Radeon R9 290X / 390X vs Radeon RX 480
Radeon R9 290X / 390X
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Radeon RX 480
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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
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon RX 480 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (8 GB vs 4 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R9 290X / 390X.
| Insight | Radeon R9 290X / 390X | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / GCN 2.0 (2013−2017)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (275mm) | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon RX 480 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon RX 480 holds the technical lead. Priced at $55 (vs $60), it costs 8% less, resulting in a 11.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 290X / 390X | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+11.3%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($60) | ✅More affordable ($55) |
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 290X / 390X and Radeon RX 480
Radeon R9 290X / 390X
The Radeon R9 290X / 390X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 18 2015. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1050 MHz. It has 2816 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 275W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,380 points. Launch price was $429.
Radeon RX 480
The Radeon RX 480 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 29 2016. It features the GCN 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1120 MHz to 1266 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,546 points. Launch price was $229.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 290X / 390X scores 8,380 and the Radeon RX 480 reaches 8,546 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 290X / 390X is built on GCN 2.0 while the Radeon RX 480 uses GCN 4.0, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 2,816 (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) vs 2,304 (Radeon RX 480). Raw compute: 5.914 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) vs 5.834 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 480). Boost clocks: 1050 MHz vs 1266 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X / 390X | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 8,380 | 8,546+2% |
| Architecture | GCN 2.0 | GCN 4.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |
| Shading Units | 2816+22% | 2304 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 5.914 TFLOPS+1% | 5.834 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 1050 MHz | 1266 MHz+21% |
| ROPs | 64+100% | 32 |
| TMUs | 176+22% | 144 |
| L1 Cache | 704 KB+22% | 576 KB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X / 390X | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 290X / 390X comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 480 has 8 GB. The Radeon RX 480 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 320 GB/s (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) vs 256 GB/s (Radeon RX 480) — a 25% advantage for the Radeon R9 290X / 390X. Bus width: 512-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) vs 2 MB (Radeon RX 480) — the Radeon RX 480 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X / 390X | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 320 GB/s+25% | 256 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 512-bit+100% | 256-bit |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12.0 (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) vs 12.0 (Radeon RX 480). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 6 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X / 390X | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Vulkan | 1.1 | 1.3+18% |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 6+50% | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 2.0 (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) vs VCE 3.4 (Radeon RX 480). Decoder: UVD 4.2 vs UVD 6.3. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (Radeon RX 480).
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X / 390X | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 2.0 | VCE 3.4 |
| Decoder | UVD 4.2 | UVD 6.3 |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 | MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 290X / 390X draws 275W versus the Radeon RX 480's 150W — a 58.8% difference. The Radeon RX 480 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) vs 500W (Radeon RX 480). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 275mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 95°C vs 85°C.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X / 390X | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 275W | 150W-45% |
| Recommended PSU | 750W | 500W-33% |
| Power Connector | 6-pin + 8-pin | 8-pin |
| Length | 275mm | 240mm |
| Height | 109mm | 95mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 95°C | 85°C-11% |
| Perf/Watt | 30.5 | 57.0+87% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 290X / 390X launched at $549 MSRP and currently averages $60, while the Radeon RX 480 launched at $229 and now averages $55. The Radeon RX 480 costs 8.3% less ($5 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 139.7 (Radeon R9 290X / 390X) vs 155.4 (Radeon RX 480) — the Radeon RX 480 offers 11.2% better value. The Radeon RX 480 is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2015).
| Feature | Radeon R9 290X / 390X | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $549 | $229-58% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60 | $55-8% |
| Performance per Dollar | 139.7 | 155.4+11% |
| Codename | Grenada | Ellesmere |
| Release | June 18 2015 | June 29 2016 |
| Ranking | #287 | #305 |
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