Why a 2-year-old GPU remains to be the one you can purchase

Ever since Nvidia and AMD introduced their next-generation GPUs, funds PC builders have been ready anxiously to see what corporations within the mid-$300 to $400 vary can supply. Sadly, the reply wasn’t fairly.

Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti launched to near-universal displeasure, whereas AMD’s RX 7600, regardless of an honest GPU, carries loads of caveats. Even Nvidia’s value-focused RTX 4060 fails to impress, largely because of the truth that it’s been crushed out by last-generation choices across the identical value.

And round all of those GPU variations, there was one card within the middle: AMD’s RX 6700 XT. Launched over two years in the past, it was an amazing GPU that was principally neglected because of the truth that it arrived within the midst of a GPU scarcity. To not point out the truth that it was overpriced to start with, as AMD (and Nvidia) benefited from the insatiable demand for GPUs throughout that point.

Nonetheless, that mud has now settled, and costs have dropped. With out a number of alternative within the mid-range from Nvidia and AMD, the RX 6700 XT is slowly changing into the crown jewel of the $300 to $400 value level, and there are a number of key causes for that.

First, its uncooked efficiency. The RX 6700 XT was purported to commerce blows with Nvidia’s RTX 3070. It doesn’t. Nvidia’s GPU is quicker. That math adjustments with how the RX 6700 XT is priced now. You could find the cardboard for as little as $320, together with its up to date sibling the RX 6750 XT for round $360.

At this value, the RX 6700 XT appears to be like extra engaging. As you’ll be able to see above, it’s near the identical stage because the last-generation RTX 3060 Ti, outperforming the RTX 4060 at about the identical value. It’s not as quick because the RTX 4060 Ti, but it surely’s additionally rather a lot cheaper.

Now, I don’t need to depart Nvidia out within the chilly right here. The RTX 3060 Ti has seen some value drops just lately as effectively, and yow will discover it for round $330. Most fashions are nearer to $350, but it surely’s nonetheless an amazing choice at this value. It even has a bonus over the RX 6700 XT in some areas. It’s sooner with video games that assist ray tracing and unlocks Nvidia’s wonderful Deep Studying Sampling (DLSS).

The RX 6700 XT nonetheless has some distinctive options. General, the RTX 3060 Ti and RX 6700 XT are evenly matched, however that features video games with ray tracing. Take ray tracing out of the combination, and the AMD GPU takes the lead. Takes Resident Evil 4 1440px for example. The RX 6700 XT is 11% sooner than the RTX 3060 Ti, which is about the identical because the RTX 4060 Ti.

and in Forza Horizon 5, The RX 6700 XT will not be solely 20% sooner than the RTX 3060 Ti, it’s even in a position to beat the RTX 4060 Ti. This bounce will not be common throughout video games. in cyberpunk 2077, For instance, the RX 6700 XT and RTX 3060 Ti are evenly matched, whereas in return And Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, The RX 6700 XT is just a few tires up entrance.

The RX 6700 XT excels with its uncooked, pixelated efficiency after costs have dropped. Nonetheless, if you need ray tracing, the RTX 3060 Ti nonetheless has an edge, even when it means giving up some efficiency in different video games. in cyberpunk 2077, For instance, the RX 6700 XT can’t keep 30 frames per second (fps) whereas the RTX 3060 Ti pushes near 40 fps, and that’s earlier than DLSS is turned on.

There’s one other professional within the RX 6700 XT camp, although: 12GB of VRAM. We’ve seen an increasing number of over the previous yr how video games emphasize the quantity of VRAM on GPUs, and the RX 6700 XT comes out on high in that battle. Resident Evil 4 is a chief instance. One of many fundamental causes the RX 6700 XT can stretch its legs on this title is that it requires a number of VRAM, which permits it to achieve a transparent lead over the RTX 3060 Ti.

Likewise, in the final of us half one, The additional VRAM helps the RX 6700 XT declare a 12% lead over the RTX 3060 Ti (together with a whopping 22% bounce over the RTX 4060 Ti as a result of restricted GPU reminiscence interface).

There are many video games the place VRAM isn’t a priority, and in these titles, the RX 6700 XT matches or barely exceeds the RTX 3060 Ti with out ray tracing. Nonetheless, we’ve seen sufficient video games emphasizing VRAM this yr simply to name it a respectable concern. There are half a dozen video games launched this yr which have had VRAM issues, and there’ll doubtless be extra to come back. The RX 6700 XT is healthier geared up to deal with these video games than any of the current-generation choices from AMD and Nvidia.

I don’t need to depart this saying that the RX 6700 XT is the perfect graphics card of all. In case you are trying on the newest eg Cyberpunk 2077 film‘s Pathfinding mode, Nvidia nonetheless has an enormous lead. Sadly, on this era, that often means sacrificing efficiency in different video games, which is why the RX 6700 XT has change into the de facto advice for funds avid gamers, even supposing it’s two years previous.

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