RTX vs RX — Model-by-Model Performance Matchup (RTX 20 → RTX 50)
This article compares common NVIDIA GeForce RTX models with the AMD Radeon RX cards that most often match them in real-world performance. For each pair you’ll find: a compact specs & FPS table, an in-depth analysis (raster vs ray-tracing, upscaling tech, VRAM), pros & cons, and a short buying recommendation. Benchmarks cited are from established hardware review labs and were checked for 2024–2025 coverage. Results depend heavily on game, resolution, driver updates and upscaling settings.
Quick takeaway: AMD often leads raw raster (traditional) FPS per dollar and provides more VRAM on many SKUs; NVIDIA tends to win in ray tracing and upscaling (DLSS / Frame Generation) where supported. See the per-pair breakdowns below.
RTX 2060 vs Radeon RX 5600 XT — 1080p value match
Metric | RTX 2060 | RX 5600 XT |
---|---|---|
Target resolution | 1080p → light 1440p | 1080p (some 1440p) |
Typical FPS (1080p, Ultra) | ~70–110 FPS | ~65–110 FPS |
Ray tracing | Yes (Turing RT cores, limited) | No (RDNA1 era, no dedicated RT) |
Upscaling | DLSS (1st gen/2.x depending on game) | FSR (quality varies by title) |
VRAM | 6 GB GDDR6 | 6 GB GDDR6 |
Typical board power | ~160–180 W | ~150–160 W |
Performance analysis
Multiple head-to-head benches show the 5600 XT and RTX 2060 occupy the same value slot: in pure raster workloads they are very close and sometimes the 5600 XT wins by a small margin, especially in AMD-optimized titles. However, when ray tracing is enabled the 2060 has an advantage thanks to dedicated RT cores and access to DLSS upscaling — this can make previously unplayable RT modes usable on the 2060 while the 5600 XT cannot handle ray tracing well. Representative tests: TechSpot’s 32-game comparison found very similar raster results with occasional advantages to the 5600 XT. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Pros & Cons
- RTX 2060: DLSS + RT support, broader NVIDIA feature-set.
- RTX 2060: Older architecture, only 6 GB VRAM (can be limiting in modern titles).
- RX 5600 XT: Strong raster value — often cheaper on street price historically.
- RX 5600 XT: No hardware RT; no DLSS.
Recommendation
If you play mostly rasterized titles at 1080p and want best bang-for-buck, the 5600 XT is competitive. If you plan to use ray tracing or want better upscaling options where available, favor the 2060.
RTX 3060 Ti vs Radeon RX 6700 XT — the 1440p midfield duel
Metric | RTX 3060 Ti | RX 6700 XT |
---|---|---|
Target resolution | 1440p (high) | 1440p (high) |
Typical FPS (1440p, Ultra) | ~75–120 FPS (game dependent) | ~85–130 FPS (game dependent) |
Ray tracing | Yes (Ampere RT + DLSS) | Yes (RDNA2, weaker RT; FSR available) |
VRAM | 8 GB GDDR6 | 12 GB GDDR6 |
Typical board power | ~200 W | ~230 W |
Performance analysis
Head-to-head results show the RX 6700 XT often enjoying a raster advantage in some modern titles — TechSpot measured margins where the 6700 XT was roughly ~10–13% faster than the 3060 Ti in certain games (e.g., Warzone in their dataset). However, the 3060 Ti recovers in RT-enabled scenarios when DLSS is available, preserving playable framerates. The 12 GB VRAM on many 6700 XT SKUs is also a practical advantage at higher resolutions or with heavy textures. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Pros & Cons
- 3060 Ti: Excellent 1440p raster performance with strong RT support and DLSS upscaling.
- 3060 Ti: 8 GB VRAM can be limiting in some modern 1440p/4K workloads.
- 6700 XT: Often faster in raw raster tests and typically ships with higher VRAM.
- 6700 XT: Ray tracing performance and DLSS-equivalent benefits lag NVIDIA in many titles.
Recommendation
If you prioritize pure raster 1440p performance and VRAM, choose the 6700 XT. If you play RT-enabled titles and value DLSS/Frame Generation, choose the 3060 Ti.
