Radeon R9 255 vs Radeon Vega 10

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.

Radeon R9 255 vs Radeon Vega 10 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Radeon R9 255 vs Radeon Vega 10: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

Radeon R9 255

2014

Why buy it

✅61.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $360 less on MSRP ($139 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 255.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 10.8 vs 3.0 G3D/$ ($139 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).
✅Radeon Vega 10 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon R9 255 is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

❌2014 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌1800% higher power demand at 190W vs 10W.

Radeon Vega 10

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 10W instead of 190W, a 180W reduction.
✅More future proof: GCN 5.0 (2017−2020) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon R9 255 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2019 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
259% HIGHER MSRP
$499 MSRPvs$139 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 3.0 vs 10.8 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $139 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon R9 255 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 61.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward Radeon Vega 10 instead at 1,515 vs 1,501, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

Radeon R9 255 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 2 GB vs Unknown of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon R9 255 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $360 cheaper on MSRP at $139 vs $499, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 255.7% (10.8 vs 3.0), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

Radeon R9 255 vs Radeon Vega 10 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Radeon R9 255

The Radeon R9 255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 2 2014. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 918 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,501 points. Launch price was $249.

Radeon Vega 10

The Radeon Vega 10 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 8 2019. It features the GCN 5.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1301 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 10W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,515 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Radeon R9 255 scores 1,501 and the Radeon Vega 10 reaches 1,515 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 255 is built on GCN 3.0 while the Radeon Vega 10 uses GCN 5.0, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 1,792 (Radeon R9 255) vs 640 (Radeon Vega 10). Raw compute: 3.29 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 255) vs 1.665 TFLOPS (Radeon Vega 10).

Feature	Radeon R9 255	Radeon Vega 10
G3D Mark Score	1,501	1,515
Architecture	GCN 3.0	GCN 5.0
Process Node	28 nm	14 nm
Shading Units	1792+180%	640
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.29 TFLOPS+98%	1.665 TFLOPS
ROPs	32+300%	8
TMUs	112+180%	40
Frame Generation	FSR upscaling	FSR upscaling

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon R9 255	Radeon Vega 10
Upscaling Tech	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	AMD Anti-Lag	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon R9 255 has 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon Vega 10 carries 0 MB. Radeon R9 255 gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the Radeon R9 255 and System on the Radeon Vega 10.

Feature	Radeon R9 255	Radeon Vega 10
VRAM Capacity	2 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR5	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	System
Bus Width	128-bit	System

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon R9 255 draws 190W versus the Radeon Vega 10's 10W — a 180% difference. The Radeon Vega 10 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (Radeon R9 255) vs 1W (Radeon Vega 10). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Integrated.

Feature	Radeon R9 255	Radeon Vega 10
TDP	190W	10W-95%
Recommended PSU	400W	1W-100%
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	Integrated
Perf/Watt	7.9	151.5+1818%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Radeon R9 255 came in at $139, while the Radeon Vega 10 launched at $499. On MSRP, Radeon R9 255 was 72.1% cheaper ($360 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 10.8 (Radeon R9 255) vs 3.0 (Radeon Vega 10) — the Radeon R9 255 offers 260% better value. The newer card here is Radeon Vega 10 (2019 vs 2014).

Feature	Radeon R9 255	Radeon Vega 10
MSRP	$139-72%	$499
Performance per Dollar	10.8+260%	3.0
Codename	Tonga	Raven
Release	September 2 2014	January 8 2019
Ranking	#365	#747

Search Radeon R9 255 on Amazon

Search Radeon Vega 10 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.