RX 6500 XT Revisit: Disappointing Performance at 1080p Low Settings

RX 6500 XT Revisit: Disappointing Performance at 1080p Low Settings

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. RX 6500 XT: A Brief Overview
3. Benchmarking 10 Modern Games
   • 3.1 Alan Wake 2
   • 3.2 Assassin's Creed Mirage
   • 3.3 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
   • 3.4 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
   • 3.5 Cyberpunk 2077
   • 3.6 The Last of Us Part One
   • 3.7 Ratchet and Clank
   • 3.8 Resident Evil 4 Remake
   • 3.9 Star Wars Jedi Survivor
   • 3.10 Starfield
4. Conclusion
5. Pros and Cons
6. FAQs

💡 Highlights

• The RX 6500 XT, launched in January 2022, received a lot of criticism for its underwhelming performance and limited features.
• Benchmarking 10 different games, we discovered that the 6500 XT was incapable of delivering satisfactory performance in most titles.
• Games like Alan Wake 2, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, and Starfield struggled to maintain playable frame rates, often dropping below 30 FPS.
• However, some games, like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, ran surprisingly well on the 6500 XT, showcasing its potential in less demanding titles.
• Overall, the RX 6500 XT proved to be a disappointing graphics card, failing to meet the expectations of modern gaming.

Introduction

In this article, we will be revisiting the RX 6500 XT, one of the most criticized graphics cards in recent memory. Released in January 2022, the 6500 XT received substantial backlash for its underwhelming performance and limited features. Despite being less than 2 years old, it already faces serious challenges when it comes to playing modern games at 1080p settings. In this article, we will benchmark 10 different games released over the last 12 months to determine just how suitable the 6500 XT really is for modern gaming. Are the initial criticisms justified, or does this budget GPU have some tricks up its sleeve? Let's find out.

RX 6500 XT: A Brief Overview

Before we dive into the benchmark results, let's take a quick look at the RX 6500 XT itself. Launched with much anticipation, this graphics card turned out to be a major disappointment for many gamers. It featured just 4 GB of VRAM, a 64-bit memory interface, and only four PCIe 4.0 lanes. These limitations, among others, severely impacted its performance and caused numerous issues for gamers. Despite these shortcomings, we will explore whether the RX 6500 XT can still hold its own in the rapidly evolving world of modern gaming.

Benchmarking 10 Modern Games

In our benchmarking tests, we evaluated the performance of the RX 6500 XT in 10 different games using the lowest in-game presets. We deliberately disabled any upscaling techniques such as FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) and ensured that ray tracing was turned off, unless it was integrated into the game engine. Our benchmarking was conducted using a reliable GPU test system provided by PC specialist. It included an Intel I9 3900 KF CPU paired with the Gigabyte Z790 Gaming XAX motherboard, and 32 GB of Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR5 memory. We used the latest available drivers at the time of testing (Adrenalin 21.12.1), providing a fair and up-to-date performance evaluation.

3.1 Alan Wake 2

Our benchmarking journey begins with Alan Wake 2. Using the low preset, we were met with disappointing results. The Game displayed frequent frame rate drops and inconsistent frame times. The textures failed to load properly, resulting in an overall low-resolution appearance. The average FPS during our benchmark run was 22.9, with a 1% low of 16.9. Clearly, Alan Wake 2 is unplayable on the RX 6500 XT even at the lowest settings.

3.2 Assassin's Creed Mirage

Moving on to Assassin's Creed Mirage, we started with the low preset. Surprisingly, the performance was quite smooth, with consistent frame times and frame rates North of 60 FPS. However, the graphics, particularly the texture quality, left much to be desired. Nonetheless, the game was playable, and we were even able to switch to the medium preset, maintaining frame rates in the mid-50s. Assassin's Creed Mirage proved to be a relatively good experience on the RX 6500 XT.

3.3 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Unfortunately, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora did not fare well on the RX 6500 XT. Even on the low preset, the game was plagued with texture loading issues reminiscent of the PlayStation 2 era. Performance struggled to maintain a consistent 30 FPS, resulting in an unplayable experience. The benchmark numbers confirmed this, with 1% lows of just 26.4 FPS. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora was a definite fail on the RX 6500 XT.

3.4 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Shifting gears to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, we started with the minimum preset, expecting smooth performance. True to our expectations, the game ran flawlessly during our multiplayer benchmark, with frame rates hovering around 100 FPS and no frame time issues. Surprisingly, even the balance preset performed well, although with slightly lower frame rates in the 70s and 80s. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 proved to be a success on the RX 6500 XT, delivering satisfactory performance.

3.5 Cyberpunk 2077

Next, we tackled the infamous Cyberpunk 2077. While technically released in 2020, we included it in our benchmarking as recent updates and expansions have significantly impacted its performance. Using the low preset, we were pleasantly surprised by the results. The game maintained frame rates between 40 and 50 FPS, without any major frame time spikes. Considering the demanding nature of Cyberpunk 2077, this was a surprisingly scalable experience. However, switching to the medium preset offered little headroom above 30 FPS, indicating the limitations of the RX 6500 XT. Overall, Cyberpunk 2077 delivered mixed results on this budget GPU.

