If you are looking for a high-end graphics card for serious 4K gaming, then Radeon RX 6800 XT is one the best cards you can get. It is a direct competitor of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, the second most powerful graphics card in the RTX 30 series from Nvidia. On the other hand, Radeon RX 6800 XT is the second most powerful card in the Radeon RX 6000 series, and it sits below the Radeon RX 6900 XT, which is the AMD’s flagship graphics card in this RX 6000 series. Radeon RX 6800 XT delivers performance almost equal to that of the RTX 3080 while being cheaper by a decent amount. Also, RX 6800 XT is more power-efficient than the RTX 3080.
Radeon RX 6800 XT is built on the RDNA 2 architecture on the 7nm manufacturing process from TSMC. The card uses Navi 21 XT GPU and comes with 4608 Stream Processors and 72 Ray Accelerators. It has got 16GB GDDR6 memory, which runs at 16Gbps, and has a 256-bit interface. The card is equipped with a 128 MB ultra-fast Infinity Cache that helps increase the peak memory bandwidth to a whopping 1664 GB/s, which is 3.25 times of effective bandwidth. The card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, FreeSync, PCI-Express 4.0, Real-Time Ray Tracing, HDMI 2.1 (supports 4K@120Hz), AV1 decode, USB Type-C connector (with DisplayPort passthrough), and Microsoft DirectStorage API. The reference model has a power consumption of 300W, and a 750W PSU is recommended for it.
Besides the reference Radeon RX 6800 model which is an excellent card, various other RX 6800 XT models are also available from different AIB partners or manufacturers. Some custom models are overclocked more, while some run quieter or cooler. Choosing between so many models can become very confusing, so to help you choose the right Radeon RX 6800 XT for your ultimate gaming rig, here I am going to list the best RX 6800 XT cards based on different parameters.
Check out: Radeon RX 6800 XT vs RTX 3080 Comparison & Benchmarks
Best Overclocked/Overall RX 6800 XT
XFX Speedster MERC 319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT BLACK
[Great Looks, Excellent Performance, Great Build Quality, Silent, USB Type-C port, Dual BIOS]
One of the fastest Radeon RX 6800 XT graphics cards with the highest factory overclocking and maximum manual overclocking potential is the XFX Speedster MERC 319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT BLACK Gaming Graphics Card. The card comes with a GPU Boost clock of 2340 MHz, which is 90 MHz more than the reference card. In Rage Mode, the GPU Boost clock is 2360 MHz. The Ghost Thermal design cooling uses a large aluminum heatsink with seven copper heatpipes. The heatsink is cooled by three 13-blade fans having dual ball bearings for a longer lifespan. The middle fan is a 90mm fan, while the outers fans are 100mm in size. The fans are very quiet in operation, even at full GPU load. The Zero DB fan system turns off the fans at low GPU load and starts them again when the GPU load becomes high, especially during gaming or working with GPU-intensive applications.
The card also features a Dual BIOS that has a Balanced and Rage Mode. The Rage Mode is basically an overclocking mode that increases power delivery to the GPU for attaining the maximum GPU boost clock for increased performance. The desirable BIOS mode can be selected using the physical switch present on the side of the card. Moreover, the card comes with 14+2 Phase power delivery that helps in attaining superior stability during overclocking. The overclocking potential of this XFX Radeon RX 6800 XT is greater than other RX 6800 XT models out there in the market.
It is a very big card having a 2.9-slot design and is 340mm long. For rigidity, it comes with a metal bracket and a vented metal backplate that also helps in cooling down some of the components located on the backside. The shroud of the card is also made of metal for added robustness. The card is stylish yet classy and is probably the best-looking Radeon RX 6800 XT card. For power, the card requires two 8-pin PCIe connectors, and the manufacturer recommends a 750 Watt PSU. Display connectivity options include three DisplayPort ports, one HDMI 2.1, and one USB Type-C port with Display passthrough. I think it is unarguably the best Radeon RX 6800 XT card because it excels in all departments, whether it is cooling, performance, build quality, looks, or features.
