The AMD 7900 XTX has proved to be a powerful GPU, however the story didn’t begin there. The 6900 XT that preceded it opened up the aggressive high-end GPU panorama towards Nvidia in a blinding manner. A lot in order that the 6900 XT stays related as we speak.
That’s the cool factor about last-generation GPUs. The brand new AMD cream of the crop has not obsoleted the older gen, not by a protracted shot. GPUs such because the 6900 XT stay potent, and in lots of circumstances, can show to be wonderful price-to-performance warriors. The refreshed AMD 6950 XT added a couple of share factors to the combination, too. With AMD placing the 6000-series GPUs on sale, is it sufficient to attract you away from the breakneck efficiency of the 7000 collection to save lots of a couple of dollars?
We’re going to retroactively have a look at the massive man from final technology—the 6900 XT—and the 7900 XTX of this technology. They have been each the quickest and prime AMD GPUs on launch. Retaining in thoughts the 7900 XT and 6950 XT additionally exist, we’ll maintain the eye on the OG “original” prime canine.
We’ll go over the present market costs, gaming efficiency, and necessary issues to pay attention to. As with most GPUs, it’s not at all times a rosy state of affairs that leads you down the proper path. The GPU market is usually murky, difficult, and stuffed with twists and turns.
AMD 6900 XT vs. AMD 7900 XTX: Value and availability
Thiago Trevisan
Each GPUs debuted at a $999 MSRP. This makes them spectacular—since comparable Nvidia GPUs are priced greater, such because the RTX 3090 and RTX 4080.
Just lately, AMD has dropped the worth of the older 6900 XT to as little as $629 to make manner for the 7900 XTX. (You may even choose up the 6950 XT for underneath $700, too.)
They’ve one other shared attribute, this time regarding availability. The 6900 XT got here throughout a really turbulent time of the GPU shortages, making it hardly ever obtainable at MSRP. Because of an ease within the GPU market, it’s simply present in inventory now.
Whereas the 7900 XTX has launched throughout a downturn in GPU purchases, it too has availability points. Its less-performant 7900 XT sibling has remained in inventory at $899, however the $999 XTX proves to be too interesting with its price-to-performance benefit to remain on the cabinets.
Neither the 6900 XT nor the 7900 XTX have had perfect launch and availability situations for many of their existence. For those who have been to buy as we speak, you’d extra simply discover the older 6900 XT for cheaper in inventory.
As we’ll discover out, the 7900 XTX has a powerful efficiency uplift in case you contemplate each GPUs at their unique $999. That MSRP has stayed the identical, not like the RTX 4080, which has crept up. If we examine the present $629 6900 XT value, nevertheless, you’re actually paying extra for every body by the same greenback quantity as of as we speak.
Contemplating the above, we’d say the 7900 XTX is likely one of the higher efficiency values you will get as we speak, for these searching for essentially the most frames. If you are able to do with a bit much less efficiency, the 6900 XT continues to be worth.
AMD 6900 XT vs. AMD 7900 XTX: Efficiency
Thiago Trevisan
Efficiency is the dueling floor the place the actual questions will probably be answered regarding these two contenders.
What are you lacking with the older technology? Nvidia has made DLSS 3 with body technology an unique benefit to solely its RTX 4000 collection of GPUs. AMD expertise resembling FSR (FidelityX Tremendous Decision) is presently related on each generations, so that you’ll take pleasure in parity there. The benefit comes down to higher brute efficiency as a substitute. That’s excellent news, which means 6900 XT patrons can nonetheless take pleasure in a comparatively trendy GPU expertise.
Preserve one other necessary efficiency challenge in thoughts: CPU selection. With the 7900 XTX reaching such excessive body charges, your CPU selection will develop into much more of a consider some video games. Simply because the RTX 4090 can have CPU bottlenecks at even 4K, the 7900 XTX will probably be rather more demanding. That means you’re probably capable of skate by with a quick—however not “fastest” CPU—such because the 6900 XT with out as a lot bottlenecking.
From PCWorld’s RX 7900 XTX evaluate.
Brad Chacos
With Cyberpunk 2077 (ray tracing and DLSS/FSR off), the 7900 XTX is likely one of the most spectacular GPU’s we’ve seen. It even places up a domineering effort towards the Nvidia RTX 4090, which is sort of the feat!
We additionally see the 6900 XT with very shut efficiency to the RTX 3090, however removed from the 7900 XTX. If this was your sport of selection, the latter’s efficiency is round 63 % higher on paper. Oddly sufficient, the worth distinction between $629 and $999 for each GPUs presently stands round 58 %. Whilst you’re getting super efficiency will increase, the worth is equally greater. You’ll must ask your self in case you’re superb with the appropriate 91 FPS at 1440p for Cyberpunk, or in case you want extra (resembling 4K, and ray tracing, the place the reply favors the 7900 XTX).
There isn’t a doubt that when evaluating their unique $999 MSRP, as a substitute of the cheaper present value of the 6900 XT, the efficiency good points make the 7900 XTX a more sensible choice. However at present costs, it’s a bit extra of a toss-up.
