Calling all PC avid gamers! Are you sick of the GPU scarcity inflicting a disruption within the space-time continuum? Are you not seeking to pay out the nostril for a brand new graphics card? Nicely, in the present day you’re in luck. The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is a newly launched graphics card that lastly enters the $199 to $299 panorama. That stated, in comparison to some older GPUs, it comes with a number of technological compromises.

The Radeon RX 580 is from 2017, for instance, however can it maintain a candle to the newcomer in 1080p efficiency? How concerning the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 from 2016? It’s a legend in its personal proper. Let’s see how the AMD RX 6500 XT compares by way of efficiency, pricing, and availability to those outdated favorites!

Value – Like we’ve by no means seen earlier than

The battle worn AMD RX 580 and Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB are nonetheless price a fairly penny on the used market because of the “Nice GPU Scarcity.” They each appear to repeatedly fall in that $200-$300 vary, very like the brand new AMD RX 6500 XT. The GTX 1060 additionally is available in a 3GB selection – which may typically be discovered for below $200. Very like the 4GB 6500 XT, the decrease VRAM implies that crypto miners aren’t on this model and you need to seemingly go for the 6GB one.

This pricing is traditionally atypical. Typically talking, you’d need a steep low cost on tech that’s 5 years outdated, particularly graphics playing cards. These are additionally the entry stage playing cards of their technology, so this pricing again then was comparable or cheaper to in the present day’s pricing. We’re not even speaking a couple of depreciated GTX 1080 Ti right here, both! They’re price extra now, too.

Thiago Trevisan/IDG

The place does this depart a model spankin’ new RX 6500 XT? With pricing starting from $199 to a extra real looking $270 or so, it’s much like the older choices above. Sounds OK, proper? Not precisely. It comes with some critical efficiency drawbacks that don’t transfer the needle forward as a lot as we’d like. Nevertheless, it’s one of many few available GPUs with out insane inflated pricing.

Efficiency

The 6500 XT is, realistically, a medium-settings 1080p GPU. At larger settings, the restrictions with its VRAM and PCIE lanes boggle it down considerably.

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In Watch Canines Legion, medium settings nets you some good efficiency towards the older GTX 1060 and RX 580. For an entire breakdown, verify our full Radeon RX 6500 XT overview.

Brad Chacos/IDG

A quick paced recreation like Gears Techniques results in a fairly shut GPU brawl. As you an see within the above graph, the Radeon RX 6500 XT barely edges out the older GPUs. It flat out loses to the older 5500 XT, which isn’t one thing you’d sometimes prefer to see in a more recent product.

Take into account that these efficiency numbers are towards some GPUs relationship way back to 2016 on medium settings. Nothing too spectacular right here. It’s simply sufficient efficiency.

Whereas the 6500 XT technically does supply ray tracing, it’s nothing you need to care about because of the efficiency ranges on show right here. This can be a GPU for 1080p medium settings and in case you’re conservative with these expectations, it is going to be tremendous in most titles.

Energy and thermals

One space the place the Radeon 6500 XT affords some enhancements is within the RDNA 2 structure’s energy effectivity. Whereas each the RX 580 and GTX 1060 are not any energy hogs, they’re definitely extra thirsty than the 6500 XT.

All three ought to have effectively managed thermals however do consider the bodily situation of the older GPUs, particularly if you are going to buy them used. Over time, mud and put on on the followers may cause them to function with much less effectivity, so it’s necessary to verify they’re dusted off and able to roll.

Thiago Trevisan/IDG

Necessary issues

Whereas the Radeon RX 6500 XT has limitations in comparison with most fashionable GPUs, it additionally can have some benefits. First, you’ll have a model new guarantee with this GPU versus shopping for used. Secondly, it does share some nice AMD expertise with its greater brothers that shall be useful when gaming.

For instance, Good Entry Reminiscence might help improve efficiency. Radeon Enhance and FidelityFX Tremendous Decision may also assist achieve some additional body charges with out too many visible compromises. Whereas the 6500 XT does have ray tracing, it’s too restricted to be usable.

One other factor to think about is you’ll have restricted monitor connections with solely a single HDMI and single displayport. On The RX 580 and GTX 1060, you’ll sometimes have extra. You’ll even have extra bottlenecks with the 4GB of VRAM along side older PCIe 3.0 rigs.

For those who’re a content material creator or streamer, this GPU lacks video encoders present in most different choices.

What do you purchase? 

So, in case you’re available in the market for a funds GPU, which of those do you have to purchase? For those who’re strictly a 1080p gamer and content material with medium settings, it’s not a foul choice, particularly in case you discover it for nearer to its $199 MSRP. Pushing visible settings past that may end in more and more worse efficiency, although. Additionally, ensure you gained’t want the opposite options like extra monitor assist or content material creation capabilities.

For those who can really discover a good situation, pretty priced RX 580 or GTX 1060, they’re nonetheless competent for 1080p gaming. With their larger VRAM, they might even have some advantages at larger visible settings.

The true reply right here is that it’s a tough market and none of those are very best. If GPUs such because the RTX 3050/3060 or AMD 6600/6600XT have been extra accessible at their “official” MSRP, they’d all be much better choices for all avid gamers. Sadly, they’re both offered out continually or carry very excessive pricing taking them to $400, $500, and past. While you’re on the lookout for a $200 GPU, these are simply too costly.

Retail pricing traits appear to have reached new highs in 2022 and future prospects are difficult for the funds GPU phase. Sadly, your choices come down to those restricted GPU choices for now. Finest case situation is that if GPU pricing on the two^nd hand market traits decrease, then you definitely’ll have a greater shot at one thing like a GTX 1080 Ti or RTX 2060 GPU at extra affordable pricing and gaming efficiency.

With all of that in thoughts, there’s no cause to improve to the 6500 XT if you have already got a RX 580 or GTX 1060.