| XFX Speedster MERC 319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT BLACK Specifications | |
| Stream Processors | 4608 |
| GPU Clock | 2360 MHz Boost (RAGE Mode) |
| Memory Clock | 16 Gbps |
| Memory Size | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 4.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 |
| PCI-E Power Connector | 8-pin x 2 |
| Output Ports | HDMI 2.0 x 1, DisplayPort 1.4a x 2, USB type-C |
Buy XFX Speedster MERC 319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT BLACK
Best Silent RX 6800 XT
Sapphire NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
[High Factory Overclocking, RGB Lighting, Dual BIOS, Stylish Design]
Although there are many silent custom Radeon RX 6800 XT cards out there, the best silent RX 6800 XT card to me is the Sapphire NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT. It is quite a feature-packed card, looks great, and is one of the most overclocked RX 6800 XT cards too. The card has got a GPU Boost Clock of 2360 MHz, which is the highest of all AIB RX 6800 XT cards. The card uses TRI-X Cooling Technology that offers superb cooling performance along with quieter operation. The cooler on this card consists of a big primary aluminum heatsink with six copper heatpipes and a copper base that cools down the GPU. For memory and VRM, there is a secondary heatsink for dedicated cooling of these components. Three fans are present on the heatsink where the middle is smaller and spins in the opposite direction to reduce air turbulence for better airflow and cooling performance. The fans use dual ball bearings, and the new hybrid fan design provides the quietness of a traditional axial fan design and strong air pressure of a blower fan design for greater downward air pressure through the fan while keeping the fan noise low. The card comes with Fan Stop or passive cooling tech that stops the fan when the GPU load or temperature is low for a totally silent operation. The fans start automatically during gaming or when the GPU load or temperature increases and crosses a certain threshold value. The card also features dual BIOS, and you can switch between Default and Quiet BIOS either by a toggle switch or by using the software through software switch mode.
It is a 2.7 slot card and is 310mm in length. There is a fancy metal backplate present that gives the card rigidity and prevents it from bending or sagging. The RGB lighting on the card can be seen on the backplate and the top edge. An ARGB connector is present on the card that allows you to sync the RGB lighting to the card’s one using the TriXX software, which is also used to monitor and customize various settings on the card relating to voltage, fan speed, GPU/VRAM clock frequency, BIOS switching. The software also supports the TriXX Boost that enables gamers to run games at a higher FPS by reducing the rendering resolution and upscaling the final output image by integrating Radeon Image Sharpening. The card requires two 8-pin PCIe connectors for power, and an 850-Watt power supply is recommended. Unlike other Radeon RX 6800 XT cards, it lacks a USB Type-C connector and comes with regular display connectivity options that include three DisplayPort 1.4a ports and one HDMI 2.1 port. Overall, it is one of the best Radeon RX 6800 XT cards you buy and is highly recommended by me.
Note: Another very silent card and highly overclocked RX 6800 XT card is the PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT.
| Sapphire NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT Specifications | |
| Stream Processors | 4608 |
| GPU Clock | 2360 MHz Boost |
| Memory Clock | 16 Gbps |
| Memory Size | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 4.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 |
| PCI-E Power Connector | 8-pin x 2 |
| Output Ports | HDMI 2.0 x 1, DisplayPort 1.4a x 3 |
Buy Sapphire NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
Coolest RX 6800 XT [Air Cooled]
MSI Radeon RX 6800 XT GAMING X TRIO 16G
[Stylish Design, Silent, RGB Lighting]
If you are looking for an RX 6800 XT card that runs cooler than other models, then it is MSI Radeon RX 6800 XT GAMING X TRIO 16G. It is the coolest air-cooled Radeon RX 6800 XT card and also runs very quiet. It has a GPU Boost clock of 2285 MHz, which is only 35 MHz more than the reference. The TRI FROZR 2 cooling system consists of a large aluminum heatsink with a large array of fins and six copper heatpipes that make direct contact with the GPU. The deflectors at the edge of the heatsink provide additional surface area and guide air to where it is needed for maximum cooling. The Wave-curved 2.0 fin edges disrupt unwanted airflow harmonics resulting in reduced noise. The heatsink is cooled by three TORX 4.0 fans with pairs of fan blades bound together with an outer ring design for focused airflow. The card has semi-passive cooling tech that stops the fans from spinning during low GPU load and temperature and starts them automatically when the load or temperature increases. It is a pretty silent card and runs significantly cooler than other custom RX 6800 XT cards.
