After acquiring ATI Technologies, over 15 years ago, AMD decided to compete with Nvidia along with Intel at the same time. However, unlike Intel, Nvidia took AMD seriously and left no room for mistakes, making their RTX 3000 series a massive upgrade and success. AMD answered back with their Radeon RX 6000 Series of GPUs, with their RX 6900 XT being the flagship model, which costs less than Nvidia flagship RTX 3080 Ti and 3090 while having a better price to performance ratio at MSRP. Fact: The Radeon RX 6900 XT is AMD’s flagship graphics card released to compete with Nvidia’s RTX 3080 Ti and 3090 at a lower price tag. Though AMD was affected by GPU shortage far worse than Nvidia, if you are somehow able to get the RX 6900 XT, and you are not sure which model you should be getting, you are at the right place.
Best RX 6900 XT Graphics Card – Let’s Compare Below!
A Quick Look At The Best RX 6900 XT GPUs:
Best Radeon RX 6900 XT
The AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT is the top of line 6000 GPUs that features the best performance out of the three cards in the line-up. It features up to 80 compute units with 80 Ray Accelerators. All possible with the help of these ray accelerators to compete with Nvidia’s hardware-based Ray Tracing. It has 128 MB of Infinity Cache that introduced a new cache level design for the entire graphics core. It boosted the performance of gaming to several FPS due to the multiple fold bandwidth increase. It is a technology that should be praised. The generic factory design of the graphics card is attractive and likable. It features a decent, bulky heatsink for maximum heat dissipation, getting the heat in control. With custom-designed axial fans, the card offers high-end gaming with cool and quiet performance. Gaming rigs are incomplete without flashy, funky GPU design by renowned GPU manufacturers plus the RGB. If you are willing to spend extra bucks to get better performance and aesthetics with an attractive design, we will help you decide the best RX 6900 XT graphics card for your gaming machine.
#1 – PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT
Starting with PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT. It features the Navi 21 GPU by AMD and a custom cooler paired with triple, specially designed fans for maximum heat dissipation.
Game Clock: 2105 MHz Boost Clock: 2340 MHz Power Connectors: 3x 8-Pin Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6 Dimensions: 12.5 x 5.3 x 2.4 Inch Power Consumption: Between 350W & 400W Recommended Power Supply: 900W Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1 / 3x DisplayPort 1.4
Metallic shroud, backplate embedded with unique and customizable RGB lighting Dual BIOSes for better overclocking or silent performance Solid build quality FedilityFX support to compete with Nvidia’s DLSS HDMI 2.1 port for 8K HDR gaming experiences PCIe 4.0 support with a throughput of 16 GT per second
It is hard to recommend due to its bonkers high price tag
It is a power-hungry graphics card unit rated at least 300 watts of power consumption during loading, and we already know that these numbers will only go up rather than drop. We are looking at over 330 watts of power consumption, 3 percent more than the reference card and 5 percent less than the RTX 3080 Ti. Make sure to get a high-quality power supply, as you do not want to put this premium and rare graphics card at risk. Since it consumes up to 330 watts of power, make sure to have at least 650 watts PSU installed on your PC. The GPU is capable of fan-stop under low temperatures. Under gaming at maxed-out settings, the GPU peaked at 38 Dba on performance mode, which is fine acoustic-wise. The gaming performance of the GPU is rather odd. It managed to gain a comprehensive lead over the RTX 3090 and 3080 Ti in some games but fell short by a significant margin in other games like Cyberpunk 2077. Overall, a killer performance if you manage to grab it at a price closer to MSRP.
#2 – Sapphire Technology Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT Special Edition
Sapphire is one of the best and most popular manufacturers of AMD GPUs, and for good reasons. It is one of the five SKUs of 6900 XT. It has more SKUs than total units available for purchase on any website. I understand, and I am sad with the current situation of the PC hardware market due to the ever-increasing prices of graphics cards. However, putting aside prices at one side and talking about the real pros and cons of the PowerColor Radeon RX 6900 XT, has no particular cons that would make anyone think twice before getting the GPU. AMD released their flagship GPU to compete with Nvidia’s RTX 3080 Ti and RTX 3090 at a cheaper price tag, similar to Intel vs. AMD competition. It delivered impressive results in whether we are talking about gaming, cooling, or acoustics, it tries to check all boxes, and the results are quite promising.
Game Clock: 2135 MHz Boost Clock: 2365 MHz Power Connectors: 2x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin Power Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6 Dimensions: 12.5 x 5.3 x 2.2 Inch Power Consumption: 363W+ Recommended Power Supply: 850W Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1x HDMI 2.1
ARGB lit fans, logo, and backplate Offers limitless customizability with user-friendly TriXX software Bulky and specially designed heatsink with triple fans for quintessential cooling performance Dual BIOS, which can be switched in between using TriXX software. Stelar gaming and VR performance Jaw-dropping boost and base clock speed, faster than the reference card.
Bulky GPU requires a lot of space for installation and heat dissipation Multiple SKUs for a single GPU.
