Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 vs GeForce GTX 580
Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280
Popular choices:
GeForce GTX 580
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.8% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 580.
| Insight | Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 | GeForce GTX 580 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.8%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.8%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / Fermi 2.0 (2010−2014)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (278mm) | Standard Size (267mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 580 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 580 holds the technical lead. Priced at $30 (vs $35), it costs 14% less, resulting in a 13.5% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 | GeForce GTX 580 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+13.5%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($35) | ✅More affordable ($30) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 and GeForce GTX 580
Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280
The Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 31 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1250 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,765 points. Launch price was $449.
GeForce GTX 580
The GeForce GTX 580 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 9 2010. It features the Fermi 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 772 MHz. It has 512 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 244W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,634 points. Launch price was $499.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 scores 4,765 and the GeForce GTX 580 reaches 4,634 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce GTX 580 uses Fermi 2.0, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 1,792 (Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280) vs 512 (GeForce GTX 580). Raw compute: 2.867 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280) vs 1.581 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 580).
| Feature | Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 | GeForce GTX 580 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 4,765+3% | 4,634 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Fermi 2.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 1792+250% | 512 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.867 TFLOPS+81% | 1.581 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 | 48+50% |
| TMUs | 112+75% | 64 |
| L1 Cache | 0.44 MB | 1 MB+127% |
| L2 Cache | 768 KB | 768 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 | GeForce GTX 580 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 3 GB of GDDR5. Memory bandwidth: 240 GB/s (Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280) vs 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 580) — a 25% advantage for the Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280. Bus width: 384-bit vs 384-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 | GeForce GTX 580 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 240 GB/s+25% | 192 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 384-bit | 384-bit |
| L2 Cache | 768 KB | 768 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280) vs 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 580). Vulkan: 1.2 vs N/A. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.
| Feature | Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 | GeForce GTX 580 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 | 12 (11_0) |
| Vulkan | 1.2 | N/A |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4+100% | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 1.0 (Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280) vs None (GeForce GTX 580). Decoder: UVD 3.2 vs PureVideo HD VP4. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,MVC (Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce GTX 580).
| Feature | Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 | GeForce GTX 580 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 1.0 | None |
| Decoder | UVD 3.2 | PureVideo HD VP4 |
| Codecs | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,MVC | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 draws 200W versus the GeForce GTX 580's 244W — a 19.8% difference. The Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280) vs 550W (GeForce GTX 580). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 6-pin + 8-pin. Card length: 278mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 85 C.
| Feature | Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 | GeForce GTX 580 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 200W-18% | 244W |
| Recommended PSU | 500W-9% | 550W |
| Power Connector | 2x 6-pin | 6-pin + 8-pin |
| Length | 278mm | 267mm |
| Height | 111mm | 111mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 80°C-6% | 85 C |
| Perf/Watt | 23.8+25% | 19.0 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 launched at $279 MSRP and currently averages $35, while the GeForce GTX 580 launched at $499 and now averages $30. The GeForce GTX 580 costs 14.3% less ($5 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 136.1 (Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280) vs 154.5 (GeForce GTX 580) — the GeForce GTX 580 offers 13.5% better value. The Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 is the newer GPU (2012 vs 2010).
| Feature | Radeon HD 7950 / R9 280 | GeForce GTX 580 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $279-44% | $499 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $35 | $30-14% |
| Performance per Dollar | 136.1 | 154.5+14% |
| Codename | Tahiti | GF110 |
| Release | January 31 2012 | November 9 2010 |
| Ranking | #454 | #458 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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