Asus ROG Strix Radeon RX 6700 XT OC Gaming Review: Way Better Than The 5700 XT Version In the world of graphics cards, the Asus ROG Strix Radeon RX 6700 XT OC Gaming edition is making quite a splash, especially when compared to its predecessor, the 5700 XT. This comprehensive review dives deeply into the specifications, performance benchmarks, and overall value of the 6700 XT, offering insights that can help potential buyers make informed decisions.
Initial Impressions and Design
The RX 6700 XT OC Gaming comes with a hefty price tag, around $800 (given a 73% premium over its $480 MSRP), raising eyebrows among savvy gamers. The design is bold and aggressive, resembling the popular GeForce 30 series Strix models with an industrial-themed fan shroud adorned with silver aluminum trims. It features three 90mm Axial Tech fans, which use a counter-clockwise spin direction to minimize turbulence, ensuring efficient cooling.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 322 mm in length, 141 mm in height, and occupies 2.9 slots.
- Weight: Approximately 1662 grams, significantly heavier than the AMD reference card.
Cooling and Thermal Performance
Asus has apparently learned from past mistakes, which adds to the credibility of this release. The card boasts a solid backplate with an opening for airflow, contributing to effective cooling. Interestingly, it also features a fan stop mode that kicks in below 55 degrees Celsius, enhancing thermal management. The structure includes an elaborate aluminum brace, ensuring that the PCB remains stable under load while doubling as a heat sink for important components like the VRM and inductors. Benchmarks show that this card maintains a peak temperature of just 73 degrees, making it one of the coolest running models tested, though this is under a higher fan speed.
Benchmark Results
The performance metrics reveal that the RX 6700 XT, across a variety of demanding games, tends to exhibit negligible performance variances—typically within a 3 fps margin—when compared with other 6700 XT cards. This consistency means that the choice between models largely comes down to features and pricing rather than raw performance.
Pricing Concerns
While the card delivers on quality, the pricing remains a major sticking point. With prices inflated due to demand and limited availability, the suggestion to look elsewhere or wait for better prices becomes a strong recommendation. In some locales, alternatives like the Power Color Red Devil OC are significantly cheaper while still offering competitive performance, making them a more sensible choice, especially in markets plagued by soaring costs.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Asus ROG Strix Radeon RX 6700 XT OC Gaming model boasts impressive cooling and build quality, positioning it as one of the best graphics cards in its category. However, prospective buyers should carefully consider the current market landscape before committing to a purchase, particularly given the inflated prices. If available at a reasonable price, this model could be an excellent addition to any gamer's setup.
What do you think about the pricing of the RX 6700 XT? Have you encountered similar pricing issues with other components lately? Let’s discuss your thoughts!