Review: AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT

Conclusion

The Radeon RX 6900 XT is the fastest consumer graphics card from AMD. Exposing the full might of the Big Navi die, it improves upon the RX 6800 XT by employing 512 more shaders. Sounds like a lot, but bear in mind they represent only an 11 per cent increase over the significantly cheaper second-rung card.

Unlike Nvidia, whose RTX 3090 and RTX 3080 are further differentiated by memory bandwidth, framebuffer size and TDP, AMD doesn't do any more to separate its best GPUs. Such understanding provides key insight into why, on average, the RX 6900 XT is only 10 per cent faster than RX 6800 XT whilst costing over 50 per cent more. Value is not its strong suit.

Compared to Nvidia, the $999 RX 6900 XT neatly bisects the RTX 3080 and faster RTX 3090 GPUs on price and rasterisation performance, though both GeForces take it to task for ray tracing and highlight the current lack of DLSS-like technology.

For the vast majority of gamers wanting to ride the AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series bandwagon the RX 6800 XT makes a lot more sense because you give up no more than 10 per cent framerate and save $350 into the bargain.

Yet the fervour whipped up by a severe lack of stock and bulging wallets of many enthusiasts emanating from global events in 2020 means AMD will sell out of Radeon RX 6900 XT the minute after listings go live.

Bottom line: RX 6900 XT is the best that Radeon has to offer, but we'd buy RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT instead and put the significant remaining cash towards games and upgrades.

AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT

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TBC.

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