The RX 6600 XT wasn’t a suitable option for anyone looking to grab a budget AMD GPU. But because Nvidia pushed Ti variants of their GPU lineup, AMD made a comparable move and released the RX 6950 XT, RX 6750 XT, and RX 6650 XT.
In this purchasing guide, we’ll evaluate different versions of the RX 6650 XT and determine the finest option available.
So, let’s plunge right into it to find the finest RX 6650 XT.
Table of ContentsShow
MSI Radeon RX 6650 XT Gaming X
Interface: 3 x Display Port, 1 x HDMIrnBoost Clock: 2694 MHzrnDimensions: L: 278 W:130 H: 51mm
The Pros:
- Quality feel and designrnSolid OCrnCool and quiet
The Cons:
- No game-changing disadvantages
MSI’s Gaming X cooling system is rather renowned for its attractive design, robust cooling, and overall decent value. So, will the MSI Radeon RX 6650 XT Gaming X offer a similar value?
Pricing
The RX 6650 XT is priced at $400, but there is no information on the cost of this Gaming X variant. So, taking into account the price increases we have witnessed before with other Gaming X GPUs, we estimate that this one will cost between $450 and $500
Design
The RX 6650 XT gets a dual fan setup while its design is comparable to previous iterations in other GPUs like the RTX 3070. Although the RTX 3070 got the “Trio” (three fans) treatment since it needed a better cooler.
The shroud is predominantly black, with a couple of shiny accents around the fans. In addition, users will get a bit of front-facing RGB and some RGB on the side. Overall, the material looks and feels premium.
There is no RGB on the backplate, but it is constructed of metal which we can appreciate.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
The reference RX 6650 XT boosts to 2635 MHz, while this MSI Gaming X advertises a peak clock of 2694 MHz.
When you push the card in real-world testing, standard clock speeds stay between 2650 to 2700 MHz, which is marginally faster than the reference card.
But, if you’re not satisfied with just 50 MHz over the reference card, get yourself the appropriate software to overclock this MSI RX 6650 XT because you can push it to 2800 MHz.
Thermals And Acoustics
Thermals look relatively decent here, even though it has only two fans. Fan speed sits around 1250 RPM, the temperature at 64 degrees Celsius, and noise levels at ~27 dBA. So that’s both cool and silent.
We imagine that MSI’s noise levels will stay relatively moderate even if you push for an aggressive OC.
Sapphire Radeon RX 6650 XT Nitro+
Interface: 3 x Display Port, 1 x HDMIrnBoost Clock: 2694 MHzrnDimensions: L: 260 W:130 H: 57mm
The Pros:
- Unique designrnExceptional coolingrnSubstantial overclock
The Cons:
- No apparent disadvantages
Expectations for Sapphire’s Radeon RX 6650 XT Nitro+ are quite elevated because the Nitro+ has not disappointed yet. It was even the Best Value option for the RX 6800 XT. It performs in all directions, so let’s see whether it holds up for this GPU as well.
Pricing
Like most of today’s aftermarket cards, an MSRP for the RX 6650 XT Nitro+ has not been released. So, we anticipate a price point near to $500.
Design
The Nitro+ could be one of our preferred designs. We adore this black and silver combination because we’re certain it will complement any build, even though it is on the heavier side.
RGB is not absent but is fairly muted, with just a bit of illumination on the side.
The backplate might be the best attribute of this card (design-wise).
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
In-game boost clock frequency sits around the advertised number, 2694 MHz. But, this Sapphire card is more than capable to provide extra power.
Overclocking can bring the Nitro+ up to 2950 MHZ, a 10% frequency boost. Not awful at all.
Thermals And Acoustics
We can estimate that this Sapphire GPU could remain silent and cool even with that 10% frequency overclock. Why? Well, at stock, noise levels stay at 30 dBA while temperature sits around 65 degrees Celsius.
Powercolor Radeon RX 6650 XT Hellhound Spectral White
Interface: 3 x Display Port, 1 x HDMIrnBoost Clock: 2689 MHzrnDimensions: L: 232 W:150.6 H:45 mm
The Pros:
- Exceptional designrnSolid overclock
The Cons:
- A bit louder and hotter than other options
Powercolor’s cooling setup has proved to be an exceptional alternative to other more well-known brands like Gigabyte, ASUS, etc.
But will this Powercolor Radeon RX 6650 XT Hellhound Spectral meet those expectations?
Let’s examine!
Pricing
Powercolor has not provided us with an MSRP like the other competitors in this article. However, projections put this card at around $500.
Design
White graphics cards that fit seamlessly in white PC builds are too scarce nowadays. So, this Hellhound Spectral card gets special praise from us.
And this is not any white GPU. The snow-white shroud is complemented by the transparent fans, white backplate, IO shield, and even PCB. Overall, an exceptional design.
Let’s examine if the performance matches the overall appearance.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
The Powercolor RX 6650 XT Hellhound Spectral is factory OC’d to 2689 MHz, and it remains there throughout intensive loads.
Nothing too remarkable, but if you bump up the sliders in MSI Afterburner, you may push this GPU’s boost clock up to 2930 MHz. So, a bit more slow than the Sapphire variant.
Thermals And Acoustics
At stock clocks, temperatures stay around 70 degrees Celsius. Lower than the other contenders, but nothing too serious. We imagine the extra 10 degrees from overclocking shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Noise levels ramp up to 34 dBA, so again, reduced to the Nitro+ and Gaming X.
ASUS Strix Radeon RX 6650 XT OC
Interface: 3 x Display Port, 1 x HDMIrnBoost Clock: 2694 MHzrnDimensions: L:281 W:135 H: 59 mm
The Pros:
- Coolest RX 6650 XTrnGreat overclocker
The Cons:
- Premium price
When looking at the top variants for any GPU, we usually end up with an ASUS Strix in the list because it typically doesn’t have any compromises. Except for one thing: cost.
So, let’s see if this ASUS Strix Radeon RX 6650 XT OC meets expectations.
Pricing
Just like Powercolor, Sapphire, and MSI, ASUS has not shared any information on the real MSRP of this Strix. But, based on Strix history, we can assume that this variant is the most costly RX 6650 XT.
So, expect a price closer to $500 or exceeding that.
Design
Design-wise, the Strix cooling system has not changed substantially over the years. However, it definitely seems distinctive with the metallic plastic shroud surrounding the two massive fans on the front.
Additionally, ASUS never disappoints with RGB, so you’ll get abundant amounts of that with this vibrant RX 6650 XT.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
The advertised factory overclock is 2694 MHz, just like some of the other cards on this list. Although in-game, it accelerates up over 2.7 GHz.
Overclocking is a bit of a complex bag. Even though this is a premium product, you probably won’t get more than 2900 MHz OC, but your mileage may vary.
Thermals And Acoustics
Temperature and noise level are where the STRIX OC prevails. During intense loads temperature sits around 55 degrees Celsius while keeping noise at 33 dBA.
Unquestionably the most amazing of the group!
Which RX 6650 XT Graphics Card Should You Buy?
Evidently, all of these GPUs are an outstanding choice, but which one is perfect for you?
Well, if you’re looking for a Best Premium choice, ASUS’ Radeon RX 6650 XT Strix OC is what you should opt for, considering its configuration and efficient cooling.
If you want to get excellent value for your money, choose the Sapphire Radeon RX 6650 XT Nitro+.
