The Radeon RX 6400 is a model new RDNA2 GPU that makes use of TSMC’s cutting-edge 6nm course of. Sounds thrilling, proper? Well, perhaps not a lot when you get to see the outcomes…
In a means, the RX 6400 is kind of distinctive. This low-powered GPU does not require exterior energy, consumes lower than 75 watts, and so it will possibly acquired all of its energy from the PCI Express slot. Moreover, AMD has branded this mannequin with a complete board energy score of simply 53 watts, which means it ought to use even much less energy than the GeForce GTX 1650.
This low energy utilization means it is potential to create a low-profile model of the RX 6400 and that is what most card producers have gone for. Our overview pattern is available in from PowerColour, and we are able to inform you, this RX 6400 is definitely sort of cool, if it wasn’t for the extreme $160 MSRP.
Traditionally, sub-75W graphics playing cards just like the RX 550 have been priced under $100 ($80 for the RX 550), however at twice the worth of earlier fashions, the RX 6400 is difficult to get enthusiastic about. Of course, pricing of all graphics playing cards — and tech merchandise for that matter — have elevated from the RX 550 days, however the identical was mentioned when the Radeon 6500 XT launched just a few months in the past and that product is wanting weaker than ever.
So the worth sucks, we’re actually not shocked, and at this level that most likely will not be information to anybody. For these of you in search of an reasonably priced gaming graphics card, the RX 6400 will not be it, or at the least it should not be for anybody who has entry to an honest second hand market, however we’ll talk about that in higher element in the direction of the closing of this overview.
Rather, let’s speak about who the RX 6400 would possibly enchantment to. As a low profile single-slot graphics card that does not require exterior energy, the RX 6400 might be thrown in something with a PCIe x16 slot.
Popular targets for such a product are low-cost Dell OptiPlex used desktops, individuals typically snag fashions for effectively below $100 with respectable elements similar to 16 GB of RAM and a Core i5 processor. These PCs typically solely settle for low-profile graphics playing cards and do not present PCIe energy with the proprietary energy unit. So gaining access to a comparatively low-cost low profile graphics card breathes new life into them as a price range gaming PC.
It’s actually a really area of interest use case, but when our GTX 1650 overview was something to go by, there is a affordable variety of potential consumers in search of such a product. Unfortunately, the GTX 1650 did not ship on its low profile promise with only a handful of overpriced fashions that arrived 6 months after the preliminary launch, which means the overwhelming majority of the 1650’s required 6-pin PCIe energy and had been full peak playing cards.
The RX 6400 already seems to be filling that area of interest loads higher, although paying $160 nonetheless appears extreme to get an previous rust bucket up and gaming. At least to us, one thing alongside the traces of $80 appears much more acceptable.
Especially while you begin to go over the specs…
There’s no delicate technique to put this, the RX 6400 is a lower down model of the a lot beloved RX 6500 XT, and sure, for these of you who cannot sense sarcasm, that was sarcasm…
The 6500 XT was virtually universally hated, so it will be attention-grabbing to see if the ability and dimension benefits of the 6400 can assist it overcome a 25% discount in core and ROP rely, an 18% lower in core frequency, and an 11% discount in reminiscence clocks and bandwidth.
The RX 6400 has inherited all of the shortcomings that plagued the 6500 XT: we’re nonetheless a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, no {hardware} encoding, and no AV1 decode. Then so as to add insult to harm, AMD has locked out overclocking, so you’ll be able to’t even squeeze out somewhat further efficiency.
And with that, let’s get into the benchmark outcomes. For testing we’re utilizing our Ryzen 9 5950X GPU check system — and sure, we all know nobody goes to pair a price range graphics card with this CPU, however that is not the purpose. We’re testing graphics efficiency and subsequently want to keep away from introducing a CPU bottleneck which might skew the info.
For our low-end to entry-level testing we usually use medium high quality settings, or settings that make sense for a given title. Please observe the RX 6400 has been examined utilizing each PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 3.0 on the identical motherboard, we have merely toggled between the 2 within the BIOS. We’ve examined at 1080p and 1440p however we’ll deal with extra related 1080p outcomes.
Benchmarks
Starting with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which has been examined at 1080p utilizing the medium high quality settings, we see that finest case the RX 6400 is sweet for 54 fps on common which is much from spectacular, solely matching the previous RX 570, although it was 8% quicker than the GTX 1650, at the least when utilizing PCIe 4.0.
