Radeon Pro Duo vs Radeon R9 290
Radeon Pro Duo
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Radeon R9 290
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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. The Radeon Pro Duo is positioned at rank #200 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Radeon Pro Duo
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon Pro Duo is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.4% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (8 GB vs 4 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R9 290.
| Insight | Radeon Pro Duo | Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.4%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 2.0 (2013−2017)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | Standard Size (275mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R9 290 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 290 holds the technical lead. Priced at $50 (vs $799), it costs 94% less, resulting in a 1475.9% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon Pro Duo | Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+1475.9%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($799) | ✅More affordable ($50) |
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 Pro Duo and Radeon R9 290
Radeon Pro Duo
The Radeon Pro Duo is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 26 2016. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 4096 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,299 points. Launch price was $1,499.
Radeon R9 290
The Radeon R9 290 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 5 2013. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 947 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 275W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,184 points. Launch price was $399.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon Pro Duo scores 8,299 and the Radeon R9 290 reaches 8,184 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon Pro Duo is built on GCN 3.0 while the Radeon R9 290 uses GCN 2.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 4,096 (Radeon Pro Duo) vs 2,560 (Radeon R9 290). Raw compute: 8.192 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon Pro Duo) vs 4.849 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 290).
| Feature | Radeon Pro Duo | Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 8,299+1% | 8,184 |
| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | GCN 2.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 4096 ×2+60% | 2560 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 8.192 TFLOPS ×2+69% | 4.849 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 64 ×2 | 64 |
| TMUs | 256 ×2+60% | 160 |
| L1 Cache | 1 MB+59% | 0.63 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon Pro Duo | Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon Pro Duo comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 290 has 4 GB. The Radeon Pro Duo offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 512-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (Radeon Pro Duo) vs 1 MB (Radeon R9 290) — the Radeon Pro Duo has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon Pro Duo | Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB+100% | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 512-bit+300% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12.0 (Radeon Pro Duo) vs 12.0 (Radeon R9 290). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 6.
| Feature | Radeon Pro Duo | Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Vulkan | 1.1 | 1.2+9% |
| OpenGL | 4.5 | 4.6+2% |
| Max Displays | 4 | 6+50% |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 3.4 (Radeon Pro Duo) vs VCE 2.0 (Radeon R9 290). Decoder: UVD 6.3 vs UVD 4.2. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (Radeon Pro Duo) vs MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 (Radeon R9 290).
| Feature | Radeon Pro Duo | Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 3.4 | VCE 2.0 |
| Decoder | UVD 6.3 | UVD 4.2 |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon Pro Duo draws 350W versus the Radeon R9 290's 275W — a 24% difference. The Radeon R9 290 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon Pro Duo) vs 750W (Radeon R9 290). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 6-pin + 8-pin. Card length: 240mm vs 275mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 95°C.
| Feature | Radeon Pro Duo | Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 350W | 275W-21% |
| Recommended PSU | 500W-33% | 750W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 6-pin + 8-pin |
| Length | 240mm | 275mm |
| Height | 111mm | 109mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 75°C-21% | 95°C |
| Perf/Watt | 23.7 | 29.8+26% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon Pro Duo launched at $1499 MSRP and currently averages $799, while the Radeon R9 290 launched at $399 and now averages $50. The Radeon R9 290 costs 93.7% less ($749 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 10.4 (Radeon Pro Duo) vs 163.7 (Radeon R9 290) — the Radeon R9 290 offers 1474% better value. The Radeon Pro Duo is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon Pro Duo | Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1499 | $399-73% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $799 | $50-94% |
| Performance per Dollar | 10.4 | 163.7+1474% |
| Codename | Capsaicin | Hawaii |
| Release | April 26 2016 | November 5 2013 |
| Ranking | #309 | #316 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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