With jokes aside, we have a serious contender by Sapphire aiming to give the RTX 3080 Ti and 3090 a tough time. Except for its ridiculous price, of course, it has everything that you can expect from an enthusiastic level GPU. Aesthetics-wise, it features 3x ARGB fans, logo, and backplate, combined with a plastic+metallic shroud giving it a premium look. Sapphire has done a splendid job with the aesthetics, and I believe, it will sit well with most PC builds. Performance-wise, it has an absurd boost clock of up to 2365 MHz and a base clock speed of 2135 MHz, both being faster than the reference card clock speeds. It does not have something attention-catching to offer in games and has a similar performance as other 6900 XT variants. Sapphire manufactures their GPUs with the most reliable and durable MOSFET and chokes. To prevent any issues like thermal throttling, fps loss in games, optimal heat dissipation is necessary. The TRI-X cooler is here for this specific job. To tailor the GPU as per your needs, the Nitro+ RX 6900 XT is fully customizable limitlessly with the help of Sapphire’s TriXX Software.
#3 – MSI Gaming Radeon RX 6900 XT Gaming Z Trio
MSI has released their version of the flagship RX 6900 XT graphics card, extending their custom Big Navi family of GPUs. The latest iteration in the MSI Gaming series brings aesthetics, solid build quality, low noise acoustics, outstanding cooling performance for the enthusiastic, hardcore gamers that are looking for the best that money can get. I have been keeping an eye on GPU releases for some years now, and I have yet to see a bad review about any Sapphire card. The company is determined to be one of the best AIB card manufacturers for AMD. Props to the engineers for doing an amazing job. Not only, it has decent aesthetics on multiple sides of the GPU, but it is also as impressive gaming-wise hardware-wise. The ARGB fans, logo, and backplate oddly make the graphics card a premium product, and when combined with the Navi 21 technology inside, it becomes almost a perfect package ready to deliver a fluid gaming experience.
Game Clock: 2235 MHz Boost Clock: 2425 MHz Power Connectors: 3x 8-Pin Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6 Dimensions: 12.7 x 5.5 x 2.1 Inch Power Consumption: Between 300W & 350W Recommended Power Supply: 850W Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1x HDMI 2.1
Faster than the RTX 3080 and 3080 Ti, slightly behind the RTX 3090 Faster than the reference card, with a boost clock up to a staggering 2425 MHz Smart Access Memory (SAM) can boost gaming performance significantly if it kicks in. Low temps during gaming RGB Mystic Light for syncing RGB of the GPU with the PC Custom PCB with additional components for protection against electric damage
Power-hungry graphics card, only draws 4 percent less power than the RTX 3090 during gaming
It features 3x fans built on the TORX 4.0 technology combined with the TRI FROZR 2.0 cooler for keeping the thermals under control. The GPU is bulky and can be prone to sag. However, MSI has included bracket support, as well as, anti-bending metal strap for additional strengthening. It comes with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory based on the 256-bit wide memory bus with a bandwidth of 512 GB per second. The TDP of the reference GPU is listed for 300 watts. However, the RX 6900 XT Gaming Z TRIO peaks up to 350 watts of power consumption, only 4 percent less than the RTX 3090 and 4 percent more than the RTX 3080. Acoustics-wise, the Gaming Z TRIO is one of the best performers peaking up to 66 degrees Celsius. While the GPU stayed around the 31 degrees Celsius mark at idle. In games, the GPU delivered results better than expectations, going toe-to-toe against the RTX 3090. It is a shame the GPU is not under the MSI Suprim lineup but is an excellent graphics card nonetheless, delivering the best possible gaming experience at any given resolution.
#4 – XFX Speedster MERC319 RX 6900 XT Black
For years, AMD fans waited for team red to take on Nvidia. The fans’ wish came true when Dr. Lisa Su became the CEO and decided to take on Nvidia head-on. The RX 6900 XT Gaming Z Trio is the MSI’s enthusiastic version of the RX 6900 XT which, is better than the reference GPU in every way. Overclocked at up to 2425 MHz, the Gaming Z Trio is by far the fastest graphics card that I have ever seen. It is a perfect GPU for 4K gaming at 60 fps or lower resolutions at high refresh rates. There are several benefits that a user can enjoy after getting this GPU, like the Smart Access Memory (SAM) as a bonus. If the technology kicks in, games can have a significant performance boost without doing anything particular. Overall, with prices aside, it is a well-rounded product by MSI in every department, be it gaming, cooling, acoustics, or aesthetics.
