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AMD Instinct MI250 vs AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT: Comparison
Instinct MI250 vs Radeon RX 6500 XT: the tdp difference
The gap that matters here is tdp: Instinct MI250 500 W against Radeon RX 6500 XT 107 W, which puts Radeon RX 6500 XT 367% ahead. Memory bandwidth runs the same way, 3200 GB/s on the Instinct MI250 versus 144 GB/s on the Radeon RX 6500 XT, another win for Instinct MI250. Boost clock runs the same way, 1700 MHz on the Instinct MI250 versus 2815 MHz on the Radeon RX 6500 XT, another win for Radeon RX 6500 XT. Instinct MI250 also leads on memory bus width, 8192 bit on the Instinct MI250 versus 64 bit on the Radeon RX 6500 XT.
Which should you buy, Instinct MI250 or Radeon RX 6500 XT?
The Instinct MI250 is the one to take for buyers comparing AMD's official reference specifications and researching a chip before choosing a board-partner card, though it is not the pick for overclocking-focused enthusiasts (reference clocks only). Avoid it for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. The Radeon RX 6500 XT suits gamers targeting the resolution this entry-level tier is built for, though it is the wrong buy for 4K/high-refresh gamers if this card's tier sits below High-End. The same goes for builders who want 4GB of VRAM without moving up a tier. It is not the one for buyers who need the absolute best price-to-performance and should compare street prices first. Our rating of the Radeon RX 6500 XT (5.5/10): A solid entry-level pick if its price and 4GB VRAM allocation match your target resolution.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Instinct MI250 and Radeon RX 6500 XT differ on board partner?
Yes. Board Partner reads Reference on the Instinct MI250 versus AMD Reference on the Radeon RX 6500 XT.
Is the GPU Brand the same on the Instinct MI250 and Radeon RX 6500 XT?
It is. Both are listed at AMD, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
GPU Brand
- AMD Instinct MI250
- AMD
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- AMD
Series
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Instinct
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- Radeon RX 6000
Board Partner
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Reference
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- AMD Reference
Tier
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Datacenter
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- Entry-Level
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI250
- HBM2E
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- GDDR6Best
Boost Clock
- AMD Instinct MI250
- 1700 MHz-40%
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- 2815 MHzBest
TDP
- AMD Instinct MI250
- 500 W-367%
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- 107 WBest
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI250
- CDNA2
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- RDNA 2 (Navi 24)
Slot Width
- AMD Instinct MI250
- Not Applicable
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- 2
Shader Units
- AMD Instinct MI250
- 13312
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- 1024
Memory Bus Width
- AMD Instinct MI250
- 8192 bitBest
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- 64 bit-99%
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI250
- 3200 GB/sBest
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- 144 GB/s-95%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI250
- PCIe 4.0
- AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- PCIe 4.0 x4
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI250 if you want the higher memory bus width (8192 bit vs 64 bit) and the higher memory bandwidth (3200 GB/s vs 144 GB/s).
Choose AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT if you want the higher boost clock (2815 MHz vs 1700 MHz) and the lower TDP (107 W vs 500 W).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Instinct MI250 | AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $199.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
5.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A solid entry-level pick if its price and 4GB VRAM allocation match your target resolution.