AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT vs AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT represent two different generations of AMD’s mainstream graphics push, and the benchmark data shows a clear, though not total, shift in performance. The RX 7600 XT wins 8 of the 10 head-to-head comparisons, but the RX 5700 XT retains a significant victory in one key API test. This analysis breaks down the numbers to determine which card is the better pick for specific workloads, strictly based on the provided data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive win for the RX 7600 XT comes in the Geekbench OpenCL test, where it scores 92,426 versus the RX 5700 XT’s 9,524. That is a staggering 870.5% difference, making it the single largest performance gap in the entire comparison. This result suggests a massive advantage in compute-heavy, general-purpose GPU workloads, likely stemming from the newer architecture’s efficiency and feature set.

In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the RX 7600 XT also takes a clear lead, scoring 2,348 against the RX 5700 XT’s 2,134. That is a 10% advantage, a solid margin that indicates better raw performance in modern DirectX 12 gaming scenarios. The PassMark G3D score reinforces this, with the RX 7600 XT at 17,132 versus 16,277 for the RX 5700 XT, a 5.3% win. While not as dramatic as the OpenCL result, this still points to the newer card being the faster overall gaming GPU.

The RX 7600 XT also shows strength in PassMark GPU Compute, scoring 8,987 against the RX 5700 XT’s 7,650, a 17.5% advantage. This aligns with its OpenCL dominance, further confirming that the RDNA 3.0 architecture is significantly better at non-graphics compute tasks. In PassMark DirectX 11, the RX 7600 XT is notably ahead with a score of 167 versus 116, a 44% lead, which is a substantial margin for a legacy API and suggests better driver optimization or architectural efficiency in that workload.

However, the RX 5700 XT is not without its wins. The most significant is in Geekbench Vulkan, where it scores 68,310 against the RX 7600 XT’s 48,366. That is a 29.2% deficit for the newer card, a surprising reversal in a modern, low-level API. This indicates that in Vulkan-specific titles or compute workloads, the older card holds a clear performance edge. The RX 5700 XT also wins in PassMark DirectX 10, scoring 97 versus 85, a 12.4% lead, showing that in older DirectX titles, it can still outperform its successor.

The remaining tests are close calls. In PassMark DirectX 12, the RX 7600 XT edges out a win with 65 versus 64, a marginal 1.6% difference. Similarly, in PassMark DirectX 9, the RX 7600 XT wins with 228 versus 226, a negligible 0.9% gap. The PassMark G2D test shows the RX 7600 XT ahead with 1,030 versus 922, an 11.7% lead in 2D graphics performance. Overall, the average benchmark score for the RX 7600 XT is 17,083, placing it in the 60th percentile of all GPUs, while the RX 5700 XT averages 16,361, sitting in the 59th percentile.

The Verdict

Based on the data, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is the superior card for the majority of users. It wins 8 out of 10 benchmarks, including all the most modern and demanding test categories like 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, PassMark G3D, and PassMark GPU Compute. Its 10% lead in Steel Nomad and 17.5% lead in GPU Compute make it the clear choice for new gaming titles and any compute-heavy applications. The RX 7600 XT is also the only card that is still in active production, whereas the RX 5700 XT is end-of-life.

However, the RX 5700 XT is not obsolete. If your primary workload relies heavily on the Vulkan API, the data shows it is significantly faster, delivering a 29.2% higher score in Geekbench Vulkan. This is a critical consideration for users who play Vulkan-based games or use Vulkan compute applications. For those specific scenarios, the RX 5700 XT is the better performer, despite being an older product.

The RX 7600 XT’s launch MSRP is 329 USD, while the RX 5700 XT launched at 399 USD. This data point, combined with its performance wins, makes the RX 7600 XT the more practical purchase for a new build. For anyone building a new system today, the RX 7600 XT is the safer, more future-proof choice. For someone with an existing RX 5700 XT who primarily uses Vulkan, the upgrade to the RX 7600 XT might not be worthwhile, based on these specific benchmark results.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is the winner in:

• Modern Gaming: 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 (10% lead) and PassMark G3D (5.3% lead) show it is faster for current DirectX 12 games.
• Compute Tasks: Geekbench OpenCL (870.5% lead) and PassMark GPU Compute (17.5% lead) make it vastly superior for non-gaming compute workloads.
• Legacy DirectX 11: With a 44% lead in PassMark DirectX 11, it handles older titles with significantly better performance.
• 2D and General Use: PassMark G2D shows an 11.7% advantage for desktop and 2D application performance.

