AMD Radeon RX 6800S Review – Transmit Whole World

The Radeon RX 6800S is AMD’s newest try at doing one thing particular within the gaming laptop computer market. The 6800S is a lower-power, higher-efficiency model of the Radeon RX 6800M that we reviewed final 12 months, in the same vein to what Nvidia has been doing the previous couple of years with what was Max-Q merchandise.

Instead of concentrating on the 115-150W energy vary for large beefy laptops, the concept is that these environment friendly elements will goal round 80-100W, to allow them to be included in thinner and extra moveable methods just like the Asus Zephyrus G14 that we’re utilizing for at the moment’s check.

Setting apart the naming points we see with Nvidia cell graphics choices, the corporate has seen success with their low-power GPU variants. Various ultraportable gaming designs just like the Razer Blade, Gigabyte Aero and MSI Stealth, are all utilizing them. AMD had a full line of high-power laptop computer GPUs, however nothing to reply Max-Q sort graphics. If a vendor wished to place an 80W AMD GPU of their system, the one alternative was an RX 6600M which is extra of a competitor to the RTX 3060 than higher-end gaming elements. That’s the place the Radeon RX 6800S is available in.

How AMD has created an environment friendly laptop computer GPU is slightly completely different to Nvidia. When Nvidia takes a 150W GPU right down to 80W, they merely scale back clock speeds and provides that GPU the very same identify, a tad complicated for patrons, however the finish product is efficient. What AMD has carried out to carry the 6800M right down to a 6800S is to really change the silicon, as an alternative of getting 40 compute models within the 6800M, the 6800S has 32 CUs, decrease than the RX 6700M’s 36 CUs. This is a full die swap from Navi 22 right down to Navi 23.

As a consequence, AMD does not should drop clock speeds as considerably. We go from a 2300 MHz recreation clock with the 6800M right down to 1975 MHz for the 6800S. But there are extra implications to debate: the Navi 23 die options much less infinity cache (32MB vs 96MB) and the reminiscence subsystem has modified. The 6800S offers you simply 8GB of 16 Gbps GDDR6 reminiscence on a 128-bit bus, versus 12GB of 16 Gbps GDDR6 reminiscence on a 192-bit bus with the 6800M.

So, whereas the 6800S and 6800M share the same identify, the S vs M facet is tremendous vital, as these GPUs are nothing alike. It most likely would have made extra sense to name this the 6700S, however then there is a separate 6700S which is its personal product… the important thing to this data is that you’re cautious about what GPU you are shopping for.

As for desktop equivalents, it should not come as a shock that the 6800S shouldn’t be even near AMD’s Radeon RX 6800 or 6800 XT. The 6800M was already miles off these GPUs when it comes to specs and efficiency. In this case, the 6800S is definitely similar to a desktop 6600 XT introduced throughout to laptop computer type components. The core configuration and reminiscence is identical, however the desktop 6600 XT is clocked larger and contains a larger 160W TDP.

Our check system for at the moment’s overview is the Asus Zephyrus G14, which we checked out beforehand when testing the Ryzen 9 6900HS processor. Other specs embrace 32GB of DDR5-4800 reminiscence in a twin stick configuration, and a 14-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS show at 120Hz. While this can be a distinctive decision, to permit for apples-to-apples comparisons to different GPUs, we’ll be benchmarking at 1080p with the GPU routed by the iGPU, a typical laptop computer use case; and 1440p utilizing an exterior show, which is essentially the most GPU restricted check situation we’ve got proper now.

Gaming Benchmarks

Kicking issues off with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla at 1080p, this title has all the time favored AMD {hardware}, even after a current replace that did considerably enhance efficiency on Nvidia GPUs.

But nonetheless, the 6800S is definitely the quickest configuration we have examined, with Resizable BAR – enabled right here – serving to issues out. The 6800S finally ends up 16 % sooner than the RTX 3070 Laptop GPU working at 90-105W which is essentially the most related configuration we had readily available.

At 1440p, the hole between AMD and Nvidia closes to simply 6 % on common, although AMD with the 6800S has a large benefit in 1% lows. The 6800S holds up remarkably effectively in comparison with way more power-hungry elements just like the RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti laptop computer variants, so on this recreation you may get numerous efficiency out of a small 14-inch design.

In Watch Dogs Legion, we see a extra typical consequence for the 6800S at 1080p utilizing Ultra settings. This new GPU is 20 % sooner than the 6600M regardless of utilizing the same energy vary, and 13 % sooner than the RTX 3070 Laptop GPU at 90W. The reality the 6800S can sit between the complete energy RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 is a really strong consequence. However, after we take a look at 1440p numbers, the 6800S merely shouldn’t be as robust, now performing equally to the RTX 3070 at 90W – slower for common FPS, sooner for 1% lows.

