AMD Radeon RX 560X vs AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT Comparison

AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT vs AMD Radeon RX 560X: the RX 6650 XT is decisively the faster card in modern graphics workloads, but the RX 560X holds a narrow advantage in one legacy compute test. The data shows a generational gap: the RX 6650 XT delivers a 301.9% higher score in Vulkan, while the RX 560X counters with a 40.6% higher OpenCL result. This is not a close contest in raw gaming performance; it is a matchup between a 2022 RDNA 2 part and a 2018 GCN 4 part, and the benchmark results reflect that divide clearly.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only two shared benchmarks between these cards tell a stark story of divergent strengths. In Geekbench Vulkan, the RX 6650 XT scores 81,306 against the RX 560X’s 20,231, a delta of 301.9% in favor of the newer card. This is the headline result. Vulkan is the API used by many modern AAA titles and emulators, so this margin translates directly into playable frame rates versus slideshow-level performance. The RX 6650 XT is not merely faster here; it is four times faster, which is the difference between a 1440p-capable card and a 720p fallback option.

The reverse result appears in Geekbench OpenCL, where the RX 560X scores 17,020 versus the RX 6650 XT’s 10,111, a 40.6% advantage for the older GPU. OpenCL is less common in gaming but appears in some compute workloads and older applications. This win is notable because it flips the expected hierarchy, but it does not compensate for the Vulkan deficit. The RX 560X’s OpenCL score is higher than its own Vulkan score, while the RX 6650 XT’s OpenCL score is far below its Vulkan score, suggesting the newer architecture prioritizes modern APIs over legacy ones.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the RX 6650 XT’s average benchmark score is 19,765 across 11 tests, while the RX 560X averages 18,626 across only two tests. The RX 6650 XT’s percentile rank of 65 places it above the RX 560X’s 62nd percentile among all GPUs. The RX 6650 XT also shows a much wider range of benchmark results—from 62 in Passmark DirectX 12 to 97,969 in Geekbench Metal—while the RX 560X only has data for the two Geekbench tests. This imbalance in available data means the head-to-head comparison is limited, but the Vulkan result alone is sufficient to establish the RX 6650 XT as the superior gaming card.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural eras. The RX 6650 XT uses the Navi 23 chip with RDNA 2.0 architecture, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The RX 560X uses the Polaris 21 chip with GCN 4.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This node difference is fundamental: the RX 6650 XT packs 11,060 million transistors into a 237 mm² die, while the RX 560X fits 3,000 million transistors into a 123 mm² die. The transistor density tells the story—46.7 million per mm² for the RX 6650 XT versus 24.4 million per mm² for the RX 560X.

The RX 6650 XT doubles the shading units (2,048 vs 1,024), doubles the texture mapping units (128 vs 64), and quadruples the render output units (64 vs 16). It also adds 32 ray tracing cores, a feature entirely absent from the RX 560X. Memory configuration differs as well: the RX 6650 XT has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 280.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the RX 560X has 4 GB of GDDR5 on the same 128-bit bus but with only 112.0 GB/s bandwidth. Clock speeds are dramatically higher on the newer card—base 2055 MHz versus 1175 MHz, boost 2635 MHz versus 1275 MHz—which explains the massive compute gap: 10.79 TFLOPS FP32 for the RX 6650 XT versus 2.611 TFLOPS for the RX 560X.

API support also differs. The RX 6650 XT supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the RX 560X is limited to DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3. The RX 6650 XT’s PCIe 4.0 x8 interface doubles the bandwidth of the RX 560X’s PCIe 3.0 x8. Power requirements reflect the performance gap: the RX 6650 XT has a 176 W TDP with a 450 W suggested PSU and a single 8-pin connector, while the RX 560X draws only 75 W with no external power connector and a 250 W suggested PSU.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in Vulkan games?

A: The RX 6650 XT wins decisively, scoring 81,306 in Geekbench Vulkan versus 20,231 for the RX 560X, a 301.9% advantage.

Q: Does the RX 560X beat the RX 6650 XT in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in Geekbench OpenCL the RX 560X scores 17,020 versus 10,111 for the RX 6650 XT, a 40.6% lead for the older card.

