AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 and the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT represent two distinct eras of GPU design. The data from the database shows a single head-to-head benchmark result, yet the surrounding specifications and performance metrics paint a clear picture of technological progression. The GTX 570, a Fermi 2.0 architecture part from 2010, faces the modern RDNA 2.0-based RX 6500 XT, released in 2022. While the older card holds a place in the historical record, the benchmark data indicates a decisive shift in capability.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available in the database is the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this test, the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT scores 48,289 points, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 scores 13,515 points. The delta percentage shows the RX 6500 XT is 72% ahead of the GTX 570 in this metric. This is a massive performance gap, indicating that the modern architecture delivers more than three times the raw compute performance in this particular workload.

The GTX 570's score of 13,515 places it in the 54th percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7770M, which scores 13,536 (a 0.2% difference), and the NVIDIA P106-090, which scores 13,470 (0.3% ahead). This suggests the GTX 570's OpenCL performance is comparable to a mid-range mobile part from a later generation. The RX 6500 XT, with its score of 48,289, sits at the 51st percentile overall, but its nearest rivals are much faster cards: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 scores 11,960 (1% behind the RX 6500 XT), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 scores 11,680 (1.4% ahead). The fact that the RX 6500 XT's OpenCL score is nearly four times higher than its nearest rivals in the average benchmark list is notable, though the percentile ranking suggests other factors are at play in the overall database.

The single head-to-head result is overwhelmingly in favor of the RX 6500 XT. The 72% performance gap in OpenCL is a clear indicator of the generational leap. The GTX 570’s peak performance, as measured by the database, is essentially its OpenCL score, while the RX 6500 XT has a broader set of benchmark results, including DirectX and Vulkan tests, which further illustrate its modern feature set.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT wins in every measurable category where data exists. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 48,289 dwarfs the GTX 570's 13,515. Beyond that, the RX 6500 XT has a suite of additional benchmarks that the GTX 570 lacks entirely. For instance, in Geekbench Vulkan, the RX 6500 XT scores 54,724, and in Passmark G3D, it scores 9,608. These results demonstrate a capability in modern graphics APIs that the older Fermi architecture cannot match, as the GTX 570 has no recorded Vulkan or DirectX 12 benchmark scores in the database.

The GTX 570's only "win" is historical. Its 40 nm process node and 3,000 million transistors were current-generation for its time, but the data shows no performance scenario where it outperforms the RX 6500 XT. The wins for the RX 6500 XT are not just in raw score but also in efficiency and feature support. The RX 6500 XT's Passmark GPU Compute score of 4,456 shows a strong general-purpose compute capability, a workload category that the GTX 570 has no recorded data for in this database. The use-case split is clear: for any modern workload, whether gaming, compute, or API-specific tasks, the RX 6500 XT is the superior choice. The GTX 570 remains relevant only as a piece of legacy hardware, with its best days behind it.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is vast. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 uses the GF110 chip based on the Fermi 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. It contains 3,000 million transistors on a 520 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 5.8 million per square millimeter. In contrast, the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT uses the Navi 24 chip based on RDNA 2.0, built on a 6 nm process, also at TSMC. It packs 5,400 million transistors onto a much smaller 107 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 50.5 million per square millimeter. This nearly nine-fold increase in density reflects process node advancements.

The memory subsystems are also fundamentally different. The GTX 570 has 1,280 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 320-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 152.0 GB/s. The RX 6500 XT has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 143.9 GB/s. Despite having a narrower bus, the faster GDDR6 memory nearly matches the bandwidth of the older card, while offering three times the capacity. The RX 6500 XT also features 16 ray accelerators (RT cores), a technology entirely absent from the Fermi architecture. The shading units differ as well: 480 on the GTX 570 versus 1,024 on the RX 6500 XT. Texture units are closer, 60 versus 64, but the ROP count is 40 on the GTX 570 versus 32 on the RX 6500 XT.

Clock speeds show another major difference. The GTX 570 has no recorded base or boost clock, only a memory clock of 950 MHz (3.8 Gbps effective). The RX 6500 XT, however, has a base clock of 2,310 MHz, a game clock of 2,610 MHz, and a boost clock of 2,815 MHz. This massive clock advantage, combined with the newer architecture, leads to the RX 6500 XT's pixel rate of 90.08 GPixel/s and texture rate of 180.2 GTexel/s, versus the GTX 570's 21.96 GPixel/s and 43.92 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is similarly lopsided: 5.765 TFLOPS for the RX 6500 XT versus 1,405.4 GFLOPS for the GTX 570. The RX 6500 XT also supports FP16 at 11.53 TFLOPS, a feature the GTX 570 lacks.

FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT perform in OpenCL compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570?

A: The RX 6500 XT scores 48,289 in the Geekbench OpenCL test, while the GTX 570 scores 13,515. This puts the RX 6500 XT 72% ahead.

Q: What is the transistor density difference between these two cards?

A: The GTX 570 has a transistor density of 5.8 million per square millimeter on a 520 mm² die. The RX 6500 XT has a density of 50.5 million per square millimeter on a 107 mm² die.

Q: Does the RX 6500 XT support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the RX 6500 XT is equipped with 16 ray accelerators (RT cores). The GTX 570 has no ray tracing hardware.

Q: What is the memory configuration on each card?

A: The GTX 570 has 1,280 MB of GDDR5 on a 320-bit bus with 152.0 GB/s bandwidth. The RX 6500 XT has 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus with 143.9 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card has a higher boost clock?

A: The RX 6500 XT has a boost clock of 2,815 MHz. The GTX 570 has no recorded boost clock in the database.

Q: What is the power consumption for each GPU?

A: The GTX 570 has a TDP of 219 W and requires a 550 W power supply. The RX 6500 XT has a TDP of 107 W and requires a 300 W power supply.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across almost every core specification. The process node is a major differentiator: 40 nm for the GTX 570 versus 6 nm for the RX 6500 XT. The GTX 570's die size is 520 mm², compared to the RX 6500 XT's 107 mm². Transistor count is 3,000 million versus 5,400 million. The shading units are 480 versus 1,024. Texture mapping units are 60 versus 64. Raster operation units are 40 versus 32. The RX 6500 XT has 16 RT cores, while the GTX 570 has none.

Memory size is 1,280 MB versus 4 GB. Memory type is GDDR5 versus GDDR6. The bus width is 320-bit versus 64-bit. Memory clock is 950 MHz versus 2,248 MHz. Bandwidth is 152.0 GB/s versus 143.9 GB/s. The RX 6500 XT has base, game, and boost clocks of 2,310 MHz, 2,610 MHz, and 2,815 MHz, respectively, while the GTX 570 only lists a memory clock. The FP32 compute is 1,405.4 GFLOPS versus 5.765 TFLOPS. The FP16 compute is absent for the GTX 570 and 11.53 TFLOPS for the RX 6500 XT.

Power requirements differ significantly: 219 W TDP with a 550 W suggested PSU for the GTX 570, versus 107 W TDP with a 300 W suggested PSU for the RX 6500 XT. The power connectors are 2x 6-pin versus 1x 6-pin. The bus interface is PCIe 2.0 x16 for the GTX 570 and PCIe 4.0 x4 for the RX 6500 XT. Display outputs are 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a versus 1x HDMI 2.1 and 1x DisplayPort 1.4a. The GTX 570 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), while the RX 6500 XT supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2). The RX 6500 XT also lists Vulkan 1.4 support, while the GTX 570 has no Vulkan entry.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is the superior product for any modern application. Its 72% lead in the OpenCL benchmark, combined with its support for Vulkan, DirectX 12 Ultimate, and ray tracing, makes it the only viable choice for current software. The GTX 570, despite its historical significance, is outclassed in every recorded metric. Its higher TDP of 219 W versus 107 W, its older PCIe 2.0 interface, and its lack of modern API support all point to its obsolescence.

For users with legacy software that relies on older DirectX 11 or OpenGL paths, the GTX 570 might still function, but the database offers no evidence of it outperforming the RX 6500 XT in any such test. The RX 6500 XT's Passmark DirectX 11 score of 90 and DirectX 12 score of 38 confirm its ability to handle these APIs, albeit with varying performance levels. The GTX 570 has no recorded scores for these tests.

The choice is clear: the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is the card to select for anyone building or upgrading a system today. Its lower power draw, smaller physical footprint, and vastly superior compute and rendering capabilities make it the logical pick. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 belongs in a museum or a retro build, not in a modern gaming or workstation PC. The benchmark results and specification differences leave no room for debate.