AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT: A Flagship GPU Review
The Radeon RX 6950 XT, AMD's latest flagship GPU, is a refreshed version of its predecessor, the 6900 XT. Based on the Navi 21 die, it maintains the core count of the 6900 XT but offers a modest 3% core clock uplift and a 13% increase in memory bandwidth with the implementation of 18 Gbps GDDR6 memory.
Performance Expectations and Pricing
Considering the specifications, the 6950 XT is anticipated to deliver performance gains of 5-10% over the 6900 XT. With an MSRP increase from $1,000 to $1,100, the 6950 XT positions itself as a high-end product, not necessarily targeting the value-oriented segment.
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Testing Methodology
The 6950 XT, along with other AMD and Nvidia GPUs, was tested at their official specifications without any factory overclocking. Testing was conducted on a Ryzen 7 5800X3D-powered system with 32GB of DDR4-3200 CL14 memory. Eleven games were tested at resolutions of 1080p, 1440p, and 4K.
Benchmark Highlights
Rainbow Six Extraction
- 1080p Performance: The 6950 XT leads with 309 fps, 10% over the 6900 XT, and outperforms Nvidia's RTX 3090 Ti.
- 1440p Performance: Matches RTX 3090 with an 11% increase over the 6900 XT, slightly faster than the RTX 3080 Ti, but 7% behind the RTX 3090 Ti.
Watch Dogs: Legion
- 1080p Performance: Tops the chart with a 6% lead over the 6900 XT, closely followed by the 6800 XT.
- 1440p Performance: Maintains an advantage over Nvidia’s counterparts, being 12-23% faster than RTX 3090 Ti, RTX 3090, and RTX 3080 Ti, and 5% faster than the 6900 XT.
- 4K Performance: Edges out the RTX 3090 Ti, showing an 11% improvement over the 6900 XT.
Conclusion: Assessing the Radeon RX 6950 XT
The Radeon RX 6950 XT impressively holds its ground in high-end GPU benchmarks, showcasing commendable improvements over its predecessor, the 6900 XT, especially considering the modest price increase. While not positioned as a value leader, its performance against Nvidia's more expensive options like the RTX 3090 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti highlights its competitiveness in the premium GPU market segment. For gamers seeking top-tier performance, the 6950 XT presents a compelling option, balancing cost and capability.
