Radeon R9 M390X vs Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870

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 M390X vs Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 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 M390X vs Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870: 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 M390X

2015

Why buy it

✅28.3% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs Unknown).
✅Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon R9 M390X is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

❌2015 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
266.7% HIGHER MSRP
$550 MSRPvs$150 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 7.1 vs 26.1 G3D/$ ($550 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
❌15.4% higher power demand at 75W vs 65W.

Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $400 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $550 MSRP).
✅Delivers 269.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 26.1 vs 7.1 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $550 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 75W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon R9 M390X across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2018 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon R9 M390X is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 28.3% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 instead at 3,922 vs 3,895, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.

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

Radeon R9 M390X is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs Unknown of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $400 cheaper on MSRP at $150 vs $550, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 269.2% (26.1 vs 7.1), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p, Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Radeon R9 M390X has the stronger long-term case.

Radeon R9 M390X vs Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 Technical Specifications

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

Radeon R9 M390X

The Radeon R9 M390X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 5 2015. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 723 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,895 points.

Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870

The Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 7 2018. It features the Vega architecture. The core clock ranges from 931 MHz to 1011 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 65W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,922 points.

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Graphics Performance

The Radeon R9 M390X scores 3,895 and the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 reaches 3,922 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 M390X is built on GCN 3.0 while the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 uses Vega, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (Radeon R9 M390X) vs 1,280 (Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870).

Feature	Radeon R9 M390X	Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870
G3D Mark Score	3,895	3,922
Architecture	GCN 3.0	Vega
Process Node	28 nm	14 nm
Shading Units	2048+60%	1280
Frame Generation	FSR upscaling	FSR upscaling

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon R9 M390X	Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870
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

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon R9 M390X has 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 carries 0 MB. Radeon R9 M390X gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 160 GB/s (Radeon R9 M390X) vs 179.2 GB/s (Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870) — a 12% advantage for the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the Radeon R9 M390X and 1024-bit on the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870.

Feature	Radeon R9 M390X	Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR5	HBM2
Memory Bandwidth	160 GB/s	179.2 GB/s+12%
Bus Width	256-bit	1024-bit+300%

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Power & Dimensions

The Radeon R9 M390X draws 75W versus the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870's 65W — a 14.3% difference. The Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon R9 M390X) vs 1W (Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870). Power connectors: Mobile vs Integrated.

Feature	Radeon R9 M390X	Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870
TDP	75W	65W-13%
Recommended PSU	350W	1W-100%
Power Connector	Mobile	Integrated
Length	—	0mm
Height	—	0mm
Slots	—	0
Temp (Load)	—	80
Perf/Watt	51.9	60.3+16%

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Radeon R9 M390X came in at $550, while the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 launched at $150. On MSRP, Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 was 72.7% cheaper ($400 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 7.1 (Radeon R9 M390X) vs 26.1 (Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870) — the Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 offers 267.6% better value. The newer card here is Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 (2018 vs 2015).

Feature	Radeon R9 M390X	Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870
MSRP	$550	$150-73%
Performance per Dollar	7.1	26.1+268%
Codename	Amethyst	Vega Kaby Lake-G
Release	May 5 2015	January 7 2018
Ranking	#504	#427

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