It is quite a massive card with a 2.9-slot design and is 324mm long. For enhancing the card’s structural integrity, a solid anti-ending metal reinforcement bar is fitted along the top edge, and a GPU support bracket also comes bundled with the card. The backplate is not metal but is made from Graphene, a composite of plastic and graphite. The graphene backplate provides additional support to the card and cools down some of the components located on the card’s PCB’s backside. The card also features RGB lighting that can be seen on the front and along the plastic shroud’s top edge and backplate. The card requires two 8-pin PCIe connectors and a 750W PSU for its working. Display connectivity options include three DisplayPort 1.4a ports and one HDMI 2.1 port. Overall, a good-looking Radeon RX 6800 XT card that offers superb performance but is one of the most expensive RX 6800 XT models too.
| MSI Radeon RX 6800 XT GAMING X TRIO 16G Specifications | |
| Stream Processors | 4608 |
| GPU Clock | 2285 MHz Boost |
| Memory Clock | 16 Gbps |
| Memory Size | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 4.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 |
| PCI-E Power Connector | 8-pin x 2 |
| Output Ports | HDMI 2.0 x 1, DisplayPort 1.4a x 3 |
Buy MSI Radeon RX 6800 XT GAMING X TRIO 16G
Liquid Cooled RX 6800 XT
ASUS ROG Strix LC Radeon RX 6800 XT
[Coolest RX 6800 XT, RGB Lighting, Feature Rich, Dual BIOS]
A liquid-cooled Radeon RX 6800 XT for enthusiasts and overclockers. ASUS ROG Strix LC Radeon RX 6800 XT is the flagship RX 6800 XT card from Asus and is among the top Radeon RX 6800 XT cards out there in the market. It is the coolest running Radeon RX 6800 XT card and is significantly cooler than other custom models, even the MSI Radeon RX 6800 XT GAMING X TRIO 16G. Technically, the card employs a hybrid cooling solution where a liquid cooler is used for cooling down the GPU and GDDR6 memory, and VRM or Power Delivery components are air-cooled using a blower fan. The card’s liquid cooler uses a 240mm Radiator with two 120mm ARGB fans and a large copper base plate that makes direct contact with the GPU and VRAM. For cooling the VRM components, the card uses a low profile heatsink and a blower fan. The tube for the liquid cooler is 600mm long, which means fitting the card in a large case won’t be an issue. The semi-passive cooling tech on this card stops the fans from spinning under low GPU load or temperature. The fans start automatically when the load or temperature increases. Moreover, the card comes with Dual BIOS and allows you to switch between Performance (P) and Quiet BIOS (Q), based on your preference.
Physically, the card is 277mm long and has a 2.2-slot design. A sturdy and thick metal backplate protects the card against damage and provides rigidity. The card has fancy RGB lighting all around, which can be seen on the shroud and radiator. Two 4-pin PWM headers are provided on the card that lets you connect extra chassis fans and sync them with the GPU or CPU temperature. Using the ASUS GPU Tweak II utility, you can tweak critical parameters that include GPU core clocks, memory frequency, and voltage settings and monitor everything in real-time through a customizable on-screen display. The card needs two 8-pin PCIe connectors for power, and a 750 PSU is recommended for it. Display connectivity options include two DisplayPort 1.4a ports, one HDMI 2.1 port, and one USB Type-C port with DisplayPort passthrough.
| ASUS ROG Strix LC Radeon RX 6800 XT Specifications | |
| Stream Processors | 4608 |
| GPU Clock | 2360 MHz Boost |
| Memory Clock | 16 Gbps |
| Memory Size | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit |
| Bus Interface | PCI Express 4.0 |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 |
| PCI-E Power Connector | 8-pin x 2 |
| Output Ports | HDMI 2.0 x 1, DisplayPort 1.4a x 2, USB Type-C x 1 |
Buy ASUS ROG Strix LC Radeon RX 6800 XT
Compact RX 6800 XT
Well, there are no compact RX 6800 XT cards available, especially in custom models. The relatively compact RX 6800 XT card is the reference RX 6800 XT model with a length of 267mm and is 2.5-slot wide.
Other Custom Radeon RX 6800 XT cards
Some other good custom RX 6800 XT cards that you can check out.
- ASUS TUF GAMING Radeon RX 6800 XT
- Sapphire PULSE AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- Gigabyte Radeon RX 6800 XT GAMING OC 16G
- PowerColor Red Dragon AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- ASRock Radeon RX 6800 XT Taichi X 16G OC
See also:
Final Words
All the custom AIB models of RX 6800 XT are excellent, and the top ones with the higher clocks with beefy coolers can even beat RTX 3090 in some games or benchmarks. Radeon RX 6800 XT is one of the best cards you can buy for 1440p and 4K gaming, and it is also priced competitively. The card comes with a large amount of video memory, making it future-proof for upcoming latest AAA games with possibly larger VRAM requirements. If you still have any doubts about selecting the right RX 6800 XT for your gaming rig, then you can ask me your queries in the comment section below.
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