ASUS TUF GAMING RX 6800 XT OC Graphics Card Review

Introduction

What a time to be a PC gamer; AMD is the performance leader and NVIDIA and AMD are actually going head to head on performance… BUT the pandemic still rages on and some regions of the world are still in lockdown. This is indeed the new normal. Alas, humanity perseveres. One of the things that has really seen growth in this new-normal is gaming. Gaming in general has seen a huge boom and PC gaming and PC sales have also seen an increase due to the amount of gamers looking to find new ways to entertain themselves.

AMD’s success couldn’t come at a better time but circumstances are still not with them. Still, we managed to get our hands on the ASUS TUF GAMING RX 6800 XT. I’ve dubbed the TUF GAMING line-up as the “working man’s ROG”, simply because its definitely stepped-out of the role of the mainstream filler for ASUS. Its now built with an all-metal frame and there’s barely plastic in the build. Its minimalist RGB implementation also makes it a blackout build option. Last up, it offers excellent cooling without being noisy, utilizing ASUS’s Axialtech fans and triple fan design to really push today’s GPUs to their best. All of those are found on the TUF GAMING RX 6800 XT, but beefed up to a triple-slot cooler design.

A bit of preface, in this review we’ll take a look at raster performance-only. We’ll explain in detail at the end of this review. Read on to find out more about the ASUS TUF GAMING RX 6800 XT.

Official Product Page

Closer Look

Power Draw, Clock Speed and Temperature

We’ll switch things up and open with the power and temperature behavior of the graphics card first. We use Final Fantasy XV Benchmark to simulate a gaming workload but for those looking extreme loads, we do put our cards through Kombustor on first installation for stress testing to check for stability. For our reviews though, we use Final Fantasy XV to simulate a true gaming scenario. Power draw is captured inline via PCAT or Powenetics so no other components affects readings. Readings are taken from the average 15 min idle readings for both load and idle.

Let’s take a look at clock behavior versus temperature:

AMD’s clock speeds are impressive and coupled with the excellent cooling that ASUS has, this card is averaging 61.4*C on gaming loads. Of course, the cooler is inherently larger than that of the TUF GAMING RTX 3080 OC but still impressive to say the least.

Starting with this review, we’ll also integrate readings for Kombustor, a stress-testing tool for graphics card. As requested by some readers, they want to see the cards stressed a bit more to see how decent cooling is. The charts below show a full 30-minute span of load, with 15-minutes of load and 15-minutes of idle to show you both extremes. The chart will also show some key readings related to the card including fan speed, voltages, etc. Again, the room ambient is kept at 28*C.

Test Setup and Methodology

Processor: Intel Core i9 10900K
Memory: G.Skill TridentZ DDR4-3600 32GB
Storage: WD Blue SSD 1TB SATA
PSU: Seasonic Platinum 1050w
Cooling: Corsair H150i Pro 360mm AIO
Monitor: ROG PG27UQ 4K 144hz HDR1000
VGA: Listed

For a full-hardware workout, visit https://benchmarks.ul.com for our system warm-up and stress test of choice.

For benchmarking methodology please see our game benchmark method guide.

Test results are gathered and produced on CapFrameX. This makes it easier for use to get both line graph comparison and raw averages without extra tools. Simply the easiest tool for benchmarking and its available for everyone to use, free of charge. Check it out at capframex.com.

Since this is a GPU review, we benchmarked the area of the games that put heavy load on the GPU.

All our test runs are repeatable, click the links below for area and details. Read our benchmarking methodology.

• DOTA2 – Kiev Major Grand Finals Game 5: OG vs Virtus.Pro (54:05 – 55:05)
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive: FPS Benchmark Workshop Map
• Rainbow Six: Siege – Benchmark Mode
• The Witcher 3 – Woesong Bridge
• Grand Theft Auto V – Palomino Highlands
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider – Kuwaq Yaqu
• Call of Duty Warzone – Fog of War
• Monster Hunter World: Iceborne – Wildspire Waste
• F1 2020 – Benchmark Mode
• PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds – Training Mode
• Apex Legends – Firing Range
• Valorant – Custom Game
• Destiny 2 – The Tower
• Cyberpunk 2077 – Little China, noontime

See our Youtube playlist for benchmark sequences.

Note: Some proprietary technologies of NVIDIA like PCSS, HBAO+, and HairWorks work on AMD GPU’s BUT to maintain uniformity amongst GPUs, these have been turned OFF.

You can click on any of the benchmark charts enlarge. You can also move forward and backwards to quickly navigate through our charts via gallery view. For this test, only the out-of-box normal mode will be tested.

Kindly let me know if you spot an errors in the charts. I do my best to keep them error free but while test results are reliable and accurate, bringing them over to Excel and relying on formulas to generate the reports sometimes can cause mix-ups.

