Radeon RX 6500 XT vs Radeon RX 6600 XT
Performance-wise the Radeon RX 6600 XT is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 125% up on the Radeon RX 6500 XT. Value tips toward the Radeon RX 6500 XT, though: $399 USD cheaper for what you get.
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Radeon RX 6600 XT vs Radeon RX 6500 XT: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon RX 6600 XT vs Radeon RX 6500 XT
The Radeon RX 6600 XT is dramatically faster, around 125% ahead of the Radeon RX 6500 XT. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Radeon RX 6600 XT is comfortable at 1080p, while the Radeon RX 6500 XT is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The Radeon RX 6600 XT packs 2,048 stream processors versus 1,024 on the Radeon RX 6500 XT. The Radeon RX 6600 XT also has more RT cores (32 vs 16), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.
Price & Value
Right now the Radeon RX 6500 XT starts at $319 USD against $718 USD for the Radeon RX 6600 XT. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 6500 XT offers the better performance-per-dollar, so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 6500 XT still sits about $119 USD above its $200 USD MSRP. The Radeon RX 6600 XT still sits about $339 USD above its $379 USD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The Radeon RX 6500 XT is the lighter draw at 113W against the Radeon RX 6600 XT's 160W, making it the easier card to power and cool. The Radeon RX 6600 XT draws more in absolute terms but squeezes out more performance per watt, so budget for a beefier PSU if you go that route.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The Radeon RX 6600 XT's 8GB (vs 4GB on the Radeon RX 6500 XT) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The Radeon RX 6600 XT's memory is also faster — 256 GB/s versus 144 GB/s (128-bit vs 64-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: Radeon RX 6500 XT or Radeon RX 6600 XT?
Choose the Radeon RX 6600 XT 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 XT better than the Radeon RX 6500 XT?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon RX 6500 XT or the Radeon RX 6600 XT?
Is the Radeon RX 6600 XT worth the extra $399 USD over the Radeon RX 6500 XT?
Does the Radeon RX 6600 XT have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which is better for ray tracing, the Radeon RX 6600 XT or the Radeon RX 6500 XT?
Which should you buy: Radeon RX 6500 XT or Radeon RX 6600 XT?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | Radeon RX 6500 XT | Radeon RX 6600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 2 | RDNA 2 |
| Process Node | TSMC N6 | TSMC N7 |
| CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors) | 1,024 | 2,048✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 16 | 32✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | Radeon RX 6500 XT | Radeon RX 6600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 2,310 MHz✓ | 1,968 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2,815 MHz✓ | 2,589 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | Radeon RX 6500 XT | Radeon RX 6600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 64-bit | 128-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 18 Gbps✓ | 16 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 144 GB/s | 256 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | Radeon RX 6500 XT | Radeon RX 6600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 113 W✓ | 160 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Jan 2022 | Jul 2021 |