Switching to PCIe 3.0, which shall be related for previous OEM PCs, efficiency dropped by 9% and now the RX 6400 is barely slower than the GTX 1650. We’re additionally a 20% efficiency drop when in comparison with the 6500 XT.
That’s actually underwhelming efficiency for the worth, however for a low profile single slot card that receives all of its energy from the PCIe slot, it is respectable.
You nonetheless will not be capable of play older titles similar to Shadow of the Tomb Raider maxed out and obtain 60 fps. Using PCIe 4.0, the Radeon RX 6400 managed 53 fps, which once more is RX 570-like efficiency after which when switching to PCIe 3.0 it fell behind the GTX 1650 for what actually was a depressing expertise.
Watch Dogs: Legion was examined utilizing medium high quality settings and right here we had been unable to attain 60 fps, however the recreation was playable. Using PCIe 4.0, we’re once more efficiency just like the RX 570 after which with PCIe 3.0 body charges do fall under the GTX 1650 which is disappointing.
Given it isn’t a really demanding recreation, and it is already 7 years previous, we check Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege utilizing the very best potential high quality settings. This sees previous merchandise just like the RX 570 pushing over 100 fps always in our testing and even the GTX 1650 averaged 121 fps.
But these check situations spotlight simply how a lot of a difficulty the PCIe bandwidth is for the 6500 XT and 6400. The 1% lows had been notably dangerous for the 6400, dropping under 60 fps. In quick, utilizing the optimum PCIe 4.0 configuration, the 6400 was 21% slower than the GTX 1650 and 26% slower than the RX 570. Then utilizing PCIe 3.0 it was 43% slower than the RX 570, so whereas playable below these situations, that is horrible efficiency for $160.
The F1 2021 efficiency can be weak relative to previous low-end graphics playing cards. Using PCIe 4.0 the 6400 was 14% slower than the GTX 1650 and a whopping 29% slower than the RX 570, so it could appear regardless of the dialed down high quality settings, PCIe bandwidth is at a premium right here as effectively. Also, the truth that the RX 6400 finally ends up slower than the GTX 1050 Ti when utilizing PCIe 3.0 is the final word embarrassment.
The Horizon Zero Dawn outcomes are attention-grabbing because the 6500 XT noticed a big discount in efficiency when utilizing PCIe 3.0, whereas the 6400 was related utilizing both PCIe customary.
Performance lands proper between the GTX 1650 and RX 570, so we guess that is okay, or at the least about pretty much as good because it will get, particularly for the PCIe 3.0 config.
With Far Cry 6 we’re again to RX 570-like efficiency or slower than the GTX 1650 when utilizing the extra widespread PCIe 3.0 interface, particularly for price range methods.
With simply 51 fps on common utilizing the medium high quality settings, the RX 6400 was 12% slower than the GTX 1650 and 24% slower than the RX 570 which is a bit brutal.
Doom Eternal was examined utilizing the extremely preset however with the feel pool dimension set to medium for 4GB graphics playing cards. The 6500 XT was good for 98 fps on common utilizing PCIe 4.0, however below the identical situations the 6400 was an unimaginable 47% slower.
Apparently the reminiscence bandwidth hits a lot more durable than anticipated, crippling efficiency. Then in PCIe 3.0 methods the 6400 is totally uncommon below these situations.
Resident Evil Village was examined utilizing the balanced high quality preset, which is a medium sort setting and right here we had been in a position to common 60 fps utilizing both PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 with the RX 6400, so the sport was at the least playable. Still, even when utilizing PCIe 4.0 it was nonetheless 13% slower than the RX 570, in order that’s a bit tough given the worth.
Death Stranding was examined utilizing the medium setting, which is labeled ‘default’ and right here we’re RX 570-like efficiency, making even the PCIe 3.0 configuration for the RX 6400 11% quicker than the GTX 1650. Performance general was respectable and positively enabled an pleasing gaming expertise on this title.
Moving on to Hitman 3, the PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 efficiency of the RX 6400 was mainly the identical, and that meant both configuration is RX 570 ranges of efficiency, however hey at the least that signifies that’s a bit quicker than the GTX 1650.
Just over 60 fps at 1080p utilizing the medium high quality settings is about pretty much as good as you could possibly hope for, and naturally, that was very playable. Not dangerous given the cardboard’s bodily dimensions.
Given that the 6500 XT cannot common 60 fps in our check even with the bottom potential high quality settings in Cyberpunk 2077, the RX 6400 was by no means going to do effectively, and it did not. Using the medium high quality settings we’re 37 fps with PCIe 4.0, or 32 fps with PCIe 3.0.
