AMD Radeon Pro 580 vs AMD Radeon RX 480 Comparison

AMD Radeon Pro 580 and AMD Radeon RX 480 share the same Ellesmere chip and GCN 4.0 architecture, but their positioning splits between professional mobile integration and desktop gaming. The recorded data shows a clear division: the RX 480 wins two of three head-to-head tests, while the Pro 580 takes the remaining one. This comparison relies entirely on benchmark scores, architectural specifications, and physical characteristics from the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result appears in Geekbench Metal, where the AMD Radeon RX 480 scores 51,057 against the Pro 580's 39,213. That is a 23.2% advantage for the RX 480, and it represents the largest performance gap in either direction across all tested workloads. Metal is Apple's GPU API, and the RX 480's dominance here suggests a substantial lead in that specific compute path, despite both cards using identical silicon.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the RX 480 again comes out ahead, posting 45,968 versus 43,285 for the Pro 580. The delta is 5.8%, a more modest margin than Metal but still a consistent win for the desktop card. Vulkan is a cross-platform graphics and compute API, so this result indicates the RX 480 holds an advantage in modern low-level rendering workloads.

The Pro 580's sole victory arrives in Geekbench OpenCL, where it scores 38,457 against 37,998 for the RX 480. The margin is slim, only 1.2%, and the proximity of these scores suggests near-parity in OpenCL compute performance. OpenCL remains relevant in professional and scientific applications, so this win carries weight for the Pro 580's intended market.

Looking at the broader database context, the Pro 580's average benchmark score is 40,318, which places it in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 with an average score of 40,377, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the Pro 580 trails by a negligible amount. The AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 sits at 40,063, which the Pro 580 leads by 0.6%, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 at 40,870, which the Pro 580 trails by 1.4%. The NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile rounds out the group at 39,568, placing 1.9% behind the Pro 580.

The RX 480's average benchmark score is 33,997, putting it in the 78th percentile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7950 at 33,951 (delta 0.1% in favor of the RX 480), the AMD Radeon RX 560 XT at 34,133 (RX 480 trails by 0.4%), the AMD Radeon RX 7700S at 33,849 (RX 480 leads by 0.4%), and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 12 GB at 34,154 (RX 480 trails by 0.5%). These tight deltas show the RX 480 sits in a crowded performance band, while the Pro 580 occupies a slightly higher overall tier despite losing the head-to-head.

Where Each One Wins

The RX 480 wins in Metal and Vulkan, which are both modern, low-level APIs with strong adoption in gaming and real-time graphics. Metal is exclusive to Apple platforms, and Vulkan powers many PC games and emulators. For anyone prioritizing these workloads, the RX 480 is the clear choice based on the data.

The Pro 580 wins in OpenCL, an API that sees heavy use in professional compute, video encoding, and scientific simulation. The margin is small, but the direction of the win aligns with the Pro 580's role as a workstation-oriented part. The database also shows the Pro 580 has a higher average benchmark score overall (40,318 versus 33,997), which reflects its stronger standing against the entire GPU field, even though it loses to the RX 480 in direct comparison.

The RX 480's 78th percentile versus the Pro 580's 82nd percentile suggests the Pro 580 performs better relative to all other GPUs in the database, not just in this pairing. This is notable because the RX 480's raw wins in two of three tests do not translate to a higher overall percentile, likely due to the specific tests included in the average score calculation.

Architecture Differences

Both cards use the Ellesmere chip, built on GCN 4.0 architecture, at a 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. Transistor count is identical at 5,700 million, and die size matches at 232 mm², yielding the same transistor density of 24.6M per mm². The core configurations are also identical: 2,304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units.

Clock speeds differ. The Pro 580 runs at a base clock of 1100 MHz and a boost clock of 1200 MHz. The RX 480 runs higher, with a base of 1120 MHz and a boost of 1266 MHz. This clock advantage directly explains the RX 480's higher pixel rate of 40.51 GPixel/s versus 38.40 GPixel/s for the Pro 580, and its texture rate of 182.3 GTexel/s versus 172.8 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance follows the same pattern: the RX 480 delivers 5.834 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16, while the Pro 580 delivers 5.530 TFLOPS in both.

Memory configurations diverge in clock speed and bandwidth, though capacity and bus width match. Both have 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus. The RX 480's memory runs at 2000 MHz with 8 Gbps effective speed, producing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Pro 580's memory runs at 1695 MHz with 6.8 Gbps effective speed, yielding 217.0 GB/s. This 39 GB/s gap in bandwidth further favors the RX 480 in memory-intensive tasks.

