AMD Radeon Pro 580 vs AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT Comparison

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT and AMD Radeon Pro 580 represent two very different eras and purposes within AMD’s lineup, and the benchmark data reflects a complete dominance by the newer RX 6800 XT across every shared test. The RX 6800 XT, built on RDNA 2.0, is a high-performance desktop part from the Navi II generation, while the Radeon Pro 580 is a GCN 4.0 mobile integrated GPU from the Radeon Pro Mac series. The recorded comparisons show the RX 6800 XT winning all three head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 216.2% to 362.4%, making this less of a contest and more of a generational gap analysis.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT wins every benchmark where both cards have recorded scores. In the three shared tests, the RX 6800 XT takes the top spot in Geekbench Metal, Geekbench OpenCL, and Geekbench Vulkan. Its wins are not marginal either, as the deltas are massive. The RX 6800 XT also holds a broader benchmark portfolio, with additional scores in 3DMark, PassMark, and compute tests, while the Pro 580 only has Geekbench entries. This suggests the RX 6800 XT is intended for a wider range of workloads, including gaming and general compute, whereas the Pro 580’s limited data set points to a more specialized, likely Apple-centric role.

The Radeon Pro 580, in contrast, has no wins in the head-to-head data. The winsA field is 3 for the RX 6800 XT and 0 for the Pro 580. The Pro 580’s only potential advantage lies in its integration, as it is listed as an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connectors and a portable-device-dependent display output. That form factor, however, does not translate into performance advantages in the recorded metrics. For users prioritizing raw speed, multi-threaded compute, or graphics fidelity, the RX 6800 XT is the clear choice. For those needing a low-power, integrated solution in a portable device, the Pro 580 exists, but the data shows it cannot compete on performance.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is stark. The RX 6800 XT uses the Navi 21 chip on a 7 nm TSMC process, with 26,800 million transistors packed into a 520 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 51.5 million per mm². The Pro 580, by contrast, uses the Ellesmere chip on a 14 nm GlobalFoundries process, with 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die and a density of 24.6 million per mm². That is a massive difference in both manufacturing technology and transistor budget, explaining much of the performance disparity.

Clock speeds also differ significantly. The RX 6800 XT runs at a base clock of 1825 MHz, a boost of 2250 MHz, and a game clock of 2015 MHz. The Pro 580 is far slower, with a base of 1100 MHz and a boost of 1200 MHz. Memory configurations reinforce the gap: the RX 6800 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Pro 580 has 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, yielding only 217.0 GB/s. The RX 6800 XT also supports PCIe 4.0 x16, while the Pro 580 is limited to PCIe 3.0 x16.

Feature-wise, the RX 6800 XT includes 72 ray tracing cores, 4608 shading units, 288 TMUs, and 128 ROPs. The Pro 580 has no ray tracing cores, 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The API support also differs: the RX 6800 XT supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the Pro 580 only reaches DirectX 12 (12_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6, but the Vulkan versions differ (1.4 for the RX 6800 XT, 1.3 for the Pro 580). The RX 6800 XT also offers FP16 at 41.47 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio) versus the Pro 580’s 5.530 TFLOPS (1:1), and the FP32 figures are 20.74 TFLOPS versus 5.530 TFLOPS respectively. The pixel rate is 288.0 GPixel/s for the RX 6800 XT versus 38.40 GPixel/s, and texture rates are 648.0 GTexel/s versus 172.8 GTexel/s. The RX 6800 XT is also a dual-slot card requiring two 8-pin power connectors and a 700 W PSU, whereas the Pro 580 is an IGP with no power connectors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The three shared benchmarks tell a consistent story of overwhelming RX 6800 XT superiority. In Geekbench Metal, the RX 6800 XT scores 181,337 versus the Pro 580’s 39,213, a delta of 362.4%. This is the largest relative gap in the data, indicating that the RDNA 2.0 architecture is exceptionally strong in Apple’s Metal API, likely due to its newer design and higher compute throughput. The Pro 580’s GCN architecture, despite being optimized for Mac systems, simply cannot match the raw shading power.

In Geekbench OpenCL, the RX 6800 XT scores 171,304 against 38,457 for the Pro 580, a delta of 345.4%. OpenCL workloads often scale with shading units and memory bandwidth, and the RX 6800 XT has double the shading units (4608 vs 2304) and more than double the bandwidth (512.0 GB/s vs 217.0 GB/s). The result is a predictable but still striking margin.

Geekbench Vulkan shows a slightly smaller but still massive delta: 136,875 for the RX 6800 XT versus 43,285 for the Pro 580, a 216.2% difference. Vulkan performance benefits from modern driver overhead and hardware features, and the RX 6800 XT’s support for Vulkan 1.4 versus the Pro 580’s 1.3, combined with its superior hardware, explains the gap. The Pro 580’s best showing relative to the RX 6800 XT is in Vulkan, but it still loses by more than double.

Beyond the head-to-head, the RX 6800 XT’s standalone benchmarks reinforce its position. Its average benchmark score is 48,477, placing it in the 85th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile (avg score 47,743, delta 1.5%), the Intel Arc A550M (49,737, delta -2.5%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (49,957, delta -3%). The Pro 580, with an average score of 40,318, sits in the 82nd percentile, and its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (avg score 40,377, delta -0.1%). This means the RX 6800 XT is roughly 20% faster than the Pro 580 on average, a figure consistent with the head-to-head deltas.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT has 4608 shading units, while the AMD Radeon Pro 580 has 2304, exactly half as many.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The RX 6800 XT delivers 512.0 GB/s with 16 GB of GDDR6, while the Pro 580 provides 217.0 GB/s with 8 GB of GDDR5.

Q: Does the Pro 580 support ray tracing?

A: No, the Pro 580 has no ray tracing cores, whereas the RX 6800 XT includes 72 RT cores.

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The RX 6800 XT has an average score of 48,477, compared to 40,318 for the Pro 580, a difference of roughly 20%.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the shared tests?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench Metal, where the RX 6800 XT leads by 362.4%, scoring 181,337 versus 39,213.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The RX 6800 XT has a TDP of 300 W and requires two 8-pin power connectors with a 700 W suggested PSU; the Pro 580 has a 185 W TDP and no power connectors as an IGP.

The Verdict

The data leaves no room for ambiguity. The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is the superior GPU in every measurable way. It wins all three head-to-head benchmarks, holds a higher average score (48,477 vs 40,318), and sits in a higher percentile (85th vs 82nd). Its architecture is newer, its process node is smaller (7 nm vs 14 nm), and its feature set is more advanced, including ray tracing, higher API support, and double the shading units. For any workload involving Metal, OpenCL, or Vulkan, the RX 6800 XT is anywhere from 216.2% to 362.4% faster, which is a generational leap, not a minor improvement.

The Radeon Pro 580 is a legacy part from 2017, built for integrated Mac systems. Its 82nd percentile ranking is respectable for its age, but it cannot compete with the RX 6800 XT’s 85th percentile standing. Users should pick the RX 6800 XT if they need high-performance gaming, compute, or content creation, as its 16 GB of memory and 512.0 GB/s bandwidth handle large datasets. The Pro 580 is only appropriate for systems that require its integrated form factor, no external power, and portable-device-dependent outputs, but the performance cost is severe. In a direct comparison, the RX 6800 XT is the only rational choice for performance, and the Pro 580 is a relic for specific niche deployments.