AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT
Rated: 8.8/10
Rated: 8.5/10
Pros And Cons
| GPU | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| RX 6650 XT | ✅Better 1440P gaming performance ✅Better Value | ❌Thermal performance didn’t impress ❌Only 8 GB of VRAM |
| RTX 2070 | ✅Good thermal performance ✅Cheap in the used market | ❌Older ❌Not-so-good value |
- RX 6650 XT outperforms RTX 2070 by 26.8% in 1440P gaming benchmarks, averaging 66.2 FPS compared to 52.2 FPS.
- RTX 2070 is 12.3% more thermally efficient, averaging 68.2°C compared to RX 6650 XT’s 76.6°C.
- RTX 2070 commands a 34% premium over RX 6650 XT, with refurbished models priced around $340 and RX 6650 XT around $240.
- Despite its age, RTX 2070 remains viable for those willing to adjust settings. RX 6650 XT offers superior performance and affordability for users seeking a straightforward option.
Comparison Table
| GPU | Nvidia RTX 2070 | AMD RX 6650 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | RDNA 2 |
| Die (Die Size) | TU106 (445 mm²) | Navi 23 (237 mm²) |
| Processing Node | TSMC 12nm | TSMC 7nm |
| No. of TMUs | 144 | 128 |
| No. of ROPs | 64 | 54 |
| No. of RT Cores | 36 | 32 |
Architectural Differences
- Process Node: RTX 2070 on 12nm, RX 6650 XT on 7nm, offering higher transistor density for RX 6650 XT due to smaller die size.
- VRAM: Both GPUs feature 8GB of GDDR6 memory. RTX 2070 features faster memory bandwidth at 448.0 GB/s with a wider 256-bit bus, while RX 6650 XT has 280.3 GB/s with a 128-bit bus.
- Clock Speed: RX 6650 XT boasts higher core and memory clock speeds with a base clock of 2055 MHz and a boost clock of 2635 MHz, outpacing RTX 2070’s 1410 MHz base and 1620 MHz boost clocks.
- TDP: RX 6650 XT has a slightly higher TDP of 176 watts compared to RTX 2070’s 175 watts, indicating potential efficiency and thermal management differences.
- PCIe Interface: The RTX 2070 operates on 16 lanes of PCIe Gen 3, while the RX 6650 XT utilizes 8 lanes of PCIe Gen 4.0.
Nvidia released the RTX 2070 in 2018 as one of their first fancy cards that could do ray-tracing and we have also reviewed the RTX 2070 in detail. On the flip side, AMD came out with the RX 6650 XT about 4 years later, which is also pretty good but not as fancy. Today, we’re comparing these two as we decide the verdict of RTX 2070 vs RX 6650 XT.
Gaming Performance
Let’s go ahead and compare the gaming performance of these two graphics cards. For this purpose, we’ll put them against each other in 5 titles, all tested at 1440P ultra or equivalent settings.
Testing Rig
- CPU: Intel Core i5-13600K
- CPU Cooler: Deepcool Assassin II CPU Cooler
- Motherboard: MSI Z790 Tomahawk Max WiFi Motherboard
- Memory: XPG Lancer RGB 32GB 7200MHz DDR5 Ram
- Storage: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe SSD
Cyberpunk 2077
- Starting the benchmarks with Cyberpunk 2077, the Radeon RX 6650 XT averages 54 FPS, while the RTX 2070 trails with 44 FPS.
- Both GPUs recorded the same %1 low score, reaching 38 FPS.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Moving on to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the RX 6650 XT continues to lead and racks up 65 FPS on average. The RTX 2070 trails by 32.6% with an average FPS of 49.
- The %1 lows provide another win to the RX 6650 XT as it drops to 54 FPS in reply to 41 FPS of the RTX 2070.
Red Dead Redemption 2
- In our Red Dead Redemption 2 session, Nvidia’s RTX 2070 scored 58 FPS in reply to 67 FPS of the RX 6650 XT.
