Not only games, with the boom of AI and Machine Learning, they are also being used to run complex algorithms. Around 274 million graphic cards were sold in 2020 throughout the world, and 80 – 90% of sales were just from 2 companies, AMD and NVIDIA. This article will cover a head-to-head comparison between 2 great pieces of hardware from both manufacturers, 6900 xt vs. 3080. From AMD, I will be talking about RX 6900 XT, whereas from NVIDIA, I will be looking into RTX 3080. The AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT GPU was released on December 8, 2020, and NVIDIA released the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 on September 17, 2020. Both these graphic cards have been quite popular among the community.
RX 6900 XT vs RTX 3080 Specifications
Looking at the specifications of both GPUs, I will first talk about the graphic processors. The AMD 6900 XT GPU is a Navi 21 chip and comes with a processor size of 7nm and 26,800 million transistors. Whereas the NVIDIA 3080 contains the GA102 processor chip with an 8nm processor size and contains 28,300 million transistors. Looking into the clock speeds of both these graphic cards, I see some surprising stats. The base clock speed for 6900 XT is 1825 MHz. On the contrary, the base clock speed for RTX 3080 is 1440 MHz. The clock speed of RX 6900 XT can be boosted up to 2250 MHz, whereas the RTX 3080 can be boosted up to 1710 MHz. The memory clock of 6900 XT is running at 2000 MHz, 16 GBs per second effective. On the other hand, the memory speed of RTX 3080 is 1188 MHz, 19 GBs per second effective. The AMD 6900 XT contains 5120 Stream processors with 320 TPUS and 120 ROPS, whereas the NVIDIA RTX 3080 contains 8704 CUDA cores with 272 TMUS and 96 ROPS. Also, 6900 XT contains 16 GB GDDR6 memory which is connected with the graphics processor through a 256-bit memory interface. For RTX 3080, the graphics processor is connected with a 10 GB GDDR 6X memory through a 320-bit memory interface. The dimensions for the 6900 XT are 267 x 120 x 50 mm, and it also contains 3 fans for its cooling, which are all located on one side. The dimensions for RTX 3080 by NVIDIA are 285 x 112 x 40 mm, and it contains a dual-slot cooling mechanism where one fan is on one side, and the other fan is on the rear, and it works as an exhaust.
RTX 3080 Vs RX 6900 XT: 1080p Ultra Game Comparison
Now I will be looking into some gaming comparisons of both these GPUs at 1080p resolution in-game. Related comparisons:
RTX 3060 vs 3060 ti RTX 3070 vs 3080 6900xt vs 3090
Testing PC Setup: For this purpose, the specification of the PC rig that I will be testing the games on is as follows. The processor of the PC is Ryzen 9 5900X. The motherboard is the ROG Strix X570-E from ASUS. The RAM is Crucial Ballistix Elite 4000 MHz 16 GB DDR4. The cooling fans used are of Noctua, and the model is NH-D15 (Brown). The SSD used is Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD with 1TB space. The case for the PC is from Cooler Master, which is MCM-H500P-WGNN-S00 MasterCase Mesh White ATX Mid-Tower, and lastly, the monitor is from ASUS with the model being ROG Strix XG279-Q. Below is an in-depth comparison of 6900 XT vs. 3080.
Battlefield V
Battlefield 5 is a first-person FPS shooter game that was developed by DICE. It is a game based on World War II. I will only look into the benchmark results of Battlefield V on ultra HD graphic settings, with the resolution being 1080p. If the GPU is RX 6900 XT, then the average FPS that I get from Battlefield 5 is 182. On the contrary, if the GPU is RTX 3080, then I get an average of 178 FPS. This shows that both of the GPUs are highly capable of giving you some of the best frames on both games. Given that most of the high-end gaming monitors only support up to 120hz refresh rate, you’ll get pretty much the same gaming experience out of the both GPUs.
Red Dead Redemption 2
If you are willing to learn more about the lives of people in 1899 in the areas around Western, Midwestern, Southern parts of the United States, then Red Dead Redemption is the game for you. This game was released in 2018 and got a score of 8.5 out of 10 by IGN. Moving on to benchmarking both the GPUs on Red Dead Redemption 2 with ultra HD graphic settings in place and 1080p resolution, RX 6900 XT gives 108 FPS on average, whereas RTX 3080 provides us with an average FPS of 109. Again, both of the GPUs stand neck to neck in terms of performance when it comes to playing Red Dead Redemption 2 and comparing Radeon RX 6900 XT vs. RTX 3080. RX 6900 XT gives slightly better FPS on paper, but a single FPS difference is barely noticeable when it comes to the gameplay.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
Microsoft Flight Simulator puts you into the seat of the airplane pilot and lets you experience different parts of the world you haven’t seen from the sky. Enjoy the landscape of different areas and the similarity with the real world! The graphic requirements for this game are above the chart. The image rendering in this game is exceptional. It is a good title to benchmark most GPUs. I will look into the benchmark results at Ultra HD graphic settings and 1080p resolution. The average FPS that I get with AMD RX 6900 XT is 53. On the other hand, RTX 3080 also shows an average FPS of 53. Those are some impressive results!
