AMD Radeon RX 6600 | Review
The Radeon RX 6600 has a difficult task: to match Nvidia's RTX 3060, at least in classic rasterization. We now know that the ray tracing performances of the new RX 6000 are not at the levels of the RTX 30, however in rasterization the challenge is more interesting, with AMD cards performing better in some games and worse in others. During the presentation, AMD stated that the Radeon RX 6600 offers similar performance to the Nvidia card, but consumes less: with a TGP of 132W, the newcomer can be inserted in configurations that take advantage of a power supply of only 450W. We will see in the test phase if the card really consumes so little and if, indeed, it can compete with the RTX 3060.
To get the better of this "duel", AMD has equipped the RX 6600 with 8GB of GDDDR6 memory on a 128-bit interface, for a bandwidth of 224 GB / s, and 28 Compute Units, for a total of 1792 Stream Processors capable of reaching a maximum frequency of 2044 MHz in game (Game Clock) and of 2491 MHz in boost (Boost Clock). The heart of the Radeon RX 6600 is obviously based on the latest RDNA 2 architecture at 7 nm and has 11.1 billion transistors, on an area of 237 mm². The video card integrates all the new generation features introduced with the RX 6000 family, supports ray tracing (there are 28 ray accelerators), AMD Infinity Cache (32MB), Smart Access Memory and even the recent FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).
As happened with the Radeon RX 6600 XT, even in this case AMD has inserted only 8GB of video memory, a choice that may raise some doubts since, previously, the same company declared as 8GB they are not enough for modern games. The explanation of this choice is actually quite simple: as mentioned in the review of the older sister, at Full HD resolution even the most recent triple A do not require large amounts of VRAM; therefore, 8GB is more than enough to play in 1080p at maximum details without worry.
The Radeon RX 6600 does not have a Reference model, so for the review we received an AIB version. The customization we have in our hands is the Sapphire Pulse, two-fan and very compact: it occupies 2 slots and measures only 194 x 107 x 37 mm. The card incorporates the classic lines of the Pulse models, with a completely black body and backplate, with some red details and no RGB LEDs. The power supply is entrusted to a single 8-pin connector, while the port equipment offers three DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.1. The Sapphire Pulse follows the technical specifications described above, however Sapphire recommends the use of a power supply of at least 500W, unlike what AMD claims.
Performance
To measure the performance of the Radeon RX 6600 we used our typical test suite, with DX11, DX12 and Vulkan games. We compared the newcomer with old and new generation mid and medium-high range models, in order to understand both where the video card is positioned in the current market, and how it behaves compared to the models of past years. All tests were performed on a test platform with AMD Ryzen 9 5900X processor, G.Skill DDR4-3200 CL14 RAM, Noctua NH-D15 heatsink and X570 chipset-based motherboard. As for the operating system we relied on the latest available version of Windows 10, while for the drivers we used version 21.30.17.06 for AMD and version 496.13 for Nvidia.Metro Exodus
In Metro Exodus we use the built-in benchmark, set the Ultra quality preset and disable Nvidia PhysX and Hairworks. At QHD resolution the RX 6600 achieves results in line with those of the RX 5700, placing in the last positions of our ranking and a handful of FPS behind the RTX 3060; the same happens in Full HD, where, however, the difference with the RTX 3060 is reduced and is around 6%. In tests with active RT the distance between the two cards increases significantly, with the RX 6600 being 32% worse than the RTX 3060 in QHD and 27% worse in FHD. Control In Control we play a section of the game following a predetermined path, as there is no internal benchmark tool. With graphics details to the maximum the Radeon RX 6600 struggles a lot and, in 1440p, it records a framerate 30% lower than the old RX 5700. In 1080p the situation improves slightly, but the newcomer from AMD still remains the rear. , with performance 18% lower than the RTX 3060. With the RT active, the gap with the Nvidia card reaches 40%.
Watch Dogs Legion
In Watch Dogs Legion we use the integrated benchmark by selecting the Ultra graphic preset. Here the Radeon RX 6600 does better, lagging behind the RTX 3060 by only 5% in Full HD, a difference equivalent to just 3 FPS. The RX 6600 achieves an average framerate of 59 FPS; therefore, the title is playable without too many problems even with the graphic details to the maximum.
Far Cry 6
We have also introduced Far Cry 6 in our test suite, the last chapter of the saga released a few days ago. For benchmarks we use the built-in tool, selecting the heaviest graphics preset. For tests with active RT we select "Yes" on the two options "Reflections DXR" and "Shadows DXR", while for FidelityFX Super Resolution we choose the "Ultra Quality" setting, the one that gives priority to graphic detail.