Power and physical design differ significantly. The Pro 580 has a TDP of 185 W, uses no power connectors, and is listed as an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with slot width classified as IGP. The RX 480 has a TDP of 150 W, uses a single 6-pin power connector, and is a dual-slot card with a suggested PSU of 450 W. The RX 480 measures 240 mm in length, 95 mm in height, and 35 mm in width, while the Pro 580's dimensions are not recorded in the database.

Display outputs also differ. The RX 480 provides 1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. The Pro 580's outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," reflecting its intended integration into laptop or all-in-one systems. Both cards support DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.

FAQ

Q: Which card has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 580 has an average benchmark score of 40,318, while the AMD Radeon RX 480 has an average of 33,997. The Pro 580 also sits in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs, compared to the RX 480's 78th percentile.

Q: Why does the RX 480 win despite the Pro 580 having a higher average score?

A: The head-to-head tests cover only three specific workloads: Geekbench Metal, OpenCL, and Vulkan. The RX 480 wins two of those by margins of 23.2% and 5.8%, while the Pro 580 wins OpenCL by only 1.2%. The average score includes other factors, which is why the Pro 580's overall standing is higher.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two cards?

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench Metal, where the RX 480 scores 51,057 versus the Pro 580's 39,213, a 23.2% difference. This is the only test where the margin exceeds 10%.

Q: Do both cards have the same memory capacity?

A: Yes, both have 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus. However, the RX 480's memory runs at 2000 MHz with 8 Gbps effective speed for 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Pro 580 runs at 1695 MHz with 6.8 Gbps effective speed for 217.0 GB/s.

Q: How do the clock speeds compare?

A: The RX 480 has a base clock of 1120 MHz and a boost of 1266 MHz. The Pro 580 has a base of 1100 MHz and a boost of 1200 MHz. The RX 480's higher clocks contribute to its higher pixel rate, texture rate, and FP32 throughput.

Q: Which card is designed for portable systems?

A: The Pro 580 is listed as an IGP with no power connectors and display outputs described as "Portable Device Dependent." The RX 480 is a dual-slot desktop card with a 6-pin connector and fixed display outputs.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Radeon RX 480 as the stronger performer in direct comparison. It wins Metal by 23.2% and Vulkan by 5.8%, and it also leads in raw specifications: higher clocks, higher memory bandwidth, higher pixel rate, higher texture rate, and higher FP32 throughput. For gaming or general-purpose graphics work using these APIs, the RX 480 is unequivocally the better choice.

The AMD Radeon Pro 580 holds advantages in overall percentile rank and average score, and it wins OpenCL by a narrow 1.2%. Its 185 W TDP with no power connectors and integrated design point to a different use case: professional mobile workstations where power delivery is handled by the system and display outputs are system-dependent. The 82nd percentile versus 78th indicates the Pro 580 performs better against the entire GPU landscape, which may reflect its optimization for professional workloads not captured in the head-to-head tests.

Users who prioritize Metal or Vulkan performance should select the RX 480. Users who need OpenCL compute and operate within a portable, integrated form factor should consider the Pro 580. The RX 480's dual-slot design and 6-pin connector require a desktop chassis and a 450 W suggested PSU, while the Pro 580's IGP classification means it is not a standalone retail card.

The RX 480 released on 2016-06-28, while the Pro 580 followed on 2017-06-04. Both are end-of-life products. The RX 480 has a launch MSRP of 229 USD. The Pro 580 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon Pro 580 | AMD Radeon RX 480 |

|---------------|-------------------|-------------------|

| Generation | Radeon Pro Mac (500 Series) | Arctic Islands (RX 400) |

| Base Clock | 1100 MHz | 1120 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1200 MHz | 1266 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1695 MHz, 6.8 Gbps effective | 2000 MHz, 8 Gbps effective |

| Memory Bandwidth | 217.0 GB/s | 256.0 GB/s |

| Pixel Rate | 38.40 GPixel/s | 40.51 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 172.8 GTexel/s | 182.3 GTexel/s |

| FP32 / FP16 | 5.530 TFLOPS | 5.834 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 185 W | 150 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None | 1x 6-pin |

| Suggested PSU | Not recorded | 450 W |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | 1x HDMI 2.0b, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| Dimensions | Not recorded | 240 mm x 95 mm x 35 mm |

| Release Date | 2017-06-04 | 2016-06-28 |

| Predecessor | Not recorded | Pirate Islands |

| Successor | Not recorded | Polaris |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | 229 USD |

| Average Benchmark Score | 40,318 | 33,997 |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 82 | 78 |

| Geekbench Metal | 39,213 | 51,057 |

| Geekbench OpenCL | 38,457 | 37,998 |

| Geekbench Vulkan | 43,285 | 45,968 |