Game Clock: 2135 MHz Boost Clock: 2365 MHz Power Connectors: 2x 8-Pin Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6 Dimensions: 13.39 x 5.47 x 2.24 Inch Power Consumption: Between 300W & 400W Recommended Power Supply: 850W Ports: 2x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1x HDMI 2.1 / 1x Type-C
Faster than the reference card out of the box Impressive acoustic performance Smart Access Memory support can significantly boost performance Bulky GPU for optimal cooling performance 16 GB of GDDR6 memory sufficient for 4K gaming HDMI 2.1 support up to 8K HDR gaming
Bulky GPU requires decent amount of space for heat dissipation Lack of RGB might be a turn off for some people
Nvidia has boasted, made huge promises about their RTX 3000 series of GPUs like 8K gaming at 60 fps which is very hard to achieve at native resolutions. However, with the help of DLSS can be achievable. XFX Speedster MERC 319 is here to take on the RTX 3090. At a single glance, it resembles the XFX THICC II Ultra Radeon RX 5700 XT with an extra fan. It comes with 2x 100mm fans on opposite sides of the GPU with a single 90mm fan in the middle. On the back, the GPU features a classic-looking aluminum backplate with XFX engraving and MERC insignia, which honestly looks cool. The MERC 319 features a base clock speed of 1950 MHz, game clock speeds of up to 2135 MHz, and lastly, boost clock speed of up to 2365 MHz. The boost clock speed is already 5 percent faster than the reference card, and with careful tweaks, we are looking at a 5-7 percent performance uplift. If Smart Memory Access (SAM) kicks in, the performance uplift increases further, giving a similar or better performance as the RTX 3090. Practically, it sits in the middle of RTX 3080 and 3090 in terms of specifications and gaming performance.
#5 – MSI Radeon RX 6900 XT Gaming X Trio
Moving on, we have another Gaming brand of GPU by MSI, the Radeon RX 6900 XT Gaming X Trio graphics card. The latest iteration of the 6900 XT brings the next level of gaming performance, packed with exciting hardware and software features. The XFX Radeon RX 6900 XT MERC 319 is a gaming beast that is ready for daily demanding processors, enthusiastic level gaming, or even VR, whatever is thrown at it, it is ready to deliver results better than expectations. With Smart Memory Access kicking in, a further performance boost can pump the performance without spending a single cent. All you need is a compatible Ryzen CPU to access this free boost. We have FidelityFX, the DLSS competitor, which is an open-source software-based scaler. In short, the GPU is excellent for current and old games, be it competitive or AAA graphic-intensive titles. With the 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, it is future-proof. You can have unrealistic expectations, and chances are this GPU will not let you down.
Game Clock: 2105 MHz Boost Clock: 2340 MHz Power Connectors: 3x 8-Pin Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6 Dimensions: 12.7 x 5.5 x 2.1 Inch Power Consumption: 300W+ Recommended Power Supply: 850W Ports: 3x DisplayPort / 1x HDMI 2.1
Fastest version of the RX 6900 XT Attractive design with minimal RGB lighting around different spots of the GPU Metallic backplate for additional strengthening Anti-bending strip and additional support bracket to prevent GPU sag. DirectX ray-tracing support Remarkable cooling performance out of the Tri FROZR 2 cooler
The GPU could have the premium Suprim X branding
The 6900 XT Gaming X Trio looks like the RX 6900 XT Gaming Z Trio. You might wonder, what exactly is the difference here, then? Well, you are almost on the spot, and the RX 6900 XT Gaming Z Trio is exactly the same as the Gaming X Trio, with few noticeable changes. One of the changes in the core and boosts clock speed. Gaming Z features a boost clock of up to 2425 MHz, while the Gaming X version features, up to 2340 MHz. Similarly, base clock speed is also lower on the Gaming X variant. Due to the difference in boost clock speed, the Gaming Z version consumes more energy. In games, the Gaming Z is slightly faster with a couple of frames difference. We are talking about 2 to 3 fps frame rate different. Nonetheless, having more options for a similar card may be a good thing, I guess. The GPU is one of the best choices for enthusiasts that can give the RTX 3090 a tough time, not to mention the Smart Memory Access (SAM) performance boost as a bonus. Gaming performance is better than my expectations as the GPU managed to grab the top position in some games, beating the RTX 3090 convincingly. Good job, MSI!
#6 – GIGABYTE AORUS Radeon RX 6900 XT Master
Meet the AORUS Radeon RX 6900 XT Master by Gigabyte. It is the company’s first custom build, RX 6900 XT featuring the Navi 21 GPU with a custom-built air cooler. Have you ever visited a computer shop, looked around mouth-watering gaming hardware, and instantly fell in love with one particular GPU? MSI has added a new addition to their Gaming brand of graphics card after releasing the Radeon RX 6900 XT Gaming X Trio. We still have yet to see a more premium “Suprim” brand of GPU for AMD by MSI. Still, the GPU is what we can title as the RTX 3090 killer, only if this GPU is available at an acceptable price, which we will not be seeing for a while. Besides its price, we need at least a whole article to discuss the pros of this beast in depth. The TL;DR is, get this GPU, and you will experience everything but disappointment (unless you get a faulty card from the start).