Far Cry 6 is one of the titles where the RX 6600 performs best, even managing to outperform the RTX 3060 by 5% in classic rasterization. By activating ray tracing and FSR, the scenario returns in Nvidia's favor, with the Radeon RX 6600 falling behind by 15% in Quad HD and 10% in Full HD.
F1 2020 In F1 2020 we use the integrated benchmark, selecting the “very high” graphic preset, TAA antialiasing, Monaco circuit and heavy rain weather conditions. The Radeon RX 6600 achieves excellent framerates in both QHD and FHD, but still falls short of both the RTX 3060 and the RX 5700.
Doom Eternal
In Doom Eternal we follow a predetermined path, exactly like in Control, since there is no internal benchmark tool. Also in this case the Radeon RX 6600 allows you to play without problems at maximum details, reaching 112 FPS in 1440p and 167 FPS in 1080p, surpassing in the latter case the old RX 5700 but still remaining behind the RTX 3060.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
In Microsoft Flight Simulator we load a pre-established flight scenario and let the artificial intelligence guide the plane, in order to create a situation that is as replicable as possible. The RX 6600 reaches 30 FPS in Quad HD and 45 FPS in Full HD, ensuring an enjoyable gaming experience for the type of title in question. the RTX 3060 is confirmed even in this case superior, with a better performance of over 20%.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
In Assassin's Creed Valhalla we use the integrated benchmark, also selecting in this case the highest quality available. The predilection for Radeon GPUs that characterizes the latest chapter of the Ubisoft saga is also confirmed in these tests: the RX 6600 equals the RTX 3060 in Quad HD and exceeds it by 10% in Full HD, where it reaches an average 71 FPS.
Forza Horizon 4
In Forza Horizon 4 we set the “Ultra” preset and use the internal benchmark to measure the card's performance. Here too the RX 6600 performs well, reaching an average 112 FPS in Quad HD and 142 FPS in Full HD, but it falls behind the RTX 3060 by 5% in FHD and 8% in QHD.
Horizon Zero Dawn
We close with Horizon Zero Dawn, another game in which we use the integrated test to evaluate performance. Here the difference between the Nvidia and AMD cards returns to be more marked, with the Radeon RX 6600 falling behind the RTX 3060 by 20% in Quad HD and 18% in Full HD. The performance of the AMD card is still sufficient to play without problems, as it reaches 60 FPS in 1440p and 80 FPS in 1080p.
Power consumption, temperature and noise
To measure the temperature , The noise and power consumption at full load of the video cards we decided to run a benchmark loop of Metro Exodus at 4K resolution, in order to simulate a game session and have real data on which to base our evaluations. To detect the temperature values we relied on GPU-Z, while for consumption we used Nvidia PCAT, an instrument consisting of a PCIe card and a board to which 8-pin cables can be connected that allows you to accurately measure the power absorbed by the Video Card. Using Nvidia PCAT allows us to record the real consumption even of the AMD Radeon cards, which through GPU-Z provide only the watts absorbed by the chip.
Consumption
During our stress test, the Radeon RX 6600 never went beyond 100W absorbed. Not only is it the least power-hungry of the video cards tested, it is also much more efficient than the RTX 3060: compared to 23% lower performance (on average) in QHD and 12% in FHD, the Radeon RX 6600 consumes 42% in less.
Temperature
To measure the temperature, we relied on the OCCT software. The Radeon RX 6600 at idle settles around 37 ° C, while under stress it reaches a maximum of 67 ° C, a sign that it has a cooling system suitable for the type of GPU. The RTX 3060 is 5 ° C cooler, but is equipped with a cooling system with three fans.
Noise
To measure the noise we have positioned the sound level meter 15cm from the center of the board, in a perfectly perpendicular position. The values obtained are not absolute, as we have not carried out our measurements inside an anechoic chamber, but they help us understand how noisy the board is compared to the others we have tried. With a maximum noise level of 39.7 dB, the RX 6600 is the quietest card we've tested so far.
Verdict
With the Radeon RX 6600, AMD wants to offer a card with similar performance to the RTX 3060, but more efficient in terms of energy consumption. While it is true that the card is actually more efficient than the RTX 3060, it is not equally true that it offers the same performance: the scenario can change according to the games that are examined, but our tests show that, in fact , The RX 6600 is on average 12% worse in Full HD. The newcomer from AMD still manages to reach framerates such as to allow you to play in 1080p at maximum details without ray tracing, exceeding 60 FPS in most of the titles tested; however, it is not at the levels of Nvidia's current "entry level".
