AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP vs AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along workload lines. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT wins every recorded head-to-head test, but the margins vary dramatically depending on the API and workload type.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the RX 6700 XT scores 2435 against 849 for the RX 580 2048SP. That is a 186.8% advantage, the largest delta in the comparison. This test stresses modern DirectX 12 rendering paths, where the RDNA 2.0 architecture has a clear structural edge over the older GCN 4.0 design.

The Vulkan gap is almost as large. The RX 6700 XT posts 93500 in Geekbench Vulkan versus 38666 for the RX 580 2048SP, a 141.8% difference. Vulkan is a low-level API that exposes hardware capabilities directly, so the RX 6700 XT's newer architecture pays off substantially in this workload.

The smallest win comes in Geekbench OpenCL. The RX 6700 XT scores 44152, while the RX 580 2048SP manages 29668. That is a 48.8% advantage, still decisive but notably smaller than the graphics-focused tests. OpenCL compute performance scales more with raw shader throughput and memory bandwidth, where the RX 6700 XT is ahead but not by the same factor as in rasterization-focused workloads.

The RX 580 2048SP has no recorded wins in any benchmark category. Its strongest relative showing is in OpenCL compute, but even there it trails by roughly a third of its own score. For users targeting modern graphics APIs, the RX 6700 XT is the only serious option. For compute-heavy tasks that leverage OpenCL, the RX 6700 XT still leads, though the gap narrows enough that older workloads might not feel as lopsided.

The Verdict

The database shows a one-sided comparison, but the practical verdict depends on what workloads matter. The RX 6700 XT is the pick for anyone running DirectX 12 or Vulkan titles, particularly modern games that use these APIs exclusively. The 186.8% lead in Steel Nomad and the 141.8% lead in Vulkan are not incremental improvements; they represent generational leaps in rendering capability.

The RX 580 2048SP remains relevant only for very specific legacy scenarios. Its DirectX 12 support is limited to the 12_0 feature level, and its Vulkan support stops at version 1.3. The RX 6700 XT supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4. Any workload that requires these newer API features will not run properly, or at all, on the older card.

For compute tasks using OpenCL, the RX 6700 XT still wins by 48.8%, so even budget-conscious users should not choose the RX 580 2048SP for that purpose. The RX 580 2048SP's only defensible position is as a low-power fallback for older games or basic desktop use, where its 150 W TDP and 450 W suggested PSU make it easier to slot into an existing system. The RX 6700 XT, with a 230 W TDP and 550 W suggested PSU, demands a more substantial power supply.

The data does not support any scenario where the RX 580 2048SP outperforms the RX 6700 XT. The verdict is straightforward: if the budget allows for the RX 6700 XT, there is no benchmark-based reason to choose the older card.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from different architectural eras, and the specifications reflect that. The RX 6700 XT uses the Navi 22 chip built on RDNA 2.0 architecture at TSMC's 7 nm process node. The RX 580 2048SP uses the Polaris 20 chip built on GCN 4.0 architecture at GlobalFoundries' 14 nm node. That process gap alone explains much of the efficiency and clock speed difference.

The RX 6700 XT packs 17,200 million transistors into a 335 mm² die, yielding a density of 51.3M transistors per square millimeter. The RX 580 2048SP has 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die, for a density of 24.6M per square millimeter. The newer card has roughly three times the transistor count, which enables a much larger GPU core.

Clock speeds differ enormously. The RX 6700 XT runs at a 2321 MHz base clock and boosts to 2581 MHz, with a 2424 MHz game clock. The RX 580 2048SP runs at 1168 MHz base and 1284 MHz boost. Even accounting for architectural differences, the RX 6700 XT's clocks are more than double the older card's.

The RX 6700 XT includes 40 ray tracing cores, a feature completely absent from the RX 580 2048SP. The shading unit count also differs: 2560 on the RX 6700 XT versus 2048 on the RX 580 2048SP. Texture mapping units are 160 versus 128, and render output units are 64 versus 32.

Memory architecture diverges sharply. The RX 6700 XT uses 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RX 580 2048SP uses 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 224.0 GB/s. The newer card has less bus width but more than makes up for it with faster memory and triple the capacity.

The API support differences are critical for modern software. The RX 6700 XT supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The RX 580 2048SP supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The DirectX 12_2 feature level enables hardware ray tracing and mesh shaders, which the older card cannot handle.

The RX 6700 XT uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, while the RX 580 2048SP uses PCIe 3.0 x16. For most workloads this does not create a bottleneck, but it matters for systems with PCIe 4.0 support.

FAQ

Q: Does the RX 580 2048SP support ray tracing?

