RX 6500 XT vs GTX 1650
The RX 6500 XT is about 15% faster than the GTX 1650 at 4K and 21% faster at 1440p.
Quick verdict: the RX 6500 XT is the faster card. The GTX 1650 is only the smarter buy if you can get it for at least 17% less than the RX 6500 XT; any smaller discount and you are paying more per frame.
RX 6500 XT vs GTX 1650: Specs and Performance
| Spec | Radeon RX 6500 XT | GeForce GTX 1650 |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy (graphics) | 3,665 | 2,879 |
| Estimated FPS · 1080p | 41 | 34 |
| Estimated FPS · 1440p | 29 | 24 |
| Estimated FPS · 4K | 15 | 13 |
| Video memory | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Board power | 107 W | 75 W |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $199 | $149 |
| PCI Express | 4.0 ×4 | 3.0 ×16 |
| Release year | 2022 | 2019 |
| Series | AMD RX 6000 Series (RDNA 2) | NVIDIA GTX 16 Series |
Estimated FPS at 1080p, 1440p and 4K
1080p: the RX 6500 XT leads by 21%. 1440p: the RX 6500 XT leads by 21%. 4K: the RX 6500 XT leads by 15%. These figures come from our performance model, calibrated against published benchmark averages. They are estimates for comparing the two cards, not results measured on your PC.
Estimated FPS in Popular Games at 1440p
| Game (settings) | RX 6500 XT | GTX 1650 |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing) | ~25 | ~20 |
| Fortnite (High, DirectX 12) | ~40 | ~30 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High) | ~35 | ~30 |
| Counter-Strike 2 (High) | ~70 | ~60 |
Per-game figures scale each card's modelled 1440p average by how demanding the game is relative to our test blend, rounded to the nearest 5 FPS. Counter-Strike 2 is usually limited by the processor well before these numbers.
Verdict: RX 6500 XT or GTX 1650?
The RX 6500 XT is clearly faster than the GTX 1650: about 21% at 1080p, 21% at 1440p and 15% at 4K in our model.
Both cards have 4GB of video memory, so memory is not a reason to choose one over the other, though at 8GB neither is comfortable at 1440p with high textures in the newest games.
At launch the RX 6500 XT was $199 and the GTX 1650 $149, which works out to $6.9 and $6.2 per frame at 1440p. On those prices the GTX 1650 is the better value, but street prices move every week, so check before you buy. The RX 6500 XT is rated for 32W more board power, which means more heat, more fan noise and possibly a bigger power supply.
Beyond raw speed, the RX 6500 XT brings FSR 3 frame generation, with first-generation ray tracing, while the GTX 1650 offers no DLSS and no hardware ray tracing.
Bottom line: the RX 6500 XT is the faster card. The GTX 1650 is only the smarter buy if you can get it for at least 17% less than the RX 6500 XT; any smaller discount and you are paying more per frame.
Pairing Either Card With a Processor
A faster graphics card only helps if the processor can keep up. Each card's own page lists the slowest CPU that will not hold it back at every resolution:
- Radeon RX 6500 XT: best CPU pairing and bottleneck
- GeForce GTX 1650: best CPU pairing and bottleneck
- Check your own processor in the bottleneck calculator
Power supply: a common rule of thumb is the card's board power plus about 150W for the rest of a gaming PC, with 30% headroom. That points to roughly 350W for the RX 6500 XT and 300W for the GTX 1650. Check the card maker's own recommendation too.
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- RTX 3050 8GB vs GTX 1660 Super Effectively tied
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- Compare any two graphics cardsThe full GPU vs GPU tool
RX 6500 XT vs GTX 1650: Common Questions
Is the RX 6500 XT better than the GTX 1650?
The RX 6500 XT is the faster card. The GTX 1650 is only the smarter buy if you can get it for at least 17% less than the RX 6500 XT; any smaller discount and you are paying more per frame. The RX 6500 XT is about 15% faster than the GTX 1650 at 4K and 21% faster at 1440p.
Which is better for 1440p, the RX 6500 XT or the GTX 1650?
The Radeon RX 6500 XT, by about 21% (29 vs 24 FPS on high settings in our model).
Which is better for 4K, the RX 6500 XT or the GTX 1650?
The Radeon RX 6500 XT, by about 15% (15 vs 13 FPS on high settings in our model).
Does the RX 6500 XT have more VRAM than the GTX 1650?
No, both have 4GB of video memory.
Data last reviewed October 15, 2026. Launch prices are US MSRPs; board power is the reference design's rating. See the methodology for how every figure is produced.