Radeon RX 5700 XT vs Radeon RX 6800 XT
On raw speed the Radeon RX 6800 XT comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 106% ahead of the Radeon RX 5700 XT. That said, the Radeon RX 5700 XT is the smarter buy on value — $250 USD less for the performance on offer.
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Comparable or lower specs
Radeon RX 6800 XT vs Radeon RX 5700 XT: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon RX 6800 XT vs Radeon RX 5700 XT
The Radeon RX 6800 XT is dramatically faster, around 106% ahead of the Radeon RX 5700 XT. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Radeon RX 6800 XT is comfortable at 1440p, while the Radeon RX 5700 XT is better matched to 1080p. The Radeon RX 6800 XT packs 4,608 stream processors versus 2,560 on the Radeon RX 5700 XT.
Price & Value
The Radeon RX 5700 XT currently lists from $190 USD, $250 USD less than the Radeon RX 6800 XT at $440 USD. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 5700 XT offers the better performance-per-dollar (~13% 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 6800 XT is trading below its $649 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
On power, the Radeon RX 5700 XT is the gentler choice at 225W versus 300W. The Radeon RX 6800 XT is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 300W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU. Its more modern RDNA 2 architecture on a TSMC N7 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the Radeon RX 6800 XT at 16GB versus 8GB on the Radeon RX 5700 XT — that extra 8GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The Radeon RX 6800 XT's memory is also faster — 512 GB/s versus 448 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: Radeon RX 5700 XT or Radeon RX 6800 XT?
Choose the Radeon RX 6800 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 6800 XT better than the Radeon RX 5700 XT?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon RX 5700 XT or the Radeon RX 6800 XT?
Is the Radeon RX 6800 XT worth the extra $250 USD over the Radeon RX 5700 XT?
Does the Radeon RX 6800 XT have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: Radeon RX 5700 XT or Radeon RX 6800 XT?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | Radeon RX 5700 XT | Radeon RX 6800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA | RDNA 2 |
| Process Node | TSMC N7 | TSMC N7 |
| CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors) | 2,560 | 4,608✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 72 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | Radeon RX 5700 XT | Radeon RX 6800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,605 MHz | 1,825 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,905 MHz | 2,250 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | Radeon RX 5700 XT | Radeon RX 6800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 16 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 512 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | Radeon RX 5700 XT | Radeon RX 6800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 225 W✓ | 300 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Jul 2019 | Oct 2020 |