- A comparatively smaller difference is recorded regarding the %1 lows, with the RX 6650 XT providing 52 FPS and 2070 reached to 47 FPS.
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Running Horizon Zero Dawn at the ultimate quality preset sees the RX 6650 XT averaging a healthy 79 FPS. The GeForce RTX 2070 is not far behind with 70 FPS.
- In this test, the RX 6650 XT only leads by 1 FPS in terms of %1 lows.
Watch Dogs: Legion
- In our final benchmark, the RTX 6650 extends its lead to a significant 43.4% in terms of average FPS, reaching 66 FPS compared to 2070’s 46 FPS.
- Moving on to the %1 low score, the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT recorded 56 FPS. Meanwhile, the RX 6650 XT managed only 41 FPS.
Overall Gaming Performance
| Featured | RX 6650 XT | RTX 2070 |
|---|---|---|
| Average FPS | 66.2📈 | 53.4📈 |
| %1 lows | 52.2📉 | 45.4📉 |
| Winner: AMD's RX 6650 XT | ||
The RX 6650 XT averaged 66.2 FPS across the 5 games compared to 52.2 FPS of the Nvidia RTX 2070. The RX 6650 XT is 26.8% faster than the RTX 2070. As for the %1 low FPS, the RX 6650 XT averaged 53.4 FPS in contrast to 45.4 FPS scored by the RTX 2070 — a 17.6% difference.
Thermal Efficiency
| Featured | RX 6650 XT (°C) | RTX 2070 (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Average Temperature | 76.6🌡️ | 68.2🌡️ |
| Winner: NVIDIA's RTX 2070 | ||
The RX 6650 XT averaged 76.6°C across the 5 games — much warmer than the RTX 2070, which averaged 68.2°C. Thus, the RTX 2070 proved 12.3% more thermally efficient than the RX 6650 XT.
Pricing And Availability
| GPU | MSRP | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| AMD RX 6650 XT | 💲399 | 💲240 |
| NVIDIA RTX 2070 | 💲499 | 💲340 |
| Difference | 22.3% | 34.4% |
The price gap between these GPUs is notable, with the RTX 2070 commanding a premium of approximately 34% compared to the RX 6650 XT. At Amazon, you’ll find the refurbished RTX 2070 listed for almost $340, while the RX 6750 XT offers a more budget-friendly option, commonly priced as low as $240.
Final Verdict – What We Recommend?
AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT: The RX 6650 XT impressively outperforms the RTX 2070 in gaming benchmarks, exhibiting a substantial 26.8% lead in average FPS across various titles at 1440P ultra settings. Despite its slightly higher thermal output, the RX 6650 XT offers exceptional performance at an affordable price point.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070: Although the RTX 2070 displays competitive gaming performance, it falls behind the RX 6650 XT with a noticeable performance gap in benchmarks. However, the RTX 2070 maintains a slight advantage in thermal efficiency.
If you prioritize raw gaming performance and affordability, the RX 6650 XT stands out as the superior choice. However, if you value thermal management and are willing to compromise slightly on performance, the RTX 2070 remains a viable alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
The RX 6650 XT has a more efficient processing node than the RTX 2070. Also, the RX 6650 XT houses 32 MB of L3 cache, while the RTX 2070 does not have any L3 cache at all.
Yes. The RX 6650 XT performed 26.8% faster than the RTX 2070 in the 1440P gaming benchmarks.
The RTX 2070 is 12.3% more efficient than the RX 6650 XT, according to my 1440P gaming benchmarks.
More From RTX 2070:
More From RX 6650 XT
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[Comparisons Expert]
Ali Tauseef is an experienced writer and computer enthusiast with a passion for graphics cards and processors. With a wealth of knowledge in the field of computer technology, he regularly publishes blogs and in-depth comparisons on Tech4Gamers.
Get In Touch: ali@tech4gamers.com
