NVIDIA vs AMD between two generations - RTX 4060 vs RX 6700 XT
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Nvidia’s RTX 4060 is here! As such, we’ve been pitting it against some popular graphics cards. It’s time to compare RTX 4060 vs RX 6700 XT. The AMD GPU remains a popular choice for gamers since it’s release back in 2021, but how does it match up against the newer RTX 4060? We’re talking about two different generations of GPUs here, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a one-sided affair.
The RX 6700 XT was originally targeted at taking on the RTX 3070 or 3060 Ti. But as the newest 40-series Nvidia RTX card looks to improve upon the previous generation, we’d like to see just how close the RTX 4060 and RX 6700 XT are in terms of specs, performance, and price. Let’s get to it.
High quality and well designed
Overclocked model provides better performance over factory models
Value of the 4060 worse than previous generations
High model cost over other AIBs not too great for value
Cooling overdesigned and large for the graphics power of the card
Great cooling solution
Best performing option
More expensive option
Aside from there being a generational difference, both of these graphics cards are of course built on rivalling architecture. Nvidia and AMD use differing architecture for their GPUs, and these two SKUs are no exception. The RTX 4060 belongs to Nvidia’s latest Ada Lovelace architecture, while the RX 6700 XT is based on AMD’s older RDNA 2.
In terms of difference, RTX cards generally have better raytracing performance than their AMD counterparts. Ada Lovelace also provides better AI acceleration tech on the 40-series, such as DLSS 3 frame generation and more capable ray tracing. AMD have since moved on to RDNA 3, but the RDNA 2 architecture on the RX 6700 XT is still worth its weight and actually has good ray tracing capabilities, improved clock speed, and better power efficiency over its predecessor.
| RTX 4060 | RX 6700 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | AD107 | Navi 22 |
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | RDNA 2.0 |
| GPU process | TSMC 5nm | TSMC 7nm |
| Shading units | 3072 | 2560 |
| Base clock speed | 1830 MHz | 2321 MHz |
| Boost clock speed | 2460 MHz | 2581 MHz |
| VRAM | 8GB GDDR6 | 12GB |
| Memory bandwidth | 272 GB/s | 384 GB/s |
| Memory bus | 128-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory clock | 2125 MHz / 17 Gbps effective | 2000 MHz / 16 Gbps effective |
| TDP | 115W | 230W |
These two compared side-by-side reveals some interesting specs comparisons. The RX 6700 XT sits slightly higher up in its generation’s hierarchy compared to the Nvidia GPU – the RTX 4060 is placed at the bottom of the mid-range. As we can see, the RX 6700 XT looks to be an overall more powerful GPU. Its boost clock speed is pretty similar to the RTX 4060, but it really takes over in memory specs.
The RTX 4060 is lacking in memory compared to the RX 6700 XT, with just 8GB compared to 12GB. This will hinder it at higher resolutions, and unlike the RTX 4060 Ti, there isn’t going to be a 16GB variant to make amends. This contrast in memory is also demonstrated by the lower memory bandwidth, and smaller memory bus. One of the big selling points of the RTX 4060 though is the power efficiency. Its TDP is half that of the RX 6700 XT, so its runs much more efficiently and cool.
Now we can get to talking about the performance of the two cards. The RTX 4060 benchmarks show that it performs worse than the RX 6700 XT on average. The 4060 averages 91 FPS at 1080p and 61 FPS at 1440p according to TechSpot’s 15 game average test. The RX 6700 hits 103 and 74 respectively.
Nvidia did also reveal some early benchmarks ahead of the RTX 4060 release. These were however focused on the DLSS 3 and ray tracing performance increases, so it’s hard to compare it to and AMD card like the RX 6700 XT.
RX 6700 XT in-game benchmarks show that it keeps up with (or even surpassing in some cases) the 4060 Ti at 1080p based on frame rates / fps average, so there was no doubt that it would outperform the RTX 4060. We’ve seen games such as Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Forza Horizon 5 tested.
Simply based on the specs, we can see that the RX 6700 XT is a much better card for 1440p as well, as the RTX 4060 is only really suitable for 1080p with its memory limitations. The 4060 will definitely pull through thanks to the better architecture though at the lower resolution, especially as an increasing amount of games start to support DLSS 3. But the RX 6700 XT has already proven its worth, and it will provide better performance, even without the likes of frame generation (which can cause added latency).
We already discussed the big difference in power efficiency between these two cards, but this can actual make a noticeable difference performance-wise. Since the RTX 4060 will run much cooler, this makes it less susceptible to overheating (which can cause performance drops). Ideal for budget builds.
Price is the next factor to discuss, and there is a clear difference here, at least based on their initial launch prices. However, a lot has changed for the RX 6700 XT price in the time it’s been released. Let’s first look at their prices at launch.
The RTX 4060 is obviously a more budget option based on the MSRP, but manufacturer models will vary on price regardless. Since the RX 6700 XT has been out for a couple of years, we get to enjoy deals and discounts on it from time to time. For example, we’ve seen the RX 6700 XT go as low as $350 at the time of writing, so it’s definitely a fantastic option based on price to performance.
There’s also the option for second-hand if you want to go down that route with older GPUs, but this comes with its own set of precautions and buying tips.
So, which is better? RTX 4060 vs RX 6700 XT. We’d have to say that there are different strengths and weaknesses to take into account, but the RX 6700 XT can be considered the winner of this head to head. Its better memory future-proofs it even more than the newer Nvidia choice, allowing the 1440p performance to sit above the RTX 4060. And you might even find it at a better price these days depending on manufacturer/seller.
If you’re just looking for a new budget 1080p build though, we have to say the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 is better for the job. The much lower power consumption and low TDP makes it great for any budget PC build, as you can keep your GPU cooler without spending more on a better case or case fans.
Core clock speed
1,830MHz base, 2460MHz boost
CUDA cores
3,072
Memory size
8GB GDDR6
Dimensions
210.1 x 225.0 x 39.9 mm / 8.27 x 8.86 x 1.57 inches (2-slot)
PSU required
550W
TBP
115W
Core Clock Speed
2622 MHz Boost Clock
Stream Processors
2560
Memory Size
12GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
279 x 131 x 58 mm (2.75 slot)
PSU Required
650W
TDP
230W
Based on the specs, the RX 6700 XT looks to be the more powerful card, with a slightly better boost clock speed, and much better VRAM and memory specifications.
The RTX 4060 does have better architecture, which allows it to catch back up thanks to DLSS 3 frame generation & more.
Based on the MSRP of the two graphics cards, the RX 6700 XT is more expensive than the RTX 4060 – but the AMD card has been out for a while and sees a reduced price these days.
That means the RX 6700 XT can be a close match in price to the RTX 4060 moving forward, as we’ve already seen it priced new at $350 compared to the 4060’s MSRP of $299.
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