AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT vs RX 6800: Which is the better GPU for gaming?
The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT vs RX 6800 battle is quite intriguing. Both cards are priced closely and are excellent choices for PC gamers seeking smooth performance at higher resolutions. Being relatively newer, the 7700 XT benefits from modern architecture advancements, while its counterpart remains a strong contender for high-resolution gaming and demanding workloads with its larger memory capacity and robust performance.
Selecting one GPU over the other is very challenging. This article will compare the specs and performance of both cards to help you decide the better pick for you.
Note: This article is subjective and reflects the author's opinions.
AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT vs RX 6800: Specifications
The RX 6800 is a generation-old graphics card and is built on the old RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7nm process node. On the contrary, its counterpart is built on the latest RDNA 3.0 architecture, which offers a significant leap in performance and efficiency over its predecessor. The process node is 5nm.
Nevertheless, the Radeon RX 6800 has more shading units, RT cores, and cache memory. Here are the hardware configurations of these GPUs:
Despite being old, the base clock speed of the RX 6800 is much higher than its competitor. However, the 7000 series card outperforms it in the game and boost clocks. This implies that it will perform better when pushed to its maximum capabilities and during gaming sessions. Under normal conditions, you can expect the 6000 series graphics card to perform optimally.
The TDP difference is minimal. However, the 5nm process card is likely to offer better overall efficiency due to the advanced manufacturing process.
That said, the RX 7700 XT has 12GB of VRAM compared to 16GB of VRAM of its counterpart.
AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT vs RX 6800: Performance comparison
Selecting a better option just by looking at the technical specifications is quite challenging. Both cards come with fantastic core configurations. So, it is very crucial to check the real-life performance before reaching any conclusion. To get a more insightful view of the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT vs RX 6800 battle, I have compiled the FPS numbers of these GPUs in various popular games.
The data is sourced from the Jegs TV YouTube channel. All the games are played in FHD.
The RX 6800 outperformed its counterpart in nine out of the twelve games tested. While the performance gap is not very high in most other titles, it delivers 26% more FPS in Counter-Strike 2.
The 7800 XT performs quite well in COD: Modern Warfare 2 with a 10% performance gap.
We also have the QHD and 4K numbers as well:
In QHD gaming, the RX 6800 outperformed the RX 7700 XT in two-thirds of the tested scenarios, achieving its highest performance gain in CS2 with a 52.46% increase in frames per second. However, the RX 7700 XT managed to secure a victory in one additional title, Dota 2, with an 11% performance margin.
Across various resolutions tested, the most significant performance gap was observed in 4K. Out of 11 games, the RX 7700 XT delivers optimal results in only two games. This means its older counterpart is superior in 4K gaming.
AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT vs RX 6800: Final verdict
Both cards have delivered respectable FPS, even in high resolutions. However, the RX 6800 comes out as superior in most of the titles, especially when playing in 4K. So, it is the winner of the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT vs RX 6800 comparison.
However, this doesn't mean the other Team Red option is significantly inferior. It offers great performance at FHD and QHD, with playable FPS in 4K. Moreover, it is more efficient than its counterpart.
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