AMD Radeon Pro 560X vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The available benchmark data presents a single direct comparison between these two graphics cards, and the results are striking. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480, a card from 2010, decisively outperforms the AMD Radeon Pro 560X. The GTX 480 scores 13,300, while the Radeon Pro 560X manages 9,663. This represents a 27.3% deficit for the AMD card, making the older NVIDIA card the clear winner in this specific workload.

This is a significant margin. A 27.3% lead in a compute-oriented benchmark like OpenCL is not a marginal difference; it suggests that the GTX 480's underlying architecture, despite its age, is more efficient at handling the types of parallel tasks that OpenCL typically accelerates. The head-to-head data gives the GTX 480 one win, and the Radeon Pro 560X zero wins in this direct matchup.

However, the broader benchmark picture is more nuanced. The Radeon Pro 560X has a much larger set of benchmark results recorded in the database. Its average benchmark score across all tests is 15,082, which places it in the 57th percentile of all GPUs. The GTX 480, with only its single OpenCL result, has an average score of 13,300, landing in the 53rd percentile. This suggests that while the GTX 480 wins the one test where they directly compete, the Radeon Pro 560X may be better optimized for other types of workloads, such as Vulkan or Metal, where it has recorded scores of 16,819 and 18,763 respectively.

The data indicates that the GTX 480's win is specific to the OpenCL test. It does not necessarily imply overall superiority. The Radeon Pro 560X's higher average score, driven by its performance in other API tests, shows a more balanced profile. The question becomes whether a user's primary workload aligns with the GTX 480's OpenCL strength or the Radeon Pro 560X's apparent strengths in other areas.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the choice between these two cards hinges entirely on the target application. If the workload is heavily reliant on OpenCL compute performance, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 is the data-backed winner. Its 27.3% advantage in that specific benchmark is substantial and would translate to noticeably faster completion times for OpenCL-based tasks.

Conversely, for users whose applications leverage other graphics APIs, the AMD Radeon Pro 560X presents a more compelling case. Its average benchmark score of 15,082 is 13.4% higher than the GTX 480's 13,300 average. Furthermore, the Radeon Pro 560X's individual scores in Vulkan (16,819) and Metal (18,763) are far above the GTX 480's OpenCL result, indicating a strong capability in modern, cross-platform graphics environments. The GTX 480 has no recorded Vulkan score and does not list Metal support.

The GTX 480 was launched with an MSRP of 499 USD, but that information is historical and not relevant to performance comparisons.

In essence, the GTX 480 is a specialist that wins decisively in its domain, while the Radeon Pro 560X is a generalist with a higher overall performance ceiling across a wider range of tests. The database suggests that for modern gaming or general GPU-accelerated tasks, the Radeon Pro 560X is the more versatile choice. For legacy or specific compute-focused OpenCL applications, the GTX 480 remains a surprisingly potent option.

Architecture Differences

The two cards represent fundamentally different eras of GPU design. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X is built on the Polaris 21 chip, utilizing the GCN 4.0 architecture. It is fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This modern process allows for a remarkably high transistor density of 24.4 million transistors per square millimeter, packing 3,000 million transistors into a die size of just 123 mm².

In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 uses the GF100 chip, based on the much older Fermi architecture. It was manufactured by TSMC on a 40 nm process. This older node is far less dense, with only 5.9 million transistors per square millimeter. Despite this, the GF100 houses 3,100 million transistors, slightly more than the Polaris 21, but it requires a massive 529 mm² die to do so. The GTX 480's die is over four times larger than the Radeon Pro 560X's, proof of the efficiency gains of modern manufacturing.

The architectural philosophies also differ. The Radeon Pro 560X features 1,024 shading units, a very high count that suits its GCN design's parallel throughput. The GTX 480, with 480 shading units, relies on a different layout. The Radeon Pro 560X also has 64 texture mapping units (TMUs) and 16 render output units (ROPs). The GTX 480 has 60 TMUs and 48 ROPs, the latter being three times as many as the AMD card.