Game Clock: 2135 MHz Boost Clock: 2365 MHz Power Connectors: 3x 8-Pin Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6 Dimensions: 12.6 x 5.5 x 2.3 Inch Power Consumption: Between 300W & 400W Recommended Power Supply: 850W Ports: 2x DisplayPort 1.4a / 2x HDMI 2.1
Sublime aesthetics and design Fusion 2.0 RGB lighting Built-in LED that can display custom images, text, GIFs, or GPU statistics Incredible gaming performance at 4K and lower resolutions Sturdy build quality with durable components Up to 4 years of warranty (requires online registration)
Most expensive version of the RX 6900 XT Ray-tracing performance is not as good as the RTX 3090
If yes, this GPU is a contender that can make you experience those feeling again. It is, hands down, one of the best-looking versions of the RX 6900 XT. The GPU is laced with Fusion 2.0 RGB. You will find two diffused RGB strips on the front shroud, on the top, and an embedded RGB, AORUS logo on the metallic backplate. The is a small LED on the top that can play your favorite GIF, display custom images, text, or GPU statuses. I mean, how cool is that?! It features a boost clock speed up to 2365 MHz, not the fastest but pretty solid. In games, its performance was similar to other 6900 XT variants, barely slower than the RX 6900 XT Gaming Z Trio. The thermal and acoustic performances are pretty solid, though the acoustics could be better for this premium price. Overall, it is one of the best RX 6900 XT versions in the market, which not only will sit well with any build, but the performance is also there. You will be pleased with this beast, that is for sure.
#7 – ASUS TUF Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT OC
ASUS has several brands for their graphics card, but their TUF and ROG STRIX are the most popular among PC enthusiasts. The TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6900 XT features a sturdy-looking, triple axial fan design with an all-metal shroud and backplate. The AORUS Radeon RX 6900 XT took me by surprise. It has eye-candy aesthetics with an embedded LED on the top, capable of displaying customized text, images, GIFs, and GPU stats. Besides the attractive design, its performance is equally spectacular. For an uncompromised 4K gaming or at lower resolutions with high-refresh-rate, the AORUS Radeon RX 6900 XT Master is the card that you should be looking for, only if you got the money to spend.
Game Clock: 2075 MHz Boost Clock: 2340 MHz Power Connectors: 2x 8-Pin Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6 Dimensions: 13 x 5.52 x 2.28 Inch Power Consumption: Between 300W & 400W Recommended Power Supply: 850W Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4a / 1x HDMI 2.1
Full metal shroud and backplate Dual Bios 2x 11-blades and 1x 13-blades fans for incredible cooling Highly durable components ASUS GPU Tweak II utility for multiple GPU related tweaking HDMI 2.1 supports up to 8K HDR gaming
Bulky and heavy GPU, additional bracket support is recommended to prevent GPU sag
The fans come with dual bearings, which according to ASUS, can last up to twice as long as a sleeve bearing design. Out of the three fans, two fans have 11 blades, while the middle fan has 13 blades for better airflow and boosted air pressure. It shares the Navi 21 GPU underneath the aluminum shroud, having 16 GB of GDDR6, 256-bit wide memory. It has a boost clock speed of up to 2340 MHz in OC mode and up to 2310 MHz of boost clock in Gaming mode. ASUS cards are not the most budget-friendly when it comes to pricing, but their high prices are usually justified by the several features they come with. The TUF Radeon RX 6900 XT OC features durable, robust components attached to the custom build PCB. TUF gaming GPU often has little to no RGB lighting except for the logo. A similar situation is here with the RX 6900 XT. Unless you are enthusiastic about RGB, this GPU is a well-rounded, highly recommended choice.
#8 – AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT Founder’s Edition
Lastly, we have the AMD’s magnum opus, the Radeon RX 6900 XT, officially surpassing the RX 6800 and 6800 XT, released to compete with Nvidia RTX 3090 and 3080 TI alike, at a lower price. Though, AMD did not manage to keep the price closer to MSRP as soon as the GPU was launched. The ASUS TUF RX 6900 XT is the premium, high-end version of the Navi 21. It is not the fastest version of the RX 6900 XT but is not the slowest either. I would place it in the middle. It comes with overclocked speeds out of the box, but with careful tweaks, the card can be pushed further, and if Smart Access Memory kicks in, it is a cherry on top. Overall, gamers have only two choices right now: get the GPU at a ridiculous price or watch other people grab it for themselves. If you are desperate about getting the RX 6900 XT or are getting a decent deal, hurry before it is too late.
Game Clock: 2015 MHz Boost Clock: 2250 MHz Power Connectors: 2x 8-Pin Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6 Dimensions: 10.5 x 4.7 x 1.9 Inch Power Consumption: 300W+ Recommended Power Supply: 850W Ports: 2x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1x HDMI 2.1 / 1x Type-C
Triple, axial fan design for favorable cooling. Decent value GPU than the RTX 3090 Matching or better performance than the RTX 3090 in gaming Excellent for 4K gaming or lower resolution with high refresh rates Smart Memory Access (SAM) can help boost the frames without buying or doing anything special
The 6800 XT is a better option Average ray-tracing performance
That being said, I would not call the RX 6900 XT a direct competitor to the RTX 3090 due to the difference in processors and VRAM. However, the performance says otherwise. After kicking in the splendid Smart Access Memory (SAM), the RX 6900 XT significantly offers better performance than the RTX 3090 at 1080p, 1440p as well as at 4K. Based on TSMC 7nm process node, the Navi 21 XTX GPU features a total of 5120 processors. It has a base clock of 1825 MHz, a Game clock up to 2015 MHz, and a boost clock up to 2250 MHz. Looks-wise it looks the same as the RX 6900 XT except for the product label, and before purchasing, double-check that you are getting the RX 6900 XT than the 6800 or 6800 XT. The GPU has decent overclocking potential, and with the help of either MSI Afterburner or AMD’s overclocking utility, you can tweak the card to your preferences, be it undervolting, overclocking, or individual fan control. Though all of the aftermarket versions of the RX 6900 XT are better than the reference card in one way or another, it is still is a solid option, and you should purchase it if you are getting a good deal.
