AMD Radeon RX 6600 vs AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT and the AMD Radeon RX 6600 are two RDNA 2.0 graphics cards from the same Navi II generation, sharing the same 7 nm process node and 11,060 million transistors on a 237 mm² die. The benchmark data shows a clear hierarchy, with the RX 6650 XT winning 10 of 11 head-to-head tests, yet the single loss is a dramatic outlier that raises interesting questions about API-specific performance. The RX 6650 XT’s average benchmark score of 19,765 places it 3.8% above the RX 6600’s 19,036, and it sits at the 65th percentile of all GPUs compared to the RX 6600’s 63rd percentile, confirming a modest but consistent performance advantage for the higher-tier card.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward choice for most users: the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT is the faster card, winning 10 of 11 benchmark comparisons with a 24.6% lead in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and a 20.2% edge in Geekbench Vulkan. Its average benchmark score of 19,765 is 3.8% higher than the RX 6600’s 19,036, and it achieves a 65th percentile ranking versus the RX 6600’s 63rd. For gamers prioritizing DirectX 12, Vulkan, or general 3D performance, the RX 6650 XT is the clear pick from the data. The RX 6600, however, is not without merit: its staggering 65% win in Geekbench OpenCL suggests it holds a significant advantage in compute workloads that leverage that specific API. That single result, where the RX 6600 scored 28,850 against the RX 6650 XT’s 10,111, is a massive delta that cannot be ignored. The RX 6650 XT also consumes 176 W TDP versus the RX 6600’s 132 W, so users with power constraints or smaller power supplies (the RX 6600 suggests a 300 W PSU versus 450 W) may find the RX 6600 more appropriate. Ultimately, the RX 6650 XT is for those who want maximum rasterization and modern API performance, while the RX 6600 is for those who need exceptional OpenCL compute or lower power draw.

Architecture Differences

Both cards are built on the same Navi 23 chip using RDNA 2.0 architecture, fabricated on TSMC’s 7 nm process, with identical transistor counts of 11,060 million and a die size of 237 mm². The RX 6650 XT, however, has a fully enabled configuration with 2,048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 ray tracing cores, while the RX 6600 has 1,792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 28 ray tracing cores. Both retain 64 ROPs, meaning pixel output is similar, but the RX 6650 XT’s extra compute resources drive its higher texture rate of 337.3 GTexel/s versus 279.0 GTexel/s. The RX 6650 XT also operates at higher clocks: base 2055 MHz, boost 2635 MHz, and game 2410 MHz, compared to the RX 6600’s 1626 MHz base, 2491 MHz boost, and 2044 MHz game clock. Memory speeds differ as well, with the RX 6650 XT using 17.5 Gbps effective GDDR6 versus 14 Gbps on the RX 6600, leading to 280.3 GB/s versus 224.0 GB/s bandwidth, despite both having 8 GB on a 128-bit bus. The RX 6650 XT’s FP32 compute is 10.79 TFLOPS versus 8.928 TFLOPS, and its FP16 is 21.59 TFLOPS versus 17.86 TFLOPS, reflecting the 14.3% and 20.9% advantages respectively. The RX 6600 has a physical length of 190 mm, while the RX 6650 XT’s dimensions are not listed, and the RX 6600’s TDP is 132 W versus 176 W for the RX 6650 XT.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a pattern of consistent wins for the RX 6650 XT, with margins ranging from modest to substantial. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the RX 6650 XT scores 1,859 versus 1,492, a 24.6% advantage, which is the largest delta in the entire set. Geekbench Vulkan shows a 20.2% lead (81,306 vs 67,623), while PassMark DirectX 12 shows a 21.6% edge (62 vs 51). The RX 6650 XT also wins PassMark DirectX 10 by 14.7% (109 vs 95) and DirectX 11 by 11.2% (169 vs 152). In PassMark G3D, the RX 6650 XT scores 17,166 versus 15,096, a 13.7% win, and PassMark GPU Compute shows a 14.9% lead (7,532 vs 6,554). Geekbench Metal is closer, with the RX 6650 XT ahead by 10.8% (97,969 vs 88,398), and PassMark DirectX 9 yields a 9.1% win (215 vs 197). The smallest victory is PassMark G2D at 3.3% (918 vs 889). The lone loss for the RX 6650 XT is Geekbench OpenCL, where it scores 10,111 versus the RX 6600’s 28,850, a 65% deficit. This result is anomalous given the otherwise uniform pattern, and it suggests that the RX 6600’s driver or hardware configuration excels at OpenCL compute in a way that the RX 6650 XT does not, despite the latter having more shading units and higher clocks.

