AMD Radeon Pro 560X vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark recorded for both GPUs is Geekbench OpenCL, and the results are decisive. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 scores 12,830, while the AMD Radeon Pro 560X manages 9,663. That places the GTX 590 ahead by 24.7%, a substantial margin that reflects its dual-chip design and raw compute throughput in this particular workload.

However, the AMD card has additional benchmark results that the NVIDIA card lacks entirely. In Geekbench Metal, the Radeon Pro 560X posts 18,763, and in Geekbench Vulkan it reaches 16,819. These are not head-to-head comparisons because the GTX 590 has no recorded scores for either test, but they indicate where the AMD card's strengths lie. The OpenCL result is the only common ground, and it shows NVIDIA holding a clear advantage.

Looking at average benchmark scores, the Radeon Pro 560X averages 15,082 across all recorded tests, while the GTX 590 averages 12,830. That 2,252-point gap in favor of AMD is driven entirely by the Metal and Vulkan scores, which pull the average upward. The percentile rankings tell a similar story: the Radeon Pro 560X sits at the 57th percentile among all GPUs, while the GTX 590 sits at the 52nd. Despite losing the OpenCL duel, the AMD card ranks higher overall because it performs across a wider range of modern APIs.

The GTX 590's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon Pro 455 with a delta of 0%, meaning they are effectively tied on average score, and the AMD FirePro W5100 at -0.1%. The Radeon Pro 560X, meanwhile, sits near the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti with a delta of 0.1%, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 at -0.6%. These proximity values suggest both cards occupy similar performance tiers in their respective benchmark pools, though the AMD card's broader test coverage gives it a higher aggregate standing.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from completely different design eras and philosophies. The AMD Radeon Pro 560X uses the Polaris 21 chip built on GCN 4.0 architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 uses the GF110 chip based on Fermi 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. The process node difference is stark: 14 nm versus 40 nm, which explains why the AMD chip packs 3,000 million transistors into a 123 mm² die, while the NVIDIA chip spreads the same 3,000 million transistors across a 520 mm² die. Transistor density tells the story: the Radeon Pro 560X achieves 24.4 million transistors per square millimeter, while the GTX 590 manages just 5.8 million.

Memory configurations diverge sharply. The AMD card has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 94.08 GB/s of bandwidth. The NVIDIA card has 1,536 MB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus, yielding 164.0 GB/s. Despite having less than half the capacity, the GTX 590 delivers nearly 75% more bandwidth due to its wider bus. Memory clocks also differ: the Radeon Pro 560X runs at 1,470 MHz (5.9 Gbps effective), while the GTX 590 runs at 854 MHz (3.4 Gbps effective).

Compute resources are laid out differently as well. The Radeon Pro 560X has 1,024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 16 raster output units. The GTX 590 has 512 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The AMD card has twice the shader count but one-third the ROPs. Pixel rates reflect this: the GTX 590 hits 19.46 GPixel/s versus 16.06 GPixel/s for the AMD card. Texture rates flip the comparison: the Radeon Pro 560X reaches 64.26 GTexel/s versus 38.91 GTexel/s for NVIDIA. Floating-point performance also favors AMD at 2.056 TFLOPS FP32, while the GTX 590 delivers 1,244.2 GFLOPS. The AMD card also supports FP16 at 2.056 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, while the NVIDIA card has no recorded FP16 capability.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 590 wins in OpenCL compute workloads, as the 24.7% delta confirms. Its higher memory bandwidth and larger ROP count make it strong for tasks that stress memory throughput and pixel fill rates. The 164.0 GB/s bandwidth is a major asset for data-heavy operations, and the 48 ROPs give it an edge in rasterization-heavy scenarios. The dual-slot design with 2x 8-pin power connectors and a 750 W suggested PSU indicates this is a card built for sustained, high-power desktop workloads, not portable efficiency.

The Radeon Pro 560X wins in modern API compatibility and overall versatility. It supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, while the GTX 590 only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6 with no Vulkan support. The AMD card's Metal score of 18,763 and Vulkan score of 16,819 show it handles contemporary graphics APIs effectively. Its 14 nm process and 75 W TDP make it suitable for integrated or portable configurations, as indicated by its IGP slot width and lack of power connectors. The 4 GB memory capacity is also more generous for modern texture-heavy workloads, even if bandwidth is lower.

