RX 6800 vs RTX 5090
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | RX 6800 | RTX 5090 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 6,791 | 40,000 | -83.0% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 65 | 286 | -77.3% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 39 | 183 | -78.7% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 21 | 105 | -80.0% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 16.2 | 104.8 | -84.6% |
| VRAM | 16 GB GDDR6 | 32 GB GDDR7 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 448 | 1,792 | -75.0% |
| TDP (W) | 250 | 575 | — |
| Stable Diffusion (it/s) | 2.4 | 41.9 | -94.3% |
| LLM inference (tokens/s) | 35 | 143 | -75.5% |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $579 | $1,999 | -71.0% |
- RTX 5090 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 39 fps — about 79% faster.
- RX 6800 draws less power (250W vs 575W).
Verdict: RX 6800 or RTX 5090?
RX 6800 advantages
- Power efficiency (+57%)
- Affordability (+71%)
RTX 5090 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+79%)
- 4K gaming (+80%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+83%)
- Video memory (+50%)
- Memory bandwidth (+75%)
- AI image generation (+94%)
- Local LLM inference (+76%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the RX 6800 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the RTX 5090 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the RX 6800 if you want the better price for the performance.
Value for money
RTX 5090 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
RX 6800 vs RTX 5090: which should you choose?
RX 6800 — AMD desktop graphics card (2020, RDNA 2) with 16 GB of GDDR6, averaging 39 fps at 1440p; launched at $579.
RTX 5090 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2025, Blackwell) with 32 GB of GDDR7, averaging 183 fps at 1440p; launched at $1,999.
RX 6800 vs RTX 5090: RTX 5090 is faster for gaming. RTX 5090 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 39 fps — about 79% faster. RX 6800 draws less power (250W vs 575W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RTX 5090 averages 183 fps against 39. At 4K (21 vs 105 fps) VRAM (16GB vs 32GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
AI and creator workloads
Beyond gaming, the RTX 5090 is quicker for AI image generation (41.9 vs 2.4 it/s in Stable Diffusion) and local LLM inference (143 vs 35 tokens/s), which increasingly matters for creators and developers.
Power and value
Board power is 250 W versus 575 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $579 vs $1,999, 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 6800 better than the RTX 5090?
RTX 5090 takes the overall edge, though RX 6800 wins in specific areas worth weighing. RTX 5090 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 39 fps — about 79% faster.
What is the main difference between the RX 6800 and the RTX 5090?
RTX 5090 averages 183 fps at 1440p versus 39 fps — about 79% faster. RX 6800 draws less power (250W vs 575W).
Which is better value?
RTX 5090 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the RX 6800 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise. Choose the RTX 5090 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.