In trying on the lower-priced 7900 XT, the price-to-performance distinction falls in favor of the 6900 XT, because the $899 7900 XT lacks the identical oomph as its greater XTX brother (however doesn’t lack the excessive pricing).
From PCWorld’s 7900 XTX evaluate.
Brad Chacos
With Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare 2, we discover a sport that likes AMD {hardware} usually. The 6900 XT is placing up spectacular numbers nonetheless—even at 4K it’s capable of go above the magical 4K 60 FPS barrier. At 1440p, as soon as once more we see the 7900 XTX with almost a 60 % acquire over the 6900 XT.
That’s unimaginable—however as soon as once more you should ask your self if the 123 FPS of the 6900 XT at 1440p is inadequate. Chances are high, it would do you simply superb, and also you’re paying a lot much less.
From PCWorld’s 7900 XTX evaluate.
Brad Chacos
Returning to Cyberpunk 2077, we now see how ray tracing fares. AMD has made some spectacular enhancements to its ray-tracing efficiency within the 7900 XTX, though it’s nonetheless behind Nvidia.
Generally, ray tracing is the place you’ll probably additionally wish to pair FSR to make sure you’re getting playable body charges. With FSR balanced, you’re getting over 50 % higher ray-tracing efficiency with the 7900 XTX over the 6900 XT. With FSR off, that quantity climbs barely nearer to 60 %, the place the brute pressure of the 7900 XTX performs a much bigger function. You’re going to get much less FPS with it off, and typically low sufficient to be unplayable with ray tracing.
The story with ray tracing is oddly like common rasterized efficiency variations between each GPUs. In each circumstances, the 7900 XTX performs greater than 50 % greater.
In case your main aim is ray tracing, likelihood is you’ll be higher served on the Nvidia facet. In any other case, you’re probably paying equally for that efficiency improve on the 7900 XTX versus the 6900 XT.
AMD’s FSR expertise is a superb efficiency characteristic on each GPUs, and so they’ll be additional augmented by the eventual launch of FSR 3.
Within the efficiency conclusion, in case you’re okay with the $999 value, the clear selection is the a lot sooner 7900 XTX. It’s one of many few first rate “bang-for-buck” GPUs these days, even at its present value. For those who’re okay with some compromises in frames, the $629 6900 XT has greater than sufficient chops to deal with demanding video games.
AMD 6900 XT vs. AMD 7900 XTX: Energy and different issues to know
As we’re speaking concerning the main performers from AMD, effectivity isn’t at all times the primary speaking level. Whereas AMD has closely pushed its relative effectivity previously, Nvidia has actually showcased some spectacular numbers, too.
Brad Chacos
With a 355W TDP on the 7900 XTX and a tamer 300W on the 6900 XT, they’re each cheap. Bear in mind, the RTX 4090 has a whopping 450W TDP, albeit with extra efficiency.
Because of this sometimes you’ll have a neater time cooling and becoming these AMD GPUs in your system. AMD made some extent initially that these are “normal-sized” and use the common PCIe 8-pin adapters in comparison with Nvidia’s 12VHPWR answer. Whereas that’s true, some AIB third-party coolers such because the PowerColor Crimson Satan might be simply as huge!
The 7900 XTX is even greater than the RTX 4080.
Thiago Trevisan
One other necessary level to the touch on is in driver help. Whereas AMD has been significantly better in current generations with driver updates, there have been some points. For instance, up to date drivers for the 6900 XT have been noticeably late after 7900 XTX drivers had already been launched for some new sport releases. That’s one factor to recollect about shopping for the older GPU—you’ll have much less frequent driver updates over time in comparison with the shiny new factor.
AMD 6900 XT vs. AMD 7900 XTX: The decision
There isn’t a doubt that, pound for pound, the 7900 XTX is spectacular. If we contemplate that the $999 MSRP technically stayed the identical versus the 6900 XT, it’s much more so. (We’re taking a look at you, RTX 4080!)
We will discover the 6900 XT at $629 as we speak, nevertheless. And whereas it doesn’t have the door-busting efficiency of the 7900 XTX, it’s nonetheless competent in trendy video games. It’s additionally a lot simpler to seek out in inventory. You’ll be lacking out on the highest body charges, and certain have inadequate ray-tracing efficiency. For those who mix FSR and the upcoming FSR 3 with the 6900 XT, it would delay the lifetime of this GPU much more.
Having mentioned that, in case you discover a $999 7900 XTX, the efficiency good points are clearly price it for a lot of. You’ll take pleasure in 50 % extra frames in lots of video games, together with ray tracing, on the identical unique MSRP of the 6900 XT.
How about phrasing it like this: For those who have been contemplating the 6900 XT, is the $370 distinction price it to leap to the 7900 XTX? If we contemplate future depreciation of each, it’s an in depth name. You’ll have the ability to benefit from the 7900 XTX for for much longer than the 6900 XT, because it’s extra future-proof with its elevated efficiency. In the long run, you could possibly take pleasure in extra efficiency now, and an extended life—subsequently negating among the 6900 XT’s value benefit. Both manner, you’ll nonetheless have nice efficiency with each!
Verdict: The 7900 XTX, albeit costlier, is probably going price it over the 6900 XT presently, because it provides you with longer usability and comes with super efficiency good points.
