Radeon R9 255 vs UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)

AMD

Radeon R9 255

2014Core: 918 MHz
Similar parts
·······
VS
Intel

UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)

2021Core: 350 MHzBoost: 1450 MHz
Similar parts
·······

Radeon R9 255 vs UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) Performance Spectrum

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.

Radeon R9 255 vs UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H): 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

  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 10.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($139 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).

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.
  • 1166.7% higher power demand at 190W vs 15W.

UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)

2021

Why buy it

  • Radeon R9 255 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) is the less risky modern option long term.
  • Draws 15W instead of 190W, a 175W reduction.
  • More future proof: Gen. 12 (2021−2023) on 10nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2021 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 10.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $139 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Radeon R9 255 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 0.1% in PassMark G3D (1,501 vs 1,500), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 10nm process instead of 28nm and a newer 2021 generation instead of 2014. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Radeon R9 255 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Radeon R9 255 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p headroom, UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) has the stronger long-term case.

Radeon R9 255 vs UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

Intel

UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)

The UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) is manufactured by Intel. It was released in May 11 2021. It features the Gen. 12 architecture. The core clock ranges from 350 MHz to 1450 MHz. It has 32 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 10 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,500 points.

Graphics Performance

The Radeon R9 255 scores 1,501 and the UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) reaches 1,500 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 255 is built on GCN 3.0 while the UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) uses Gen. 12, both on 28 nm vs 10 nm. Shader units: 1,792 (Radeon R9 255) vs 32 (UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)).

FeatureRadeon R9 255UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)
G3D Mark Score
1,501
1,500
Architecture
GCN 3.0
Gen. 12
Process Node
28 nm
10 nm
Shading Units
1792+5500%
32

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureRadeon R9 255UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)
Upscaling Tech
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
AMD Anti-Lag
Standard
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon R9 255 has 2 GB of VRAM, while the UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) 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 UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H).

FeatureRadeon R9 255UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)
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 UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)'s 15W — a 170.7% difference. The UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (Radeon R9 255) vs 1W (UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Integrated.

FeatureRadeon R9 255UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)
TDP
190W
15W-92%
Recommended PSU
400W
1W-100%
Power Connector
1x 6-pin
Integrated
Perf/Watt
7.9
100.0+1166%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Radeon R9 255 came in at $139, while the UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) launched at $0. On MSRP, UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) was 100+% cheaper ($139 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 10.8 (Radeon R9 255) vs Infinity (UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)) — the UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H) (2021 vs 2014).

FeatureRadeon R9 255UHD Graphics Xe 32EUs (Tiger Lake-H)
MSRP
$139
$0-100%
Performance per Dollar
10.8
Infinity
Codename
Tonga
Tiger Lake Xe
Release
September 2 2014
May 11 2021
Ranking
#365
#709

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.