A: No. The RX 6700 XT has 40 ray tracing cores, while the RX 580 2048SP has no ray tracing hardware at all. The older card also only supports DirectX 12_0, which lacks the DirectX 12 Ultimate features that enable ray tracing in games.

Q: Which card has more memory bandwidth?

A: The RX 6700 XT delivers 384.0 GB/s, compared to 224.0 GB/s for the RX 580 2048SP. The newer card achieves this despite a narrower 192-bit bus because it uses GDDR6 memory running at 16 Gbps effective, versus GDDR5 at 7 Gbps effective on the older card.

Q: Can the RX 580 2048SP handle modern DirectX 12 games?

A: It has DirectX 12 support, but only at the 12_0 feature level. Games that require DirectX 12 Ultimate features, such as mesh shaders or ray tracing, will not run correctly. The RX 6700 XT supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), which covers the full modern feature set.

Q: How does the compute performance compare?

A: In Geekbench OpenCL, the RX 6700 XT scores 44152 versus 29668 for the RX 580 2048SP, a 48.8% lead. The RX 6700 XT also delivers 13.21 TFLOPS FP32 performance, compared to 5.259 TFLOPS for the older card.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The RX 6700 XT has a TDP of 230 W and requires a 550 W suggested PSU. The RX 580 2048SP has a TDP of 150 W and runs on a 450 W suggested PSU. The newer card needs one 6-pin and one 8-pin power connector, while the older card uses a single 8-pin.

Q: Is the RX 580 2048SP worth considering in 2024?

A: The benchmark data shows no workload where it beats the RX 6700 XT. Its only advantages are lower power draw and a smaller physical footprint (241 mm versus 267 mm length). For any graphics or compute task in the database, the RX 6700 XT wins by at least 48.8%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the RX 6700 XT comes in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. The RX 6700 XT scores 2435, while the RX 580 2048SP scores 849. That is a 186.8% delta, meaning the newer card delivers nearly three times the performance in this DirectX 12 workload. This test is representative of modern game rendering, and the gap reflects both the clock speed advantage and the architectural improvements in RDNA 2.0.

The Geekbench Vulkan test shows a 141.8% advantage for the RX 6700 XT, with scores of 93500 and 38666 respectively. Vulkan is the API of choice for many cross-platform engines and newer PC titles. The RX 6700 XT's support for Vulkan 1.4, combined with its much higher shader throughput, explains the wide margin.

The closest contest is in Geekbench OpenCL, where the RX 6700 XT scores 44152 against 29668 for the RX 580 2048SP, a 48.8% delta. OpenCL is a compute-oriented workload, and while the RX 6700 XT still wins decisively, the gap is smaller than in graphics tests. This suggests that the older card's compute architecture, while dated, is not as far behind as its rasterization performance.

Across all three recorded benchmarks, the RX 6700 XT wins every test, with an average delta of roughly 125% favoring the newer card. The RX 580 2048SP's best relative performance comes in compute workloads, but it never approaches parity. For users comparing these two cards, the data leaves no ambiguity: the RX 6700 XT is faster in every measurable way.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every specification category. The RX 6700 XT uses a 7 nm process from TSMC, while the RX 580 2048SP uses a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. Transistor counts are 17,200 million versus 5,700 million, and die sizes are 335 mm² versus 232 mm².

Clock speeds show a massive gap. The RX 6700 XT has a 2321 MHz base clock and 2581 MHz boost, with a 2424 MHz game clock. The RX 580 2048SP has a 1168 MHz base and 1284 MHz boost, with no game clock listed. Memory clocks are 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective) for the newer card versus 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective) for the older one.

Memory configurations differ fundamentally. The RX 6700 XT offers 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus with 384.0 GB/s bandwidth. The RX 580 2048SP offers 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth.

The GPU core specifications are also distinct. The RX 6700 XT has 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 40 ray tracing cores. The RX 580 2048SP has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, with no ray tracing cores.

Pixel and texture rates reflect the clock and core differences. The RX 6700 XT achieves 165.2 GPixel/s and 413.0 GTexel/s, while the RX 580 2048SP manages 41.09 GPixel/s and 164.4 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is 13.21 TFLOPS versus 5.259 TFLOPS.

Power and physical specifications differ as well. The RX 6700 XT has a 230 W TDP with a 550 W suggested PSU, while the RX 580 2048SP has a 150 W TDP with a 450 W suggested PSU. The newer card uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, the older card uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Display outputs are similar in count, but the RX 6700 XT offers HDMI 2.1 while the RX 580 2048SP offers HDMI 2.0b. The RX 6700 XT is 267 mm long, the RX 580 2048SP is 241 mm long.