Specification Differences

The two cards diverge on several core specifications. The RX 6650 XT has 2,048 shading units versus 1,792 on the RX 6600, 128 TMUs versus 112, and 32 ray tracing cores versus 28, while both have 64 ROPs. Clock speeds are uniformly higher on the RX 6650 XT: base 2055 MHz versus 1626 MHz, boost 2635 MHz versus 2491 MHz, and game 2410 MHz versus 2044 MHz. Memory is faster on the RX 6650 XT at 17.5 Gbps effective versus 14 Gbps, yielding 280.3 GB/s versus 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. Compute throughput is higher on the RX 6650 XT: FP32 10.79 TFLOPS versus 8.928 TFLOPS, and FP16 21.59 TFLOPS versus 17.86 TFLOPS. Pixel rate is slightly higher on the RX 6650 XT at 168.6 GPixel/s versus 159.4 GPixel/s, and texture rate is 337.3 GTexel/s versus 279.0 GTexel/s. Power consumption differs significantly: 176 W TDP for the RX 6650 XT versus 132 W for the RX 6600, with suggested PSUs of 450 W versus 300 W. The RX 6600 has listed dimensions of 190 mm length, 110 mm height, and 40 mm width, while the RX 6650 XT’s dimensions are absent. Both cards use PCIe 4.0 x8, have 8 GB GDDR6, a 128-bit bus, 1x 8-pin connector, and dual-slot design. The RX 6650 XT launched at 399 USD MSRP, while the RX 6600 launched at 329 USD MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT has an average benchmark score of 19,765, which is 3.8% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6600’s 19,036.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two cards?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench OpenCL, where the AMD Radeon RX 6600 wins by 65%, scoring 28,850 versus the RX 6650 XT’s 10,111.

Q: How do the two cards compare in DirectX 12 performance?

A: The RX 6650 XT leads in PassMark DirectX 12 with a score of 62 versus 51, a 21.6% advantage, and in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 with 1,859 versus 1,492, a 24.6% lead.

Q: Do both cards have the same amount of memory?

A: Yes, both have 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, but the RX 6650 XT has higher bandwidth at 280.3 GB/s versus 224.0 GB/s.

Q: Which card is more power-efficient according to the data?

A: The RX 6600 has a lower TDP of 132 W versus 176 W for the RX 6650 XT, and it suggests a 300 W PSU versus 450 W.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the RX 6600 wins?

A: Yes, the RX 6600 wins only Geekbench OpenCL, scoring 28,850 versus 10,111, a 65% margin, while the RX 6650 XT wins the other 10 head-to-head tests.

Where Each One Wins

The RX 6650 XT dominates in nearly every measured category, making it the winner for modern gaming and general 3D workloads. Its 24.6% lead in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and 20.2% lead in Geekbench Vulkan indicate strong performance in current DirectX 12 and Vulkan titles. PassMark G3D shows a 13.7% advantage, and PassMark GPU Compute demonstrates a 14.9% edge, suggesting the RX 6650 XT handles both graphics and compute tasks better in most APIs. Its higher texture rate (337.3 GTexel/s vs 279.0 GTexel/s) and FP32 throughput (10.79 TFLOPS vs 8.928 TFLOPS) support these benchmark results. The RX 6600, however, has a clear niche in OpenCL compute workloads, where its 65% victory is so large that it overshadows all other results combined. This suggests that for applications specifically optimized for OpenCL—such as certain scientific or rendering tasks—the RX 6600 may be the better choice despite its lower raw specs. Additionally, the RX 6600’s 132 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU make it the more appropriate pick for compact or power-constrained systems, whereas the RX 6650 XT’s 176 W TDP and 450 W PSU requirement demand a beefier power supply. For 2D tasks, the RX 6650 XT still wins but narrowly (3.3% in PassMark G2D), so neither card offers a significant advantage there. In legacy DirectX 9 and 10 titles, the RX 6650 XT leads by 9.1% and 14.7% respectively, making it the safer bet for older game libraries. Ultimately, the RX 6650 XT is the all-around performer, while the RX 6600 is a specialized tool for OpenCL and low-power builds.