Radeon RX 5500 vs Radeon RX 480
Radeon RX 5500
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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
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Radeon RX 5500 uses modern memory architecture. The Radeon RX 5500 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon RX 480 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon RX 5500 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 3.4% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon RX 480 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon RX 5500 | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+3.4%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-3.4%) |
| Longevity | RDNA 1.0 (2019−2020) (7nm) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | 🎮 High Capacity (4 GB) | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon RX 480 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $55 versus $110 for the Radeon RX 5500, it costs 50% less. While it maintains competitive performance, this results in a 93.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon RX 5500 | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+93.4%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($110) | ✅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 RX 5500 and Radeon RX 480
Radeon RX 5500
The Radeon RX 5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 7 2019. It features the RDNA 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1845 MHz. It has 1408 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 110W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,837 points.
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 RX 5500 scores 8,837 and the Radeon RX 480 reaches 8,546 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon RX 5500 is built on RDNA 1.0 while the Radeon RX 480 uses GCN 4.0, both on 7 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 1,408 (Radeon RX 5500) vs 2,304 (Radeon RX 480). Raw compute: 5.196 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 5500) vs 5.834 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 480). Boost clocks: 1845 MHz vs 1266 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon RX 5500 | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 8,837+3% | 8,546 |
| Architecture | RDNA 1.0 | GCN 4.0 |
| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |
| Shading Units | 1408 | 2304+64% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 5.196 TFLOPS | 5.834 TFLOPS+12% |
| Boost Clock | 1845 MHz+46% | 1266 MHz |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 88 | 144+64% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon RX 5500 | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon RX 5500 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: 224 GB/s (Radeon RX 5500) vs 256 GB/s (Radeon RX 480) — a 14.3% advantage for the Radeon RX 480. Bus width: 128-bit vs 256-bit.
| Feature | Radeon RX 5500 | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 256 GB/s+14% |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 256-bit+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12.1 (Radeon RX 5500) vs 12.0 (Radeon RX 480). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon RX 5500 | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12.1 | 12.0 |
| Vulkan | 1.2 | 1.3+8% |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCN 2.0 (Radeon RX 5500) vs VCE 3.4 (Radeon RX 480). Decoder: VCN 2.0 vs UVD 6.3. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Radeon RX 5500) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (Radeon RX 480).
| Feature | Radeon RX 5500 | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCN 2.0 | VCE 3.4 |
| Decoder | VCN 2.0 | UVD 6.3 |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 | MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon RX 5500 draws 110W versus the Radeon RX 480's 150W — a 30.8% difference. The Radeon RX 5500 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (Radeon RX 5500) vs 500W (Radeon RX 480). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 180mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85°C.
| Feature | Radeon RX 5500 | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 110W-27% | 150W |
| Recommended PSU | 450W-10% | 500W |
| Power Connector | 8-pin | 8-pin |
| Length | 180mm | 240mm |
| Height | 110mm | 95mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 75°C-12% | 85°C |
| Perf/Watt | 80.3+41% | 57.0 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon RX 5500 launched at $179 MSRP and currently averages $110, while the Radeon RX 480 launched at $229 and now averages $55. The Radeon RX 480 costs 50% less ($55 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 80.3 (Radeon RX 5500) vs 155.4 (Radeon RX 480) — the Radeon RX 480 offers 93.5% better value. The Radeon RX 5500 is the newer GPU (2019 vs 2016).
| Feature | Radeon RX 5500 | Radeon RX 480 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $179-22% | $229 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $110 | $55-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 80.3 | 155.4+94% |
| Codename | Navi 14 | Ellesmere |
| Release | October 7 2019 | June 29 2016 |
| Ranking | #297 | #305 |
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