Skip to content

Radeon RX 6500 XT vs Radeon RX 6600

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the Radeon RX 6600 comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 88% ahead of the Radeon RX 6500 XT. That said, the Radeon RX 6500 XT is the smarter buy on value β€” $6,185 SEK less for the performance on offer.

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

VS
AMD Radeon
RX 6500 XT
Price
SEK 2,634βœ“
Performance
8/100
VRAM
4 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+13% Boost Clock (2,815 MHz vs 2,491 MHz)
AMD Radeon
RX 6600
Price
SEK 8,819
Performance
15/100βœ“
VRAM
8 GB GDDR6βœ“
Key Specs Advantage
+100% Memory Bus (128-bit vs 64-bit)
+75% Stream Processors (1,792 vs 1,024)
+75% Ray Accelerators (28 vs 16)

Radeon RX 6600 vs Radeon RX 6500 XT: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon RX 6600 vs Radeon RX 6500 XT

The Radeon RX 6600 is dramatically faster, around 88% ahead of the Radeon RX 6500 XT. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Radeon RX 6600 is comfortable at 1080p, while the Radeon RX 6500 XT is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The Radeon RX 6600 packs 1,792 stream processors versus 1,024 on the Radeon RX 6500 XT. The Radeon RX 6600 also has more RT cores (28 vs 16), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.

Price & Value

The Radeon RX 6500 XT currently lists from $2,634 SEK, $6,185 SEK less than the Radeon RX 6600 at $8,819 SEK. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 6500 XT offers the better performance-per-dollar (~79% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 6500 XT still sits about $2,434 SEK above its $200 SEK MSRP. The Radeon RX 6600 still sits about $8,489 SEK above its $330 SEK MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

On power, the Radeon RX 6500 XT is the gentler choice at 113W versus 132W. The Radeon RX 6600 is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 132W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

VRAM favors the Radeon RX 6600 at 8GB versus 4GB on the Radeon RX 6500 XT β€” that extra 4GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The Radeon RX 6600's memory is also faster β€” 224 GB/s versus 144 GB/s (128-bit vs 64-bit bus) β€” which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 6500 XT or Radeon RX 6600?

Choose the Radeon RX 6600 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 6600 better than the Radeon RX 6500 XT?

The Radeon RX 6600 is dramatically faster, roughly 88% 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 6600?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the Radeon RX 6600 worth the extra $6,185 SEK 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 6600 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 8GB (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 6600 or the Radeon RX 6500 XT?

Both handle ray tracing, but the Radeon RX 6600 has more RT cores, giving it better ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance than the Radeon RX 6500 XT.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 6500 XT or Radeon RX 6600?

Choose the Radeon RX 6600 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.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between Radeon RX 6500 XT and Radeon RX 6600
SpecificationRadeon RX 6500 XTRadeon RX 6600
ArchitectureRDNA 2RDNA 2
Process NodeTSMC N6TSMC N7
CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors)1,0241,792βœ“
Ray Tracing Cores1628βœ“

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between Radeon RX 6500 XT and Radeon RX 6600
SpecificationRadeon RX 6500 XTRadeon RX 6600
Base Clock2,310 MHzβœ“1,626 MHz
Boost Clock2,815 MHzβœ“2,491 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between Radeon RX 6500 XT and Radeon RX 6600
SpecificationRadeon RX 6500 XTRadeon RX 6600
VRAM Capacity4 GB8 GBβœ“
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR6
Memory Bus64-bit128-bitβœ“
Memory Speed18 Gbpsβœ“14 Gbps
Bandwidth144 GB/s224 GB/sβœ“

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between Radeon RX 6500 XT and Radeon RX 6600
SpecificationRadeon RX 6500 XTRadeon RX 6600
InterfacePCIe 4.0 x4PCIe 4.0 x8
TDP113 Wβœ“132 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin1x 8-pin
ReleasedJan 2022Oct 2021