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
While discussing other games, it’s difficult to leave out an Assassin’s Creed’s title. So here I chose their latest, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. It is an open-world role-playing game in which you can battle against armies of different countries. On Ultra HD settings and 1080p resolution, I get 128 FPS on average with AMD RX 6900 XT. If the GPU is changed to RTX 3080 while keeping the same settings, I get 87 FPS on average, which is much lower than the latter. Until now, I haven’t seen much of a difference between the two GPUs in terms of FPS. However, while benchmarking Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, I noticed a massive difference between the performance. 87 frames per second is not a bad performance, but why not play it at 128 FPS if your screen supports it! If you’re a hardcore Assassin’s Creed fan and planning on playing the latest title, then it’s better that you fit RX 6900 in your rig.
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus is a first-person survival game that has been developed by 4A Games. This is the third part in the metro series and continues the storyline. It being a demanding one requires a high level of graphics rendering. I will show the benchmark results from both the GPUs for this specific game. With the Ray Tracing turned on, benchmarking the game at Ultra HD graphic settings at 1080p resolution, Radeon RX 6900 XT has an average FPS of 120. If I change the GPU to RTX 3080, I get less FPS at an average of 113. This is not that big of a difference, and both of the GPUs will be performing relatively the same while playing Metro Exodus when it comes to RX 6900 xt vs. RTX 3080 comparison.
Control
Control is an action-adventure, third-person shooter video game. It was developed by Remedy Entertainment. To enjoy it at 1080p resolution, it requires high image rendering GPUs. When Control is run at 1080p Ultra HD graphic settings with Real-time Ray tracing and DLSS, where the GPU is AMD RX 6900 XT, it runs at a solid FPS of 171 on average. However, when the setup is changed to RTX 3080, on the same settings, I get 100 FPS on average. This is a big FPS drop when the game is played using RTX 3080 rather than RX 6900 XT. If you’re planning on playing Control at maxed-out settings and want to get the best graphical experience, then you should stick with the expensive RX 6900 XT.
RTX 3080 Vs RX 6900 XT: 4K Ultra Game Comparison
Enough with the game testing at 1080p; let’s move ahead and test our games at the highest settings possible and play them at 4K resolution. Testing PC Setup: For testing the game on 4K resolution, I will use a different PC configuration. The testing rig has the following specifications. The processor is Intel Core i9-10900K which contains 10 cores. ASRock Z490 Extreme4 is the motherboard installed on the PC. The RAM is 32 GB DDR4 GSKill Trident Z Royal. The water cooler for the CPU being used is a DarkFlash water cooler. The SSD is of Samsung with 500 GB space, and the model is Samsung 970 EVO. The power supply that is used in the PC is a 1000 W Super Flower Leadex Platinum Special Edition PSU.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn is a 2017 action role-playing video game that requires high-quality visuals to immerse into its gameplay. A person named Alloy lives in a world of machines. The story is about her journey to reveal her past. I will now look into the benchmark results of both the GPUs at 4k resolution. The RX 6900 XT provides an average of 87 FPS, whereas RTX 3080 gives 84 FPS on average. There’s not a lot of difference in terms of FPS when it comes to playing Horizon Zero Dawn. However, RTX 3080 is providing nearly the same gaming experience at a relatively cheaper price tag.
Red Dead Redemption 2
I will be looking into the benchmark results of both the GPUs when Red Dead Redemption 2 is played at Ultra HD graphic settings with 4k resolution. The average FPS I get when the graphic card is RX 6900 XT is 72. On the other hand, RTX 3080 gives 67 FPS on the same benchmark settings. Here, Nvidia lags a bit in performance, but if you’re playing the game on a 60hz monitor, you’ll barely notice the difference.
Battlefield V
Battlefield 5 is a first-person, high graphic video game. The benchmark tests on AMD and NVIDIA GPUs give us information on how good both of the GPUs are. On ultra graphic settings and 4k resolution, RX 6900 XT gives 123 FPS on average, and RTX 3080 gives 116 FPS.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
For Microsoft Flight Simulator, If I set the settings on Ultra HD graphics and then benchmark RX 6900 XT, the average FPS I get is 61, where the resolution is 4K. On the same settings but the GPU being RTX 3080, the benchmark results are much higher. The average FPS I get is 58 for Nvidia’s entry.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
On Ultra HD graphic settings and 4K resolution, RX 6900 XT gives an average of 73 FPS, whereas RTX 3080 gives an average of 67 FPS.
