AMD Radeon RX 6800 and RX 6800 XT Unboxing

[swirl09]

Likewise, my monitor was AU$1400. Don't think for one second it will stop me buying an AMD card if they prove to be good.

My GPU was in the mail when AMD lifted the curtain, but tbh I dont want to live without VRR. If AMD keep it up tho, perhaps next gen a change in monitor might be on the upgrade list ^_^

 

[Athlonite]

This July? Then I'd advise to check with the manufacturer and ask if the G-sync module is compatible with Freesync. Iirc monitors released after Nvidia opened up G-sync module monitors to AMD cards (almost a year ago) might just work. Or maybe it was only for new models.

you may find that it's the other way round nVidia opened up their GPU's to use freesync or the adaptive Sync spec

 

[wolf]

Eagerly waiting for this review, there's so much to digest here. Personally I feel the 6800XT will by and large live up to the promise and be a rough match for a 3080 where they trade blows depending on the title. What I am not so optimistic about is temps and acoustics, no doubt better than the 5700 series, but Ampere really raised the reference design bar, and from what we gather the majority of 6800 series cards sold will be reference as AMD relies on it's partners to sell it's reference design. The couple of non-reference ones we've had teased I have do doubts will be excellent and follow the 2020 trend with the shorter pcb/overhanging cooler that flows through and have excellent thermal and acoustic performance, so if the performance is there, they would be the ones to get, personally.

 

[Sybaris_Caesar]

This has been implemented now, you should have received a notification for the Lexar SSD review. Please confirm

Yep, got it. Thanks.

you may find that it's the other way round nVidia opened up their GPU's to use freesync or the adaptive Sync spec

Did anybody read the link I posted?
On January 2019, Nvidia started supporting Freesync monitors as G-sync Compatible.
On September 2019, Acer refreshed their X27P with support for HDMI VRR. Previously G-sync only workworkeworkworke over DisplayPort.
On November 2019, Acer released XB273 X which supported HDMI VRR and Adaptive-sync over DP. Or basically Freesync. TFTCentral reached out tp Nvidia and Nvidia confirmed it.

I get it, Nvidia didn't advertise it loudly as they usually do but monitor nerds like me who are keeping an eye on this space noticed it.
Ultimately Nvidia understood that the sail was working against them. Monitor brands who also make panels weren't going to split profit with Nvidia. Look at LG GL850 and Samsung Odyssey G-series. And LG and Samsung no way in hell would put a $200 module on their TVs which only worked over a port with almost no industry support.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

I'm a whore for triple fan GPUs, not gonna lie, and both these cards look great IMHO. I'm a bit bummed that the 6800's RADEON logo doesn't light up, but it is what it is. Great looking GPUs. Can't wait for the reviews!

 

[sk8er]

Hoping the same about the logo, 6800 perfect in size, 2 slots not more. If i can have it booth at near release date (i need to feel it in my hands while smiling staring at both cards) then i could decide which one i want to keep xD

 

[Totally]

You can run 3 DP monitors, just get a cheap type-C-to-DP adapter. $15 gets you a perfectly decent one, and functionality-wise it'll be indistinguishable from a native DP port. Besides, saying that 3xDP setups are more common than dual HDMI setups? I don't know what world you live in, but the vast majority of PC users aren't that rich. Most multi-monitor setups are people who have bought a newer/better monitor and kept their old one, and no matter how crazy it is, HDMI monitors are still more common than DP monitors despite DP being both free and arguably better - and that has been true for a decade or more. There are also quite a few people with HDMI monitors + a HDMI TV nearby that they'd like the option to connect to. Of course, the $15 adapter argument works just as well with them, hence my ultimate point being that single-row I/O on GPUs is a feature, not a bug.

It's besides the point but I have to call bull on that bit right there, you'd be extremely hard pressed to find a monitor that has an HDMI input and lacks a DP input that has a higher res than 1080p@60hz. You're arguing that that PC users aren't made of money but have it in reserve to blow on a $600+ card to run their 1080p setup? Even in the nonexistent case there is a monitor with a greater res there would be DVI and a $1 DP to DVI adapter makes it an non-issue.

 

[Valantar]

It's besides the point but I have to call bull on that bit right there, you'd be extremely hard pressed to find a monitor that has an HDMI input and lacks a DP input that has a higher res than 1080p@60hz. You're arguing that that PC users aren't made of money but have it in reserve to blow on a $600+ card to run their 1080p setup? Even in the nonexistent case there is a monitor with a greater res there would be DVI and a $1 DP to DVI adapter makes it an non-issue.

You're right that chances are low of someone on a low budget buying these GPUs, but it's not unheard of - the GPU is what users are most likely to splurge on, after all. And even besides that, a lot of people keep old monitors around as secondary monitors even if they currently can afford much better stuff. At least I've seen tons of setups where people have some old monitor next to their new high resolution/high refresh rate monitor. As for these monitors having DVI: not (even close to) all do, especially with cheap monitors from the last 5 years or so, but even then IMO most users are more likely to use HDMI than DVI, both for convenience (thinner cables, easier to use connectors) and convenience/familiarity (known connector standard from TVs, less of a barrier to entry, more likely that you have a spare cable lying around). As for being hard pressed finding a >1080p60 monitor lacking DP: that might be true now, but you really shouldn't discount the prevalence of cheap 75Hz HDMI-only FreeSync displays. Taking a quick look at Newegg, looking at ~24" monitors with refresh rates at or above 75Hz, there are 145 with HDMI and 110 with DP. Not a huge difference by any means, but it's there - and for the cheaper of monitors even with DP, it's more likely they'll include a HDMI cable (as despite DP being royalty free, economics of scale means HDMI cables are much cheaper), which again means that port is much more likely to get used.

