RX 6500 XT vs RX 6800 XT
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | RX 6500 XT | RX 6800 XT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 2,423 | 8,710 | -72.2% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 36 | 78 | -53.8% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 20 | 47 | -57.4% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 11 | 26 | -57.7% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 5.8 | 20.7 | -72.2% |
| VRAM | 4 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR6 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 112 | 448 | -75.0% |
| TDP (W) | 107 | 300 | — |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $199 | $649 | -69.3% |
- RX 6800 XT averages 47 fps at 1440p versus 20 fps — about 57% faster.
- RX 6500 XT draws less power (107W vs 300W).
Verdict: RX 6500 XT or RX 6800 XT?
RX 6500 XT advantages
- Power efficiency (+64%)
- Affordability (+69%)
RX 6800 XT advantages
- 1440p gaming (+57%)
- 4K gaming (+58%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+72%)
- Video memory (+75%)
- Memory bandwidth (+75%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the RX 6500 XT if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the RX 6800 XT if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the RX 6500 XT if you want the better price for the performance.
Value for money
RX 6800 XT delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
RX 6500 XT vs RX 6800 XT: which should you choose?
RX 6500 XT — AMD desktop graphics card (2022, RDNA 2) with 4 GB of GDDR6, averaging 20 fps at 1440p; launched at $199.
RX 6800 XT — AMD desktop graphics card (2020, RDNA 2) with 16 GB of GDDR6, averaging 47 fps at 1440p; launched at $649.
RX 6500 XT vs RX 6800 XT: RX 6800 XT is faster for gaming. RX 6800 XT averages 47 fps at 1440p versus 20 fps — about 57% faster. RX 6500 XT draws less power (107W vs 300W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RX 6800 XT averages 47 fps against 20. At 4K (11 vs 26 fps) VRAM (4GB vs 16GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
Power and value
Board power is 107 W versus 300 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $199 vs $649, weigh the frame-rate lead against price and power draw for your target resolution.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RX 6500 XT better than the RX 6800 XT?
RX 6800 XT takes the overall edge, though RX 6500 XT wins in specific areas worth weighing. RX 6800 XT averages 47 fps at 1440p versus 20 fps — about 57% faster.
What is the main difference between the RX 6500 XT and the RX 6800 XT?
RX 6800 XT averages 47 fps at 1440p versus 20 fps — about 57% faster. RX 6500 XT draws less power (107W vs 300W).
Which is better value?
RX 6800 XT delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the RX 6500 XT if you want lower power draw, heat and noise. Choose the RX 6800 XT if you game at 1440p.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.