RTX 3070 vs Radeon RX 6800 — 1440p / 4K contenders
Metric | RTX 3070 | RX 6800 |
---|---|---|
Target resolution | 1440p → entry 4K | 1440p → 4K |
Typical FPS (1440p) | ~70–120 FPS | ~85–140 FPS (RX 6800 often leads) |
Ray tracing | Yes (Ampere/DLSS ecosystem) | RDNA2 RT (less efficient) |
VRAM | 8 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR6 |
Performance analysis
TechSpot and other labs consistently show the RX 6800 outperforming the 3070 in many raster workloads — in some tests the 6800 recorded double-digit percent leads (20–27% in certain titles). The 16 GB VRAM is also a notable advantage for 6800 at 4K or with high-resolution texture mods. That said, the 3070's RT + DLSS advantages can flip results in ray-traced titles or when DLSS/Frame Generation is enabled. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Pros & Cons
- RTX 3070: Strong RT support and NVIDIA upscaling ecosystem; consistent performance across many titles.
- RTX 3070: 8 GB VRAM is smaller compared to modern AMD alternatives.
- RX 6800: Excellent raster performance and 16 GB VRAM for future-proofing.
- RX 6800: RT performance weaker; DLSS alternative quality may vary.
Recommendation
Choose RX 6800 if you value raw raster FPS and VRAM for 4K/texture-heavy scenarios. Choose RTX 3070 if ray tracing and DLSS support in specific games are priorities.
RTX 3080 vs Radeon RX 6800 XT — 4K performance & trade-offs
Metric | RTX 3080 | RX 6800 XT |
---|---|---|
Target resolution | 4K (high) | 1440p → 4K |
Typical FPS (4K) | ~55–120 FPS (varies by game & DLSS) | ~50–110 FPS (very competitive) |
Ray tracing | Stronger RT + DLSS | RT present (RDNA2), generally slower under RT |
VRAM | 10–12 GB (depending on SKU) | 16 GB |
Performance analysis
Revisited benchmarks show the RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT are close in many modern titles — the 3080 often wins at native 4K and in RT-heavy cases due to DLSS, while the 6800 XT shines in raster-only workloads and benefits from larger VRAM. TechSpot’s re-evaluations find the 3080 usually nudging ahead at 4K especially where NVIDIA's upscaling is available. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Pros & Cons
- RTX 3080: Excellent 4K performance with DLSS and stronger RT handling.
- RTX 3080: Less VRAM vs some AMD cards on some SKUs (10–12 GB).
- RX 6800 XT: Strong raster 1440p/4K performance and ample VRAM (16 GB).
- RX 6800 XT: Weaker ray tracing performance relative to NVIDIA.
Recommendation
For the best native 4K with RT and DLSS, the 3080 remains a top pick. For raw raster performance and VRAM at 1440p–4K, consider the 6800 XT.
RTX 3090 vs Radeon RX 6900 XT — extreme 4K & creator use
Metric | RTX 3090 | RX 6900 XT |
---|---|---|
Target resolution / use-case | 4K ultra, content creation, compute | 4K gaming (high FPS) |
VRAM | 24 GB GDDR6X | 16 GB GDDR6 |
Typical FPS (4K) | Very strong; RT + compute advantage | Very strong in raster; slightly behind in compute tasks |
Performance analysis
The RTX 3090’s large 24 GB framebuffer and broader CUDA ecosystem make it a stronger choice for creators and heavy compute workloads compared to the RX 6900 XT. For pure gaming, the 6900 XT is competitive in raster workloads but lacks the compute & CUDA advantages of NVIDIA’s flagship. Tom’s Hardware’s coverage of the 6900 XT highlights these differences in creator and compute scenarios. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Recommendation
If you need large VRAM for content creation, 3D rendering, or AI workloads — choose the RTX 3090. For gaming-first 4K performance with a competitive price, the 6900 XT is excellent.