This scenario could open the door to a consideration: "What if the card doesn't have to be compared to the RTX 3060?" . If this were the case, the RX 6600 would be positioned in a currently empty market segment, awaiting the arrival of a potential RTX 3050 or the rumored 12GB RTX 2060. From this point of view, the performances could be very respectable, especially considering that we are talking about a segment where the price of the cards should settle between 250 and 300 euros at most, at least under normal conditions.
Unfortunately, even in a situation like this the Radeon RX 6600 would have difficulties, this time not for the performance offered, but for its selling price. We don't know in detail how much the Sapphire Pulse model we tested will cost, but AMD has informed us that the Radeon RX 6600 will be available starting at $ 329, practically the same price as the RTX 3060. Considered in the scenario just described, the RX 6600 would be a card with excellent performances, but with too high a cost that would place it a higher range.
In conclusion, this Radeon RX 6600 is a card difficult to evaluate and that does not completely convince us: consumption energy are first in the class and the performance is good for those who want to play in Full HD the triple A of the moment without compromise. However, for what is offered the starting price, in our opinion, is too high. Also taking into account the current market situation, the lucky few who manage to find an available RX 6600 will pay no less than 500 euros, a truly exaggerated figure for the performance offered. As always, our advice is to wait for the situation to return to normal, even if it will still take several months; once the market has stabilized and prices have dropped you can make the appropriate assessments, but you will hardly find a reason to prefer this RX 6600 to the RTX 3060.
Watch Dogs Legion
In Watch Dogs Legion we use the integrated benchmark by selecting the Ultra graphic preset. Here the Radeon RX 6600 does better, lagging behind the RTX 3060 by only 5% in Full HD, a difference equivalent to just 3 FPS. The RX 6600 achieves an average framerate of 59 FPS; therefore, the title is playable without too many problems even with the graphic details to the maximum.Far Cry 6
We have also introduced Far Cry 6 in our test suite, the last chapter of the saga released a few days ago. For benchmarks we use the built-in tool, selecting the heaviest graphics preset. For tests with active RT we select "Yes" on the two options "Reflections DXR" and "Shadows DXR", while for FidelityFX Super Resolution we choose the "Ultra Quality" setting, the one that gives priority to graphic detail.Far Cry 6 is one of the titles where the RX 6600 performs best, even managing to outperform the RTX 3060 by 5% in classic rasterization. By activating ray tracing and FSR, the scenario returns in Nvidia's favor, with the Radeon RX 6600 falling behind by 15% in Quad HD and 10% in Full HD.
F1 2020 In F1 2020 we use the integrated benchmark, selecting the “very high” graphic preset, TAA antialiasing, Monaco circuit and heavy rain weather conditions. The Radeon RX 6600 achieves excellent framerates in both QHD and FHD, but still falls short of both the RTX 3060 and the RX 5700.
Doom Eternal
In Doom Eternal we follow a predetermined path, exactly like in Control, since there is no internal benchmark tool. Also in this case the Radeon RX 6600 allows you to play without problems at maximum details, reaching 112 FPS in 1440p and 167 FPS in 1080p, surpassing in the latter case the old RX 5700 but still remaining behind the RTX 3060.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
In Microsoft Flight Simulator we load a pre-established flight scenario and let the artificial intelligence guide the plane, in order to create a situation that is as replicable as possible. The RX 6600 reaches 30 FPS in Quad HD and 45 FPS in Full HD, ensuring an enjoyable gaming experience for the type of title in question. the RTX 3060 is confirmed even in this case superior, with a better performance of over 20%.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
In Assassin's Creed Valhalla we use the integrated benchmark, also selecting in this case the highest quality available. The predilection for Radeon GPUs that characterizes the latest chapter of the Ubisoft saga is also confirmed in these tests: the RX 6600 equals the RTX 3060 in Quad HD and exceeds it by 10% in Full HD, where it reaches an average 71 FPS.
Forza Horizon 4
In Forza Horizon 4 we set the “Ultra” preset and use the internal benchmark to measure the card's performance. Here too the RX 6600 performs well, reaching an average 112 FPS in Quad HD and 142 FPS in Full HD, but it falls behind the RTX 3060 by 5% in FHD and 8% in QHD.
Horizon Zero Dawn
We close with Horizon Zero Dawn, another game in which we use the integrated test to evaluate performance. Here the difference between the Nvidia and AMD cards returns to be more marked, with the Radeon RX 6600 falling behind the RTX 3060 by 20% in Quad HD and 18% in Full HD. The performance of the AMD card is still sufficient to play without problems, as it reaches 60 FPS in 1440p and 80 FPS in 1080p.
