Best RX 6900 XT graphics card in 2024
We take a look at the best RX 6900 XT cards currently available.
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The AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT is the jewel in the Radeon 6000 series crown. This was AMD’s RDNA 2 flagship GPU, boasting the best performance AMD has ever been able to give us from a graphics card. Although now surpassed it was a great improvement, so what are the best RX 6900 XT graphic cards?
The RX 6900 XT, AMD’s rival to the Nvidia RTX 3090, faced the same stock issues we saw from every hardware launch of the pandemic era. That being said, it has recovered since then and brought a good improvement in the graphical performance of the cards. So if the next best options of the RX 7900 XTX are too much for you, then looking back is a good alternative.
Our top picks
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PowerColor Radeon RX 6900 XT Red Devil 16GB
Best RX 6900 XT
ASUS TUF GAMING Radeon RX 6900 XT OC 16GB
Clock Speed (Base/Boost)
TBCMHz
VRAM
16GB GDDR6
Ports
HDMI x 1 DP x 3
Amazon
- Axial-tech fan design has been enhanced
- An all-aluminum shroud
- GPU Tweak II provides intuitive performance tweaking, thermal controls, and system monitoring
- Good value 4K gaming
- Basic design
The Asus TUF RX 6900 XT may not be as desirable as the ROG Strix LC model but it brings excellent value to the table. The design may be basic but it features the same new Axial-tech fans, giving you more thermal headroom. We also see an all-aluminum shroud and a ventilated backplate to keep things cool.
This OC version brings a game clock speed of 2105MHz and a boost speed of 2340MHz. This card offers similar speeds to others that are priced closely but when paired with the impressive cooling solution, you are getting a high-end gaming experience here for less.
Best RX 6900 XT for overclocking
PowerColor Radeon RX 6900 XT Red Devil 16GB
Clock Speed (Base/Boost)
2015MHz/ 2340MHz
VRAM
16GB GDDR6
Ports
HDMI x 1 DP x 2 USB Type C x 1
- Affordable
- The 2X 100mm and 1X 90mm optimized static pressure fan design provides more air flow and better cooling circulation
- Mute Fan Technology
- Budget option
The PowerColor Radeon RX 6900 XT Red Devil actually features an impressive cooling design, with two 100mm fans and a single 90mm fan in the middle. The fan design combines with the large copper base for impressive heat dissipation and better performance.
This is one of the slower cards in our best of guide but don’t let that put you off, it is still great for gaming. This RX 6900 XT features a base clock speed of 2015MHz and a boost of 2250MHz.
Best budget RX 6900 XT
Gigabyte Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card
High Performance
4K Gaming
Architecture
RDNA 2 Architecture with Hardware Raytracing
Memory Size
16 GB
- Tri-fan cooling system prevents overheating and throttling
- Impressive base and boost clock speeds
- AMD Fidelity FX boosts display brilliance
- Radeon Anti-Lag tech eliminates lag
- Super fast in lower resolutions
- Slightly more affordable
- Infinity cache offers enhanced efficiency
- Not quite as good for intensive parallel creative workflows
As the reference card, it gives you the full power of the card at a basic level. This means the pricing will be reflected in it, especially as newer cards come out.
It has a boost clock of up to 2,250 MHz with a game clock of 2,015 MHz. So it is more conservative than the other options, but nothing is stopping you from overclocking the GPU yourself. Even if not it still has plenty of performance behind it. The design is a bit basic, so it may not suit everyone’s build and so might not be the best choice.
How we choose
Choosing the best components for our gaming PCs is never a simple task, whether it’s the best GPUs or CPUs, plenty of research is required. This is where WePC steps in, taking all the stresses of research away from our less tech-savvy readers.
All of the RX 6900XT graphics cards on this list have been selected for a reason. First and foremost, we all love to game and have been scouring the web to find the best AIB RX 6900XT cards. The search enables us to find which GPUs gamers tend to prefer and we balance those with the highest reviews against those with the lowest price.
How we test
From PC cases to graphics cards, we like to get hands-on with everything we recommend. Testing the products is a huge part of our overall selection process and it is the best way to ensure we find the best GPUs.
Graphics cards must pass our testing, which is mostly gaming, with some other synthetic benchmarking too. When it comes to an RX 6900 XT, we are going to be looking at game performance, thermal performance, and value. Our process helps us paint a more accurate picture of which is actually the best and will help you ultimately make the correct buying decision. And you can read how we test GPUs on our page.
Things to consider
When it comes to buying any type of tech, especially something like a GPU, there are many key areas that you need to consider before making that final purchase. With the RX 6900 XT being part of AMD’s latest graphics card lineup you aren’t going to be disappointed but we still need to ensure it’s the best card for your personal needs.
Specifications & Performance
To understand where the Radeon RX 6900XT sits within the RX 6000 series range, let’s take a brief look at the specs.
Radeon RX 6800XT:
- 72 compute units
- A game clock of 2015MHz
- A boost clock of 2250MHz
- A 128MB Infinity cache
- 16GB of GDDR6 memory
- A total board power of 300W.
Radeon RX 6900XT:
- 80 compute units
- A game clock of 2015MHz
- A boost clock of 2250MHz
- A 128MB Infinity cache
- 16GB of GDDR6 memory
- A total board power of 300W.
Radeon RX 6950 XT:
- 80 compute units
- A game clock of 2100 MHz
- A boost clock of 2310 MHz
- A 128MB Infinity cache
- 16GB of GDDR6 memory
- A total board power of 335W.
The RX 6900 XT is for a smaller percentage of gamers when compared to the other more affordable options. If you’re someone who strives for only the best hardware, or maybe you are a keen 4K gamer, the RX 6900 XT makes a lot of sense and will even save you hundreds when compared to Nvidia’s RTX 3090.