Notes:

• All data are gathered from exactly the same system, with exactly the configuration we list here. No data is reused from another system or from any variations of. We gather data from only one system as indicated here.
• Graphics cards are allowed to heat up prior to benchmarking. Cooler graphics cards may boost higher than normal.
• Following up on the above, we try to enjoy the game and play a bit before proceeding to the actual benchmark scenario. This allows us to detect any other problems like stuttering, frame skipping, or any other problems.
• Games that receive graphical updates that affect performance e.g. (DOTA2 moving from DX9 to DX11) will be retested completely.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO)

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, popularly known as CSGO, competes for Steam’s most popular game. It has found a resurgence in its popularity and has recently peaked in 2020 in the number of players that play the game. Based on Valve’s Source Engine, the game received major asset overhauls during the years since its inception nearly 10 years ago. Still, it’s a light game and can be played on fairly lighter systems but the competitive scene for CSGO has seen average players demand high FPS from their systems thus gaining favorable standing with GPU vendors just from the demand for higher FPS alone. CSGO is a game that can easily go past 500FPS on enthusiast systems on maximum settings. We’re including CSGO as requested by our community.

API: DirectX9 (default)
Maximum In-Game Settings
Texture Streaming Disabled
Vsync OFF

DOTA 2

Note: JUNE 2020 – DOTA2 has recently implemented a transition from DirectX9 to DirectX11 and new install of the game will prompt users to switch from DX9 to DX11. With that said, we are testing DOTA2 in DX11 from now on.

In contention for the most popular game on Steam and the biggest competition in eSports: DOTA 2 is powered by the Source 2 engine. The game is fairly light on low to medium settings but maxed out, with heavy action on screen especially during clashes, can really stress most systems. This is a game where frame times matter as responsiveness is very important in high-stakes competition. We’re looking at consistently low frametimes in this  game for the best experience

Our test uses actual game replay, using the segment from game 5 of the Kiev Major 2017 Grand Finals between OG and VP. The clash during the 54:05 to 55:05 of the game is a nice example of how much a system will get punished during intense team fights in DOTA2.

You can watch the replay of the actual game used in the benchmark here in Youtube or download the replay file here for your DOTA2 client: Game 3149572447. (save it to your DOTA2 replays folder)

API: DirectX11 (default)
Best-Looking slider setting (Ultra)
FPS_MAX 240
Vsync OFF

Rainbow Six: Siege

Nearly 4 years later and Rainbow Six: Siege has become a phenomenon after a lukewarm beginning. The massive shift in focus of the game sees it stepping into eSports territory and the excellent mix of gameplay mechanics, good design and a dedicated dev team has put R6: Siege in a position it couldn’t even picture during launch. Rainbow Six: Siege focuses heavily on tactical and creative gameplay and its vertical levels and highly destructible maps encourage players to be quick on their feet so the action is always going. Powered by Ubisoft’s own AnvilNext 2.0 engine which powers some of Ubi’s recent visual masterpieces, R6:Siege also feature excellent graphics and can get very taxing at high detail settings. The game also features an Ultra HD texture pack download for those that want higher resolution textures but will of course demand more from the system.

API: DirectX 11
Ultra Settings
Anti Aliasing: TAA
Ultra HD Texture pack not installed
Ambient Occlusion: SSBC
Vsync OFF

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

CD Projekt Red’s latest installment in the Witcher saga features one of the most graphically intense offering the company has to date. As Geralt of Rivia, slay monsters, beasts and men as you unravel the mysteries of your past. Vast worlds and lush sceneries make this game a visual feast and promises to make any system crawl at its highest settings. This game has found great resurgence in its playerbase thanks to the release of Netflix’ Witcher series.

API: DirectX 11
Frame Rate: Unlimited
Nvidia HairWorks: Off
Ultra Settings
Motion Blur: Off
Blur: Off
Anti-aliasing: On
Bloom: On
Sharpening: High
Ambient Occlusion: SSAO
Depth of Field: On
Chromatic Aberration: Off
Vignetting: On
Light Shafts: On
VSync OFF

Grand Theft Auto V

The fifth and most successful installment to date in the highly controversial Grand Theft Auto series brings a graphical overhaul to the PC version of GTA V which many have lauded as a superior approach in porting a console game to PC. Featuring large areas and detailing, GTA V is a highly challenging application in terms of scene complexity.

Our benchmark uses a run from Palomina Highlands running through a lush area to a remote road all the way to a neighborhood in our car to simulate multiple scene changes.