Power consumption, temperature and noise
To measure the temperature , The noise and power consumption at full load of the video cards we decided to run a benchmark loop of Metro Exodus at 4K resolution, in order to simulate a game session and have real data on which to base our evaluations. To detect the temperature values we relied on GPU-Z, while for consumption we used Nvidia PCAT, an instrument consisting of a PCIe card and a board to which 8-pin cables can be connected that allows you to accurately measure the power absorbed by the Video Card. Using Nvidia PCAT allows us to record the real consumption even of the AMD Radeon cards, which through GPU-Z provide only the watts absorbed by the chip.
Consumption
During our stress test, the Radeon RX 6600 never went beyond 100W absorbed. Not only is it the least power-hungry of the video cards tested, it is also much more efficient than the RTX 3060: compared to 23% lower performance (on average) in QHD and 12% in FHD, the Radeon RX 6600 consumes 42% in less.
Temperature
To measure the temperature, we relied on the OCCT software. The Radeon RX 6600 at idle settles around 37 ° C, while under stress it reaches a maximum of 67 ° C, a sign that it has a cooling system suitable for the type of GPU. The RTX 3060 is 5 ° C cooler, but is equipped with a cooling system with three fans.
Noise
To measure the noise we have positioned the sound level meter 15cm from the center of the board, in a perfectly perpendicular position. The values obtained are not absolute, as we have not carried out our measurements inside an anechoic chamber, but they help us understand how noisy the board is compared to the others we have tried. With a maximum noise level of 39.7 dB, the RX 6600 is the quietest card we've tested so far.
Verdict
With the Radeon RX 6600, AMD wants to offer a card with similar performance to the RTX 3060, but more efficient in terms of energy consumption. While it is true that the card is actually more efficient than the RTX 3060, it is not equally true that it offers the same performance: the scenario can change according to the games that are examined, but our tests show that, in fact , The RX 6600 is on average 12% worse in Full HD. The newcomer from AMD still manages to reach framerates such as to allow you to play in 1080p at maximum details without ray tracing, exceeding 60 FPS in most of the titles tested; however, it is not at the levels of Nvidia's current "entry level".
This scenario could open the door to a consideration: "What if the card doesn't have to be compared to the RTX 3060?" . If this were the case, the RX 6600 would be positioned in a currently empty market segment, awaiting the arrival of a potential RTX 3050 or the rumored 12GB RTX 2060. From this point of view, the performances could be very respectable, especially considering that we are talking about a segment where the price of the cards should settle between 250 and 300 euros at most, at least under normal conditions.
Unfortunately, even in a situation like this the Radeon RX 6600 would have difficulties, this time not for the performance offered, but for its selling price. We don't know in detail how much the Sapphire Pulse model we tested will cost, but AMD has informed us that the Radeon RX 6600 will be available starting at $ 329, practically the same price as the RTX 3060. Considered in the scenario just described, the RX 6600 would be a card with excellent performances, but with too high a cost that would place it a higher range.
In conclusion, this Radeon RX 6600 is a card difficult to evaluate and that does not completely convince us: consumption energy are first in the class and the performance is good for those who want to play in Full HD the triple A of the moment without compromise. However, for what is offered the starting price, in our opinion, is too high. Also taking into account the current market situation, the lucky few who manage to find an available RX 6600 will pay no less than 500 euros, a truly exaggerated figure for the performance offered. As always, our advice is to wait for the situation to return to normal, even if it will still take several months; once the market has stabilized and prices have dropped you can make the appropriate assessments, but you will hardly find a reason to prefer this RX 6600 to the RTX 3060.