The benchmark data suggests a generational trade-off: the GTX 590 was a high-performance desktop part of its era, while the Radeon Pro 560X is a more recent, efficient design that trades raw OpenCL throughput for broader software support and lower power demands.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 560X averages 15,082 across its recorded benchmarks, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 averages 12,830. The AMD card's average is boosted by its Metal and Vulkan scores, which the GTX 590 lacks.

Q: How much faster is the GTX 590 in OpenCL?

A: The GTX 590 scores 12,830 in Geekbench OpenCL versus 9,663 for the Radeon Pro 560X, making it 24.7% faster in that specific test.

Q: Does the Radeon Pro 560X support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the Radeon Pro 560X supports Vulkan 1.3 and records a Geekbench Vulkan score of 16,819. The GTX 590 has no Vulkan support listed in the database.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference?

A: The Radeon Pro 560X has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the GTX 590 has 1,536 MB. Despite the smaller capacity, the GTX 590 has higher bandwidth at 164.0 GB/s versus 94.08 GB/s.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor density?

A: The Radeon Pro 560X achieves 24.4 million transistors per square millimeter on its 123 mm² die, while the GTX 590 manages 5.8 million on a 520 mm² die. Both cards contain 3,000 million transistors.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The Radeon Pro 560X has a 75 W TDP and requires no power connectors, while the GTX 590 has a 365 W TDP, requires 2x 8-pin connectors, and suggests a 750 W power supply.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every major specification category. The process node is 14 nm for AMD versus 40 nm for NVIDIA. Die size is 123 mm² versus 520 mm². Transistor density is 24.4M per mm² versus 5.8M. Memory size is 4 GB versus 1,536 MB. Memory bus width is 128 bit versus 384 bit. Memory bandwidth is 94.08 GB/s versus 164.0 GB/s. Memory clock is 1,470 MHz versus 854 MHz.

Shading units number 1,024 versus 512. TMUs are equal at 64, but ROPs differ at 16 versus 48. Pixel rate is 16.06 GPixel/s versus 19.46 GPixel/s. Texture rate is 64.26 GTexel/s versus 38.91 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 2.056 TFLOPS versus 1,244.2 GFLOPS. The AMD card supports FP16 at 2.056 TFLOPS; the NVIDIA card has no FP16 data.

TDP is 75 W versus 365 W. Slot width is IGP versus dual-slot. Power connectors are none versus 2x 8-pin. The suggested PSU is 750 W for NVIDIA only. Bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x8 versus PCIe 2.0 x16. Display outputs are portable-device dependent versus 3x DVI and 1x mini-DisplayPort. Dimensions exist only for the GTX 590: 279 mm length, 111 mm height, 40 mm width.

API support differs: DirectX 12 (12_0) versus 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6 for both, Vulkan 1.3 versus none. Release dates are 2018-07-15 for AMD versus 2011-03-23 for NVIDIA. The GTX 590 has a predecessor in GeForce 400 and a successor in GeForce 600; the Radeon Pro 560X has neither listed.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear generational contrast. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 wins the only direct benchmark comparison, taking OpenCL by 24.7%. It also offers superior memory bandwidth at 164.0 GB/s, more ROPs at 48, and a higher pixel rate at 19.46 GPixel/s. For users running OpenCL-heavy workloads or scenarios that depend on memory throughput, the GTX 590 is the stronger choice based on recorded measurements.

The AMD Radeon Pro 560X, however, wins on modern software compatibility and efficiency. It supports Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_0), posts strong Metal and Vulkan scores of 18,763 and 16,819, and achieves higher average benchmark performance at 15,082 versus 12,830. Its 75 W TDP, lack of power connectors, and IGP slot width make it suitable for systems where power and space are constrained. The 14 nm process and higher transistor density also indicate a more advanced manufacturing approach.

The verdict depends on workload priorities. If the task is OpenCL compute with maximum memory bandwidth, the GTX 590 is the pick. If the task involves modern APIs, lower power draw, or portable form factors, the Radeon Pro 560X is the better fit. The database shows two cards from different eras, each optimized for its contemporary environment, and neither fully dominates the other across all recorded metrics.