 

[Sybaris_Caesar]

I'm a whore for triple fan GPUs, not gonna lie, and both these cards look great IMHO. I'm a bit bummed that the 6800's RADEON logo doesn't light up, but it is what it is. Great looking GPUs. Can't wait for the reviews!

Hoping the same about the logo, 6800 perfect in size, 2 slots not more. If i can have it booth at near release date (i need to feel it in my hands while smiling staring at both cards) then i could decide which one i want to keep xD

@Wizzard, might wanna double-check. Hexus and PCWorld both say both cards are backlit.

 

[ratirt]

One of those will probably be my card . Wonder what will the difference be when paired with 5000 series CPU. The other question is, will all 5000 series CPU exhibit the same game performance boost when paired with 6000 series card. Maybe the better the CPU the better the boost? Kinda interesting.

 

[W1zzard]

@Wizzard, might wanna double-check. Hexus and PCWorld both say both cards are backlit.

Correct, it lights up on both cards

 

[seth1911]

So your problem with amd is that they wont support older oses
I mean just update i have never had a problem with amds drivers on there desktop cards

U know a Fire Pro is a professional Card ?

Sure i bought it for about 1400 Euro with 5 Years support, after 2 and a half year they skip the support for Windows Server 2012.
Yeah update an Windows Server 2012 to 2019 just for Free, u seriously??

 

[ratirt]

U know a Fire Pro is a professional Card ?

Sure i bought it for about 1400 Euro with 5 Years support, after 2 and a half year they skip the support for Windows Server 2012.
Yeah update an Windows Server 2012 to 2019 just for Free, u seriously??

Because Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 2012. You still have had support for the card but not with the software that was already EOL.
Which FirePro did you have BTW?

 

[Harbear]

When does the performance review embargo lift for this?

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

U know a Fire Pro is a professional Card ?

Sure i bought it for about 1400 Euro with 5 Years support, after 2 and a half year they skip the support for Windows Server 2012.
Yeah update an Windows Server 2012 to 2019 just for Free, u seriously??

Who gives a shit, relevance = Zero , that was then take your petty hate to your own moan thread.
Pro card 7 years old in a server environment that's EOL verses consumer card on a modern OS =Zero relevance just for clarity.

And just who is supposed to care what you will or for that matter I will or won't buy?! Neither of us is retail king we don't decide others buying patterns.

Roll on reviews and something tangible to argue about.

 

[Athlonite]

When does the performance review embargo lift for this?

18/11/2020 so today for me tomorrow for you lot that're -12hrs behind

Also for me n me ozzie mates here's the pricing hot from AMD

Radeon RX 6800XT starting from $1049 AUD / $1159 NZD
Radeon RX 6800 starting from $949 AUD / $1049 NZD

The F@ck AMD that's alot more expensive than my RX 5700 @ $686NZD vs $1049 for the RX 6800

 

[ratirt]

18/11/2020 so today for me tomorrow for you lot that're -12hrs behind

Also for me n me ozzie mates here's the pricing hot from AMD

Radeon RX 6800XT starting from $1049 AUD / $1159 NZD
Radeon RX 6800 starting from $949 AUD / $1049 NZD

The F@ck AMD that's alot more expensive than my RX 5700 @ $686NZD vs $1049 for the RX 6800

Holly crap. You guys in New Zealand and Australia are so damn screwed always. $1159 NZD is like $800. Hope the prices will drop and I wonder what would the price be for these in my area.

 

[phill]

Very much looking forward to the review @W1zzard

Very daft question, are you going to be able to do any Crossfire reviews at all?? Just asking for a friend....

 

[W1zzard]

Crossfire

CrossFire and SLI are dead

 

[Athlonite]

Well so much for it not being a paper launch in my country I can order one but dog knows how long the wait time will be to actually get one in my hands as there's none in stock anywhere in Gougelandastan but atleast they're sticking to AMD's MSRP the RX6800 is going for $1049 Gougelandastani bucks

Holly crap. You guys in New Zealand and Australia are so damn screwed always. $1159 NZD is like $800. Hope the prices will drop and I wonder what would the price be for these in my area.

it works to be 600.66 duckits for you eurostani's

 

[lexluthermiester]

Four outputs is plenty, and the selection on offer here seems very well done.

Oh my no, have to disagree here. I would prefer two HDMI's rather than two Displayports. And USB-C? WTH?

CrossFire and SLI are dead

Shame really. So much potential lost...

 

[W1zzard]

And USB-C? WTH?

Everyone assumed VR would take off big, AMD had to decide the board design a long time ago, so they bet on on VR

 

[lexluthermiester]

Everyone assumed VR would take off big, AMD had to decide the board design a long time ago, so they bet on on VR

Ah, right! I was just thinking DP-over-USB. That makes a lot of sense now!

 

[Valantar]

Ah, right! I was just thinking DP-over-USB. That makes a lot of sense now!

It's also very welcome for the SFF crowd, as it (finally!) let's you use a travel-friendly desktop PC with a portable USB-C monitor, letting the notoriously unreliable micro and mini HDMI die the slow death they both deserve.

Beyond that, I can agree that an extra HDMI has value, but as I said above, getting a Type-C-to-HDMI adapter is cheap and easy. It can of course be argued that this shouldn't be necessary on a $650 GPU, but IMO single-slot I/O far beats going dongle-less. Besides, a dongle like that will be useful for a long, long time with a lot of devices.

Of course it's also great for connecting USB-C desktop monitors with included USB hubs etc.

 

[lexluthermiester]

getting a Type-C-to-HDMI adapter is cheap and easy.

While true, that adds more latency than a DP to HDMI cable..