AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT vs AMD Radeon RX 570X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a starkly lopsided picture, with the RX 5700 XT dominating the RX 570X in raw graphics performance. The most dramatic gap appears in the Passmark G3D test, a general DirectX gaming and 3D workload. Here, the RX 5700 XT scores 16277 against a mere 1923 for the RX 570X, a massive 746.4% advantage. This is not a marginal generational improvement; it represents a completely different performance class. In practical terms, the RX 570X delivers roughly 12% of the RX 5700 XT's score in this metric, meaning any modern gaming scenario that stresses the GPU will show an enormous difference in frame rates and visual fidelity.

The RX 5700 XT also wins the Passmark G2D test, which measures 2D desktop and windowing performance. It scores 922 versus 750, a 22.9% lead. While this is a smaller gap than the 3D results, it still indicates a snappier desktop experience and faster handling of 2D compositing tasks, which can matter for high-resolution displays and multi-monitor setups.

However, the single head-to-head result that favors the RX 570X is notable and counterintuitive. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, a compute-focused workload, the RX 570X scores 38939, while the RX 5700 XT scores only 9524. This is a 75.5% deficit for the newer card. This is a staggering reversal. The OpenCL test may be sensitive to driver optimizations, specific compute workloads, or clock behavior under this particular benchmark. The data shows that in this specific compute scenario, the older GCN architecture holds a clear advantage, despite its far lower peak FP32 throughput (5.095 TFLOPS versus 9.754 TFLOPS for the RX 5700 XT). It serves as a reminder that synthetic compute scores do not always align with gaming performance.

Looking at the broader database averages, the RX 5700 XT holds an average benchmark score of 16361, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (16351, 0.1% ahead) and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (16408, 0.3% behind). The RX 570X, in contrast, has an average score of 13871, placing it in the 55th percentile. Its closest competitors are the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile (13821, 0.4% behind), the AMD Radeon 660M (13812, 0.4% behind), and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (13745, 0.9% behind). The average score gap of 2490 points between the two cards reinforces the G3D result: the RX 5700 XT is the far more capable GPU for general use.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from entirely different architectural lineages and manufacturing processes. The RX 5700 XT is built on the Navi 10 chip using the RDNA 1.0 architecture, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 10,300 million transistors into a 251 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 41.0M per mm². The RX 570X uses the older Polaris 20 chip with GCN 4.0 architecture, made on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die, with a density of 24.6M per mm². The newer process allows the RX 5700 XT to nearly double the transistor count while keeping a similar die size.

Memory configurations also differ significantly. Both cards have 8 GB of VRAM and a 256-bit bus width, but the RX 5700 XT uses GDDR6 memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective), delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RX 570X uses GDDR5 at the same 1750 MHz clock but only 7 Gbps effective, yielding 224.0 GB/s. The RX 5700 XT has exactly double the memory bandwidth, a critical factor for high-resolution textures and compute tasks.

The compute and rendering pipelines are substantially different. The RX 5700 XT has 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The RX 570X has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The ROP count difference is particularly large, explaining the pixel rate gap: 121.9 GPixel/s for the RX 5700 XT versus 39.81 GPixel/s for the RX 570X. Texture rate is also far higher on the newer card, 304.8 GTexel/s versus 159.2 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 9.754 TFLOPS versus 5.095 TFLOPS, and FP16 performance is 19.51 TFLOPS (2:1) versus 5.095 TFLOPS (1:1). The RX 5700 XT's 2:1 FP16 ratio is a hallmark of the RDNA architecture, allowing for doubled half-precision throughput, whereas the RX 570X processes FP16 at the same rate as FP32.

The cards also differ in API support. The RX 5700 XT supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the RX 570X supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3. Both support OpenGL 4.6. Neither card has dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores. The RX 5700 XT uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, while the RX 570X uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Power delivery also differs: the RX 5700 XT requires a 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin connector with a 225 W TDP and a suggested 550 W PSU, while the RX 570X uses a single 6-pin connector with a 150 W TDP and a suggested 450 W PSU.

The Verdict

The recorded data makes the choice straightforward for gaming and general 3D workloads: the RX 5700 XT is overwhelmingly faster. Its 746.4% lead in Passmark G3D and its higher average benchmark score (16361 versus 13871) place it in a different tier entirely. The RX 5700 XT also wins the 2D test by 22.9%. For anyone building a gaming PC, a workstation for 3D rendering, or any task that relies on DirectX or Vulkan performance, the RX 5700 XT is the only rational choice based on these measurements.

However, the Geekbench OpenCL result introduces a caveat. The RX 570X is 75.5% faster in that specific compute test. If a workload is heavily dependent on OpenCL compute and the software does not use gaming-optimized paths, the older card may actually be faster. This is a narrow use case, but it is real according to the data. The RX 570X also consumes less power (150 W TDP versus 225 W) and requires a smaller PSU (450 W versus 550 W), which could make it easier to install in an existing system without an upgrade.

