AMD Radeon RX 6800, 6800XT review: The 1440p GPU beasts you’ve been craving
The AMD Radeon RX 6800XT (top) and RX 6800 (bottom). [credit: Sam Machkovech ]
As 2020 draws to a close, the matter of "which new $500+ GPU is better" has become moot for most prospective PC gamers. Nvidia had a go at it starting in September with the impressive RTX 3000 series, offering on-paper value that blew its RTX 2000 series straight into obsolescence. But so far, its three RTX 3000 models have suffered from a mix of low supply and savvy scalpers scooping up such scant inventory.
This changes the tenor of any conversation about AMD's new RDNA 2 line of GPUs. In a more stable supply-and-demand universe, I'd be careful to warn buyers about the pros and cons of $500+ GPUs made by either manufacturer this year-each GPU has its own clear victories. That's already good news for AMD's two new cards going on sale this week, since it has been years since the "Red Team" has been this competitive with Nvidia.
With no clear indication that AMD will handle Radeon RX 6800 ($579) and Radeon RX 6800XT ($649) supplies any better than Nvidia and its RTX 3000 series, the verdict is a bit wacky. Your best option for the rest of 2020, honestly, is whatever you can actually purchase at a reasonable retail price. These cards are duking it out enough to give either side something in the way of future-proofed gaming performance at high-but-fair prices. If you're incredibly eager to upgrade to this tier and see anything in stock this year, outside of the worst resellers, close your eyes and buy.
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