Doom Eternal
In Doom Eternal we follow a predetermined path, exactly like in Control, since there is no internal benchmark tool. Also in this case the Radeon RX 6600 allows you to play without problems at maximum details, reaching 112 FPS in 1440p and 167 FPS in 1080p, surpassing in the latter case the old RX 5700 but still remaining behind the RTX 3060.Microsoft Flight Simulator
In Microsoft Flight Simulator we load a pre-established flight scenario and let the artificial intelligence guide the plane, in order to create a situation that is as replicable as possible. The RX 6600 reaches 30 FPS in Quad HD and 45 FPS in Full HD, ensuring an enjoyable gaming experience for the type of title in question. the RTX 3060 is confirmed even in this case superior, with a better performance of over 20%.Assassin's Creed Valhalla
In Assassin's Creed Valhalla we use the integrated benchmark, also selecting in this case the highest quality available. The predilection for Radeon GPUs that characterizes the latest chapter of the Ubisoft saga is also confirmed in these tests: the RX 6600 equals the RTX 3060 in Quad HD and exceeds it by 10% in Full HD, where it reaches an average 71 FPS.Forza Horizon 4
In Forza Horizon 4 we set the “Ultra” preset and use the internal benchmark to measure the card's performance. Here too the RX 6600 performs well, reaching an average 112 FPS in Quad HD and 142 FPS in Full HD, but it falls behind the RTX 3060 by 5% in FHD and 8% in QHD.Horizon Zero Dawn
We close with Horizon Zero Dawn, another game in which we use the integrated test to evaluate performance. Here the difference between the Nvidia and AMD cards returns to be more marked, with the Radeon RX 6600 falling behind the RTX 3060 by 20% in Quad HD and 18% in Full HD. The performance of the AMD card is still sufficient to play without problems, as it reaches 60 FPS in 1440p and 80 FPS in 1080p.Power consumption, temperature and noise
To measure the temperature , The noise and power consumption at full load of the video cards we decided to run a benchmark loop of Metro Exodus at 4K resolution, in order to simulate a game session and have real data on which to base our evaluations. To detect the temperature values we relied on GPU-Z, while for consumption we used Nvidia PCAT, an instrument consisting of a PCIe card and a board to which 8-pin cables can be connected that allows you to accurately measure the power absorbed by the Video Card. Using Nvidia PCAT allows us to record the real consumption even of the AMD Radeon cards, which through GPU-Z provide only the watts absorbed by the chip.Consumption
During our stress test, the Radeon RX 6600 never went beyond 100W absorbed. Not only is it the least power-hungry of the video cards tested, it is also much more efficient than the RTX 3060: compared to 23% lower performance (on average) in QHD and 12% in FHD, the Radeon RX 6600 consumes 42% in less.Temperature
To measure the temperature, we relied on the OCCT software. The Radeon RX 6600 at idle settles around 37 ° C, while under stress it reaches a maximum of 67 ° C, a sign that it has a cooling system suitable for the type of GPU. The RTX 3060 is 5 ° C cooler, but is equipped with a cooling system with three fans.Noise
To measure the noise we have positioned the sound level meter 15cm from the center of the board, in a perfectly perpendicular position. The values obtained are not absolute, as we have not carried out our measurements inside an anechoic chamber, but they help us understand how noisy the board is compared to the others we have tried. With a maximum noise level of 39.7 dB, the RX 6600 is the quietest card we've tested so far.Verdict
With the Radeon RX 6600, AMD wants to offer a card with similar performance to the RTX 3060, but more efficient in terms of energy consumption. While it is true that the card is actually more efficient than the RTX 3060, it is not equally true that it offers the same performance: the scenario can change according to the games that are examined, but our tests show that, in fact , The RX 6600 is on average 12% worse in Full HD. The newcomer from AMD still manages to reach framerates such as to allow you to play in 1080p at maximum details without ray tracing, exceeding 60 FPS in most of the titles tested; however, it is not at the levels of Nvidia's current "entry level".This scenario could open the door to a consideration: "What if the card doesn't have to be compared to the RTX 3060?" . If this were the case, the RX 6600 would be positioned in a currently empty market segment, awaiting the arrival of a potential RTX 3050 or the rumored 12GB RTX 2060. From this point of view, the performances could be very respectable, especially considering that we are talking about a segment where the price of the cards should settle between 250 and 300 euros at most, at least under normal conditions.
Unfortunately, even in a situation like this the Radeon RX 6600 would have difficulties, this time not for the performance offered, but for its selling price. We don't know in detail how much the Sapphire Pulse model we tested will cost, but AMD has informed us that the Radeon RX 6600 will be available starting at $ 329, practically the same price as the RTX 3060. Considered in the scenario just described, the RX 6600 would be a card with excellent performances, but with too high a cost that would place it a higher range.
In conclusion, this Radeon RX 6600 is a card difficult to evaluate and that does not completely convince us: consumption energy are first in the class and the performance is good for those who want to play in Full HD the triple A of the moment without compromise. However, for what is offered the starting price, in our opinion, is too high. Also taking into account the current market situation, the lucky few who manage to find an available RX 6600 will pay no less than 500 euros, a truly exaggerated figure for the performance offered. As always, our advice is to wait for the situation to return to normal, even if it will still take several months; once the market has stabilized and prices have dropped you can make the appropriate assessments, but you will hardly find a reason to prefer this RX 6600 to the RTX 3060.