API: DirectX 11
FXAA Off
MSAA 4x
TXAA Off
Very High settings
Anisotropic Filtering: 16x
Motion Blur disabled
Advanced Graphics enabled
Vsync OFF

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the latest installment in the reboot run of the classic Tomb Raider franchise. The game follows the story set forth by the previous game which Shadow of the Tomb Raider short follows after. Technology-wise, the game uses the Foundation engine updated to meet the demand of developer Eidos Montreal to push the engine to its limits. The game supports DirectX 12 and is one of the launch titles to support RTX technology namely DLSS which launched a couple of months post-launch.

API: DirectX 12
Graphics Settings Preset: Highest
Texture Quality: Ultra
Texture Filtering: 8x Anisotropic
Anti-Aliasing: TAA
DLSS: OFF
Raytraced Shadow: OFF
Vsync OFF

Call of Duty Modern Warfare (2019)

Call of Duty Modern Warfare is a reboot of the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare storyline, set in a different world where you, along with Captain Price have to stop the world from going to war. Call of Duty Modern Warfare reignites the franchise by introducing full crossplay support where Xbox and PS4 players can play together with PC players. On PC, the game features a new engine pushing photorealism for COD far beyond what their older engine is capable of. The new engine also introduces raytracing and the AI is designed to perceive light as well. With a revitalized multiplayer arena, the game will require fast frame rates.

API: DirectX 12
Render Resolution: 100%
Texture Resolution: High
Texture Filter Anisotropic: High
Particle Quality: High
Tessellation: All
Shadow Map Resolution: Extra
Particle Lighting: Ultra
DirectX Raytracing: OFF
Ambient Occlusion: Both
Anti-Aliasing: Filmic SMAA T2X
World Motion Blur: Off
Vsync: OFF
Shaders Installed before benchmarks*

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Easily Capcom’s most successful game to date. Available in both consoles and PC, Monster Hunter World ranks in Steam’s top played games for the platform. The 2020 Iceborne update for PC brings the game to new PC frontier, introducing DirectX 12 support. The game features rich graphical detail settings and an Ultra HD texture pack for highend gamers. MHW’s features fast-paced action with traditional RPG farings and has captured a new market thanks to the transition from portable.

Our benchmark for this game uses an expedition track in the Wildspire Waste Southwest Camp (Area 1) and finishes in the Rathian nest at Area 12 in the caves. This run gives us runs from barren area, to watery area with lush vegetation to a cave which replicates the varied nature of exploration and monster combat in MHW.

API: DirectX 12
Graphical Settings: Manual (customized from High)
All variable settings set to High
Image Quality: High
Anti-Aliasing: TAA
Max LOD Level: No Limit
Volume Rendering Quality: High
Motion Blur: Off
DLSS and AMD FidelityFX: OFF

F1 2020

The latest iteration of the F1 series from CodeMasters features support for DirectX 12 as well as more photorealistic graphics than ever. Now heavily featured in the official F1 esports scene, much attention has been given in the development of this game particularly for added realism.

API: DirectX 12
Settings: Ultra High
Vsync: OFF

PlayerUnknown’s Battleground (PUBG)

Developed by South Korean company Bluehole, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds was an ARMA3 mod which has gained a massive global playerbase after being released as a stand-alone game. The game is now available for almost all platforms from PC to mobile but PC has been the definitive edition of the game. The game has evolved much since its release, receiving multiple polish to arrive at its current state.

API: DirectX 11
Settings: High
Vsync: OFF

Destiny 2

Destiny 2: New Light is an MMOFPS which sees a persistently sizable playerbase. The game features traditional MMO elements but played in an FPS approach which allows a more skill-dependent game versus traditional MMORPG formats. The game features a futuristic sci-fi universe with lush and detailed in-game locations that puts respectable workload on a gaming system.

API: DirectX 11
Settings: Highest
Vsync: OFF

Valorant

Developed by League of Legends developer, Riot Games, Valorant is a first-person shooter featuring multiple heroes or agents which have unique skills to assist them within the games traditional team-based FPS combat. The game is gaining incredible success and has taken a large chunk of the now-incredibly massive CSGO playerbase as well, presenting a more refreshed take on classic TDM FPS but spices it up with skills, etc. Like CSGO and League, this game is light as a feather for the largest adoption possible. With 360hz monitors and input lag/system latency a major focus for these games, we’re now including it as reference for players.

API: DirectX 11
Settings: Max in-game details
Anti-Aliasing: MSAA x4 (highest in-game)
NVIDIA Reflex: Off
Vsync: OFF

Cyberpunk 2077

The most anticipated game of 2020 and perhaps the most anticipated game of the last decade, Cyberpunk 2077’s launch has been a rollercoaster gamers on PC are largely in agreement that it was definitely worth the wait. Made by CD Projekt Red and based on the REDengine4, Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most modern games introducing full utilization of raytracing amongst others. Technically, the game is still under polishing stages and will improve over time but as it is, the PC version is fully functional on my end and it is one of the most taxing game out right now so we have to include it. We do not enable raytracing in this test.

