ASRock Sticks With AMD Reference Design for New Radeon RX 6800, 6800 XT Cards

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Asrock Radeon RX 6800 XT Reference Spec
(Image credit: Asrock)

ASRock has just revealed its first RX 6000-series graphics cards based on AMD's RDNA2 architecture called the ASRock RX 6800 and ASRock RX 6800 XT -- no fancy names for these cards. ASRock's RX 6800 and 6800 XT are not custom-made but are instead designed around AMD's reference specifications. So far, the company has yet to reveal any custom-designed variants. 

This is normal operation for AIB (add-in board) partners, AMD (and Nvidia previously) allows reference design for its GPUs to be manufactured by its partners and sold under the partner's brand.

ASRock RX 6800

The RX 6800 will be AMD's lowest-end card, for now, tackling the best graphics cards in the budget category with 60 CUs, 16GB of GDDR6, a boost frequency of up to 2,105 MHz and a TDP of 250W.

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Asrock Radeon RX 6800 XT Reference Spec
Asrock Radeon RX 6800 Reference Spec(Image credit: Asrock)

ASRock's RX 6800 reference card features AMD's triple slot cooler design measuring 267 x 120 x 40mm. Not much is known about the heatsink design. All we know is the heating is fully open on the side, which is where all the air will exhaust after the intake fans push air through the heatsink.

Aesthetically, this is one of AMD's best-looking designs. The shroud is matte black on the edges and accompanied by a center strip of silver where the three fans are located. Red lines outline the side, with a Radeon logo in the middle. The card features two 8-pin power connectors at the edge.

ASRock RX 6800 XT

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Asrock Radeon RX 6800 XT Reference Spec
Asrock Radeon RX 6800 XT Reference Spec(Image credit: Asrock)

For the RX 6800 XT from Asrock, AMD's reference cooler is widened by an additional 10mm to make more room for cooling,. Besides that, it has the same height and length as the RX 6800 reference cooler. 

Aesthetically, the card is a touch different as well. The silver strip in the middle of the shroud is slightly thinner at the edges compared to the ASRock RX 6800, but in the middle, the XT gains a more aggressive angle shaped like an X. There are no other identifiable changes.

The RX 6800 XT will be AMD's answer to Nvidia's RTX 3080. It'll arrive with 72 CUs, boost frequency of 2,250 MHz and 300W TDP. 

If you want to get your hands on one of these cards, the official launch date for AMD Big Navi is November 18.

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Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • 2Be_or_Not2Be
    I like the clean look! Less RGB is okay with me. (y)
    Reply
  • neojack
    my next card could be this :
    RX6800 , flash bios to 6800XT, add a waterblock
    Reply
  • BILL1957
    I think it is interesting as to how the Nvidia cards have been roasted (pun intended) for their advertised power draw and wattage requirements not to mention their heat output but the AMD cards are also in that same ballpark and the lower numbers are not always in favor of AMD.
    Below are the advertised power draw figures in watts:
    3070=220 watts, 6800= 250 watts
    3080 320 watts, 6800xt= 300 watts
    I do not see where there is enough difference to warrant a massive difference in the heat output and also if a persons PSU is running that close on headroom regardless of which brand competing card you choose according to the advertised power draw figures then either could well require a PSU upgrade.
    Just thought this was interesting as these issues are made out to be such a negative for Nvidia but there seems to be no mention of these same issues concerning the AMD cards
    Reply
  • hannibal
    One thing to look at is that 6800 is based on navi21 just like 6800xt and 6900xt.
    3080 and 3090 Are based on 102 die, but 3070 is based on 104 die!
    So you should compare 6800 to 3070ti that is Also using 102 die and use about 300w based on ”leaks”... Lets see the real Numbers when that gpu is released.
    You should compare normal 3070 to amd 6700xt, when it is released, because it is based on navi22 chip. But now because neither 6700xt nor 3070ti Are not yet released people make these odd comparisons because They have nothing else to compare with!

    all in all 6800 is subtantial faster than 3070... on the other hand 3070ti will be really close, maybe faster so Lets wait few weeks and see who takes the upper middle range in speed and power usage wise!
    Reply
  • ididdy
    BILL1957 said:
    I think it is interesting as to how the Nvidia cards have been roasted (pun intended) for their advertised power draw and wattage requirements not to mention their heat output but the AMD cards are also in that same ballpark and the lower numbers are not always in favor of AMD.
    Below are the advertised power draw figures in watts:
    3070=220 watts, 6800= 250 watts
    3080 320 watts, 6800xt= 300 watts
    I do not see where there is enough difference to warrant a massive difference in the heat output and also if a persons PSU is running that close on headroom regardless of which brand competing card you choose according to the advertised power draw figures then either could well require a PSU upgrade.
    Just thought this was interesting as these issues are made out to be such a negative for Nvidia but there seems to be no mention of these same issues concerning the AMD cards

    The two companies rate their cards differently when it comes to power. Nvidia uses TDP whereas AMD uses TBP (total board power). The AMD card is much more efficient with that taken into consideration.
    Reply