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the winner in:

• Vulkan API: Geekbench Vulkan shows a 29.2% lead, making it the clear choice for Vulkan-based games and applications.
• DirectX 10: A 12.4% lead in PassMark DirectX 10 indicates it is better for a specific set of older titles.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in DirectX 12 gaming?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is faster. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 2,348 versus the RX 5700 XT’s 2,134, a 10% performance advantage.

Q: Is the RX 5700 XT better for any modern API?

A: Yes. In the Geekbench Vulkan test, the RX 5700 XT scores 68,310, which is 29.2% higher than the RX 7600 XT’s score of 48,366. This makes it the better choice for Vulkan-specific workloads.

Q: How big is the difference in compute performance?

A: The difference is enormous. The RX 7600 XT scores 92,426 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 870.5% higher than the RX 5700 XT’s 9,524. This suggests a massive leap in compute capability.

Q: What is the overall average performance difference?

A: The RX 7600 XT has an average benchmark score of 17,083, while the RX 5700 XT averages 16,361. This gives the RX 7600 XT a 5.3% lead in the PassMark G3D test, which is a good overall gaming indicator.

Q: Which card has more video memory?

A: The RX 7600 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, while the RX 5700 XT has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. This is a significant difference for modern games with high-resolution textures.

Q: Is one card considered a legacy product?

A: Yes. The RX 5700 XT is marked as "End-of-life" in its production status, while the RX 7600 XT is listed as "Active." This suggests the RX 7600 XT will continue to receive driver support and be available for purchase.

Architecture Differences

The two cards are built on fundamentally different architectures. The RX 7600 XT uses the RDNA 3.0 architecture on a 6 nm process node, while the RX 5700 XT uses the older RDNA 1.0 architecture on a 7 nm process node. This newer process allows the RX 7600 XT to fit 13,300 million transistors on a 204 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 65.2M per mm². In contrast, the RX 5700 XT has 10,300 million transistors on a larger 251 mm² die, with a density of only 41.0M per mm². This architectural leap explains the RX 7600 XT’s massive compute advantage.

The RX 7600 XT also includes 32 ray tracing cores, a feature completely absent from the RX 5700 XT, which has no RT cores. This is a key feature for modern games that support hardware-accelerated ray tracing. The clock speeds reflect the architectural improvements as well. The RX 7600 XT has a base clock of 1980 MHz, a game clock of 2470 MHz, and a boost clock of 2755 MHz. The RX 5700 XT runs significantly lower, with a base clock of 1605 MHz, a game clock of 1755 MHz, and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. The RX 7600 XT’s FP32 compute rating is 22.57 TFLOPS, more than double the RX 5700 XT’s 9.754 TFLOPS. The RX 7600 XT also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the RX 5700 XT is limited to DirectX 12 (12_1).

Specification Differences

The most notable specification difference is memory capacity. The RX 7600 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RX 5700 XT has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a wider 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This means the older card has higher memory bandwidth, but the newer card has double the capacity. The RX 7600 XT compensates for its narrower bus with faster memory clocks of 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective), compared to the RX 5700 XT’s 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective).

Other key differences include the power requirements. The RX 7600 XT has a TDP of 190 W and requires a single 8-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 450 W. The RX 5700 XT has a higher TDP of 225 W, requires a 6-pin and an 8-pin connector, and suggests a 550 W PSU. The cards also have different bus interfaces: the RX 7600 XT uses PCIe 4.0 x8, while the RX 5700 XT uses PCIe 4.0 x16. Display outputs also differ, with the RX 7600 XT featuring 1x HDMI 2.1a and 3x DisplayPort 2.1, while the RX 5700 XT has 1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. The RX 7600 XT is also shorter at 204 mm compared to the RX 5700 XT’s 272 mm length.