RX 6900 XT Vs. RTX 3080: The Performance
All things aside, the comparison of performance between two high-end GPUs is the main concern of this article. The benchmark results, as well as the difference in their specification, highlight and provide a clear estimate of where both of the GPUs stand. The processor size of RX 6900 XT is larger than that of 3080. Also, the number of transistors are more in 6900 XT. Both the GPUs have impressive clock speeds, but 6900 XT has a base clock speed slightly more than that of RTX 3080. This greater base clock speed in RX 6900 XT helps it to increase the number of instructions executed by the chip each second. When boosted, there is an increase in the frequency of the GPU on heavy load to achieve better performance. The boost clock for 6900 XT is 2250MHz, and for RTX 3080, it’s 1710MHz. So clearly, RX 6900 XT takes the lead here, meaning that it will perform well where high performance is demanded in contrast to RTX 3080. However, RTX 3080 overpowers RX 6900 XT in cores. It has 8704 cores, where 6900 XT contains 5120 cores. The more the cores, the better the performance. The memory speed of RTX 3080 is way higher than RX 6900. The benchmark results also clarify the situations of both these GPUs. At 1920 x 1080 resolution, both of these GPUs perform quite well even on high graphic games like Battlefield 5, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, etc. In some games, RX 6900 XT beats RTX 3080 by a margin, but some games change the situation for RTX 3080. A huge FPS drop is seen when the resolution is changed to 4K quality. On 4K resolution, both the GPUs perform almost the same.
RX 6900 XT Vs. RTX 3080: API support
Well, the GPUs I am talking about aren’t mid-tier! They are high-end GPUs with capabilities of their own. Among many other traits, they come with updated and improved API support. Talking about Nvidia first, it has API support for the latest versions, which include DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2. The RTX 3080 also provides support for OpenCL 3.0, CUDA 8.6, and Shader Model 6.6. Seeing such extensive API support, AMD wasn’t taking a backseat either. RX 6900XT comes with support for DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2, OpenCL 2.1, and Shader Model 6.5. But let the stats speak. The GPUs were tested in Basemark GPU software for respective API supports, and a score was generated portraying the overall score of the GPU for an API in terms of performance. For the GeForce RTX 3080, Vulkan API was tested, and I got a score of 18032 on the BaseMarkGPU software. As for the same Vulkan API, AMD RX 6900 XT managed to give out a score of 17308. Not only the scores were tested on Vulkan, but they were also tested on OpenGL. The scores for RTX 3080 with OpenGL API were 14973. As for the RX 6900 XT, it gave out a score of 6881. DirectX 12 is also an important API that was also tested. For RTX 3080, the score it produced was 17155. But the score was way higher for RX 6900 XT. 18220 was the score for AMD GPU.
RX 6900 XT vs. RTX 3080: Market Share
If I analyze the data for the last 5 years, you will see that AMD and Nvidia have been ruling the GPU space for quite some time. Each has its share in the market, and each product makes quite an impact in the space. AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT was released on December 8, 2020. Things were changing quite rapidly back then due to the COVID crisis. On its market arrival, Pandemic had created an extreme outrage around the globe leading to a lack of resources and productivity, which was to impact all production. Office spaces had been closed, and the ‘work from home’ method adoption uplifted the demand-supply ratio through the roofs. No vendor had thought of such a demand, and due to lockdowns and temporary closures, the supply chain couldn’t be met. At this point, AMD was unable to manufacture up to demand, and its prices increased abruptly for its graphic card lineups. At the same time around, NVIDIA dropped the GeForce RTX 30 series in the market. This took a lot of attention, and people, instead of waiting for several months, decided to buy those as they were cheaper back then. This broke the market shares for AMD, and the sales for their cards slowed down. It impacted AMD’s RX 6900 XT card quite badly. On the other hand, NVIDIA had already learned from AMD’s experience, and they managed their stock somehow. The market share of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 at present is 1.36%, whereas, for AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, the market shares dwindled to 0.27%.
RX 6900 XT Vs RTX 3080: Price Comparison
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 have shown great performance on graphic settings at 1080p and 4K resolution. They beat most of the cards in their league. But one of the issues most people face is its extremely outrageous price in the market. Still, the sales are so high that stores have run out of stock of both these GPUs. AMD does not sell graphics cards through its own stores, but it provides them to retailers who sell them at the prices they see best. According to UserBenchmark, the price for RX 6900 XT is $1000. They are quite expensive from their MSRP due to production shortages, expensive materials, and huge demands.