Power Consumption
Here’s a quick have a look at energy consumption and as anticipated the Radeon RX 6400 sips energy. It’s not precisely groundbreaking although. You’re GTX 1650 ranges of energy utilization for GTX 1650 ranges of efficiency. It appears spectacular when in comparison with the RX 570, however that is primarily six 12 months previous expertise.
Cooling
Cooling the PowerColour Low Profile RX 6400 is a tiny cooler as proven within the intro images. Now, as a result of the cooler is so small, it’s a bit noisier than we’d have appreciated a 43 dBA, it isn’t horribly loud, however we might clearly hear it over case followers. It sounds loads like a busy laptop computer as a result of tiny fan spinning at 3600 RPM.
The GPU temperature was affordable although, peaking at 78 C, whereas the cores clocked to round 2.3 GHz. Not a nasty outcome for a price range low profile graphics card.
Taking the Average
For the 12 recreation common efficiency at 1080p, we’re 60 fps utilizing PCIe 4.0, which is identical stage of efficiency you could possibly get from the cheaper $150 GTX 1650 three years in the past. Thing is, the GTX 1650 is a PCIe 3.0 x16 product, so in a PCIe 3.0 system it is on common 20% quicker than the RX 6400.
Again, that’s, 20% quicker, makes use of the identical quantity of energy, it is 3 years older and technically cheaper. Based on that, the RX 6400 is clearly a large fail, simply because the 6500 XT was.
Neither product is appropriate for 1440p gaming, however here is a have a look at the common efficiency seen throughout 12 video games. Basically, GTX 1650 efficiency, making higher worth elements just like the GTX 1650 Super quicker and higher suited to this larger decision.
What We Learned
Ultimately, the Radeon RX 6400 sucks simply as a lot as we knew it could. Those of you looking for a price range graphics card for gaming ought to actually look elsewhere, particularly you probably have a PCIe 3.0 system. The finest different for these eager to get their arms on a graphics card for below $200 is to buy second hand if potential.
Right now on eBay, 4GB RX 570 playing cards are repeatedly promoting for round $150 with some fashions going for simply over $100. Yes, they’re previous, and so they use extra energy, however as we have seen right here for 1080p gaming in a PCIe 3.0 system you are ~30% higher efficiency, whereas retaining options similar to {hardware} encoding.
Alternatively, second hand GTX 1650’s are promoting for below $150 and provide 20% better efficiency for PCIe 3.0 customers. That means GTX 1650 Super playing cards are going for anyplace from $130 to $200 and in a PCIe 3.0 system our 1080p common knowledge factors to over 60% better efficiency.
So when you care about getting essentially the most bang on your buck, then paying even $200 for a GTX 1650 Super is a far wiser funding on condition that makes it at most 25% costlier for 60% higher gaming efficiency on common.
When it involves new merchandise the Radeon RX 6600, it is undoubtedly the most cost effective possibility it is best to trouble with, coming in round $330. While that is twice the worth of the RX 6400, it is a considerably higher product that delivers greater than twice the efficiency in PCIe 4.0 methods or 3x in PCIe 3.0 methods. But if you cannot stretch the price range to snag an RX 6600, then you might be better of ready for the market to enhance additional, or purchase second hand.
The solely potential use case for the RX 6400 could be in a low profile system the place a standard full dimension merely will not match. Thing is, although it must be a contemporary small kind issue PC that helps PCIe 4.0 to be price it, this may be required to unlock the total efficiency from the 6400, but additionally the system itself could be price sufficient to justify including such an costly element. $160 could be very costly for what the RX 6400 affords general.
In different phrases, until you’ve got a small kind issue eleventh or Twelfth-gen Intel PC that helps PCIe 4.0 or an AM4 small kind issue PC with a PCIe 4.0 enabled CPU and motherboard, the RX 6400 is unnecessary. In our opinion, the RX 6400 can solely make sense for a PCIe 4.0 system that is restricted to a low profile graphics card.
If you require an LP graphics card however simply need the most cost effective factor obtainable, choose up a GeForce GT 710 as a substitute for round $50 to $60. For gaming although, the RX 6400 is by far the best choice, which actually speaks to the state of the LP market. The solely different there are GeForce GTX 1650 LP playing cards that begin at $270, so for this excessive area of interest the 6400 could be a godsend, however for everybody else it is a compact dumpster fireplace. And on that bombshell, it is no shock AMD canned the overview program for the Radeon RX 6400.