In Far Cry 6 we’re seeing efficiency that is just about as anticipated, the RX 6800S matches the RTX 3070 when it comes to common efficiency, although the 3070 falls away for 1% lows like we have seen in Watch Dogs Legion. The hole for 1% lows will get even bigger at 1440p, the place 8GB of VRAM for the RTX 3070 appears to be a difficulty, whereas the identical 8GB of VRAM is not as a lot of a difficulty for the 6800S. The laptop computer RTX 3070 has much more reminiscence bandwidth than the 6800S, so the variations could quantity to optimization and AMD’s Infinity Cache implementation.

Metro Exodus sees the RX 6800S outperform the RTX 3070 at 90W once more, although by simply 5 %. There’s fairly a niche to the complete energy RX 6800M, the 6800S finally ends up 17 % slower at 1080p, although that is a reasonably typical margin between full energy and low energy GPU variants. The RTX 3070 at 90W is 16% slower than its full energy variant as effectively. Meanwhile at 1440p, Nvidia’s RTX 3070 takes the lead and the 6800S is available in 10 % slower, so there’s fairly a swing right here between 1080p and 1440p efficiency, going from 5 % sooner to 10 % slower.

In Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1080p the RX 6800S and RTX 3070 at 90W ship equivalent efficiency. The low energy 6800 variant is 15% slower than the complete energy mannequin, but it surely nonetheless does have an edge on the RX 6600M, so we’re extra trying within the vary of excessive energy RTX 3060 to RTX 3070 territory. Then at 1440p we see the 6800M fall behind the RTX 3070 by 7 %, and it additionally falls additional behind the 6800M, now by 22 %. The Navi 23 die with much less reminiscence bandwidth and a smaller Infinity Cache simply is not as effectively optimized for 1440p gaming as Navi 22, which is used for the 6800M.

In Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing disabled, the 6800S and RTX 3070 at 90W once more ship fairly related efficiency at 1080p. However we see the biggest margin but between the 6800M and 6800S; the S mannequin is nineteen % slower and that is simply at 1080p. When we transfer as much as 1440p testing, the 6800S falls 29 % behind, and likewise 15% behind the RTX 3070. Delivering simply over a 30 FPS expertise, the 6800S simply does not appear that effectively optimized for 1440p, no less than in comparison with larger tier GPU choices.

In Guardians of the Galaxy, the 6800S and RTX 3070 once more carry out very equally, though the 3070 has an edge with 1% low efficiency. This can be one of many smallest margins seen between the 6800S and the 6600M, which have related energy limits. Then we transfer as much as 1440p and the 6800S falls behind the RTX 3070 to the tune of a 12 % margin, which once more is fairly typical. If the 6800S and RTX 3070 carry out about the identical at 1080p, you may guess the Radeon possibility will likely be slower at larger resolutions.

Forza Horizon 5 was a reasonably robust consequence for the RX 6800S, nearly attending to the extent of excessive efficiency GPUs just like the RTX 3070 Ti at 1080p when taking a look at common body charges. This meant the 6800S was 15% sooner than the RTX 3070 at 90W, one of many largest margins in favor of AMD’s GPU. But after we transfer as much as 1440p the margins aren’t fairly as massive, the 6800S nonetheless is within the main place, although it is simply 6 % sooner than the RTX 3070 now.

The final title we’re taking a look at for rasterization efficiency is Resident Evil Village. At 1080p that is one other very robust consequence for the 6800S, able to sitting between the RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti was sudden. The 6800S was a large 20 % sooner than the RTX 3070 at 90W on this title, and we see a decent margin at 1440p as effectively: the 6800S was 14 % sooner. This is an AMD sponsored title and easily runs very effectively on the 6800S.

Ray Tracing Performance

What does not run very effectively on the 6800S is ray tracing. When enjoying Guardians of the Galaxy utilizing the utmost ray tracing preset at 1080p, the 6800S is not considerably sooner than the 6600M and falls vastly behind the RTX 3070 at 90W with out utilizing any upscaling approach like DLSS or FSR.

It’s no contest, the RTX 3070 delivers playable ray tracing efficiency at a local 1080p, whereas the 6800S doesn’t. Unsurprisingly, the 6800S fares even worse at 1440p the place it could possibly’t even common 30 FPS with ray tracing turned as much as the max, which is comparatively straightforward for the RTX 3070 at 90W.

Resident Evil Village was the most effective outcomes for AMD in rasterization efficiency, however that is not the case when taking a look at ray tracing in the identical recreation. The 6800S is 20 % slower than the RTX 3070 at 90W when taking a look at each 1080p and 1440p knowledge, which successfully places the 6800S a tier or two beneath the RTX 3070 if you wish to play with ray tracing enabled. The 6800S continues to be playable at each resolutions although, particularly when you’re simply concentrating on across the 60 FPS mark.