3.6 The Last of Us Part One

Continuing with The Last of Us Part One, we used the very low preset for our benchmark. Despite a few minor frame time spikes, the game ran smoothly with frame rates ranging from the 40s to 50s. The graphics quality suffered, but the game remained playable, which was our primary focus. Switching to the low preset introduced more frame time spikes, indicating a potential VRAM limitation. The very low preset, with 1% lows of 46 FPS and an average of 54.3 FPS, proved to be the optimal choice for a reasonably smooth experience on the RX 6500 XT.

3.7 Ratchet and Clank

Moving on to Ratchet and Clank, we tested the very low preset. Unfortunately, the limited 4 GB frame buffer posed significant problems. The game suffered from frequent frame time fluctuations and massive frame rate drops, resulting in a subpar experience. Switching to the low preset exacerbated these issues. The 1% lows were far behind the average frame rates, indicating poor frame time stability. Ratchet and Clank proved to be a challenging game for the RX 6500 XT.

3.8 Resident Evil 4 Remake

In the case of the Resident Evil 4 Remake, prioritizing performance with the performance preset delivered the expected results. The RE Engine, known for its scalability, performed admirably on the RX 6500 XT. The game exhibited smooth frame rates, consistently hovering around 80 to 90 FPS, which was quite impressive considering the equivalent of low settings. Although the balanced preset was also playable, it introduced more frame time spikes, emphasizing the benefits of the performance preset. Resident Evil 4 Remake proved to be a success for the RX 6500 XT.

3.9 Star Wars Jedi Survivor

Unfortunately, Star Wars Jedi Survivor turned out to be too demanding for the RX 6500 XT. Even in the initial test area on Coruscant, the game suffered from erratic frame times and regular frame rate drops below 30 FPS. It simply did not provide an enjoyable experience. The benchmark numbers confirmed this, with a 1% low of 26.3 FPS and an average FPS of 36.4. Star Wars Jedi Survivor proved to be a fail on the RX 6500 XT.

3.10 Starfield

Lastly, we tested Starfield with the low preset and dynamic resolution turned off, running at 100% resolution Scale for native 1080p testing. Frame rates were not impressive, dipping into the low 30s and occasionally reaching around 40 FPS. The low settings, plagued by flickering, aliasing, and low resolution textures, did not run well on the RX 6500 XT. The benchmark numbers confirmed this, with 1% lows below 30 FPS and an average of only 34.8 FPS. Starfield, unfortunately, added another fail to the RX 6500 XT's list.

Conclusion

After testing the RX 6500 XT on 10 different modern games, it is clear that this graphics card struggles to deliver satisfactory performance in most titles. While it managed to handle games like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 relatively well, it failed to meet expectations in titles like Alan Wake 2, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, and Starfield. The limitations of the 4 GB VRAM, along with other issues such as limited display outputs and PCIe 4.0 lanes, have proven to be significant obstacles for this budget GPU. In light of these findings, it is evident that the RX 6500 XT falls short as a viable option for modern gaming.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Some less demanding games, like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, ran relatively well on the RX 6500 XT.
• The RX 6500 XT is a budget graphics card, making it an affordable option for entry-level gamers.

Cons:

• The 4 GB VRAM and other limitations severely impact the performance and capabilities of the RX 6500 XT.
• The RX 6500 XT struggles to maintain playable frame rates in most modern games, even at the lowest settings.
• Limited display outputs, lack of video encoding options, and only four PCIe 4.0 lanes further restrict the functionality of the RX 6500 XT.

FAQs

Q: Can the RX 6500 XT handle modern games?

A: The RX 6500 XT struggles to deliver satisfactory performance in most modern games, particularly those with higher hardware requirements. While some less demanding titles may run relatively well, this graphics card falls short as a reliable option for modern gaming.

Q: What are the limitations of the RX 6500 XT?

A: The RX 6500 XT comes with a range of limitations, including only 4 GB of VRAM, limited display outputs, lack of video encoding options, and only four PCIe 4.0 lanes. These limitations severely impact the card's performance and functionality, making it a less desirable choice for modern gaming.

Q: Should I consider the RX 6500 XT for gaming?

A: Unless you are on a very tight budget or have specific requirements for less demanding games, it is generally not recommended to consider the RX 6500 XT for gaming. There are other options available within a similar price range that offer significantly better performance and features.

Q: What alternatives should I consider instead of the RX 6500 XT?

A: Depending on your budget and requirements, there are several alternatives to consider instead of the RX 6500 XT. Popular options include the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super, AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. These cards offer better performance and more features compared to the RX 6500 XT, albeit at a slightly higher price point.

Resources:

• PC Specialist
• AMD Adrenalin Drivers