Q: How much memory does each card have?

A: The RX 6650 XT has 8 GB of GDDR6 with 280.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the RX 560X has 4 GB of GDDR5 with 112.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does the RX 6650 XT support ray tracing?

A: Yes, it has 32 ray tracing cores. The RX 560X has no ray tracing hardware at all.

Q: Which card is more power-efficient?

A: The RX 560X has a 75 W TDP and requires no external power connector, while the RX 6650 XT has a 176 W TDP and needs a 450 W PSU and one 8-pin connector.

Q: What is the release date difference?

A: The RX 560X was released on April 10, 2018, while the RX 6650 XT launched on May 9, 2022, a gap of roughly four years.

The Verdict

Pick the RX 6650 XT if you need modern gaming performance. The 301.9% Vulkan lead is the single most important number in this comparison, and it comes with twice the memory, newer architecture, ray tracing support, and DirectX 12 Ultimate. The RX 6650 XT’s percentile rank of 65 versus 62 for the RX 560X confirms it sits higher in the overall GPU hierarchy. The RX 6650 XT’s launch MSRP was 399 USD, and it is end-of-life, but its benchmark scores justify that positioning.

Pick the RX 560X only if you have a legacy compute workload that relies on OpenCL and you need minimal power draw. Its 40.6% OpenCL win is real, but it is isolated to one test. The RX 560X has no ray tracing, no DirectX 12 Ultimate support, and only 4 GB of memory, which makes it unsuitable for modern games at 1080p. Its 75 W TDP and lack of power connectors make it attractive for small form factor builds, but that is a niche use case. The data does not support the RX 560X as a gaming card in 2025.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT | AMD Radeon RX 560X |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | RDNA 2.0 | GCN 4.0 |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 11,060 million | 3,000 million |

| Die Size | 237 mm² | 123 mm² |

| Base Clock | 2055 MHz | 1175 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2635 MHz | 1275 MHz |

| Memory Size | 8 GB | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 280.3 GB/s | 112.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 2048 | 1024 |

| TMUs | 128 | 64 |

| ROPs | 64 | 16 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | 32 | None |

| FP32 Performance | 10.79 TFLOPS | 2.611 TFLOPS |

| Pixel Rate | 168.6 GPixel/s | 20.40 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 337.3 GTexel/s | 81.60 GTexel/s |

| TDP | 176 W | 75 W |

| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | None |

| Suggested PSU | 450 W | 250 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 3.0 x8 |

| DirectX Support | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 (12_0) |

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.3 |

| Display Outputs | 1x HDMI 2.13x DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x DVI1x HDMI 2.0b1x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| Release Date | 2022-05-09 | 2018-04-10 |

Where Each One Wins

The RX 6650 XT wins in every modern gaming and compute scenario that uses Vulkan or DirectX 12. Its 301.9% Vulkan advantage means it is the only option for ray-traced titles, high-refresh 1080p gaming, and 1440p at medium settings. The 8 GB memory buffer handles current texture-heavy games, while the 280.3 GB/s bandwidth prevents bottlenecks. Its 10.79 TFLOPS FP32 compute makes it suitable for GPU rendering and machine learning inference, though the OpenCL result suggests it favors newer APIs like CUDA or Vulkan compute over legacy OpenCL paths.

The RX 560X wins only in OpenCL-based workloads, where its 17,020 score beats the RX 6650 XT’s 10,111. This could matter for older scientific applications, some video encoding tools, or OpenCL-specific plugins that have not been updated. Its 75 W TDP also makes it the clear choice for systems with weak power supplies or no PCIe power connectors. The 170 mm length (6.7 inches) makes it easier to fit in compact cases, and its lack of external power connectors simplifies installation. However, these wins are situational; the RX 560X’s 4 GB memory and 112.0 GB/s bandwidth cap its usefulness even in its winning scenario. The data shows a single benchmark win for the RX 560X versus one for the RX 6650 XT, but the magnitude of the Vulkan victory (301.9% vs 40.6%) makes the RX 6650 XT the only rational choice for any user prioritizing gaming or modern compute.