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 280X vs Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire 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 280X vs Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire: 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 280X

2013

Why buy it

✅49.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $501 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $800 MSRP).
✅Delivers 172% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 20.4 vs 7.5 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $800 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2013 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.

Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire

2014

Why buy it

✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: GCN (2012−2015) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon R9 280X across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2014 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌
167.6% HIGHER MSRP
$800 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 7.5 vs 20.4 G3D/$ ($800 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon R9 280X is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 49.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 1.7% in PassMark G3D (6,100 vs 6,000), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

Radeon R9 280X is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond because it comes out ahead on the available hardware-headroom signals for this matchup.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon R9 280X makes the most sense to buy today. It is $501 cheaper on MSRP at $299 vs $800, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 172% (20.4 vs 7.5), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

Radeon R9 280X vs Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire Technical Specifications

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

Radeon R9 280X

The Radeon R9 280X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 8 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,100 points. Launch price was $299.

Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire

The Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 1 2014. It features the GCN architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,000 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Radeon R9 280X scores 6,100 and the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire reaches 6,000 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 280X is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire uses GCN, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,048 (Radeon R9 280X) vs 2,560 (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire). Boost clocks: 1000 MHz vs 900 MHz.

Feature	Radeon R9 280X	Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
G3D Mark Score	6,100+2%	6,000
Architecture	GCN 1.0	GCN
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2048	2560+25%
Boost Clock	1000 MHz+11%	900 MHz
Frame Generation	FSR upscaling	FSR upscaling

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon R9 280X	Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
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 280X has 3 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire carries 4 GB. Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 288 GB/s (Radeon R9 280X) vs 307.2 GB/s (Dual) (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire) — a 6.7% advantage for the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire. Memory bus width is 384-bit on the Radeon R9 280X and 512-bit (Dual) on the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire.

Feature	Radeon R9 280X	Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
VRAM Capacity	3 GB	4 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	288 GB/s	307.2 GB/s (Dual)+7%
Bus Width	384-bit	512-bit (Dual)+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_1) (Radeon R9 280X) vs 12 (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire). Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 0.

Feature	Radeon R9 280X	Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
DirectX	12 (11_1)	12
Max Displays	3	0

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: VCE 2.0 (Radeon R9 280X) vs VCE 1.0 (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire). Decoder: UVD 4.2 vs UVD 3.1.

Feature	Radeon R9 280X	Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
Encoder	VCE 2.0	VCE 1.0
Decoder	UVD 4.2	UVD 3.1
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4	—

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon R9 280X draws 200W versus the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire's 200W — a 0% difference. The Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon R9 280X) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs Mobile.

Feature	Radeon R9 280X	Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
TDP	200W	200W
Recommended PSU	500W	350W-30%
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	Mobile
Length	—	1mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	30.5+2%	30.0

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Radeon R9 280X came in at $299, while the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire launched at $800. On MSRP, Radeon R9 280X was 62.6% cheaper ($501 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 20.4 (Radeon R9 280X) vs 7.5 (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire) — the Radeon R9 280X offers 172% better value. The newer card here is Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire (2014 vs 2013).

Feature	Radeon R9 280X	Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
MSRP	$299-63%	$800
Performance per Dollar	20.4+172%	7.5
Codename	Tahiti	Neptune CF
Release	October 8 2013	March 1 2014
Ranking	#404	#348

Search Radeon R9 280X on Amazon

Search Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire 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.