API: DirectX 12
Settings: Ultra Preset
Raytracing Off
DLSS Off
Vsync: OFF

Resizable BAR Performance Comparison

Marketed as Smart Access memory on launch and an AMD exclusive feature, Resizable BAR is a PCI Express feature that allows the system to utilize the entire GPU memory rather than in smaller chunks. This allows memory dependent applications, particularly games to benefit from the larger pool of memory accessible and remove the bottlenecks of accessing it piece by piece. This in turn results in performance improvements.

The caveat here is should you enable it or not, and the easy is answer is yes. If you have resizable BAR on your system, which is now present for both Intel and AMD, you should absolutely use it.

Still, here’s some comparison numbers. As of this review, the RX 6000 graphics cards are the only GPUs to have resizable BAR support but NVIDIA seemingly will include it on their upcoming cards as well as existing RTX 30 cards through a VBIOS update.

Cyberpunk 2077

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Rainbow Six Siege

In general, we’re seeing improvements across the boards in these games from resizable BAR. We did test with DOTA2 and CSGO which yielded mixed results. We’ll explore Resizable BAR on a dedicated article once we get our hands on more samples to test with.

Conclusion

First things first: why are we not reviewing raytracing performance? As our test methodology highlights, we remove any and all proprietary technology in our benchmarks to keep it as neutral as possible. So in raytracing, any game released since Battlefield V will be most likely co-developed with NVIDIA. This puts us at an impasse. This leads to look at the current library of raytraced games and barring Fortnite and Minecraft which passes our popularity test, no game as of this moment meets our criteria for a raytracing test.

I do understand this will be demanded from us going into post RX 6000 launch and I am carefully planning a benchmark pool of games for raytracing. As of this moment, we’re looking at Control, Call of Duty Black Ops Cold Ward and Cyberpunk 2077. We’re still weighing in a few other options like Doom Eternal or Fortnite. We’ll discuss this once we get a sample from AMD for longer testing.

With that out of the way, back to the review of the ASUS TUF GAMING RX 6800 XT OC: this will be our first review of the Radeon RX 6800 XT so I’ll mix in some feedback on that as well but focusing on performance first, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is indeed a worthy competitor to NVIDIA’s RTX 3080. It butts head even with the RTX 3090 and at 1440p or higher, based on its SRP, its actually the better card. We’ll talk about prices later on this review.

Simply put, performance at traditional raster is pretty much even. I don’t even have to say it, but other media outlets have confirmed raytracing puts a major penalty on performance and AMD is indeed looking to make their own DLSS-like technology, even after brazenly dismissing DLSS before. At situations like this, us in the PC tech media have to be a bit more detailed when making analysis. That said, with such a close performance gap, it will ultimately boil down to price or power draw to pick which one you want but with the Radeon RX 6000 and RTX 30 being so close even in power draw, that leaves the deal over to price and this is where it gets really tough.

To be really fair to AMD, I believe they’re trying their best to pump out chips but from what we can see, there is not a lot of these cards to go around. We’ve talked to ASUS about availability of their Radeon RX 6800 XT and they have confirmed they only managed to bring in limited numbers with no restrock in sight. This is a problem that AMD has to address soon. The success of both Ryzen and Radeon is heavily marred by the lack of products for sale and as such, success isn’t leading to brand equity for AMD in this respect.

Focusing more on ASUS, they’ve used the largest TUF GAMING cooler (which this card shares with its direct NVIDIA counterpart from ASUS, the TUF GAMING RTX 3080 which we review here) they have for this generation and with the TUF GAMING being so good this generation, it’s become the working man’s ROG, so to speak. Its desirability has gone through the roof versus last-gen and the implementation on the TUF GAMING RX 6800 XT is excellent keeping the card at 61.4*C in gaming loads which lets the card boost all the way to 2400Mhz. At extreme loads we see it keep to just below 80*C which is good to see especially for the prolonged test that we did.

As a whole though, ASUS’s graphics card team made sure they cover both brands this time around and have no more issues like the Radeon RX 5700 XT where bad communications with AMD’s engineer as well as bad judgement, led to a poorly design product. That doesn’t show its head here, the ASUS TUF GAMING RX 6800 XT OC is an excellent and well-made card that’s build to bring out the best of AMD’s  RDNA2 chip.

ASUS backs the TUF GAMING Radeon RX 6800 XT OC with a 3-year warranty. We give it our B2G Performance Award!

[one_half] [tie_list type=”checklist”]

• Excellent build quality
• Great cooling performance
• BIOS Switch

[/tie_list] [/one_half] [tie_list type=”cons”]

• CAN’T FIND IT ANYWHERE
• 3x slot cooler height

[/tie_list] [one_half_last] [taq_review]