Key Points
- Our choice for the #1 best overall alternative to AMD RX 6600 is the AMD RX 6650 XT
- Every other component of a gaming computer comes in second to a good graphics card. Even a powerful CPU won’t be able to do much without a strong GPU pushing pixels.
- While there isn’t a single graphics card that will work for everyone, we’ll offer solutions for all budget levels.
The finest graphics cards will enable high-performance gaming across various resolutions and settings. They enhance frame rates in even the most demanding games with advanced capabilities such as ray tracing and resolution upscaling. The days of scarce GPUs and expensive graphics cards are long gone. In fact, certain discounts are available due to the decline in PC and component sales. Several options are available regardless of what you’re looking for, and it might be challenging to go through them all. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the best picks that can serve as alternatives to the AMD RX 6600.
Just take a look at our roundup of the 5 best alternatives to an AMD RX 6600:
- Best Overall: RX 6650 XT
- Best for Performance: Radeon RX 7900 XTX
- Best Value for Money: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
- Best for Affordability: GeForce RTX 3060
- Best for Gaming: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Best Overall: RX 6650 XT
- 8GB GDDR6 video memory
- DisplayPort and HDMI video output interface
- 128-bit memory interface
- Max resolution: 7680 x 4320
The RX 6650 XT takes the top spot for overall performance and pricing, making it the #1 best overall graphics card. Currently, most GPUs from AMD, including the RX 6650 XT, use the Navi 23 architecture. The RX 6650 XT replaces the RX 6600 XT, providing better performance for about the same cost. This chip is smaller than the Navi 10 and constructed on a similar TSMC N7 node. Further, it has a higher frame rate at 1080p resolution.
However, there are times when it falters, especially with ray tracing. Most games that support DXR (DirectX Raytracing) can’t manage 20 frames per second at 1080p. But compared to the RX 6600 XT, the RX 6650 TX’s GPU boost clock is 54MHz and 100MHz faster.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It is very power efficient, which makes it stand out. | Its ray tracing performance is poor. |
| The 1080p performance of the RX 6650 XT is awe-inspiring. | It only has an 8GB VRAM and 128-bit bus, which limits performance. |
| It’s available below the MSRP. |
Check out the RX 6650 XT on Amazon.
Best for Performance: Radeon RX 7900 XTX
- Features 3 cooling fans
- Speed: 2400MHz boost clock
- Memory: 24GB GDDR6
- Supports DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1
The Radeon RX 7900 XTX carries the day for top performance and is our choice for the graphics card with the best performance. With a price increase to match, the RX 7900 XTX has replaced the RX 6950 XT from the previous generation at the top of the list. The RX 7900 XTX has powerful 2nd-gen ray accelerators that enable 4K gaming at ultra settings and ray tracing, a feat the previous-generation RX 6950 XT AMD card could not completely achieve. It was reportedly priced at $999, and despite selling out almost instantly, supply has now stabilized. When it debuted towards the end of 2022, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX had much to prove, but it magnificently succeeded in becoming the most potent gaming GPU on the market.
The rise in demand is understandable, given that the RX 7900 XTX features AMD’s most recent RDNA 3 architecture. This increases the card’s computing power significantly, and you also receive a 33% memory and bandwidth boost. The new GPU performs rasterization and ray tracing in games, on average, 32% and 42% quicker than the 6950 XT. Further, it achieves this performance improvement without significantly increasing either power consumption or the size of the graphic card.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It performs well in most aspects. | The RX 7900 XTX is very expensive, starting at $1,000. |
| It works well with non-RT workloads. | RT’s performance is not impressive. |
| It has a lot of cache and VRAM |
Check out the Radeon RX 7900 XTX on Amazon.
Best Value for Money: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
- 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
- GPU Clock Speed: 1695 MHz
- Boost Clock: 1695 MHz
- 256-bit memory interface
- PCI Express x8 hardware interface
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti provides the best value for money. With its cost-to-performance ratio, the graphics card poses a threat to the assertion that AMD rules the GPU market. One of the most recent additions to the RTX 3000 line, this GPU outperforms other products in its price range with performance that can compete with the RTX 2080 Super. That includes remarkable ray tracing. Never before has the price and quality of 1080p gaming been this good.
RTX 3060 Ti has several features, such as Nvidia broadcast, which lets you filter background noise when video chatting or streaming, irrespective of the software you’re using. Nvidia reflex is also a cool feature and reduces system latency.
The best part is that it does not overheat. However, you’ll need to forego the ray tracing and make some compromises with the settings. There aren’t many other issues with the 3060 Ti.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It remains cool throughout your gaming sessions. | Poorly designed 12-pin power connector. |
| The 1080p performance of the RTX 3060 Ti is excellent. | Only basic 4K performance is available. |
| The performance of ray tracing is good. |
Check out the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti on Amazon.
