +83.9%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	30−35 −69.7%	56 +69.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	18−20 −57.9%	30−33 +57.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion	100−110 −35.9%	140−150 +35.9%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

27−30

−46.4%

40−45
+46.4%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	18 −33.3%	24−27 +33.3%
Far Cry New Dawn	14 −35.7%	18−20 +35.7%
Hitman 3	12−14 +30%	10 −30%
Horizon Zero Dawn	85−90 −46%	120−130 +46%
Metro Exodus	16−18 −64.7%	27−30 +64.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	16−18 −64.7%	28 +64.7%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	10−11 −50%	14−16 +50%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	8−9 +33.3%	6 −33.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	9−10 −55.6%	14−16 +55.6%
Cyberpunk 2077	3−4 −33.3%	4 +33.3%
Far Cry 5	9−10 −55.6%	14−16 +55.6%
Forza Horizon 4	21−24 −47.8%	30−35 +47.8%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	18−20 −38.9%	25 +38.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion	7−8 −42.9%	10 +42.9%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

14−16

−40%

21−24
+40%

This is how RX Vega M GH and RX 6500 XT compete in popular games:

RX 6500 XT is 9% faster in 1080p
RX Vega M GH is 3% faster in 1440p
RX Vega M GH is 53% faster in 4K

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

in Watch Dogs: Legion, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RX Vega M GH is 236% faster.
in Cyberpunk 2077, with 1440p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RX 6500 XT is 325% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

RX Vega M GH is ahead in 3 tests (4%)
RX 6500 XT is ahead in 69 tests (96%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	17.07	24.81
Recency	1 February 2018	19 January 2022
Maximum RAM amount	4 GB	8 GB
Chip lithography	14 nm	6 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	100 Watt	107 Watt

RX Vega M GH has 7% lower power consumption.

RX 6500 XT, on the other hand, has a 45.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 3 years, a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 133.3% more advanced lithography process.

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

Be aware that Radeon RX Vega M GH is a notebook card while Radeon RX 6500 XT is a desktop one.

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