Radeon R9 290 / 390 vs Radeon Pro V520

Radeon R9 290 / 390

2015Boost: 1000 MHz

Radeon Pro V520

2020Core: 1000 MHzBoost: 1600 MHz

Performance Spectrum - GPU

Radeon R9 290 / 390

300

8,150

+1.9%

Radeon RX 560 (móvel)

Radeon 760M

Radeon R9 380X

Radeon RX 470 (móvel)

8,000

0.0%

Radeon HD 7870 XT

Radeon RX 6300

Radeon R9 380X

Radeon RX 470 (móvel)

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar Radeon Pro V520

#70

Radeon PRO W6800

MSRP: $2249|Avg: $2249

90%

#124

Tesla K20m

MSRP: $3199|Avg: $55

1477%

#139

Radeon Pro V520

MSRP: $800|Avg: $300

100%

#140

Quadro T1000 (móvel)

MSRP: $500|Avg: $120

100%

#141

Quadro M5500

MSRP: $800|Avg: $200

99%

#142

Quadro K1200

MSRP: $300|Avg: $184

99%

#143

Quadro P400

MSRP: $169|Avg: $60

98%

#144

Radeon Pro WX 7100

MSRP: $799|Avg: $180

96%

#145

Quadro M520

MSRP: $200|Avg: $50

96%

#146

Radeon Sky 500

MSRP: $500|Avg: $500

95%

#147

Quadro M5000

MSRP: $999|Avg: $120

94%

#148

Radeon Pro WX 4100

MSRP: $399|Avg: $85

92%

#149

Quadro P4000 (móvel)

MSRP: $819|Avg: $290

92%

#151

FirePro M40003

MSRP: $150|Avg: $72

91%

#152

Radeon Pro 465

MSRP: $500|Avg: $150

91%

#154

Tesla P4

MSRP: $1000|Avg: $190

90%

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

⚠️ Generational Difference

The Radeon Pro V520 uses modern memory architecture. The Radeon Pro V520 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon R9 290 / 390 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.

🚀 Performance Leadership

The Radeon R9 290 / 390 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.9% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon Pro V520.

Insight	Radeon R9 290 / 390	Radeon Pro V520
Performance	✅Leading raw performance (+1.9%)	❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.9%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / GCN 2.0 (2013−2017))	RDNA 1.0 (2019−2020) (7nm)
Ecosystem	Supports FSR Upscaling	Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM	❌ Less VRAM capacity	✅ More VRAM (+0%)
Efficiency	⚡ Higher Power Consumption	💡 Excellent Perf/Watt
Case Fit	Standard Size (275mm)	Standard Size (267mm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Radeon R9 290 / 390 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $65 versus $300 for the Radeon Pro V520, it costs 78% less. While it maintains competitive performance, this results in a 370.2% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	Radeon R9 290 / 390	Radeon Pro V520
Cost Efficiency	✅Better overall value (+370.2%)	❌Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅More affordable ($65)	⚠️Higher upfront cost ($300)

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.

Radeon R9 290 / 390 Benchmark Check

Radeon Pro V520 Benchmark Check

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Radeon R9 290 / 390 and Radeon Pro V520

Radeon R9 290 / 390

The Radeon R9 290 / 390 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 18 2015. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,150 points. Launch price was $329.

Radeon Pro V520

The Radeon Pro V520 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in December 1 2020. It features the RDNA 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1000 MHz to 1600 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,000 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Radeon R9 290 / 390 scores 8,150 and the Radeon Pro V520 reaches 8,000 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 290 / 390 is built on GCN 2.0 while the Radeon Pro V520 uses RDNA 1.0, both on 28 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (Radeon R9 290 / 390) vs 2,304 (Radeon Pro V520). Raw compute: 5.12 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 290 / 390) vs 7.373 TFLOPS (Radeon Pro V520). Boost clocks: 1000 MHz vs 1600 MHz.

Feature	Radeon R9 290 / 390	Radeon Pro V520
G3D Mark Score	8,150+2%	8,000
Architecture	GCN 2.0	RDNA 1.0
Process Node	28 nm	7 nm
Shading Units	2560+11%	2304
Compute (TFLOPS)	5.12 TFLOPS	7.373 TFLOPS+44%
Boost Clock	1000 MHz	1600 MHz+60%
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160+11%	144
L2 Cache	1 MB	4 MB+300%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon R9 290 / 390	Radeon Pro V520
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)

Both cards feature 4 GB of video memory. Bus width: 512-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (Radeon R9 290 / 390) vs 4 MB (Radeon Pro V520) — the Radeon Pro V520 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	Radeon R9 290 / 390	Radeon Pro V520
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Bus Width	512-bit+300%	128-bit
L2 Cache	1 MB	4 MB+300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.0 (Radeon R9 290 / 390) vs 12.1 (Radeon Pro V520). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 6 vs 0.

Feature	Radeon R9 290 / 390	Radeon Pro V520
DirectX	12.0	12.1
Vulkan	1.2+9%	1.1
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	6	0

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: VCE 2.0 (Radeon R9 290 / 390) vs VCN 2.0 (Radeon Pro V520). Decoder: UVD 4.2 vs VCN 2.0. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 (Radeon R9 290 / 390) vs H.264,H.265,VP9 (Radeon Pro V520).

Feature	Radeon R9 290 / 390	Radeon Pro V520
Encoder	VCE 2.0	VCN 2.0
Decoder	UVD 4.2	VCN 2.0
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1	H.264,H.265,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon R9 290 / 390 draws 300W versus the Radeon Pro V520's 225W — a 28.6% difference. The Radeon Pro V520 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (Radeon R9 290 / 390) vs 350W (Radeon Pro V520). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 275mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 95°C vs 85°C.

Feature	Radeon R9 290 / 390	Radeon Pro V520
TDP	300W	225W-25%
Recommended PSU	750W	350W-53%
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	275mm	267mm
Height	109mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	95°C	85°C-11%
Perf/Watt	27.2	35.6+31%

💰

Value Analysis

The Radeon R9 290 / 390 launched at $329 MSRP and currently averages $65, while the Radeon Pro V520 launched at $800 and now averages $300. The Radeon R9 290 / 390 costs 78.3% less ($235 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 125.4 (Radeon R9 290 / 390) vs 26.7 (Radeon Pro V520) — the Radeon R9 290 / 390 offers 369.7% better value. The Radeon Pro V520 is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2015).