AMD received significant backlash for its controversial release of the RX 6500 XT graphics card priced at $200. The card failed to deliver the expected performance for its price, leading to numerous negative reviews. In response, AMD is now set to launch more affordable NAVI-based RDNA2 graphics cards, with the introduction of the AMD Radeon RX 6400.
The Radeon RX 6400, a budget-friendly entry-level graphics card, supports ray tracing and comes with an enticing price tag. Unlike AMD’s usual practice, there is no Founders edition available for this particular card. Instead, custom board manufacturers such as Biostar, XFX, ASUS, and Gigabyte have released their respective RX 6400 models.
AMD has positioned this new graphics card as a competitor to the GTX 1050 Ti. Priced at just $160, the RX 6400 offers an attractive alternative for budget-conscious PC builders. Additionally, its entry-level nature ensures lower power consumption, eliminating the need for an additional power connector. If the card is priced correctly and readily available in the market, it will be welcomed news for those seeking an affordable option with ray tracing capabilities.
Taking a closer look at the GPU’s specifications, it is apparent that the RX 6400 is a refined version of the RX 6500 XT, with slightly weaker specifications. The GPU features 768 streaming processors, 12 ray accelerators for ray tracing, and 48 texture units. It operates at a base clock of 2 GHz and a boost clock of 2.3 GHz.
Unfortunately, similar to the RX 6500 XT, the RX 6400 lacks support for AV1 Decode, H265/HEVC Encode, and 4K H264 Encode. With a TDP of only 53 watts, the card requires no additional power connector, making it compatible with power supplies as low as 350 watts.
Considering the disappointment surrounding the RX 6500 XT’s performance, it is crucial for potential buyers to exercise caution before purchasing the RX 6400. According to AMD’s claims, this card is positioned as a competitor to the GTX 1050 Ti and GTX 1650, offering superior performance. It remains to be seen whether the RX 6400 lives up to these expectations and provides a viable alternative in the budget graphics card market.