Calling all PC players! Are you sick of the GPU scarcity inflicting a disruption within the space-time continuum? Are you not trying to pay out the nostril for a brand new graphics card? Effectively, 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, compared to some older GPUs, it comes with just a few technological compromises.

The Radeon RX 580 is from 2017, for instance, however can it maintain a candle to the newcomer in 1080p efficiency? How in regards to 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 when it comes to efficiency, pricing, and availability to those previous favorites!

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

The battle worn AMD RX 580 and Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB are nonetheless value a fairly penny on the used market as a result of “Nice GPU Scarcity.” They each appear to usually fall in that $200-$300 vary, very similar to the brand new AMD RX 6500 XT. The GTX 1060 additionally is available in a 3GB selection – which may usually be discovered for beneath $200. Very similar to the 4GB 6500 XT, the decrease VRAM signifies that crypto miners aren’t on this model and it is best to possible go for the 6GB one.

This pricing is traditionally atypical. Usually talking, you’d desire a steep low cost on tech that’s 5 years previous, particularly graphics playing cards. These are additionally the entry degree 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 few depreciated GTX 1080 Ti right here, both! They’re value extra now, too.

Thiago Trevisan/IDG

The place does this go away a model spankin’ new RX 6500 XT? With pricing starting from $199 to a extra sensible $270 or so, it’s much like the older choices above. Sounds OK, proper? Not precisely. It comes with some severe efficiency drawbacks that don’t transfer the needle forward as a lot as we’d like. Nonetheless, 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 greater 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 in opposition to 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 wish to see in a more moderen product.

Understand that these efficiency numbers are in opposition to 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 provide ray tracing, it’s nothing it is best to care about as a result of efficiency ranges on show right here. This can be a GPU for 1080p medium settings and when 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 gives 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 properly managed thermals however do take note the bodily situation of the older GPUs, particularly if you buy them used. Over time, mud and put on on the followers could cause them to function with much less effectivity, so it’s vital to ensure they’re dusted off and able to roll.

Thiago Trevisan/IDG

Vital concerns

Whereas the Radeon RX 6500 XT has limitations in comparison with most fashionable GPUs, it additionally could 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 know-how with its larger brothers that shall be useful when gaming.

For instance, Good Entry Reminiscence will help enhance efficiency. Radeon Increase and FidelityFX Tremendous Decision also can assist acquire 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 with older PCIe 3.0 rigs.

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

What do you purchase? 

So, when you’re out there for a price range GPU, which of those must you purchase? When you’re strictly a 1080p gamer and content material with medium settings, it’s not a nasty choice, particularly when you discover it for nearer to its $199 MSRP. Pushing visible settings past that can lead to more and more worse efficiency, although. Additionally, ensure you received’t want the opposite options like extra monitor assist or content material creation capabilities.

When you can truly discover a good situation, pretty priced RX 580 or GTX 1060, they’re nonetheless competent for 1080p gaming. With their greater VRAM, they might even have some advantages at greater visible settings.

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

Retail pricing developments appear to have reached new highs in 2022 and future prospects are difficult for the price range GPU section. Sadly, your choices come down to those restricted GPU choices for now. Greatest case situation is that if GPU pricing on the two^nd hand market developments decrease, then you definately’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.