Best for Affordability: GeForce RTX 3060
- 12GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Clock speed: 1837 MHz
- 192-bit memory interface
- Max. resolution: 7680 x 4320
The GeForce RTX 3060 is fairly priced and emerges as the most affordable GPU. It’s a GPU with a low price and significantly lower processing power. It has a 192-bit memory interface, 12GB VRAM, and a GA106 GPU. While it is far better than the RTX 3050, it’s less powerful than the 3060 Ti. Even so, the RTX 3060 offers a good value overall, particularly when you take into account its DLSS performance and ray tracing.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1040p and 1444p performance is good. | The EVGA card produces some noise during operation. |
| The 12GB VRAM is ample for future use. | Ray tracing performance is very weak. |
| It offers great theoretical value for the price. | There’s a significant disparity in performance compared to the RTX 3060 Ti. |
Check out the GeForce RTX 3060 on Amazon.
Best for Gaming: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
- 24GB GDDR6X Memory
- Capable of 7680p by 4320p max resolution
- Includes NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace
- 21,000MHz Memory clock speed
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is a performance beast and, therefore, the best for gaming. It’s the first model in Nvidia’s new 4000 series, a true powerhouse capable of handling any task you throw at it. This is the industry’s strongest GPU. It performs exceptionally well, with performance increases of up to 100% in select games according to synthetic benchmarks. The incorporated DLSS 3 could lead to the next gaming revolution when fully employed.
However, this GPU is more than what the majority of gamers require. The RTX 4090 is quite strong, which will appeal to creatives and 8K gamers. Ensure you have a reliable power source and a large enough enclosure to support it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The performance of this graphics card is astonishing. | 16-pin connector will put your knowledge of cable management to the test. |
| DLSS 3 incorporated into this card is a true game changer. | Although it performs well, it’s still quite pricey. |
| Creatives and 8K gamers will go crazy over it. |
Check out the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best Alternatives to the AMD RX 6600: Step by Step
The following are factors you should consider when choosing the best alternatives to the AMD RX 6600:
- Performance
- Price
- Gaming needs
Let’s look at these factors in more detail.
Performance
The easiest way to measure graphics card performance is to eliminate all other bottlenecks, or at least as many as possible. A good graphics card should seamlessly run your games. In fact, one of the first steps whenever you build or upgrade a PC, possibly with one of the top graphics cards, is to run a few tests on the graphics card. It is a terrific way to determine how much better things are due to the upgrade, and it also enables you to confirm that your new hardware is performing as intended.
Price
Price is also an essential factor when choosing a graphics card. Shop around for the best deals. You can get excellent cards at fair prices.
Gaming/Graphics Needs
You should also think about your graphics needs. If it isn’t strong enough to meet your everyday needs, you should not accept what you can afford right now. It would be best to wait a while and save money to buy the GPU that will work for you.
It’s crucial to consider factors like gaming preferences, screen resolution, and whether you value glitzy features such as ray tracing and DLSS. Consider specifications like Thermal Design Power (TDP), GPU size, GPU memory, and ports and power connectors.
What to Know Before Buying AMD RX 6600 Alternatives
The age-old debate over whether AMD or Nvidia makes the superior graphics card will never be resolved. The two GPU manufacturers are on similar footing, so what is best for you may not be best for someone else. Simply pick a card that suits your needs. Typically, Nvidia will have the advantage if you enjoy ray tracing, whereas AMD is superior for those on a tight budget.
Using the Best Alternative to the AMD RX 6600: What It’s Like
A graphics card helps the CPU calculate the motion of pixels, producing videos with a higher resolution and greater detail. High-end graphics cards display the common visuals you regularly use and perform all other responsibilities that have historically been theirs. Additionally, they render sophisticated 3D images for computer games in real-time. Plus, high-end graphics cards are essential for graphic designers as well.
Summary Table
| Alternative | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| RX 6650 XT | Power efficient, excellent 1080p performance, available below MSRP | Poor ray tracing performance, limited by 8GB VRAM and 128-bit bus |
| Radeon RX 7900 XTX | Great performance, works well with non-RT workloads, ample cache and VRAM | Expensive, starting at $1,000, unimpressive RT performance |
| Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | Stays cool, excellent 1080p performance, good ray tracing performance | Poorly designed 12-pin power connector, only basic 4K performance |
| GeForce RTX 3060 | Good 1040p and 1444p performance, ample 12GB VRAM, great value for the price | Noisy EVGA card, weak ray tracing performance, significant performance disparity compared to RTX 3060 Ti |
| Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 | Astonishing performance, DLSS 3 game changer, ideal for creatives and 8K gamers | Challenging 16-pin connector, pricey |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©AMD.
