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ASUS TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6800 XT OC Edition: features and specs
An ASUS TUF Gaming RX 6800 XT OC graphics card with 16GB GDDR6, PCIe 4.0, HDMI 2.1 and an all-aluminum shroud. What its specs mean for a PC build.
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The ASUS TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6800 XT OC Edition (model TUF-RX6800XT-O16G-GAMING) is a graphics card for desktop PCs, built on AMD's RDNA 2 architecture. It carries 16GB of GDDR6 memory and ASUS's TUF cooler, which stresses durability.
What RDNA 2 and 16GB GDDR6 mean
RDNA 2 is the second generation of AMD's graphics design, used in the Radeon RX 6000 series. The card's 16GB of GDDR6 video memory holds textures, frame buffers and other game data. A larger pool generally helps at higher resolutions and with detailed texture settings. "OC Edition" means ASUS ships it with higher clocks than the reference design, with its GPU Tweak II software for adjusting settings. ASUS advises avoiding unofficial software.
Connectors and the PCIe slot
The card uses PCIe 4.0, the interface it plugs into on the motherboard. PCIe is backward compatible, so a card like this typically still works in an older PCIe 3.0 slot, with the exact result depending on the system. Outputs are HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a. HDMI 2.1 matters for recent TVs and high-refresh displays; check your monitor's input.
Cooling design
ASUS lists several cooling features:
- Axial-tech fans: more blades and a new rotation scheme, according to ASUS.
- Dual ball fan bearings: which ASUS says can last up to twice as long as sleeve bearings.
- MaxContact heat spreader: a very flat surface that ASUS says improves thermal transfer to the cooler.
- Auto-Extreme Technology: the manufacturing process named by ASUS.
Build and validation
The shroud is all-aluminum, with a reinforced frame and a metal backplate, which ASUS says boost durability. It also describes a 144-hour validation program that puts the card through tests for compatibility with recent games. The card measures 12.6 x 5.5 x 2.3 inches (about 32 x 14 x 5.8 cm) and weighs 3.7 lb (about 1.7 kg).
Who it suits
It suits people building or upgrading a gaming PC who want a large frame buffer and a robust cooler, and those pairing it with a high-resolution or high-refresh monitor.
What to check before you buy
- Case clearance: confirm that 12.6 inches in length and the thickness fit your case.
- Power supply: check ASUS's recommended power supply wattage and the number of power connectors the card needs, plus whether your power supply provides them.
- Motherboard slot: a free PCIe x16 slot is required.
- Display inputs: match HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a to your monitor.
- Airflow: make sure the case has good airflow around the fans.
- Software and drivers: use official drivers and ASUS's own tools.
The short version
- An RDNA 2 card with 16GB GDDR6 and PCIe 4.0.
- HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.
- Axial-tech fans with dual ball bearings, MaxContact heat spreader.
- All-aluminum shroud, reinforced frame and metal backplate.
- 12.6 inches long, 3.7 lb; check case and power supply first.
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