AMD RX 6650 XT
Rated: 8/10
Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti
Rated: 9/10
Pros And Cons
Graphics Card | Pros | Cons |
RTX 3060 Ti | ✅ Readily Available ✅ Good Price-to-Performance Ratio | ❌ Poor Performance Without DLSS ❌ Higher Power Draw |
RX 6650 XT | ✅ Excellent Raw Performance ✅ High Power Efficiency | ❌ Worse Ray Tracing Performance ❌ Lower Performance |
- As per benchmark testing, the RTX 3060 Ti had about 6% better performance than the RX 6650 XT in our gaming tests.
- During the tests, I observed that the RX 6650 XT consumed about 28% more power than the RTX 3060 Ti. Moreover, the RX 6650 XT also had a 5°C higher temperature on average.
- Observing the current market prices, there is about a 22% difference in price between these two cards, with the RX 6650 XT being more pricey than the RTX 3060 Ti.
- I would recommend the RTX 3060 Ti as it delivers a better performance in a lower power and thermal bracket, the only downside being the slightly hefty price.
Comparison Table
Technical Specs | Radeon RX 6650 XT | NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti |
GPU | Navi 23 | GA104 |
Architecture | RDNA 2.0 | Ampere |
Transistors | 11,060 million | 17,400 million |
CUDA Cores | 2048 | 4864 |
Tensor Cores | NA | 152 |
RT Cores | 32 | 38 |
TMUs | 128 | 152 |
ROPs | 64 | 80 |
Memory Size | 8GB | 8GB |
Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
Memory Speed | 280.3 GB/s | 448.0 GB/s |
L2 Cache | 2MB | 4MB |
MSRP | $300 | $399 |
Best Variants | - | Best RTX 3060 Ti |
Architectural Differences
- Processing Node Size: The NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti is manufactured using an 8nm process size. In contrast, the Radeon RX 6650 XT is fabricated on a 7nm process size. The smaller process size generally indicates better power efficiency and potential for higher performance.
- Bus Width: The RTX 3060 Ti has a wider bus width of 256-bit, allowing for faster data transfer between the GPU and VRAM. On the other hand, the Radeon RX 6650 XT has a narrower bus width of 128-bit, which may impact its memory bandwidth and overall performance.
- TDP: The TDP (Thermal Design Power) of the RTX 3060 Ti is around 200W. In comparison, the Radeon RX 6650 XT has a lower TDP of 176W.
- Clock Speeds: The RTX 3060 Ti has a base clock of 1410MHz, with a boost clock going up to 1665MHz. The Radeon RX 6650 XT, on the other hand, has a higher base clock of 2055MHz and a higher boost clock of 2635MHz.
- Other Features: Both the RTX 3060 Ti and the RX 6650 XT support AI and ray tracing capabilities, though the implementation of both is better on the RTX 3060 Ti.
Consumers have shifted their attention to the latest generation of cards from AMD and Nvidia, but it is important to remember the great offerings from the previous generation. In the RX 6650 XT vs RTX 3060 Ti comparison, I will delve into the differences between these two cards, ultimately concluding which card suits your gaming needs.
RTX 3060 Ti Vs RX 6650 XT – Gaming Benchmarks
After going through the specifications and mentioning the core differences between the two GPUs, we will now talk about the gaming benchmarks used to assess the GPU results.
Gaming Setup
- OS: Windows 11 | 64 Bit
- CPU: Core i9-13900K
- MOBO: GIGABYTE Z690 AERO G
- RAM: Patriot Viper LED DDR4-3600 16GB RAM
- CPU Cooler: Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Liquid Cooler
- SSD: XPG Gammix S70 Blade 2TB NVMe
- PSU: be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W
- Resolution: 1080p
Forza Horizon 5
- In the first game of my testing, the RX 6650 XT achieved an average of 97 FPS, while the RTX 3060 Ti performed slightly better with an average of 106 FPS.
- During demanding gameplay moments, the RX 6650 XT had 1% lows of 74 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 Ti performed slightly better with 1% lows of 81 FPS.
Hitman 3
- In Hitman 3, these cards maintained the same performance pattern as I saw in the previous game. The RX 6650 XT delivered an average of 146 FPS, while the RTX 3060 Ti performed slightly better with an average FPS of 151.
- The RX 6650 XT had a 1% low of 118 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 Ti performed slightly better with a 1% low of 123 FPS. The difference in performance for this metric is almost negligible.
God Of War
- During my God of War test, the RX 6650 XT achieved an average of 63 FPS, while the RTX 3060 Ti performed slightly better with an average of 67 FPS.
- During demanding gameplay moments, the RX 6650 XT had a 1% low of 53 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 Ti had a slightly better 1% low of 54 FPS.
Dying Light 2
- In Dying Light 2, the RX 6650 XT delivered an average of 76 FPS, while the RTX 3060 Ti showcased significantly better performance with an average of 81 FPS.
- During my Dying Light 2 test, the RX 6650 XT had a 1% low of 67 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 Ti had a slightly higher 1% low of 71 FPS in Dying Light 2.
