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Radeon RX 6800 vs Radeon RX 6900 XT

Quick Verdict

The Radeon RX 6900 XT pulls ahead here — substantially quicker, about 29% ahead of the Radeon RX 6800. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
AMD Radeon
RX 6900 XT
Price
€823
Performance
40/100
VRAM
16 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+33% Stream Processors (5,120 vs 3,840)
+33% Ray Accelerators (80 vs 60)
+7% Boost Clock (2,250 MHz vs 2,105 MHz)

Radeon RX 6900 XT vs Radeon RX 6800: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon RX 6900 XT vs Radeon RX 6800

The Radeon RX 6900 XT is significantly faster, around 29% ahead of the Radeon RX 6800. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1440p. The Radeon RX 6900 XT packs 5,120 stream processors versus 3,840 on the Radeon RX 6800. The Radeon RX 6900 XT also has more RT cores (80 vs 60), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.

Price & Value

Pricing has the Radeon RX 6900 XT at $823 EUR, $477 EUR under the Radeon RX 6800's $1,300 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the Radeon RX 6900 XT wins on performance-per-dollar by about 104%. The Radeon RX 6900 XT is trading below its $999 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The Radeon RX 6800 still sits about $721 EUR above its $579 EUR MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

At 250W vs 300W, the Radeon RX 6800 is the gentler load on your system. The Radeon RX 6900 XT's extra power draw buys more performance per watt, not just more heat — worth it if your PSU has the headroom.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 6800 or Radeon RX 6900 XT?

The Radeon RX 6900 XT is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon RX 6800 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Radeon RX 6900 XT better than the Radeon RX 6800?

The Radeon RX 6900 XT is significantly faster, roughly 29% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon RX 6800 or the Radeon RX 6900 XT?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at 1440p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the Radeon RX 6800 worth the extra $477 EUR over the Radeon RX 6900 XT?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon RX 6900 XT comes out ahead.

Which is better for ray tracing, the Radeon RX 6900 XT or the Radeon RX 6800?

Both handle ray tracing, but the Radeon RX 6900 XT has more RT cores, giving it better ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance than the Radeon RX 6800.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 6800 or Radeon RX 6900 XT?

The Radeon RX 6900 XT is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon RX 6800 if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between Radeon RX 6800 and Radeon RX 6900 XT
SpecificationRadeon RX 6800Radeon RX 6900 XT
ArchitectureRDNA 2RDNA 2
Process NodeTSMC N7TSMC N7
CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors)3,8405,120
Ray Tracing Cores6080

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between Radeon RX 6800 and Radeon RX 6900 XT
SpecificationRadeon RX 6800Radeon RX 6900 XT
Base Clock1,700 MHz1,825 MHz
Boost Clock2,105 MHz2,250 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between Radeon RX 6800 and Radeon RX 6900 XT
SpecificationRadeon RX 6800Radeon RX 6900 XT
VRAM Capacity16 GB16 GB
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR6
Memory Bus256-bit256-bit
Memory Speed16 Gbps16 Gbps
Bandwidth512 GB/s512 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between Radeon RX 6800 and Radeon RX 6900 XT
SpecificationRadeon RX 6800Radeon RX 6900 XT
InterfacePCIe 4.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x16
TDP250 W300 W
Power Connectors2x 8-pin2x 8-pin
ReleasedNov 2020Dec 2020