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Radeon RX 5700 XT vs Radeon RX 6650 XT

Quick Verdict

Performance-wise the Radeon RX 6650 XT is out front, marginally faster, roughly 6% up on the Radeon RX 5700 XT. Value tips toward the Radeon RX 5700 XT, though: $120 USD cheaper for what you get.

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Radeon RX 6650 XT vs Radeon RX 5700 XT: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon RX 6650 XT vs Radeon RX 5700 XT

The Radeon RX 6650 XT is marginally faster, around 6% ahead of the Radeon RX 5700 XT. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p.

Price & Value

Right now the Radeon RX 5700 XT starts at $190 USD against $310 USD for the Radeon RX 6650 XT. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 5700 XT offers the better performance-per-dollar (~55% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 5700 XT is trading below its $399 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The Radeon RX 6650 XT is trading below its $399 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

The Radeon RX 6650 XT sips power at 180W next to the Radeon RX 5700 XT's 225W, and still leads on performance-per-watt — quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU. Its more modern RDNA 2 architecture on a TSMC N7 process is part of why it does more with each watt.

Memory & Bandwidth

The Radeon RX 5700 XT's memory is faster — 448 GB/s versus 280 GB/s (256-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Generation & Longevity

The Radeon RX 6650 XT is roughly 3 years newer than the Radeon RX 5700 XT (RDNA 2 vs RDNA), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 5700 XT or Radeon RX 6650 XT?

Choose the Radeon RX 6650 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 6650 XT better than the Radeon RX 5700 XT?

The Radeon RX 6650 XT is marginally faster, roughly 6% ahead. The Radeon RX 5700 XT is still worth it if value matters more than top-end frames.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon RX 5700 XT or the Radeon RX 6650 XT?

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 6650 XT worth the extra $120 USD over the Radeon RX 5700 XT?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon RX 5700 XT comes out ahead.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 5700 XT or Radeon RX 6650 XT?

Choose the Radeon RX 6650 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.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 6650 XT
SpecificationRadeon RX 5700 XTRadeon RX 6650 XT
ArchitectureRDNARDNA 2
Process NodeTSMC N7TSMC N7
CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors)2,560✓2,048
Ray Tracing Cores—32

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 6650 XT
SpecificationRadeon RX 5700 XTRadeon RX 6650 XT
Base Clock1,605 MHz2,055 MHz✓
Boost Clock1,905 MHz2,635 MHz✓

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 6650 XT
SpecificationRadeon RX 5700 XTRadeon RX 6650 XT
VRAM Capacity8 GB8 GB
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR6
Memory Bus256-bit✓128-bit
Memory Speed14 Gbps17.5 Gbps✓
Bandwidth448 GB/s✓280 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 6650 XT
SpecificationRadeon RX 5700 XTRadeon RX 6650 XT
InterfacePCIe 4.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x8
TDP225 W180 W✓
Power Connectors1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin1x 8-pin
ReleasedJul 2019May 2022