Horizon Zero Dawn
- In Horizon Zero Dawn, the RX 6650 XT achieved an average of 90 FPS, while the RTX 3060 Ti had a slightly lower average of 81 FPS.
- While finding out the 1% lows, I noticed that the RX 6650 XT maintained 1% lows of 66 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 Ti exhibited slightly higher 1% lows of 68 FPS.
Cyberpunk 2077
- In my Cyberpunk 2077 test, the RTX 3060 Ti outperformed the RX 6650 XT in terms of average FPS. The RTX 3060 Ti achieved an average of 71 FPS, while the RX 6650 XT had a slightly lower average of 62 FPS.
- During demanding gameplay moments, the RTX 3060 Ti also showcased higher 1% lows with 58 FPS compared to the RX 6650 XT’s 53 FPS.
Red Dead Redemption 2
- In Red Dead Redemption 2, I found out that the RTX 3060 Ti outperformed the RX 6650 XT in terms of average FPS. The RTX 3060 Ti achieved an average of 74 FPS, while the RX 6650 XT had a slightly lower average of 68 FPS.
- During demanding gameplay moments, the RTX 3060 Ti also showcased higher 1% lows with 58 FPS compared to the RX 6650 XT’s 53 FPS.
Days Gone
- When I was testing Days Gone, I found that the RTX 3060 Ti performed better than the RX 6650 XT in terms of average FPS. The RTX 3060 Ti achieved an average of 121 FPS, while the RX 6650 XT had a slightly lower average of 112 FPS.
- Both graphics cards had the same 1% lows of 70 FPS, indicating consistent performance during demanding moments in the game.
RX 6650 XT Vs RTX 3060 Ti – Overall Gaming Performance
Processor | Average FPS | 1% Lows |
RX 6650 XT | 📈 94 | 📉 80 |
RTX 3060 Ti | 📈 100 | 📉 83 |
Winner: RTX 3060 Ti |
In my tests, I found that on average, the RX 6650 XT had an average of 94 FPS, whereas the RTX 3060 TI had an average FPS of 100 FPS. This difference is about 6% in favor of the RTX 3060 Ti. The RTX 3060 Ti had an average 1% low of 83 FPS, whereas the RX 6650 XT had an average 1% low of 80 FPS.
Power Consumption
Games | RX 6650 XT (W) | RTX 3060 Ti (W) |
Average Power Consumption | 149⚡️ | 191⚡️ |
Winner: RX 6650 XT |
In the benchmarks, I observed a 28% difference in power consumption rates of both GPUs, with the RX 6650 XT being much more power efficient. The smaller power draw of the 6650 XT will allow you to get away with using a smaller power supply, which can reduce the cost of the RX 6650 XT further.
Thermal Efficiency
Games | RX 6650 XT (°C) | RTX 3060 Ti (°C) |
Average Thermal Capacity | 64.4 🌡️ | 59 🌡️ |
Winner: RTX 3060 Ti |
While observing the benchmarks, I analyzed that the RTX 3060 Ti remained 5°C cooler than the RX 6650 XT throughout the tests at an average. This puts the RX 6650 XT behind the RTX 3060 Ti in terms of temperature levels. Though the temperatures were much higher on the RX 6650 XT, the card still remained within the safe temperature range.
Price And Availability
GPU | MSRP | Current Price |
RX 6650 XT | 💲300 | 💲360.15 |
RTX 3060 Ti | 💲399 | 💲280 |
Price Difference | 33% | 22.2% |
The RX 6650 XT goes for about 22.2% more expensive than the RTX 3060 Ti card while being slightly slower. These cards should be available at any retail computer parts store of your choosing and used and new online retailers like eBay and Newegg. I would recommend getting these cards from anywhere but the used market due to their age.
Conclusive Thoughts – Which One Do I Recommend?
RX 6650 XT: Starting with the weaker of the bunch, the RX 6650 XT. This GPU was a powerhouse for entry-level gaming when it was released, and it still holds up with its competition. It offers reasonable performance but at a higher price. It also absorbs lower power as compared to the RTX 3060 Ti.
RTX 3060 Ti: The RTX 3060 Ti has aged gracefully, delivering excellent 1080p performance at an attractive price point. On top of that, it incorporates support for ray tracing and DLSS, two features that can significantly enhance your gaming experience.
I highly recommend the RTX 3060 Ti to anyone in search of a feature-rich card that delivers exceptional performance at a budget-friendly price. Moreover, I would recommend the RX 6650 XT to gamers looking for a capable and power-efficient card.
Frequently Asked Questions
The RTX 3060 Ti was almost impossible to get your hands on during the crypto boom, but it has become readily available since the crash.
Yes, the RTX 3060 TI initially launched with a mining limiter designed to reduce its efficiency in cryptocurrency mining. However, it was later discovered that a driver update inadvertently unlocked the full mining performance of the card.
AMD FSR is the company’s open-source project to get AI upscaling into the hands of every gamer. This software is supported on AMD, Intel, and even Nvidia cards.
More From AMD RX 6650 XT:
More From Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti:
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