Review AMD RX 5600XT Review Thread

[Hitman928]

Print Media

The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT Review, Feat. Sapphire Pulse: A New Challenger For Mainstream Gaming

www.anandtech.com

AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT im Test

Mit der Radeon RX 5600 XT platziert AMD eine Grafikkarte auf Augenhöhe zur Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060. Die Effizienz ist sehr hoch.

www.computerbase.de

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.computerbase.de/2020-01/radeon-rx-5600-xt-test/ [translated]

AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT Review: Look out, RTX 2060

1660 Ti-like pricing and better-than-2060 performance!

www.tomshardware.com

Video Reviews

From early reviews it seems like the 5600XT and Nvidia 2060 are basically tied both in performance and power consumption although GN's 12V rail power numbers and Anandtech's system power numbers don't agree, not sure why that is.

 

[Zstream]

I'm not sure what you're angling with this post. The only AMD card I currently have in service is an aging 290X in my basement PC.

I have very few driver issues, I also rarely post regarding them unless I can't trouble shoot itself myself.

What I've never done is post my experience as a defacto, ie "I'm not having issues so clearly there is nothing wrong" type of posts. If people want to pretend AMD is having no issues because it doesn't affect them, go for it. Stick your head in the sand. But what baffles me is then trying to accuse others of having bad faith when they do address issues. Even more baffling when AMD themselves are asking users for feedback because they are aware of the issues. That's some next level denial.

The summary I keep taking away from AMD "fans" is AMD is perfect, anyone having issues is clearly doing it wrong. With true fans like this, AMD has nothing to worry about.

No, what you're seeing is AMD being the cheaper, better cost/performance and noobies having no idea WTF they're doing. This also proves my point that you have no idea what you're talking about except reading random forum post and treating it as gospel, and decide to post on a forum stating that you know it to be true. Yes, that's bad faith and intentions. I choose to believe that both sides have very good drivers, and that's based on ownership.

 

[railven]

No, what you're seeing is AMD being the cheaper, better cost/performance

But this has been true for years. It isn't new or unexpected.

and noobies having no idea WTF they're doing.

Well, what did AMD and it's user base expect when they want to grow their userbase? Not everyone is going to have an 150 minimum IQ. So, again, true AMD fans are upset new AMD fans aren't 100% trouble shooting their issues and instead of trying to help they distance themselves are just throw them under the bus? Roger roger!

This also proves my point that you have no idea what you're talking about except reading random forum post and treating it as gospel, and decide to post on a forum stating that you know it to be true. Yes, that's bad faith and intentions. I choose to believe that both sides have very good drivers, and that's based on ownership.

Gospel? AMD themselves are asking for feedback to fix the issue. Why is this hard for people to understand? AMD themselves acknowledge the issues. AMD themselves are trying to fix the issues. AMD themselves are interacting with r/AMD to get as much info to fix the issues.

AMD is in the middle of this. And still people are reacting like this? This is gold! Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Dribble]

If AMD have problems - drivers/hw/whatever - the best thing we can do is rail on them about it so then they might do a better job next time. AMD fans trying to give AMD a free pass for problems is actually counter productive as it makes it more likely AMD will repeat the mistake. And repeating this mistake is something AMD keep doing - Polaris/Vega were exactly the same.

 

[guachi]

Oddly enough, browsing r/AMD it would seems AIB partners aren't doing AMD any favors either. No VRAM paddings, incorrect screws resulting in pockets and not proper surface contact, and XFX recalling their thicc boy cooler.

Due to money and timing I waited until last month to get my 5700XT and I'm glad I did. I watch HUB and Steve reviewed almost every 5700XT card and caught the horrible build quality of some of the cards. I ended up with a small (relatively) PowerColor Red Dragon for a mere $10 over reference and love it.

Re: the 5600XT launch - at least many of the cards seem to be using 5700 coolers so cards like the Pulse are overbuilt. But the launch is a prime example of too-cute-by-half segmentation. AMD targeted the 1660Ti, a card no one should buy as it's not even competitive with Nvidia's own cards. I can see why AMD just upped the output. It's not like it costs them anything whatsoever.

 

[Glo.]

MSI RX 5600 XT Gaming Z(new BIOS, with all the bells and whistles) - average gaming power draw - 140W;
Asus Radeon Strix 5600 XT - around 145W
Based on other reviews its easy to estimate that powerColor Red Dragon RX 5600 XT power draw is around 145W, either, and TPU's Review of it is on its way in upcoming days.

Sapphire Pulse with new BIOS - 160W average power draw.

The one GPU SKU from one particular brand is downplaying the overall, actual efficiency of this GPU.

RTX 2060 FE +5% Performance for 20$ less with around 20W lower power consumption on average, outside the Sapphire Pulse's model.

