![]() Given the 6500 XT and 5500 XT are expected to be fairly close in terms of performance based on benchmark numbers released by AMD, using the 5500 XT to simulate the potential PCIe issues of the 6500 XT should be fairly accurate. Testing was performed in our Ryzen 9 5950X test system, changing the PCIe mode in the BIOS. We'll go over the data for most of the games tested and then we'll do some side by side comparisons. We've run these in a dozen games at 1080p and 1440p and for the more modern titles we've gone with the medium quality preset, which is a more realistic setting for this class of product. This is the same configuration the 6500 XT uses, and then again with PCIe 3.0 x4. First, I tested both the 4GB and 8GB versions using their stock PCIe 4.0 x8 configuration, then repeated the test with PCIe 4.0 x4. To gather some insight into what this could mean for the 6500 XT, we took the 5500 XT and benchmarked several configurations. PCI Express: Unidirectional Bandwidth in x1 and x16 Configurations Initially our idea was to investigate PCIe performance with a similar spec product for our internal reference, but the results were so interesting that we decided to make a full feature out of it. Although 6500 XT reviews are only days away, we decided not to wait. We'll discuss more about that towards the end of this review, but for now let's explain what we're doing here. AMD themselves would argue that the PCIe 3.0 bandwidth won't be an issue for the 6500 XT as gamers should ensure they're not exceeding the memory buffer for optimal performance, but with a 4GB graphics card in modern games that's very difficult. Of course, the RTX 3080 was tested using ultra quality settings whereas the 6500 XT is more suited to dialed down presets, such as 'medium', for example. The smaller the memory buffer, the more likely you are to dip into system memory, and this is where the limited PCIe bandwidth can play havoc. The problem with that assumption is that you're ignoring that the RTX 3080 has a 10GB VRAM buffer, while the 6500 XT only has a 4GB VRAM buffer. With that being a significantly more powerful GPU, many have assumed the 6500 XT will be just fine. The folks over at TechPowerUp have tested an RTX 3080 with average frame rate performance at 1080p only dropping ~10% when limited to 4 GB/s of PCIe bandwidth. ![]() But if you install it in a PCIe 3.0 system that figure is halved, and this is where you could start to run into problems. With PCIe 4.0 you get roughly 2 GB/s of bandwidth per lane, giving the 6500 XT a ~8 GB/s communication link with the CPU and system memory. Some of you believe this will cripple the card, while others point to PCI Express bandwidth tests using flagship graphics cards which suggest the 6500 XT will be fine, even in a PCI Express 3.0 system. But what might this mean for the Radeon RX 6500 XT? Opinions are divided on this one. It's been widely reported that the 6500 XT is restricted to PCI Express 4.0 x4 bandwidth and although AMD hasn't made that public yet, and we're bound by an NDA, this was already confirmed by Asrock, so it's no longer a secret. In reality, the 6500 XT is probably going to end up priced between $300 to $400 at retail, but we'll have to wait and see on that one. This new GPU is set to come in at a $200 MSRP, though of course we expect it to cost more than that beyond an initial limited run, which may hit close to the MSRP. This month AMD will finally release their first entry-level RDNA2-based gaming product, the Radeon RX 6500 XT.
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