RTX 4070 vs Radeon RX 7800 XT — Ada vs RDNA3 midrange
Metric | RTX 4070 | RX 7800 XT |
---|---|---|
Target resolution | 1440p → 4K (entry RT) | 1440p → 4K |
Typical FPS (1440p) | ~80–140 FPS (DLSS advantage where available) | ~95–160 FPS (often 10–28% faster in raster tests) |
VRAM | 12 GB | 16 GB |
Performance analysis
TechSpot’s head-to-head testing shows the 7800 XT often posting 10–28% higher raster FPS than the RTX 4070 at 1080p/1440p in several modern titles. However, the 4070 leverages DLSS 3/Frame Generation in supported titles to recover significant performance in RT-enabled scenarios. Choose based on whether you prioritize raw raster FPS or RT+frame-generation features. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Recommendation
Prefer RX 7800 XT for maximum raster value and VRAM; prefer RTX 4070 if you rely on DLSS/FrameGen and RT features in your favorite games.
RTX 4080 vs Radeon RX 7900 XTX — high-end 4K match
Metric | RTX 4080 | RX 7900 XTX |
---|---|---|
Target resolution | 4K high | 4K high |
Typical FPS (4K) | ~70–160 FPS depending on title & DLSS | ~75–165 FPS; AMD often leads raster while NVIDIA leads when RT+DLSS used |
VRAM | 16 GB | 24 GB |
Performance analysis
Benchmarks show the 7900 XTX frequently takes the lead in raster scenarios and benefits from a large 24 GB framebuffer for texture-heavy 4K workloads. The RTX 4080 often outperforms when ray tracing and DLSS are used. TechSpot’s detailed comparisons highlight game-dependent flip-flops between these two tier leaders. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Recommendation
For raw 4K raster power and maximum VRAM, choose the RX 7900 XTX. For best RT experience and DLSS-powered upscaling, choose the RTX 4080.
RTX 5070 vs Radeon RX 9070 — 2025 midrange showdown
Metric | RTX 5070 | RX 9070 |
---|---|---|
Target resolution | 1440p → 4K | 1440p → 4K |
Typical FPS (1440p) | Varies; stronger in RT/DLSS tests | Often leads raster tests by ~10–20% |
Ray tracing & upscaling | DLSS 4 + Frame Generation (strong in supported titles) | FSR 4/5 improvements; strong raster performance |
VRAM | 12–16 GB (varies by SKU) | 16 GB typical |
Performance analysis
Recent 2025 reviews and head-to-heads (GamersNexus, The Verge, PC Gamer) show AMD’s RX 9070 frequently outperforming NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 in raster workloads and offering higher VRAM at competitive prices; NVIDIA’s 5070 is stronger where DLSS 4 / MFG is available and in some creator tasks. GamersNexus found wide differences in RT-heavy scenarios where NVIDIA still dominates, while PC Gamer named the RX 9070 a very competitive midrange choice for most gamers. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Recommendation
If you want the best 1440p raster performance and value in 2025, RX 9070 is an excellent pick. If your favorite titles use DLSS 4 / FrameGen heavily, consider the RTX 5070 for RT-heavy play.
Conclusion — practical buying rules
- Raw raster FPS per dollar: AMD (RDNA2/3/4) often wins.
- Ray tracing & upscaling: NVIDIA (DLSS / Frame Generation) usually holds the edge in supported titles.
- VRAM & future-proofing: AMD cards often ship with more VRAM at similar price points — beneficial at 4K and for texture-heavy games.
- Creator/compute workflows: NVIDIA’s CUDA ecosystem offers advantages for many creative applications.
- Final decision: Always compare per-game benchmarks and current local prices before buying — the “best” card changes as drivers and prices shift.
FAQ (short)
Which is better for 1440p gaming — RTX or RX?
If you want maximum raster FPS per dollar, AMD RX cards typically win. If you play RT-enabled titles with DLSS/FrameGen support, NVIDIA often provides smoother RT experience.
Does DLSS make a real difference?
Yes — DLSS (especially DLSS 2/3/4 and Frame Generation) can increase effective playable FPS in RT-enabled or high-resolution scenarios, sometimes turning an unplayable RT setting into a playable one.