The verdict is nuanced but clear. The RX 5700 XT is the superior GPU for almost all purposes. The RX 570X only makes sense for a specific OpenCL compute scenario or a power-constrained build. Given that the RX 5700 XT has a 59th percentile ranking versus 55th for the RX 570X, and its nearest rivals include the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell and Radeon PRO W7500, it sits in a much more competitive performance bracket. The RX 570X's rivals are lower-tier parts like the Radeon 660M and RTX A2000 Mobile.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two cards. Process node: 7 nm (RX 5700 XT) versus 14 nm (RX 570X). Transistors: 10,300 million versus 5,700 million. Die size: 251 mm² versus 232 mm². Transistor density: 41.0M / mm² versus 24.6M / mm². Base clock: 1605 MHz versus 1168 MHz. Boost clock: 1905 MHz versus 1244 MHz. Game clock: 1755 MHz (RX 5700 XT only, RX 570X has none). Memory type: GDDR6 versus GDDR5. Memory clock: 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) versus 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective). Memory bandwidth: 448.0 GB/s versus 224.0 GB/s. Shading units: 2560 versus 2048. TMUs: 160 versus 128. ROPs: 64 versus 32. Pixel rate: 121.9 GPixel/s versus 39.81 GPixel/s. Texture rate: 304.8 GTexel/s versus 159.2 GTexel/s. FP32: 9.754 TFLOPS versus 5.095 TFLOPS. FP16: 19.51 TFLOPS (2:1) versus 5.095 TFLOPS (1:1). TDP: 225 W versus 150 W. Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin versus 1x 6-pin. Suggested PSU: 550 W versus 450 W. Bus interface: PCIe 4.0 x16 versus PCIe 3.0 x16. Display outputs: 1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a versus 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. DirectX: 12 (12_1) versus 12 (12_0). Vulkan: 1.4 versus 1.3. Length: 272 mm versus 241 mm. Release date: 2019-07-06 versus 2018-04-10. The RX 5700 XT has a launch MSRP of 399 USD. The RX 570X has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in gaming workloads according to the data?

A: The RX 5700 XT is dramatically faster. In the Passmark G3D test, it scores 16277 versus 1923 for the RX 570X, a 746.4% lead.

Q: Is there any test where the RX 570X wins?

A: Yes, in the Geekbench OpenCL test, the RX 570X scores 38939 versus 9524 for the RX 5700 XT, a 75.5% advantage for the older card.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The RX 5700 XT has an average benchmark score of 16361, while the RX 570X has an average score of 13871. The RX 5700 XT is in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, and the RX 570X is in the 55th percentile.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The RX 5700 XT has 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth using GDDR6 memory, while the RX 570X has 224.0 GB/s using GDDR5. Both have 8 GB of VRAM and a 256-bit bus.

Q: Do they support the same API levels?

A: No. The RX 5700 XT supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4. The RX 570X supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: Which card requires more power?

A: The RX 5700 XT has a 225 W TDP and requires a 550 W suggested PSU with a 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin connector. The RX 570X has a 150 W TDP, a 450 W suggested PSU, and uses a single 6-pin connector.

Where Each One Wins

The RX 5700 XT wins in nearly every scenario that the database measures. Its 746.4% lead in Passmark G3D makes it the clear choice for any DirectX gaming, 3D rendering, or GPU-accelerated graphics workload. The 22.9% win in Passmark G2D also makes it the better pick for desktop environments with high-resolution or multiple monitors. Its 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, 121.9 GPixel/s pixel rate, and 304.8 GTexel/s texture rate all point to a card that is designed to push modern game engines at high settings. The 2:1 FP16 ratio (19.51 TFLOPS) also gives it a significant edge in workloads that can use half-precision math, such as certain AI inference or image processing tasks. Its PCIe 4.0 interface and newer Vulkan 1.4 support are additional advantages for future-proofing.

The RX 570X wins in one very specific area: Geekbench OpenCL compute. Its 38939 score versus 9524 is a 75.5% margin. This suggests that for OpenCL-based applications that are not optimized for RDNA, the older GCN 4.0 architecture may execute certain compute kernels more efficiently. The RX 570X also has a lower TDP (150 W versus 225 W) and a lower suggested PSU (450 W versus 550 W), making it a better fit for small form factor builds or older systems with limited power delivery. Its shorter length (241 mm versus 272 mm) also means it can fit into more compact cases. For a user whose primary workload is OpenCL compute in a power-constrained system, the RX 570X is the data-backed choice. For everyone else, the RX 5700 XT is the superior card.