These differences explain the benchmark results. The GTX 480's much higher ROP count and wider memory bus contribute to its strong raw compute performance in OpenCL. The Radeon Pro 560X's advantage lies in its modern architecture, which supports newer APIs like Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_0). The GTX 480's DirectX support is capped at 12 (11_0), and it has no Vulkan support listed. The Radeon Pro 560X also supports FP16 compute with a 1:1 ratio, while the GTX 480 has no listed FP16 capability.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two cards diverge on nearly every major point. The memory subsystem is a clear example. The Radeon Pro 560X comes with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 94.08 GB/s. The GTX 480 has 1536 MB (1.5 GB) of GDDR5 memory, but on a much wider 384-bit bus, achieving a significantly higher bandwidth of 177.4 GB/s.

Clock speeds also differ. The Radeon Pro 560X's memory runs at an effective speed of 5.9 Gbps, while the GTX 480's memory runs at 3.7 Gbps effective. The higher effective clock on the AMD card does not compensate for its narrower bus, as the bandwidth figures show.

Power and physical requirements are drastically different. The Radeon Pro 560X has a TDP of 75 W, is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a slot width of "IGP", and requires no power connectors. The GTX 480, by contrast, is a dual-slot card with a 250 W TDP, requiring both a 6-pin and an 8-pin power connector. NVIDIA recommends a 600 W power supply for systems using the GTX 480.

The bus interface also differs. The Radeon Pro 560X uses PCIe 3.0 x8, while the GTX 480 uses the older PCIe 2.0 x16. The GTX 480 is a physical card with a length of 267 mm (10.5 inches), whereas the Radeon Pro 560X is described as "Portable Device Dependent", meaning it is likely soldered onto a motherboard. The GTX 480 offers specific display outputs (2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI), while the Radeon Pro 560X's outputs depend on the host device. Finally, the GTX 480 has a predecessor (GeForce 200) and successor (GeForce 500), while the Radeon Pro 560X's series is listed as "Radeon Pro Mac (500X Series)" with no direct predecessor or successor listed.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in the OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 is faster, scoring 13,300 compared to the AMD Radeon Pro 560X's 9,663 in the Geekbench OpenCL test, a 27.3% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon Pro 560X have a higher average benchmark score?

A: Yes. The Radeon Pro 560X has an average benchmark score of 15,082 across all recorded tests, while the GTX 480's average is 13,300.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The GTX 480 has significantly higher memory bandwidth at 177.4 GB/s, due to its 384-bit bus, compared to the Radeon Pro 560X's 94.08 GB/s over a 128-bit bus.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Radeon Pro 560X has a 75 W TDP and requires no power connectors, while the GTX 480 has a 250 W TDP and requires both a 6-pin and an 8-pin power connector.

Q: Which card supports more modern graphics APIs?

A: The Radeon Pro 560X supports Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_0). The GTX 480 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) but has no listed Vulkan support.

Q: What is the die size difference between the two chips?

A: The Radeon Pro 560X's Polaris 21 chip is 123 mm², while the GTX 480's GF100 chip is 529 mm².

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 wins in the specific domain of OpenCL compute. The data shows a clear 27.3% lead in this area, making it the superior choice for any application that relies heavily on this API. This could include certain scientific computing tasks, older software, or specific rendering engines that are optimized for OpenCL. Its high memory bandwidth (177.4 GB/s) and high ROP count (48) are likely contributors to this strength.

The AMD Radeon Pro 560X wins in overall versatility and modern application support. Its higher average benchmark score (15,082 vs 13,300) indicates better performance across a wider range of tests. It is the clear choice for workloads that use Vulkan, where it scores 16,819, or Metal, where it scores 18,763. These are the APIs used by contemporary games and creative applications on Apple platforms. Its support for DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3 ensures compatibility with current software.

The Radeon Pro 560X also wins on operational efficiency. Its 75 W TDP and lack of power connectors make it suitable for portable or low-power devices, while the GTX 480's 250 W TDP and dual-slot design require a substantial power supply and a full-sized chassis. The GTX 480's 529 mm² die on a 40 nm process is a product of its era, while the Radeon Pro 560X's 123 mm² die on 14 nm shows a vast improvement in manufacturing efficiency.

In summary, the GTX 480 is the winner for legacy OpenCL compute tasks, while the Radeon Pro 560X is the winner for modern graphics, general-purpose computing, and any scenario where power consumption and physical size are constraints. The choice is not about which is objectively better, but which aligns with the user's specific priorities as revealed by the benchmark data.