Far Cry 6 is essentially the most favorable consequence for ray tracing within the 6800S vs RTX 3070 comparability. The RTX 3070 struggles a bit with its reminiscence system when ray tracing is enabled at the side of the HD texture pack, even at 1080p. When shifting as much as 1440p, the RTX 3070 is a little bit of a stutter fest whereas the 6800S appears to manage comparatively effectively, and that is regardless of each GPUs utilizing 8GB of VRAM. We suspect optimization for AMD {hardware} and the usage of Infinity Cache is saving the 6800S from a worse consequence.

For each good consequence, there is a dangerous consequence. The 6800S is fairly ineffective when trying to make use of ray tracing in Cyberpunk 2077. The 6800S merely can not address the extraordinary use of RT on this recreation, and fails to succeed in anyplace close to 30 FPS with out FSR enabled (and even then, struggles at an enormous hit to visible high quality). The RTX 3070 is just twice as quick right here, and may profit from DLSS which delivers superior picture high quality at 1080p. Don’t even make me discuss in regards to the 1440p knowledge for lengthy as a result of the 6800S result’s dismal and the RTX 3070, whereas rather a lot sooner, additionally fails to get anyplace close to 30 FPS.

Should You Avoid This Radeon Mobile GPU?

Going into this efficiency overview, we have been a bit skeptical of AMD’s strategy to creating a low energy GPU with the Radeon RX 6800S. Typically, the trail to success for making environment friendly merchandise has been to maintain the core comparatively massive, however scale back clock speeds to hit that effectivity candy spot within the voltage-frequency curve.

This has been an efficient tactic for CPUs and GeForce GPUs. But AMD did not try this with the 6800S, as an alternative selecting to chop down your complete GPU together with the reminiscence configuration in comparison with the full-power 6800M.

Despite this, the 6800S is a comparatively profitable low-power GPU. The drop in efficiency in comparison with the 6800M is just like what we have earlier than from Nvidia GPUs going from a full energy variant right down to the lower-power “Max-Q” mannequin.

The 6800S is aggressive with the RTX 3070 at 90W, which is utilized in many moveable laptop computer designs, particularly at 1080p the place the 6800S is on common 8 % sooner for rasterization efficiency. That ought to put it across the mark of Nvidia’s finest Max-Q GPUs, although clearly a good bit behind the quickest GPUs you may get. These chips are designed for slender and lightweight methods in any case and easily cannot be run at 125 to 150W.

However, the RX 6800S suffers from the identical points we have seen from different Radeon cell GPUs. The 6800S is not practically as aggressive at larger resolutions like 1440p, and quite a lot of laptops are coming to market today with 1440p shows and MUX switches in-built.

The Zephyrus G14 is one such instance with its 2560 x 1600 show. At 1440p, the 6800S is neck and neck with the RTX 3070 at 90W for rasterization, if not slightly slower. The 6800S nevertheless is AMD’s highest tier configuration for ultraportable gaming methods, and we do not assume it’d have the ability to go toe to toe with the RTX 3080 Ti.

The 6800S additionally suffers badly in ray tracing efficiency, falling effectively behind the RTX 3070 in most cases. It’s a double whammy right here, as a result of not solely is AMD’s RDNA2 ray tracing efficiency slower than Nvidia’s Ampere, however the Navi 23 die used right here additionally is not that suited to ray tracing with its restricted Infinity Cache and mediocre reminiscence system. The 6800S must be a 1440p + ray tracing class GPU, however AMD determined to make use of their 1080p class GPU for the duty, which can be seen within the 6600 XT desktop card.

Then we’ve got the standard checklist of Nvidia bonuses that you aren’t getting with an AMD GPU. DLSS specifically is way more efficient than FSR at laptop computer resolutions like 1080p (and FSR works on Nvidia GPUs, too). Plus, stronger encoder help, although on a laptop computer that is most likely extra for capturing gameplay than streaming it. Nvidia has additionally been capable of counter AMD’s SmartShift function with their very own equal, Dynamic Boost, and in our testing the RX 6800S + AMD CPU configuration used about as a lot energy on the wall as an Intel + Nvidia combo utilizing the RTX 3070 at 90W.

AMD has had a bonus up to now relating to laptop computer pricing. Last 12 months the Asus ROG Strix G15 with the Radeon RX 6800M was a superb deal up in opposition to related gaming methods with Nvidia GPUs. That’s additionally usually the case with the Zephyrus G14 and the 6800S, however we’re speaking a couple of pretty distinctive design and a pattern measurement of 1. The Zephyrus G14 with the 6800S prices $1,900, which is less expensive than one thing like a Razer Blade 14, however we nonetheless assume they should value their {hardware} decrease to be aggressive, particularly if AMD needs to achieve market share.