Performance & Benchmarks – The Real Big Thing?
The RX 6900 XT is r targeted at the enthusiastic group of people looking for the best graphics cards that money can buy. The question that arises here is, is the RX 6900 XT a truly high-value card, and should you consider getting it? The RX 6900 XT was a disappointing launch for several people. It is an RX 6800 XT with more cores and slightly more performance uplift at a premium price tag, which does not make sense and makes it harder for people to recommend it. It is only recommended only if you are having issues finding a card recently and have the money to spare, you will not be disappointed by the rasterize performance of the GPU. It is excellent for 4K or lower resolutions gaming. If you are patient enough, you can always wait for the prices to go down or get a lower version that offers good value and makes more sense, like the RX 6800 XT or the RTX 3080. Fact: The RX 6900 XT does not support ray-tracing, but AMD has released their version of DLSS called FidelityFX. The technology is open source and can be implemented in any game, free of cost. I am no expert, and feel free to do your research. Though, you can trust benchmarks. Let us have a look at the performance and some gaming benchmarks of the RX 6900 XT. 1080p Testing The 6900 XT is totally overkill for 1080p unless it is paired with a high refresh rate monitor. The PC configuration used for 1080p gaming is given down below:
CPU: Ryzen 9 5950X Memory: G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32 GB @3600 MHz Motherboard: MSI Prestige X570 Creation AM4 E-ATX OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Without further ado, let us get to the benchmarks results. Cyberpunk 2077 The first title is Cyberpunk 2077. At ultra-quality presets, we are looking at 105 fps on average. The lowest recorded FPS was 90 as 1 percent lowest. These results are generated without enabling FidelityFX and ray-tracing. You can expect an FPS boost after using FidelityFX scaling and if Smart Access Memory (SAM) kicks in. Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War Next, we have Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. It is a less demanding competitive title. At ultra quality preset, the GPU delivered up to 153 fps in most areas, dropping to 137 fps as 1 percent lowest. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla At 1080p, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a fairly easy-to-go title on the GPU. The GPU delivered over 148 fps on average at maxed-out settings. The lowest fps drop was observed to be 132 as 1 percent lowest. The fps can be increased if a high graphical preset is used instead of ultra. Horizon Zero Dawn Moving on, we have Horizon Zero Dawn. With ultra-quality preset, the performance of the RX 6900 XT looked strong with an average of 164 fps and 146 fps as 1 percent lowest. Death Stranding The performance of the RX 6900 XT in Death Stranding is very impressive. The GPU managed to deliver over 173 fps on average at ultra-quality preset while dropping to a 160-fps frame rate as 1 percent lowest. Red Dead Redemption 2 In Red Dead Redemption 2, we can see that the RX 6900 XT struggled to deliver over 100 fps, and delivered 98 fps on average and 86 as 1 percent lowest. Nothing surprising as Red Dead Redemption 2 is hailed as one of the most demanding titles of the last few years. Doom Eternal The RX 6900 XT blew in Doom Eternal with delivering over a jaw-dropping 410 fps on average and dropping as low as 392 fps as 1 percent lowest. Props to id for this type of optimization. These are the results for 1080p which are ideal for a 1080p monitor with at least 144 Hz refresh rate at the least. 1440p Testing The system specifications used for 1440p testing are listed down below:
CPU: Intel Core i7-10700K Motherboard: MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk Memory: 32 GB @3600 MHz CL16 PSU: Corsair RM850x White 80PLUS Gold 850W
Check out the 1440p gaming benchmarks down below: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Starting with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, we are looking at an average frame rate of 102 fps at an ultra-quality preset, 23 percent faster than the RTX 3090. The margin grew up to 34 percent against the RTX 3080 and 9 percent against the RTX 6800 XT. Cyberpunk 2077 In Cyberpunk 2077, the RX 6900 XT failed to take the lead over the RTX 3090, delivering 71 fps on average, 9 percent lower than the RTX 3090. The results were tied with the RTX 3080. An underwhelming result by the RX 6900 XT in this title. Horizon Zero Dawn In Horizon Zero Dawn, the results are quite fascinating. The RX 6900 XT and RTX 3090 have the same performance, with a difference of a single frame or two, maintaining an averaging of 126 fps. The RX 6800 XT, on the contrary, was tied with the RTX 3080, making the RX 6900 XT 12 percent faster than the RTX 3080 and 6800 XT. Shadow of the Tomb Raider The RX 6900 XT again failed to match the performance of the RTX 3090 in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. We are looking at 147 fps as an average frame rate, making it 6 percent slower than the RTX 3090, 3 percent faster than the RTX 3080, and 8 percent faster than the RX 6800 XT. Red Dead Redemption 2 Moving on, we have Red Dead Redemption 2. The RX 6900 XT is 6 percent slower than the RTX 3090 in this title giving an average of 117 fps. Compared to the RTX 3080, the difference was negligible as it was only 4 percent faster than the RTX 3080 and 10 percent faster than the 6800 XT. 4K Testing Things begin to change at 4K as games rely on GPU, and can clear a lot of doubts. The system specifications used for 4K testing are:
CPU: Intel Core i9-10900K Motherboard: MSI MPG Z490 Gaming PLUS Memory: 32 GB @3600 MHz PSU: Corsair RM850i – 850 Watt White 80 PLUS Gold
The 4K benchmark results of the RX 6900 XT are given down below: Red Dead Redemption 2 At 4K, we are looking at a 9 percent performance decrease than the RTX 3090 in Red Dead Redemption 2. The RX 6900 XT stayed around the 70-fps frame rate and 57 fps as the 1 percent lowest, while the RTX 3090 was around 77 fps on average and 64 fps as 1 percent lowest. Power consumption-wise, the 6900 XT consumed roughly around 260 watts while the RTX 3090 consumed around 342 watts of power. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Moving on, in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the results favored the RX 6900 XT, making it 8 percent faster than the RTX 3090. It maintained the frame rate of 68 fps on average and dropped to 56 fps as 1 percent lowest. Forza Horizon 4 Forza Horizon 4 is another title that favored the RX 6900 XT in terms of raw fps. It delivered 150 fps on average, dropping to 123 fps as 1 percent lowest, making it 3 percent faster than the RTX 3090. The power consumption peaked at 278 watts on the RX 6900 XT while the RTX 3090 peaked at 345 watts, making the RX 6900 XT 19 percent more power-efficient than the RTX 3090. Horizon Zero Dawn The RTX 3090 takes the win in Horizon Zero Dawn at 4K. The RX 6900 XT was 4 percent slower than the RTX 3090 in this title. The average frame rate was around 77 fps with the 6900 XT, while the RTX 3090 maintained a constant 80 fps frame rate at ultra-quality graphics settings. Power-wise, the RX 6900 XT showed better efficiency consuming around 266 watts on average, 10 percent less than the 343 watts power consumption of the RTX 3090. Microsoft Flight Simulator Lastly, we have the Microsoft Flight Simulator. The RX 6900 XT delivered 49 fps on average, an 8 percent decrease from the RTX 3090’s 53 fps average. The 6900 XT consumed an average of 272 watts, while the RTX 3090 consumed over 340 watts on average.
Power Supply (PSUs) For RX 6900 XT
The aftermarket versions of the RX 6900 XT are odd. Generally speaking, AMD rated their flagship GPU for 300 watts of power consumption, while almost all aftermarket variants consume around 350 watts of power consumption on average. Depending on the aftermarket variant that piqued your interest, the suggested power supply can easily range from 600 to 850 watts. AMD did say their card will consume up to 300 watts, and during gaming, I have yet to see it crossing the 300 watts mark, even gaming at 4K. Possibly, due to using the GPU with base clock and boost clocks. Things change at overclocking. Now, if you are getting an RX 6900 XT version from any third-party manufacturer, you can opt for an 850-watts power supply if you are interested in overclocking. Most people will end up using the Rage Mode for overclocking, which will increase the power consumption o the GPU drastically and put it right next to the RTX 3090. For peace of mind, you should get at least 750 watts of power supply, which is still, in my opinion, way too much.
Factors To Check Before Getting Your Best RX 6900 XT GPU
All of the graphics cards in this list perform better than the default base graphics card by AMD. Performance-wise, the GPUs on this list trade blows with each other, and the most premium ones had an advantage of a few FPS due to their high-quality build and better cooling solutions but with a high-price tag. You can select the best RX 6900 XT based on the features according to your personal preferences. For the best possible experience, for a high-budget, there are not many choices to select from. When it comes to medium-budget, that’s where the competition is hard. To select the best RX 6900 XT graphics card, you might want to check the factors discussed below. You’ll also like:
RX 5700 XT GPUs by AMD RX 580 Graphics Cards Roundup
The RX 6900 XT consumed around 250 watts which, is 25 percent lower than the RTX 3090, which consumed over 340 watts of power on average, in this title.
Smart Access Memory & Rage Mode
Smart Access Memory is a revolutionary new technology which is something that needs to be discussed and talked about instead of disregarding or giving it a little to no credit. Why? You might wonder if you are not familiar with it, it’s a question that you might ask. For those who are not familiar with this technology, unlike traditional PC, a fraction of graphics memory (VRAM) can be accessed by the CPU at once. With Smart Memory Access, the data channel expands to utilize the full potential of the GPU memory, gaining a decent amount of performance boost and reducing as much bottleneck as possible. Fact: Smart Access Memory (SAM) is an underrated feature that should be looked out for. It can significantly boost gaming performance without doing anything special. Smart Memory access is limited to the Ryzen CPUs and Radeon GPUs, the consumers will see these features on more platforms in the future as Nvidia is working to bring this on their GPUs as well. This feature is only available to the 500 series motherboards and above. Turning this amazing feature on can see up to 11% extra “free” performance. The next great future that complements the Smart Access Memory is the Rage Mode, sounds badass right? And it’s truly is when it comes to performance. It is an exclusive performance tuning presets present in the Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition for the RX 6000 GPUs. It automatically adjusts power and fan levels according to the settings you select, with Rage Mode, you can get the max out of your GPU without actually have to do anything. It is like an automatic overclocking feature when paired with Smart Access Memory, beats the Nvidia RTX 3090 GPU in normal or overclocked mode.