RX 6900 XT Vs. RTX 3080: Ports And Features
Talking about some of the features of both these GPUs, I will first talk about AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT. RX 6900 XT is a triple-slot card that contains 2 Display ports and 1 USB C-type port. It contains 3 cooling fans. On the contrary, RTX 3080 has 2 ports as well as 2 cooling fans. Both the graphic cards use the bus interface PCI Express 4.0. The API supports that both the GPUs have in common are DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2. Other API that RX 6900 XT supports are OpenCL 2.1 and Shader Model 6.5. Whereas for RTX 3080, the APIs that it can support are OpenCL 3.0 and Shader Model 6.6. Both the GPUs provide HDMI 2.1 support, but RX 6900 XT provides a USB C-Type connection as well. They also provide Real-Time Ray Tracing, which is one of the most amazing features in terms of quality enhancement for high-end gaming. RX 6900 XT does not provide Deep Learning Super Sample, whereas 3080 does. One more feature that is only exclusive to RX 6900 XT is the Radeon Image Sharpening. SAM is also an exclusive feature for AMD GPU, but it requires a Ryzen 500 series CPU and a motherboard of the same series.
RX 6900 XT Vs. RTX 3080: Power Consumption/Efficiency
A PC without a good Power Supply Unit (PSU) is just like a time-ticking bomb! A good power supply always fulfills the voltage needs of all the components in the PC. An ideal Power Supply is the one that is bought while taking into consideration the needs of all the components in the PC. In most PCs, the graphics cards have been seen extracting the most watts than any other component, even while gaming. Discussing the power consumption of all the GPUs is not the scope of this article, but I will just slightly look into the recommended power consumptions that are needed to run high-end GPUs like RX 6900 XT and RTX 3080. The recommended Power Supply Unit for a PC with RTX 3080 is 700W, whereas the power consumption of RTX 3080 itself is 320W. On the other hand, the Power Supply Unit (PSU) for a PC with RX 6900 XT is recommended to be 850W. The power consumption of the GPU as heavy as RX 6900 XT is only 300W. Any PC powered ideally won’t have any major issues in emergencies like power shortages etc, and it won’t bottleneck either as it is getting more than enough power to juice things up. You won’t like it either if you are dehydrated! Will ya’? Talking about the performance in 1080p, in most games, RX 6900 XT performs way better than RTX 3080. But surprisingly, at 4K resolution, RTX 3080 shows almost the same benchmark results as RX 6900 XT. The short and sweet answer is no! Both stand neck to neck in terms of performance.
#2 – Is the RX 6900 XT better than the RTX 3090?
At 1080p resolution, RTX 3090 showed almost the same results as RX 6900 XT but to check whether RTX 3090 is worth buying, you need to check the results at 4K quality. The results are disappointing as RTX 3080 was able to match RX 6900 XT at most points, but still, at more price, RTX 3090 does not perform a whole lot better.
#3 – What is RX 6900 XT equivalent to?
Until now, there has been no card equivalent to RX 6900 XT. Both RTX 3080 and 3090 are its competitors, but it depends on the situation. At some points, RTX 3080 and 3090 work much better than 6900 XT, whereas, in other situations, they work worse.
#4 – Is Rx 6900 XT worth it?
The price of RX 6900 XT is surely a lot but still, looking at the performance of this GPU, and its comparison with its competitors proves that this GPU is worth the price. It gives the same performance as RTX 3090, but still, it is better in many situations. However, if minor frame drops don’t bother you a lot, then it’s better to opt for a cheaper RTX 3080.
#5 – Does RX 6900 XT support Ray tracing?
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT is one of those cards in the Radeon RX 6000 series which supports ray tracing. This is a feature that not all cards in RX 6000 series support. Without ray tracing, 4K quality games could become a nuisance for most users. It would be a huge blunder at AMDs end if they come out with a graphic card at this price point that doesn’t support Ray Tracing.
My Final Verdict:
Until now, I have looked into all the possible major and minor details of both the GPUs. AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, even though it has fewer cores than NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 but still has proved to be better in certain situations. The difference in the specifications of both the GPUs is one thing, but the benchmark settings have also proved that at 1080p resolution, RX 6900 XT surpasses RTX 3080 by a margin. Games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Microsoft Flight simulator are some heavy games that require a good GPU to be played at 4K quality, and both of these GPUs give the same FPS on average, which is quite surprising. Even though RX 6900 XT dominates in most of the benchmark results, RTX 3080 still performs quite well. The pricing of the RX 6900 XT is surely more than expected and causes problems for some AMD fans, but the overall performance reports make it clear that RTX 3080 is also not a bad option.
