GPU Comparison

Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the Radeon RX 6800 comes out dramatically faster — about 288% ahead of the Radeon RX 6500 XT. But the Radeon RX 6500 XT is the better value, undercutting it by $1,017 EUR for the performance you get.

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

VS
AMD
Radeon RX 6500 XT
Price
€169
Performance
8%
VRAM
4 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+34% Boost Clock (2,815 MHz vs 2,105 MHz)
Price
€1,186
Performance
31%
VRAM
16 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+300% Memory Bus (256-bit vs 64-bit)
+275% Stream Processors (3,840 vs 1,024)
+275% Ray Accelerators (60 vs 16)

Radeon RX 6800 vs Radeon RX 6500 XT: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon RX 6800 vs Radeon RX 6500 XT

The Radeon RX 6800 is dramatically faster, around 288% ahead of the Radeon RX 6500 XT. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Radeon RX 6800 is comfortable at 1440p, while the Radeon RX 6500 XT is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The Radeon RX 6800 packs 3,840 stream processors versus 1,024 on the Radeon RX 6500 XT. The Radeon RX 6800 also has more RT cores (60 vs 16), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.

Price & Value

The Radeon RX 6500 XT currently lists from $169 EUR, $1,017 EUR less than the Radeon RX 6800 at $1,186 EUR. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 6500 XT offers the better performance-per-dollar (~81% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 6500 XT is trading below its $200 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The Radeon RX 6800 still sits about $607 EUR above its $579 EUR MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

On power, the Radeon RX 6500 XT is the gentler choice at 113W versus 250W. The Radeon RX 6800 is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 250W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The Radeon RX 6800 carries 16GB versus 4GB on the Radeon RX 6500 XT. The extra 12GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The Radeon RX 6800's memory is also faster — 512 GB/s versus 144 GB/s (256-bit vs 64-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Generation & Longevity

The Radeon RX 6500 XT is roughly 2 years newer than the Radeon RX 6800, so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 6500 XT or Radeon RX 6800?

Choose the Radeon RX 6800 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX 6500 XT stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Radeon RX 6800 better than the Radeon RX 6500 XT?

The Radeon RX 6800 is dramatically faster, roughly 288% ahead. The Radeon RX 6500 XT is still worth it if value matters more than top-end frames.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon RX 6500 XT or the Radeon RX 6800?

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 $1,017 EUR over the Radeon RX 6500 XT?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon RX 6500 XT comes out ahead.

Does the Radeon RX 6800 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 16GB (vs 4GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Which is better for ray tracing, the Radeon RX 6800 or the Radeon RX 6500 XT?

Both handle ray tracing, but the Radeon RX 6800 has more RT cores, giving it better ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance than the Radeon RX 6500 XT.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

SpecificationRadeon RX 6500 XTRadeon RX 6800
ArchitectureRDNA 2RDNA 2
Process NodeTSMC N6TSMC N7
CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors)1,0243,840
Ray Tracing Cores1660

Clock Speeds

SpecificationRadeon RX 6500 XTRadeon RX 6800
Base Clock2,310 MHz1,700 MHz
Boost Clock2,815 MHz2,105 MHz

Memory

SpecificationRadeon RX 6500 XTRadeon RX 6800
VRAM Capacity4 GB16 GB
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR6
Memory Bus64-bit256-bit
Memory Speed18 Gbps16 Gbps
Bandwidth144 GB/s512 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationRadeon RX 6500 XTRadeon RX 6800
InterfacePCIe 4.0 x4PCIe 4.0 x16
TDP113 W250 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin2x 8-pin
ReleasedJan 2022Nov 2020