I'm currently facing a dilemma with my GPU options. I've found a brand new AMD 6950 XT for $400, but the GPU market in my area is quite limited when it comes to AMD cards. The only AMD alternative I could find is a used MSI 6600 XT for $180. My experience with AMD hasn't been great since my 5700 XT died not long after I got it, so I'm a bit cautious. On the flip side, there are plenty of Nvidia GPUs available, both new and used, at various price points. I mainly game at 1080p, but I'm thinking about upgrading to 1440p. Given all this, I'm curious if there's a better Nvidia alternative around $400 compared to the 6950 XT, or if I should just go with the 6950 XT despite my past issues with AMD.
5 Answers
$400 for a 6950 XT is super cheap. Can't go wrong there!
If you're set on performance, you'd need to look at a 4070 or 5070 to match or beat the 6950 XT in pure rasterization, and good luck finding one for $400!
If you're sticking to around $400, maybe check out the 16GB 9060 XT, but keep in mind it's slower than the 6950 XT. Still, it could be worth it if price is the main concern.
A brand new 6950 XT for $400 is a steal! The nearest Nvidia options at that price would be a 5060 TI or a 3080. The 5060 TI is noticeably slower, and the 3080 comes with less VRAM, which is a downside.
I grabbed my 6950 XT for $450, and it opened up 4K gaming for me. Just a heads-up though, it can generate a ton of heat, especially under heavy load—you're talking jet engine levels of noise! For 1080p, it should be fine though.
I feel you! My 6900 XT was noisy too until I water-cooled it. It runs fine now, but the power usage can get high, especially with an Intel CPU onboard.
Yeah, but the 9060 XT's only real benefit is FSR4. It's not going to compete with the 6950 XT in performance.