PowerColor RX 5600 XTFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 29 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment32%
PROS 32%
CONS 68%

Rank based on 29 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want strong 1080p gaming performance and don't mind occasional card bulk
  • You're set on the Red Devil variant with its larger 5700 XT-style cooler
  • You value PowerColor's direct-to-manufacturer warranty process

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You're wary of fans not spinning until near-100°C+ temperatures
  • You've read reports of post-update black/green screens and game crashes
  • You want a brand with consistently low RMA rates

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
PowerColor RX 6800
Cool, quiet cooling performanceSleek, understated build qualityLow power consumptionHigh prices during shortageCoil whine on some unitsFan durability concerns long-term
PowerColor RX 6800
Cool, quiet cooling performance
Sleek, understated build quality
Low power consumption
High prices during shortage
Coil whine on some units
Fan durability concerns long-term
Best value
2Budget
Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti
Exceptional longevitySolid 1080p performanceGood upgrade path from old GPUsLimited to lower/medium settings for demanding gamesNot top-tier performanceFan/cooler reliability over time
Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti
Exceptional longevity
Solid 1080p performance
Good upgrade path from old GPUs
Limited to lower/medium settings for demanding games
Not top-tier performance
Fan/cooler reliability over time
3Premium
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Exceptional longevityStrong 1440p gaming performanceGreat used market valueEventually needs replacement in demanding gamesLacks modern feature setThermal paste degradation over time
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Exceptional longevity
Strong 1440p gaming performance
Great used market value
Eventually needs replacement in demanding games
Lacks modern feature set
Thermal paste degradation over time
4Mid
Nvidia GeForce GTX 660
Strong 1080p gaming performanceExcellent value for moneyLong-term reliability and longevityBrand-specific fan noise concernsLimited VRAM versus competitorsOccasional driver/compatibility issues
Nvidia GeForce GTX 660
Strong 1080p gaming performance
Excellent value for money
Long-term reliability and longevity
Brand-specific fan noise concerns
Limited VRAM versus competitors
Occasional driver/compatibility issues
5Mid
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
Strong 1080p/1440p performancePerformance comparable to GTX 1070/1070Ti at lower priceLong-term reliability and aging wellHigh price for a mid-range card12GB variant seen as poor value or confusingLimited 6GB VRAM
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
Strong 1080p/1440p performance
Performance comparable to GTX 1070/1070Ti at lower price
Long-term reliability and aging well
High price for a mid-range card
12GB variant seen as poor value or confusing
Limited 6GB VRAM
6Budget
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
No external power connector neededGreat for small form factor and HTPC buildsLater became a good value due to shortagesPoor value versus RX 570Overpriced at launchRegional price disparities make it worse value
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
No external power connector needed
Great for small form factor and HTPC builds
Later became a good value due to shortages
Poor value versus RX 570
Overpriced at launch
Regional price disparities make it worse value
7Mid
PNY RTX 5070 Ti
Near-MSRP pricing and dealsCool operating temperaturesQuiet operation for most unitsCoil whine / fan noise on some unitsConfusing naming schemeNew 12-pin power connector adoption concerns
PNY RTX 5070 Ti
Near-MSRP pricing and deals
Cool operating temperatures
Quiet operation for most units
Coil whine / fan noise on some units
Confusing naming scheme
New 12-pin power connector adoption concerns
8Mid
PNY RTX 5070
Frequently available at or near MSRPStrong performance upgrade from older GPUsRuns cool and quiet, undervolts wellCoil whine or fan noise on some units12GB VRAM may limit future-proofingVoltage locked, limiting overclocking on some units
PNY RTX 5070
Frequently available at or near MSRP
Strong performance upgrade from older GPUs
Runs cool and quiet, undervolts well
Coil whine or fan noise on some units
12GB VRAM may limit future-proofing
Voltage locked, limiting overclocking on some units
9Budget
Nvidia GeForce GTX 750
Solid 1080p performanceExcellent budget valueExceptional longevityStruggles with demanding modern gamesCooling wear over yearsDriver instability
Nvidia GeForce GTX 750
Solid 1080p performance
Excellent budget value
Exceptional longevity
Struggles with demanding modern games
Cooling wear over years
Driver instability
10Budget
Zotac GTX 1650
Low power draw
Zotac GTX 1650
Low power draw
You are here
31Mid
PowerColor RX 5600 XT
Good 1080p gaming performanceAttractive designPositive legacy from older PowerColor cardsFans wouldn't spin until extreme temperaturesHigh RMA / reliability concernsPost-update crashes and screen issues
PowerColor RX 5600 XT
Good 1080p gaming performance
Attractive design
Positive legacy from older PowerColor cards
Fans wouldn't spin until extreme temperatures
High RMA / reliability concerns
Post-update crashes and screen issues

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The fan-curve bug was the defining controversy of this card. Multiple owners reported fans refusing to spin until temperatures reached roughly 90-110°C, with some joking PowerColor confused Celsius and Fahrenheit in the firmware. This was described as embarrassing given how easily reviewers reproduced it, and it went public well beyond just press units, damaging trust in the brand's quality control before any fix arrived.

A VBIOS update fixed spinning but not everything. After applying the new VBIOS, some buyers still hit black screens, Windows freezing at login, games failing to load, and one dramatic green-screen crash that led to a return. Others reported similar green or gray screen crashes as an ongoing issue acknowledged on Reddit and by AMD, suggesting the fix was incomplete for a portion of buyers.

The Red Devil variant is widely seen as the smarter choice. Commenters repeatedly steered buyers toward the Red Devil, noting it uses the larger 5700 XT cooler and ran with no fan or heat issues for at least one owner reaching 100fps in WoW at max settings. Some still loved older PowerColor Red Dragon cards like the RX 480 and Vega 56, framing this generation as an unusual misstep rather than a brand-wide pattern.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?