I have no idea how this can be a bad deal, and bad product.

 

[Glo.]

Due to money and timing I waited until last month to get my 5700XT and I'm glad I did. I watch HUB and Steve reviewed almost every 5700XT card and caught the horrible build quality of some of the cards. I ended up with a small (relatively) PowerColor Red Dragon for a mere $10 over reference and love it.

Re: the 5600XT launch - at least many of the cards seem to be using 5700 coolers so cards like the Pulse are overbuilt. But the launch is a prime example of too-cute-by-half segmentation. AMD targeted the 1660Ti, a card no one should buy as it's not even competitive with Nvidia's own cards. I can see why AMD just upped the output. It's not like it costs them anything whatsoever.

What temperatures do you get with your model? Im genuinely interested in PC's Red Dragon cooling solution, for RX 5600 XT.

 

[PhonakV30]

This launch is absurd.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This launch is absurd.

Which is, all too sadly, often par for the course, for AMD...


... but they do get better with age, get the bugs worked out in the drivers, "FineWine" and all that. Radeon Boost and integer display scaling are nice features.

 

[Stuka87]

If AMD have problems - drivers/hw/whatever - the best thing we can do is rail on them about it so then they might do a better job next time. AMD fans trying to give AMD a free pass for problems is actually counter productive as it makes it more likely AMD will repeat the mistake. And repeating this mistake is something AMD keep doing - Polaris/Vega were exactly the same.

Yet when nVidia has cards failing left and right (RTX Launch), it just got pushed aside.

I don't recall any launch issues with Polaris outside of bad thermals on reference blowers (Which should never be a surprise).

 

[tamz_msc]

Yet when nVidia has cards failing left and right (RTX Launch), it just got pushed aside.

I don't recall any launch issues with Polaris outside of bad thermals on reference blowers (Which should never be a surprise).

Excessive PCIe slot power draw on the RX 480 reference which got addressed by a BIOS update?

 

[AtenRa]

Excessive PCIe slot power draw on the RX 480 reference which got addressed by a BIOS update?

What affect did this had for the user ??? nothing

 

[Stuka87]

Excessive PCIe slot power draw on the RX 480 reference which got addressed by a BIOS update?

Ahh, yes, that skipped my mind (I bought a Nitro+ RX480, which is what I was using my memory of). But I would not consider that a botched release. It was a bit over the PCIe specifications, and it was good they fixed it. But there have been plenty of GPU's over the ages that draw more power than specifications allow (remember the 350+W dual GPU cards of yore?).

 

[Hitman928]

MSI RX 5600 XT Gaming Z(new BIOS, with all the bells and whistles) - average gaming power draw - 140W;
Asus Radeon Strix 5600 XT - around 145W
Based on other reviews its easy to estimate that powerColor Red Dragon RX 5600 XT power draw is around 145W, either, and TPU's Review of it is on its way in upcoming days.

Sapphire Pulse with new BIOS - 160W average power draw.

The one GPU SKU from one particular brand is downplaying the overall, actual efficiency of this GPU.

RTX 2060 FE +5% Performance for 20$ less with around 20W lower power consumption on average, outside the Sapphire Pulse's model.

I have no idea how this can be a bad deal, and bad product.

Toms reviewed the Sapphire Pulse (I've added the link to the front page) and found the Sapphire Pulse to average around 140 W during gaming while the 2060 drew a hair under 160 W average, so it seems like the Gamer's Nexus review is the odd man out in terms of power draw figures. Could be just that they tested 3dMark and furmark only and not games or maybe something was off in their config, I don't know.

 

[Arkaign]

I guess I'm wistful for some of the greater cards of yore. Grabbing a 9500 Pro and unlocking it to 9700, Ti4200 which you could get for a bargain and OC to basically flagship levels, 970 even despite the 3.5GB aspect was a superb deal in contrast to what we're presented with in this post Pascal era.

Nvidia clobbering everything with the 900/1000 series leading into toxic mining price issues has led to this bizarre place where AMD comes out with SKUs way later that are 'okay' but completely non-disruptive. Hell, it's been how long since 2060 came out, and prices have barely moved. AMD brings out an approximation of it with some minor plusses and minuses, and on a more advanced node and it's basically nothing to be thrilled with. I mean I was trying to help a buddy upgrade from an inferno of an RX580 for 1440p gaming, and the $300 price point was just shameful. We ended up getting an incredible 1080 that runs at about 15% better than FE performance here for the price, and it is flat out superior to the 5600/2060, with 8GB vs 6GB. And I've seen even better deals on some Vegas pass through, another stronger option in most cases.

