Radeon R9 280 vs Radeon Pro WX 5100
Radeon R9 280
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Radeon Pro WX 5100
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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 Radeon Pro WX 5100
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R9 280 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.6% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon Pro WX 5100 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon Pro WX 5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.6%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+163.5%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R9 280 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 280 holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $120), it costs 67% less, resulting in a 201.7% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon Pro WX 5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+201.7%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($40) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($120) |
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 R9 280 and Radeon Pro WX 5100
Radeon R9 280
The Radeon R9 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 4 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 933 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,532 points. Launch price was $279.
Radeon Pro WX 5100
The Radeon Pro WX 5100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 18 2016. It features the GCN 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 713 MHz to 1086 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,500 points. Launch price was $499.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 280 scores 5,532 and the Radeon Pro WX 5100 reaches 5,500 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 280 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon Pro WX 5100 uses GCN 4.0, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 1,792 (Radeon R9 280) vs 1,792 (Radeon Pro WX 5100). Raw compute: 3.344 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 280) vs 3.892 TFLOPS (Radeon Pro WX 5100). Boost clocks: 933 MHz vs 1086 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon Pro WX 5100 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 5,532 | 5,500 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 4.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |
| Shading Units | 1792 | 1792 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 3.344 TFLOPS | 3.892 TFLOPS+16% |
| Boost Clock | 933 MHz | 1086 MHz+16% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 112 | 112 |
| L1 Cache | 448 KB | 448 KB |
| L2 Cache | 0.75 MB | 2 MB+167% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon Pro WX 5100 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 R9 280 comes with 3 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon Pro WX 5100 has 8 GB. The Radeon Pro WX 5100 offers 163.5% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 384-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 0.75 MB (Radeon R9 280) vs 2 MB (Radeon Pro WX 5100) — the Radeon Pro WX 5100 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon Pro WX 5100 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 3 GB | 7.906 GB+164% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Bus Width | 384-bit+200% | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 0.75 MB | 2 MB+167% |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 280 draws 200W versus the Radeon Pro WX 5100's 75W — a 90.9% difference. The Radeon Pro WX 5100 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon R9 280) vs 350W (Radeon Pro WX 5100). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon Pro WX 5100 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 200W | 75W-63% |
| Recommended PSU | 500W | 350W-30% |
| Power Connector | 6-pin + 8-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | — | 173mm |
| Height | — | 69mm |
| Slots | — | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 82°C |
| Perf/Watt | 27.7 | 73.3+165% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 280 launched at $279 MSRP and currently averages $40, while the Radeon Pro WX 5100 launched at $499 and now averages $120. The Radeon R9 280 costs 66.7% less ($80 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 138.3 (Radeon R9 280) vs 45.8 (Radeon Pro WX 5100) — the Radeon R9 280 offers 202% better value. The Radeon Pro WX 5100 is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2014).
| Feature | Radeon R9 280 | Radeon Pro WX 5100 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $279-44% | $499 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-67% | $120 |
| Performance per Dollar | 138.3+202% | 45.8 |
| Codename | Tahiti | Ellesmere |
| Release | March 4 2014 | November 18 2016 |
| Ranking | #415 | #416 |
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