Not everyone wants to play in 4K but a card that is capable is going to give you even better results in 1080 and 1440p. Still, for those that are after the absolute best from a graphical standpoint, this is the GPU for you. If the absolute maximum performance is something you decide you don’t need, it may be worthwhile you check out the RX 6800 XT for a cheaper alternative.
Price
When it comes to a gaming PC, the graphics card tends to cost around 50% of the overall build. This is because the GPU is the most important component for most gamers. Currently, the stock is a bit of an issue, meaning many are having to wait months for a new card. This gives you an opportune moment to potentially save up more cash for your build, so you know, silver lining and all that.
The RX 6900 XT is priced between the RTX 3080 and 3090 at around $1000. This can save enthusiast-level gamers hundreds if opting for the Radeon over the GeForce card. Whether this price is worth it when compared to the RX 6800 XT is going to be down to your own personal needs.
Size
Graphics card physical sizes have been increasing a significantly amount over the years, with both AMD and Nvidia’s “flagship” GPUs being the biggest we have ever seen. The size of a GPU is very important to consider before buying, as you need to make sure it fits inside your case. It is also well worth your time to check to see how many slots the GPU will take up on your motherboard, because if you are running a setup with a Wi-Fi card or sound card, you may need to opt for a less beefy option.
RX 6900 XT Vs. RTX 3090
From a gaming standpoint, both the RX 6900 XT and the RTX 3090 deliver very similar results across a wide selection of games. It is worth noting that the RTX 3090 brings more VRAM and higher FPS counts to the table but whether this is going to be worth the extra few hundred is going to entirely depend on your individual needs.
For streamers, there is clearly a lot of value in going for an RTX 3090 but with the RX 6900 XT sitting closely to $1000, it is an absolute steal for the performance this will provide your system. We are still waiting for further benchmarks, especially with the SAM and Rage mode in AMDs software, but the value seems to still sit with AMD.
From what we have seen, the RX 6800 XT and RTX 3080 are still probably the way to go for the vast majority of gamers. These GPUs offer incredible performance for gaming and cost nearly half as much in some cases but we understand that some of you simply want “the best”.
Understanding the specs
Like with any component, it is important to familiarize yourself with the product’s specs. By having an understanding of the key specifications, you will be able to make a more informed decision with what GPU you go for. This in turn is going to ensure you make better investments for your individual needs going forward.
Let’s take a look at some of the main terms you are likely to come across.
Clock Speeds
Clock speed or clock frequency is the speed at which your microprocessor operates. GPUs come pre-clocked to a certain speed and this will usually show in the specific model’s specs. This spec lets us know how fast the GPU will perform certain tasks and while some manufacturers like to show off the speed, don’t let this be your defining factor when choosing a new card.
As mentioned in the specs near the top, the advertised speeds at launch for the RX 6900 XT were a game clock of 2015MHz and a boost clock speed of 2250MHz. Whilst there are also going to be overclocked models available which will offer an improvement in performance but coming in at a higher price.
VRAM
VRAM is your graphics card’s video random access memory. This has a direct impact on how well your card can perform certain tasks and hope much data it can store and access at any one time. VRAM works just like your system RAM, it stores important data used by a game or application that is running, allowing the GPU to access that data at any time. This means the GPU doesn’t have to go between the CPU and your primary drive to collect the data – it already has it stored and ready to go. The RX 6900 XT comes with 16GB of DDR6 memory.
TDP
TDP (Thermal Design Power) refers to the maximum amount of heat a computer chip, such as a CPU or GPU, can produce in watts. This is used as a basic indicator of power consumption. Essentially, more watts equals better performance but obviously comes with higher temps and more power being consumed.
The RX 6900 XT reference board is advertised as using 300W of power but we will have to wait and see what the aftermarket models require as more information is released but we imagine it is the same.
Smart Access Memory
With AMD’s recent CPU and GPU launch we learned that when you combine the two, you can take advantage of a performance boost thanks to the new “Infinity Cache”. The software allows the CPU to directly access the GPU’s full memory buffer, as opposed to the 256MB segments that have been the norm until now. Smart Access Memory basically means more efficient use of the combined memory from both the CPU and GPU, which reduces buffering and latency.
Rage Mode
Rage Mode feature on AMDs software for the new GPUs. This is basically a “one-click” function that overclocks the card and takes advantage of the additional capacity. Rage mode is one of three new exclusive performance tuning presets found in the Radeon software. The aptly named “Rage Mode” brings out the maximum performance of your card and gets every drop of FPS you could want.
Final word
We’ve reached the end of this round-up for AMDs enthusiast-level, flagship GPU. Ultimately, the best RX 6900 XT graphics card is going to offer a better cooling solution, faster speeds, and better build quality, with gaming performance probably being very similar. An RX 6900 XT makes a lot of sense for gamers in the high-end side of the market, with big savings over the Nvidia counterpart and similar gaming results.
Of course, which card you end up choosing for your build largely depends on your personal needs but you can rest assured knowing that whichever new-gen card you pick, your gaming experience is about to go through the roof.
Other GPU guides
FAQs
What PSU Wattage Will I Need For the RX 6900XT?
Choosing the right PSU for your build is crucial but with many manufacturers now offering efficient models, you just need to focus on getting the right wattage for your components. You aren’t going to need more than an 850W PSU for your RX 6900 XT as that is what AMD recommends.
A good quality PSU should last more than several years, so if you think you may get a significant GPU upgrade in that time, consider getting a bit more PSU wattage headroom, although 850W is going to have you covered for quite some time.
What is the best RX 6900 XT?
For the best pick of RX 6900 XT we recommend the ASUS TUF model. With its robust and high-quality build, it is a great choice. Along with an overclocked GPU, it means it gets a performance above the competition.
