Is Radeon RX 6800 Good for Gaming? Performance Overview

Steve Ireland

Radeon RX 6800 GPU

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 is a high-end card designed for gamers who need strong performance at high resolutions like 1440p and even in 4K settings. It uses the AMD RDNA 2 architecture, which brings several improvements over its predecessors. The card comes with 16 GB of GDDR6 RAM, which is more than enough for modern games. Gaming tests show that this card can deliver smooth frame rates in most games even with the highest settings. While its ray tracing capabilities still lag a bit behind the competition, it’s a solid choice for most gaming needs. The Radeon RX 6800 hits a sweet spot for those who want good performance without going to the absolute top of the market.

Radeon RX 6800: A Gaming Performance Analysis

Performance Overview

The Radeon RX 6800 is a formidable graphics card that excels in 1440p and 4K gaming, often outperforming its direct competitor, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, in various titles. Its 16GB of GDDR6 memory provides ample space for high-resolution textures and future-proofing, while AMD’s Infinity Cache technology further enhances performance in demanding games.

1440p Gaming Prowess

At 1440p resolution, the RX 6800 consistently delivers smooth frame rates above 60fps in most AAA games with high or even ultra settings. It can even handle demanding titles like “Cyberpunk 2077” and “Red Dead Redemption 2” with respectable performance.

4K Gaming Capabilities

While 4K gaming might push the RX 6800 a bit harder, it still performs admirably in many games, often achieving a playable 60fps with some settings adjustments. In less demanding titles, you can even enjoy smooth gameplay at 4K with higher settings.

Ray Tracing Performance

The RX 6800 supports real-time ray tracing, but its performance in this area isn’t as strong as NVIDIA’s RTX cards. However, with AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) upscaling technology, you can still enjoy ray-traced visuals in many games with acceptable frame rates.

Value Proposition

The RX 6800 offers excellent value for money, often beating the RTX 3070 in terms of both price and performance. It’s a great choice for gamers looking for a powerful card that can handle modern games at high resolutions without breaking the bank.

Overclocking Potential

The RX 6800 has decent overclocking potential, allowing you to squeeze out even more performance. With proper cooling and careful adjustments, you can achieve a noticeable boost in frame rates in many games.

Table: Radeon RX 6800 Performance Benchmarks

GameResolutionSettingsAverage FPS
Cyberpunk 20771440pHigh65
Red Dead Redemption 21440pHigh72
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla1440pUltra80
Call of Duty: Warzone1440pHigh95
Forza Horizon 51440pUltra105
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray Tracing)1440pRT Medium48
Metro Exodus (Ray Tracing)1440pRT High55

Note: These are average benchmarks and can vary depending on your system configuration and specific game settings.

Key Takeaways

  • The Radeon RX 6800 is a high-end graphics card aimed at gamers.
  • It is well-equipped for 1440p gaming and capable in 4K.
  • While strong in overall performance, it trails in ray tracing compared to some competitors.

Performance and Gaming Capabilities

The Radeon RX 6800 stands strong as a mid to high-tier graphics card. It excels at delivering smooth frame rates in 1440p and manages respectable performance in 4K settings.

1080p and 1440p Gaming

The Radeon RX 6800 shines at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. Gamers can enjoy fast-paced action smoothly with high frame rates in many current titles. In 1440p, the card often matches or surpasses the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070, especially in games optimized for AMD hardware.

4K Gaming Experience

For 4K gaming, the RX 6800 shows competent entry-level performance. It might trail behind the RX 6800 XT and the RTX 3080 in raw power, but it still manages to push playable frame rates in less demanding 4K games. For more intense titles, adjustments to the game settings may be necessary to maintain a smooth experience.

Ray Tracing and Upscaling Technologies

Ray tracing is available on the RX 6800, but it can’t compete with the performance of RTX cards. AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution helps boost frame rates when ray tracing is enabled, but the upscaling technology is still a step behind Nvidia’s DLSS. Even so, players will notice enhanced visuals in supported games.

Benchmarks and Comparisons

Benchmarks position the Radeon RX 6800 as a strong competitor in its price range, often outperforming the older RX 5700 XT significantly. Against the RTX 3070, results vary based on the title—with AMD’s card leading in some and the Nvidia card in others. With a robust 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, a game clock that can reach high speeds, and a sizable bandwidth, this GPU holds its own in the market.