Value wise, I think the 2060/5600 are $249 cards at best. I'm not applauding AMD for ever so slightly undercutting already greedy pricing from Nvidia. I understand it, corporations are not our friends, it's their job to maximize profits for their shareholders, and I'll never understand fans of these companies. Respect, yes. But the sports team like mentality baffles me.

 

[RetroZombie]

simply develop two VBIOSes, one "Performance", and one "Power-Efficient", and ship with BOTH, with a BIOS switch

Not a big fan of those, open the computer case to do the switch? Boring. Some software option like the eco mode in ryzen would be great.

 

[RetroZombie]

Do you even read your own graphs? There is no orange H.264 bar for the 5700 XT.

But I never took my eyes off the blue pill.

 

[Glo.]

Toms reviewed the Sapphire Pulse (I've added the link to the front page) and found the Sapphire Pulse to average around 140 W during gaming while the 2060 drew a hair under 160 W average, so it seems like the Gamer's Nexus review is the odd man out in terms of power draw figures. Could be just that they tested 3dMark and furmark only and not games or maybe something was off in their config, I don't know.

Something is wrong with Tom's power draw testing.

No way in hell RX 5700 draws the same amount of power, as RX 5600 XT, unless...

It is testing only the GPU die power draw, without the whole boards power draw.

What everybody else are reporting is whole board power.

And 140W of power draw for the GPU makes 100% sense with 160W whole board power, as everybody else is reporting.

 

[RetroZombie]

How about we keep things relevant? Here is Dishonored 1 where you can see the aggressive downclocking on the RX 5700.

Game engine with frame cap?
The game is barely graphically better than this very old game: Clive Barker's Undying from 2001...

 

[Zstream]

Something is wrong with Tom's power draw testing.

No way in hell RX 5700 draws the same amount of power, as RX 5600 XT, unless...

It is testing only the GPU die power draw, without the whole boards power draw.

What everybody else are reporting is whole board power.

And 140W of power draw for the GPU makes 100% sense with 160W whole board power, as everybody else is reporting.

You clearly failed to see this is a 5600XT vs 5600XT.

 

[GaiaHunter]

I had some problems running Guild Wars 2 with the 5700XT but since the adrenaline 2020 drivers performance increased substancially at 1080p and while the card downclocks it downclock to a way lesser extent (it used to drop to 7MHz and nows it drops to 800ish).

I generally just run it at VSR 4K where the GPU gets to the proper clocks.

 

[Tup3x]

Which is, all too sadly, often par for the course, for AMD...


... but they do get better with age, get the bugs worked out in the drivers, "FineWine" and all that. Radeon Boost and integer display scaling are nice features.

I didn't have enough patience with R9 290... Judging by Navi threads on various forums it looks like there's a way, way too many issues going on.

 

[Mopetar]

This launch is absurd.

I think it only looks that way from the perspective of people who follow technology and keep up with rumors, roadmaps, and other "inside baseball" information. To the people who don't look at this kind of information, this launch actually looks good.

The dirty secret is that in three months no one is going to care about the last minute driver updates or the posturing to respond to what NVidia was doing. But we're still going to be posting the benchmark results and the images from sites like TPU. And for a change those pictures are going to show that the AMD card is winning. And as time goes on people are going to lose track of other details and make comparisons like the $280 AMD card beating the $350 NVidia card because they just compare the launch MSRP without remembering that NVidia cut prices.

The other thing that I think people are overlooking is that driver complaints about AMD are nothing new. You can go back three years and look at a thread for a new AMD product and someone will be saying that it looks nice, but they don't want to deal with the driver problems. I don't think this hurts AMD any more than it has historically. If you're a consumer that knows about drivers then you've probably already got this opinion and factor it in to your purchase decisions. Everyone else isn't going to care, and that group probably outnumbers the group of people that post on tech forums and just like talking about all of the different products, rumors, etc.

So the launch comes off as a bit of the typical AMD slipshod that we've grown accustomed to as an informed audience, but the casual consumer who doesn't pay attention just sees charts where AMD has bigger bars this time around. That's a good launch.

 

[Glo.]

You clearly failed to see this is a 5600XT vs 5600XT.

And you failed to understand simple sentence:

There is something wrong with Tom's reporting, EVERYBODY else is reporting 160W of power, for Sapphire Pulse.

 

[Stuka87]

And you failed to understand simple sentence:

There is something wrong with Tom's reporting, EVERYBODY else is reporting 160W of power, for Sapphire Pulse.

Could be Tom's only tested the lower power vBIOS and everybody else tested both/Performance vBIOS.

 

[Hitman928]

Could be Tom's only tested the lower power vBIOS and everybody else tested both/Performance vBIOS.

Maybe, but then the performance numbers wouldn't add up as they had the 5600XT outperforming the 2060 in most cases.