GPU Clock Speeds
The RX 6900 XT comes with a base clock speed of 1950 MHz, which is already 15 percent faster than the RTX 3090 boost clock speed. The expected frequency at which the GPU operates during games is 2015 MHz. However, practically the GPU operates at a much faster boost clock. The GPU peaked at 2520 MHz during testing while retaining an average boost clock speed of 2230 MHz. That being said, these insanely fast clock speeds do not equate to better performance as we have the RTX 3090 is an ideal example. The RTX 3090 Founders Edition has a base clock speed of 1400 MHz peaking at 1700 MHz, and in most games, it takes the lead over the RX 6900 XT. The majority of the aftermarket versions of the RX 6900 XT features different clock profiles in between silence operation and performance at full power. Depending on which clock profile that you have selected, the power consumption will vary accordingly.
Overclock Stepping, And Undervolting
The RX 6900 XT has decent overclocking headroom. People successfully pushed the GPU up to 2700 MHz and saw a performance boost in several games. However, despite an increase of 20 percent in the clock speed, we are looking at an average of 5 or 4 percent performance uplift and even as low as 3 percent in some games. This is pretty underwhelming and why the gains are so minimal is what bothered me the most. The overclocking procedure and results seemed similar to the reference 6800 XT. To everyone’s surprise, AMD has increased the overclocking limit on its RX 6900 XT up to 3000 MHz which sounds exciting, but in reality, it is nothing but a farfetched dream. Undervolting is one of the most underrated and under-talked topics when it comes to GPUs gaming performance. After looking at a few undervolted benchmarks in games like The Division 2, the RX 6900 XT delivered a similar performance as after overclocking. One thing that should be kept in mind is, RDNA2 GPUs are tricky to undervolt, and sometimes you may not get equal performance compared to overclocked performance.
Fan, Power Consumption, And Thermals
The reference RX 6900 XT comes with a triple fan, axial design form factor. First, let us discuss the fan’s performance of the reference graphics card unit. At its idle state, the GPU stayed around the 45 degrees Celsius temperature mark with an average fan RPM of 1190. The RPM peaks at a surprisingly fast make of up to 2450 RPM. The idle temps were around 45 degrees peaking at 78 degrees Celsius. Higher than the third-party versions. While the temperatures are high, the 6900 XT acoustic performance was one of the best on the table. Judging from the results, it is clear that AMD has applied a different fan profile here that prioritized acoustics than the temps, compared to the 6800 XT. The power consumption of the RX 6900 XT is quite variable. The stock base and boost clock speed, the GPU did not cross the 300 watts while staying at the 260 watts of power consumption on average in most games. After overclocking, the power consumption skyrockets, and it is right next to the RTX 3090 with a whopping 350+ watts of power consumption. Most users end up overclocking their GPUs, so make sure you have ample power supply in your system. Otherwise, you might face lower than expected performance.
Video Outputs & Other Ports
This is a feature which all depends on the personal preferences of a person. From a content creator’s point-of-view, spending 1000+ USD on a GPU should have multiple video outputs and other ports like USB Type-C, for instance. A GPU with everything and a horrible number of video output ports is useless to a person with multiple displays. The card with a few number ports will be better for only those consumers and prosumers with single to two monitors. The reference 6900 XT graphics card features three video outputs. It has only one extra port other than the video output ports, a single USB Type-C port. However, the high-end variant of this card from the manufacturers like XFX is flexible with the number of ports on their graphics cards. The XFX Speedster MERC319, for instance, has a 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI port, and a Type-C port. As I said the Speedster is the only 6900 XT variant after the Founder’s Edition with a USB Type-C port, Which gets along well with gaming rigs with single or multiple monitors.
Design And Pricing
Entry-level to mid-tier graphics cards have usually a single or double fan form factor since these cards do not draw that much power. When it comes to top-of-the-line graphics cards, the design is equally important as pricing. Nowadays, GPUs for enthusiasts come with the generic triple, axial design fans with a 2.5-3 slot form factor. For power connectors, these GPUs use either the 2x 8-pin, 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin, or the new 12-pin PEG connectors. In the case of RX 6900 XT, we have the 2x 8-pin power connectors, which is okay for a powerful card like this. From a price point of view, we are currently going through one of the worst periods in gaming history due to the repugnant chip shortage and ever rise in the crypto mining business. Price-wise, the RX 6800 XT is possibly the best value GPU in the entire RX 6000 series lineup, so unless you are getting the RX 6900 XT at a discounted price or you have troubles getting your hands on the RTX 3090, in such cases, you can get the RX 6900 XT. Not only the GPU went out-of-stock in a few minutes, but it is not an impressive GPU by AMD considering its launch and current market price. By far, the RX 6800 XT is the best graphics card in the entire 6000 series lineup, which costs way less but is only a few fps behind the RX 6900 XT. We are talking about a 4-6 percent performance difference. For professionals, the GPU has some potential, some applications can take benefit from the 16 GB GDDR6 memory and the ridiculous clock speed potential, but again, this is exactly the 6800 XT but with more shader cores. From a general gaming point of view, the RX 6900 XT does not make much sense. If you have the money to spare and are desperate to get your hands on a GPU, you can buy it, and you will not be disappointed with its rasterization performance.
