AMD Radeon Pro 580X vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains two direct benchmark comparisons between the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and the AMD Radeon Pro 580X, and the results are decisively one-sided. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RTX 4080 scores 214,739 points against the Pro 580X's 36,426 points, a performance gap of 489.5%. The Vulkan test shows an even wider margin: the RTX 4080 posts 263,779 points while the Pro 580X manages 40,115 points, putting the NVIDIA card 557.6% ahead.

These numbers reflect a generational chasm rather than a competitive rivalry. The RTX 4080's average benchmark score of 54,247 places it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs in the database, while the Pro 580X's average of 38,706 lands in the 82nd percentile. Despite the percentile proximity, the absolute scores tell a different story: the RTX 4080's average is roughly 40% higher than the Pro 580X's average, a gap that the head-to-head tests confirm with extreme prejudice.

The RTX 4080's nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54,209 with a delta of 0.1%, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X at 54,828 with a negative delta of 1.1%. The Pro 580X's nearest rivals paint a different picture: it sits within 1.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A, the RTX 5080 Mobile, the MX570, and the AMD Radeon Pro 575X. This means the Pro 580X is competing in a completely different performance tier, one where the RTX 4080 is not even a distant neighbor.

The head-to-head results are unambiguous: the RTX 4080 wins both recorded tests, with no wins for the Pro 580X. The OpenCL delta of 489.5% and Vulkan delta of 557.6% are among the largest disparities in the database for comparable test pairs.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in OpenCL compute workloads?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is dramatically faster, scoring 214,739 in Geekbench OpenCL versus 36,426 for the AMD Radeon Pro 580X, a 489.5% advantage.

Q: How do the two compare in Vulkan graphics performance?

A: The RTX 4080 leads by 557.6%, scoring 263,779 against the Pro 580X's 40,115 in Geekbench Vulkan.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each card?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247 across all recorded tests, while the Pro 580X averages 38,706.

Q: Which card has better ray tracing support?

A: The RTX 4080 features 76 dedicated RT cores, while the Pro 580X has no RT cores listed in the database.

Q: What memory configurations do the cards use?

A: The RTX 4080 uses 16 GB of GDDR6X on a 256-bit bus with 716.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Pro 580X uses 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 218.9 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do the pixel and texture rates compare?

A: The RTX 4080 delivers 280.6 GPixel/s and 761.5 GTexel/s, while the Pro 580X manages 38.40 GPixel/s and 172.8 GTexel/s.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is fundamental. The RTX 4080 is built on NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace architecture using the AD103 chip, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Pro 580X uses AMD's GCN 4.0 architecture with the Ellesmere chip, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This process node difference alone accounts for massive disparities in transistor density: the RTX 4080 packs 45,900 million transistors into a 379 mm² die, yielding a density of 121.1M transistors per mm². The Pro 580X contains 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die, with a density of just 24.6M transistors per mm².

The RTX 4080 brings modern features that the Pro 580X simply lacks. It has 76 RT cores for ray tracing and 304 tensor cores for AI acceleration, while the Pro 580X lists neither in the database. The shading unit count reflects a generational leap as well: the RTX 4080 has 9,728 shading units, 304 texture mapping units, and 112 ROPs. The Pro 580X has 2,304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The FP32 compute throughput tells the same story: 48.74 TFLOPS for the RTX 4080 versus 5.530 TFLOPS for the Pro 580X, a difference of roughly 8.8 times.

API support also differs. The RTX 4080 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The Pro 580X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The DirectX version difference is notable for modern game compatibility, as 12_2 includes features like mesh shaders and variable rate shading that the older 12_0 does not guarantee.

Specification Differences

The two cards diverge on nearly every measurable specification in the database. Clock speeds favor the RTX 4080 with a base of 2205 MHz and boost of 2505 MHz, compared to the Pro 580X's 1100 MHz base and 1200 MHz boost. Memory clocks are similarly lopsided: the RTX 4080 runs at 1400 MHz with 22.4 Gbps effective, while the Pro 580X runs at 1710 MHz with 6.8 Gbps effective.

Memory capacity and bandwidth show the RTX 4080's advantage: 16 GB of GDDR6X versus 8 GB of GDDR5, with bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s versus 218.9 GB/s. The bus width is identical at 256 bits, but the memory technology difference is decisive.

Power and physical specifications differ substantially. The RTX 4080 has a TDP of 320 W, is triple-slot, uses a 1x 16-pin power connector, and suggests a 700 W PSU. The Pro 580X has a 185 W TDP, is listed as IGP slot width, has no power connector listed, and no suggested PSU. The RTX 4080 measures 310 mm in length, 140 mm in height, and 61 mm in width. The Pro 580X has no dimensions listed in the database.

Display outputs also differ: the RTX 4080 offers 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the Pro 580X provides 2x HDMI 2.0b. The bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x16 for the RTX 4080 versus Apple MPX for the Pro 580X. The Pro 580X is designed for Apple Mac systems, as indicated by its generation label "Radeon Pro Mac (500X Series)."

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 4080 wins in every benchmark category where both cards have recorded data. Its strengths are most pronounced in compute-heavy workloads: the OpenCL score of 214,739 dwarfs the Pro 580X's 36,426, making it the clear choice for GPU compute tasks such as rendering, simulation, or machine learning inference. The Vulkan score of 263,779 versus 40,115 reinforces this dominance for graphics workloads that leverage Vulkan's low-overhead API.

The Pro 580X's advantages are narrower and more circumstantial. It has a significantly lower TDP at 185 W versus 320 W, which matters for systems with limited power budgets or thermal constraints. Its IGP slot width and Apple MPX bus interface make it the practical choice for specific Apple Mac configurations where the RTX 4080's PCIe 4.0 x16 interface and triple-slot physical footprint would not fit. The Pro 580X's 2x HDMI 2.0b outputs might also suit particular display setups, though the RTX 4080's HDMI 2.1 support is technically superior.

For gaming, the RTX 4080's DirectX 12 Ultimate support, higher pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s, and texture rate of 761.5 GTexel/s make it the obvious choice. The Pro 580X's DirectX 12 (12_0) support and lower rates of 38.40 GPixel/s and 172.8 GTexel/s place it firmly in legacy or productivity territory.

The Verdict

The data makes the decision straightforward for anyone who can physically install either card: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the superior performer by every measurable metric. It wins both head-to-head benchmarks, has 16 GB of faster GDDR6X memory, supports modern APIs, and delivers roughly 8.8 times the FP32 compute throughput of the Pro 580X. The 86th percentile ranking versus 82nd percentile understates the gap because the Pro 580X's percentile is buoyed by the overall distribution of weaker GPUs in the database.

The RTX 4080's launch MSRP was 1,199 USD, and it is now end-of-life, but its performance class remains relevant for demanding workloads. The Pro 580X, also end-of-life, is a niche product for Apple Mac systems where its MPX bus interface and IGP form factor are requirements rather than preferences.

Choose the RTX 4080 if you need maximum compute performance, modern game features, or high-resolution rendering capability. Its 16 GB memory capacity and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth suit large datasets and high-resolution textures. Choose the Pro 580X only if your system mandates the Apple MPX interface or if the 185 W power draw is an absolute constraint. The Pro 580X's 8 GB GDDR5 memory and 218.9 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for basic productivity but will struggle with contemporary GPU workloads.

The verdict is clear: for any workload where both cards are physically compatible, the RTX 4080 wins without qualification. The Pro 580X exists in a different era and a different hardware ecosystem, and the benchmark data reflects that divide precisely.