RX 7800 XT Vs RX 6800 XT: Should You Upgrade?

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Abde Manaf

At Tech4Gamers, I began as a comparison writer, analyzing GPU and CPU performance. Now, I focus on writing reviews and contributing to the best-ofs section, sharing personal insights after hands-on testing.

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Process Size: The RX 6800 XT has 7nm manufacturing nodes, whereas the newer RX 7800 XT uses a chiplet design, using both 5nm and 6nm processing nodes.
2. Clock Speed: The RX 7800 XT has a lower base clock at 1295 MHz compared to its predecessor’s 1825 MHz. However, it outperforms the RX 6800 XT with a higher boost clock of 2430 MHz versus 2250 MHz.
3. TDP: The RX 7800 XT has a rated TDP of 263 watts, whereas the maximum power that the RX 6800 XT can draw is around 300 watts. Both cards use the same 2×8-pin power connector.
4. VRAM: The memory of the RX 7800 XT has a higher memory bandwidth of around 620 GB/s, whereas the RX 6800 XT’s VRAM has a bandwidth of 510 GB/s.
5. Other Features: The RX 6800 XT and RX 7800 XT are equipped to harness the power of AMD’s Fidelity FX super-resolution technology, substantially enhancing gaming experience by amplifying frame rates.

We’ll analyze performance metrics to reveal AMD’s advancements in comparing the RX 7800 XT vs RX 6800 XT. We’ll uncover real improvements in gaming and computational capabilities through rigorous testing. This evaluation offers valuable insights for users considering a graphics card upgrade.

Gaming Benchmarks

The gaming tests serve as the prime indicator for assessing the prowess of graphics cards. To ensure a precise evaluation between the RX 7800 XT vs RX 6800 XT, we carefully conducted tests across seven graphically intensive games, all set at a resolution of 1440p.

Starfield

• In our Starfield gameplay, the RX 7800 XT outperforms its last-gen counterpart by approximately 11%, achieving an average framerate of 84 FPS compared to 76 FPS.
• Regarding low 1% performance, the RX 7800 XT maintained a framerate of around 70 FPS, whereas the RX 6800 XT dipped down to around 64 FPS.

Remnant 2

• The lead of the RX 7800 XT diminished to around 8% in Remnant 2. On average, the RX 6800 XT hovered around 85 FPS, whereas the RX 7800 XT beat it by churning out around 90 FPS.
• 1% lows showed a larger performance difference between these two cards, with the RX 7800 XT maintaining around 72 FPS in action-heavy scenes, whereas the RX 6800 XT throttled to around 66 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

• The performance difference grew again to around 11% in Cyberpunk 2077. The RX 7800 XT had an average framerate of around 99 FPS, whilst the 6800 XT pumped out around 90 FPS.
• The RX 7800 XT dropped its framerate to around 87 FPS at the worst 1% performance, whereas the RX 6800 XT had a framerate of around 79 FPS at minimum.

The Last Of Us

• During our “The Last Of Us” session, the RX 7800 XT was only 5% faster than its predecessor, with an average framerate of 100 FPS instead of the 96 FPS the RX 6800 XT managed to pump out.
• In this game, The RX 7800 XT dipped to around 76 FPS, whereas the RX 6800 XT was ever so slightly less performant with a minimum framerate of 75 FPS.

A Plague Tale Requiem

• The RX 7800 XT outperformed the RX 6800 XT by about 10% in A Plague Tale Requiem at high-quality graphics settings, with average frame rates of approximately 114 FPS and 103 FPS, respectively.
• 1% lows lowered the difference in performance between these two cards. The RX 6800 XT maintained a minimum of 74 FPS, whereas the RX 7800 XT came down to 81 FPS.

Resident Evil 4

• In our Resident Evil 4 gameplay, the RX 6800 XT averaged around 112 FPS, whereas the RX 7800 XT provided an average of 117 FPS.
• 1% lows were also similar, with the RX 7800 XT getting around 112 FPS as its minimum, whereas the RX 6800 XT getting down to 108 FPS.

Fortnite

• During Fortnite, the RX 7800 XT reached an average framerate of 83 FPS, surpassing the rival by 10.7%, whereas the RX 6800 XT had an average of 75 FPS.
• The game ran smoother on the RX 7800 XT compared to the RX 6800 XT in terms of 1% lows: the RX 6800 XT dipped to around 52 FPS, while the RX 7800 XT provided 63 FPS.

Overall Performance

In our gaming assessments at 1440p resolution, the RX 7800 XT surpassed the RX 6800 XT with a notable 7.44% performance lead on average. Coming to the low 1% performance scnarios, the RX 7800 XT outperformed the RX 6800 XT by 7.8% more effective frame rates.

Power Consumption

We saw a peculiarity in our power consumption reading. On average, the RX 7800 XT drew 5 watts less power than the RX 6800 XT in our gaming tests. However, our test bench with the RX 6800 XT drew around 57 watts more than the system using the RX 7800 XT. So, we can say that the RX 7800 XT is around 14.7% more power efficient than the RX 6800 XT.

Thermal Efficiency

In my gaming temperature tests, the RX 6800 XT had a average temperature, whereas the RX 7800 XT was much cooler. According to my calculations, the RX 7800 XT is approximately 18.5% more thermally efficient than the RX 6800 XT.

Price And Availability

The RX 7800 XT maintains its original launch price owing to its commendable performance-to-price ratio, delivering exceptional value. Conversely, the RX 6800 XT has witnessed a decline in price attributed to its age and comparative performance shortfall.

Final Verdict – What Do We Recommend?

Radeon RX 7800 XT: The RX 7800 XT offers superior performance at a similar price, making it an attractive option for GPU upgrades amid new generation releases. With a 9% advantage in gaming benchmarks over the RX 6800 XT while keeping the price unchanged, it’s a compelling choice for value-conscious consumers prioritizing performance.

Radeon RX 6800 XT: After a thorough evaluation, we cannot justify recommending the RX 6800 XT due to its inferior performance compared to the RX 7800 XT across all metrics. The only advantage of the RX 6800 XT could lie in its pricing, which, coincidentally, aligns closely with that of the RX 7800 XT.

Because of its enhanced performance, power and thermal efficiency, and exceptional value given its price and performance, I heartily recommend the RX 7800 XT over the RX 6800 XT.

More From RX 6800 XT: 

• RX 7900 GRE Vs RX 6800 XT
• RTX 4070 Ti Vs RX 6800 XT
• RX 6800 XT Vs RTX 3080 Ti

More From RX 7800 XT:

• RX 7800 XT Vs RTX 3090
• RX 7800 XT Vs RTX 4070
• RX 7800 XT Vs RTX 3080

Abde Manaf

[Comparisons Expert]

Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.

Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.

As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.

Get In Touch: manaf@tech4gamers.com