Radeon R9 M290X vs GeForce GTX 470

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. The Radeon R9 M290X is positioned at rank #399 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Radeon R9 M290X

#388

Radeon RX 550X (móvel)

MSRP: $35|Avg: $35

1349%

#390

GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $150

1223%

#391

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $100

1219%

#395

GeForce GTX 1050 (Mobile)

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $50

1109%

#396

Radeon RX 6300

MSRP: $60|Avg: $40

1101%

#399

Radeon R9 M290X

MSRP: $400|Avg: $60

100%

#400

Radeon HD 7670

MSRP: $100|Avg: $25

100%

#401

Radeon HD 8550G + 8750M Dual

MSRP: $100|Avg: $100

99%

#402

Mobility Radeon HD 5000

MSRP: $99|Avg: $20

97%

#403

Iris Pro Graphics 5200

MSRP: $150|Avg: $40

97%

#405

Radeon RX Vega 10 Ryzen 7 3700C

MSRP: $150|Avg: $50

97%

#406

Radeon HD 8650G + 7700M Dual

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

93%

#407

Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire

MSRP: $800|Avg: $200

93%

#408

GeForce GTX 285M SLI

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $40

91%

#409

Radeon R7 M260X

MSRP: $139|Avg: $35

91%

#410

Radeon HD 8570D + HD 6570 Dual

MSRP: $120|Avg: $25

90%

#411

Intel UHD Graphics 615

MSRP: $100|Avg: $50

89%

#412

Radeon R7 A365

MSRP: $109|Avg: $55

89%

#413

Radeon 3015e

MSRP: $49|Avg: $49

89%

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

The Radeon R9 M290X is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.3% higher G3D Mark score and 220% more VRAM (4 GB vs 1 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 470.

Insight	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 470
Performance	✅Leading raw performance (+2.3%)	❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.3%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020))	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / Fermi (2010−2014))
Ecosystem	Supports FSR Upscaling	Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM	✅ More VRAM (+220%)	❌ Less VRAM capacity
Efficiency	💡 Excellent Perf/Watt	⚡ Higher Power Consumption
Case Fit	—	📏 Compact / SFF Friendly

💎 Value Proposition

The Radeon R9 M290X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 M290X holds the technical lead. Priced at $60 (vs $349), it costs 83% less, resulting in a 495.2% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 470
Cost Efficiency	✅Better overall value (+495.2%)	❌Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅More affordable ($60)	⚠️Higher upfront cost ($349)

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 M290X Benchmark Check

GeForce GTX 470 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Radeon R9 M290X and GeForce GTX 470

Radeon R9 M290X

The Radeon R9 M290X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 9 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,218 points.

GeForce GTX 470

The GeForce GTX 470 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 26 2010. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 607 MHz. It has 448 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 215W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,145 points. Launch price was $349.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Radeon R9 M290X scores 3,218 and the GeForce GTX 470 reaches 3,145 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 M290X is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce GTX 470 uses Fermi, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 448 (GeForce GTX 470). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 1.089 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 470).

Feature	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 470
G3D Mark Score	3,218+2%	3,145
Architecture	GCN 1.0	Fermi
Process Node	28 nm	40 nm
Shading Units	1280+186%	448
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.304 TFLOPS+112%	1.089 TFLOPS
ROPs	32	40+25%
TMUs	80+43%	56
L1 Cache	320 KB	896 KB+180%
L2 Cache	512 KB	640 KB+25%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 470
Upscaling Tech	FSR 1.0 (Software)	FSR 2.1 (Compatible)
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR 3 (Compatible)
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	AMD Anti-Lag	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon R9 M290X comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 470 has 1 GB. The Radeon R9 M290X offers 220% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 512 KB (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 640 KB (GeForce GTX 470) — the GeForce GTX 470 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 470
VRAM Capacity	4 GB+220%	1.25 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	512 KB	640 KB+25%

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon R9 M290X draws 100W versus the GeForce GTX 470's 215W — a 73% difference. The Radeon R9 M290X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 550W (GeForce GTX 470). Power connectors: Mobile vs 2x 6-pin.

Feature	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 470
TDP	100W-53%	215W
Recommended PSU	350W-36%	550W
Power Connector	Mobile	2x 6-pin
Length	—	241mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	—	2
Temp (Load)	—	93
Perf/Watt	32.2+121%	14.6

💰

Value Analysis

The Radeon R9 M290X launched at $400 MSRP and currently averages $60, while the GeForce GTX 470 launched at $349 and now averages $349. The Radeon R9 M290X costs 82.8% less ($289 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 53.6 (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 9.0 (GeForce GTX 470) — the Radeon R9 M290X offers 495.6% better value. The Radeon R9 M290X is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2010).