Radeon R9 M290X vs Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U
Radeon R9 M290X
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Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U
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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. 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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M290X
Performance Per Dollar Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U is significantly newer (2021 vs 2014). The Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon R9 M290X lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R9 M290X is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.4% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (4 GB vs 2 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U.
| Insight | Radeon R9 M290X | Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.4%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | RDNA 2.0 (2020−2025) (7nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R9 M290X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $60 versus $350 for the Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U, it costs 83% less. While it maintains basic entry-level capabilities, this results in a 485.5% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 M290X | Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+485.5%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($60) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($350) |
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 M290X and Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U
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.
Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U
The Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 13 2021. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1626 MHz to 2491 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 132W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,206 points. Launch price was $329.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 M290X scores 3,218 and the Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U reaches 3,206 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 M290X is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U uses RDNA 2.0, both on 28 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 1,792 (Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 8.928 TFLOPS (Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 2491 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,218 | 3,206 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | RDNA 2.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 7 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280 | 1792+40% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.304 TFLOPS | 8.928 TFLOPS+288% |
| Boost Clock | 900 MHz | 2491 MHz+177% |
| ROPs | 32 | 64+100% |
| TMUs | 80 | 112+40% |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 512 KB+60% |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 2 MB+300% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 M290X comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U has 2 GB. The Radeon R9 M290X offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs System. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 2 MB (Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U) — the Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB+100% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | Shared |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | System |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | System |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 2 MB+300% |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 M290X draws 100W versus the Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U's 132W — a 27.6% difference. The Radeon R9 M290X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 350W (Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U). Power connectors: Mobile vs None.
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W-24% | 132W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Mobile | None |
| Perf/Watt | 32.2+33% | 24.3 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 M290X launched at $400 MSRP and currently averages $60, while the Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U launched at $350 and now averages $350. The Radeon R9 M290X costs 82.9% less ($290 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 53.6 (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 9.2 (Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U) — the Radeon R9 M290X offers 482.6% better value. The Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2014).
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Radeon Ryzen 5 6600U |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $400 | $350-13% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60-83% | $350 |
| Performance per Dollar | 53.6+483% | 9.2 |
| Codename | Neptune | Navi 23 |
| Release | January 9 2014 | October 13 2021 |
| Ranking | #566 | #150 |
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