Asus 6800 XT TUF Gaming Review, Power, Thermals, Overclocking & Gaming In a recent review by Hardware Unboxed, the Asus TUF Gaming RX 6800 XT was put under the microscope, showcasing its impressive power, thermal performance, and potential for overclocking. This graphics card has generated buzz, particularly given Asus’s efforts to improve their designs following earlier issues with the TUF Gaming series.
Key Features and Design
The Asus TUF Gaming RX 6800 XT stands out for its hefty construction, weighing 1727 grams—significantly heavier than its predecessor, the 5700 XT, by 80 grams. Its dimensions of 320mm long, 140mm tall, and 58mm wide categorize this as a triple-slot design, which could be a concern for smaller cases but signals a solid build quality. The card is aesthetically pleasing, featuring a durable aluminum fan shroud that avoids the use of plastic, enhancing its premium feel. Equipped with Asus's axial tech fans, the card's cooling system also includes a fan stop feature that activates when temperatures drop below 55°C. A full-length aluminum back plate further aids in heat dissipation and stability.
Cooling and Thermal Performance
The review emphasized the card's substantial heatsink, equipped with seven six-millimeter nickel-plated copper heat pipes that efficiently transfer heat. The thermal performance during testing revealed a peak temperature of 82 degrees Celsius for the hotspot and only 65 degrees for the edge, which is excellent compared to the AMD reference model. As for noise levels, even at maximum fan speeds of 1850 RPM, the card operates quietly, generating just 41 decibels—a commendable feat for such a powerful graphics card.
Performance and Overclocking
Under standard conditions, the TUF Gaming RX 6800 XT maintained a typical core clock speed of 2260 MHz, with power consumption peaking at 317 watts—an increase over the reference model. However, the review highlighted that overclocking potential is somewhat limited due to AMD's constraints. Manual overclocking showed promising results, achieving clock speeds of 2660 MHz and memory speeds of 17.1 Gbps.
Pricing and Availability
One of the most significant drawbacks noted in the review is the current market situation. The 6800 XT series is in high demand and low supply, leading to prices soaring well above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). For instance, the suggested price in Australia is around 1050 AUD, but many models are listed at 60% over MSRP due to stock shortages and high demand.
Conclusion
Overall, the Asus TUF Gaming RX 6800 XT impresses with its design, cooling efficiency, and overall performance. However, availability issues and elevated prices pose challenges for potential buyers, making it a hot topic in the gaming community. Those interested are encouraged to stay tuned for updates on stock situations, and the Hardware Unboxed community remains active in discussing alternatives and sharing insights on their experiences with high-end graphics cards. What are your thoughts on the TUF Gaming RX 6800 XT? Have you experienced any challenges obtaining high-performance GPUs recently? Let's discuss in the comments!
