Radeon RX 5700 XT vs Radeon RX 6900 XT
Performance-wise the Radeon RX 6900 XT is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 122% up on the Radeon RX 5700 XT. Value tips toward the Radeon RX 5700 XT, though: $365 CAD cheaper for what you get.
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Comparable or lower specs
Radeon RX 6900 XT vs Radeon RX 5700 XT: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon RX 6900 XT vs Radeon RX 5700 XT
The Radeon RX 6900 XT is dramatically faster, around 122% ahead of the Radeon RX 5700 XT. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Radeon RX 6900 XT is comfortable at 1440p, while the Radeon RX 5700 XT is better matched to 1080p. The Radeon RX 6900 XT packs 5,120 stream processors versus 2,560 on the Radeon RX 5700 XT.
Price & Value
Right now the Radeon RX 5700 XT starts at $295 CAD against $660 CAD for the Radeon RX 6900 XT. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 5700 XT offers the better performance-per-dollar, so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 5700 XT is trading below its $399 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal. The Radeon RX 6900 XT is trading below its $999 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The Radeon RX 5700 XT is the lighter draw at 225W against the Radeon RX 6900 XT's 300W, making it the easier card to power and cool. The Radeon RX 6900 XT draws more in absolute terms but squeezes out more performance per watt, so budget for a beefier PSU if you go that route. Its more modern RDNA 2 architecture on a TSMC N7 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The Radeon RX 6900 XT's 16GB (vs 8GB on the Radeon RX 5700 XT) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The Radeon RX 6900 XT's memory is also faster — 512 GB/s versus 448 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: Radeon RX 5700 XT or Radeon RX 6900 XT?
Choose the Radeon RX 6900 XT if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX 5700 XT stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Radeon RX 6900 XT better than the Radeon RX 5700 XT?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon RX 5700 XT or the Radeon RX 6900 XT?
Is the Radeon RX 6900 XT worth the extra $365 CAD over the Radeon RX 5700 XT?
Does the Radeon RX 6900 XT have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: Radeon RX 5700 XT or Radeon RX 6900 XT?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | Radeon RX 5700 XT | Radeon RX 6900 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA | RDNA 2 |
| Process Node | TSMC N7 | TSMC N7 |
| CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors) | 2,560 | 5,120✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 80 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | Radeon RX 5700 XT | Radeon RX 6900 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,605 MHz | 1,825 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,905 MHz | 2,250 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | Radeon RX 5700 XT | Radeon RX 6900 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 16 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 512 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | Radeon RX 5700 XT | Radeon RX 6900 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 225 W✓ | 300 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Jul 2019 | Dec 2020 |