#1 – Which 6900 XT is the best?
This is a purely opinion-based question, and the preference of one person might differ from one to another. Performance-wise all variants of the AMD RX 6900 XT performs on points. They differ from each other by their price, extra fans, build quality, RGB, the number of ports, overclocking capabilities, and their ability for better heat dissipation. All of the cards are amazing, and it is hard to pick the best 6900 XT out of the list. You might like the GPU based on just appearance, or want to get the best possible performance irrespective of its price. The PowerColor Red Devil RX 6900 XT is a very decent choice for gamers for not just looks, but the number of features and PowerColor technologies it supports, while being the one of fastest RX 6900 XT in the market.
#2 – Is the 6900 XT good?
The RX 6900 XT is not good, but it is an amazing card, capable of trading blows and even dethroning the RTX 3090 in many games, with its attractive price point. It is an excellent choice GPU for 1440p/4K gaming. It not only elevates the personal experience in AAA titles, but it also does not disappoint in competitive titles. Capable of providing 200+ FPS in Fortnite and even 350+ FPS in Overwatch at 1440p, Epic settings.
#3 – Does 6900 XT have ray tracing?
Yes, the AMD RX 6900 XT supports ray-tracing in their latest RX 6000 series GPU. Marking them as the first generation of AMD GPUs capable of real-time ray-tracing to compete with Nvidia’s RTX GPUs. The performance of ray-tracing by RX 6000 series GPUs is not that remarkable as the Nvidia RTX 30 series. Considering the fact, Nvidia has released 2nd generation of ray-tracing supported GPUs while AMD has released their 1st generation. That in itself is the first big step towards a newer generation of graphics.
#4 – Should I buy 6900 XT or RTX 3080?
The RTX 3080 graphics card is an amazing card with performance almost on par with the 6900 XT while being cheap. With a gamer’s perspective, the RTX 3080 sounds better in every case, but for people willing to spend extra money for the RX 6900 XT will not be disappointed. As the 6900 XT offers a splendid 16GB VRAM, which is 6GB more than the RTX 3080, and will prove more valuable for other productive works that requires GPU prowess. The Smart Access Memory and Rage Mode exclusive feature also makes it a better purchase than the RTX 3080 GPU. For optimal ray-tracing experience, RTX 3080 is the clear winner.
#5 – What does the RX 6900 XT compare to?
The RX 6900 XT was released to directly compete with Nvidia’s top-tier RTX 30 series GPU, the RX 3090. It does a great job with the performance is and is a better purchase in every aspect compared to the RTX 3090 GPU. It has all of the boxes checked required for the best GPU for high-end gaming with no compromise whatsoever.
#6 – Is the 6900 XT worth it?
No, but it is a solid card for 1080, 1440p, and 4K gaming. The performance is, however, slightly better than the RX 6800 XT at a price tag that is closer to the RTX 3090. Even the RTX 3090 makes little sense, but its price can be justified due to the gigantic number of processors and VRAM, which are almost twice the amount of the processors and VRAM on the 6900 XT.
#7 – Is the Radeon RX 6900 XT better than the 3090?
It depends. In games where the Smart Access Memory (SAM) kicks in, it can boost the performance of the 6900 XT significantly. When it does not, the RTX 3090 takes the win convincingly.
#8 – CAN 6900 XT do 8K?
Yes, the RX 6900 XT has HDMI 2.1 that supports up to 8K HDR gaming, but it is still not a true 8K gaming GPU like the RTX 3090. But it managed to break the shell of 8K gaming, and soon, we will have GPUs capable of 8K 60 fps gaming. One last thing, with the help of FidelityFX, the 6900 XT can deliver a playable gaming experience.
#9 – CAN 6900 XT do ray tracing?
Yes, the 6900 XT does have discrete components for ray-tracing, called the ray accelerator. However, similarly to Nvidia, the ray-accelerators are first-gen and do not have as impressive ray-tracing performance as the RTX 3090. It is still a step forward, nonetheless.
#10 – Is Rx 6900 XT good for 4K?
Yes, the RX 6900 XT is an excellent card for native 4K gaming. Gaming having support for FidelifyFX, the GPU can deliver a consistent frame rate of over 60 fps on average. Overall, without FidelityFX, the GPU is more than capable of retaining a consistent 60 fps frame rate in most games.
#11 – What is the fastest 6900 XT?
The MSI Radeon RX 6900 XT Gaming Z Trio has, by far, the fastest boost clock speed out of the box that goes up to 2425 MHz. Although it is the fastest out-of-the-box, with careful tweaking and proper cooling like liquid cooling, people have successfully pushed the reference 6900 XT up to 2800 MHz.
