AMD Radeon RX 480 vs AMD Radeon RX 590 GME Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 480 and AMD Radeon RX 590 GME are two Polaris-era graphics cards that share a common architectural foundation but diverge significantly in execution. The benchmark data reveals a clear split: the RX 590 GME generally outperforms the RX 480 in modern API workloads, while the RX 480 holds a narrow edge in one compute-oriented test. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, architecture differences, and specification deltas to determine which card is better suited for specific use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the Geekbench Vulkan score, where the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME posts a commanding 60,508 points against the RX 480's 45,968 points. This represents a 24% advantage for the RX 590 GME, making it the single largest performance gap in any benchmark between these two cards. This result suggests that the RX 590 GME's higher clock speeds translate into substantial gains in low-level, driver-efficient Vulkan workloads, which are increasingly common in modern game engines and professional applications.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the RX 590 GME again takes the lead, scoring 1,001 versus the RX 480's 966. While this is a narrower 3.5% margin, it confirms that the RX 590 GME holds an advantage in DirectX 12 gaming scenarios as well. The consistency of the RX 590 GME's wins across both DX12 and Vulkan indicates that its architectural improvements are not test-specific but rather represent a genuine performance uplift across modern APIs.

However, the RX 480 strikes back in the Geekbench OpenCL test, scoring 37,998 compared to the RX 590 GME's 36,294. This 4.7% win for the RX 480 is notable because OpenCL workloads often stress raw compute throughput and memory bandwidth differently than gaming APIs. The RX 480's victory here suggests that its lower clocks allow for more sustained compute performance, possibly due to better power management or thermal characteristics under sustained load. This makes the RX 480 a more compelling choice for compute-heavy tasks that rely on OpenCL, such as certain scientific simulations or video encoding workflows.

When examining the broader benchmark context, the RX 480 achieves an average benchmark score of 33,997, while the RX 590 GME scores 32,601. This 1.3% difference in the RX 480's favor is interesting because it contradicts the head-to-head results where the RX 590 GME wins two of three tests. The average score includes a wider range of benchmarks, suggesting that the RX 480's OpenCL advantage may be amplified in other compute tests not shown in the head-to-head data. The RX 480 also holds a higher percentile ranking at 78 versus the RX 590 GME's 77, indicating that it sits slightly higher in the overall GPU performance distribution.

The nearest rival data provides additional context. The RX 480's closest competitor is the AMD Radeon RX 560 XT, which scores 34,133, a 0.4% difference in the RX 560 XT's favor. The RX 590 GME's nearest rival is the AMD FirePro S9300 X2 at 32,540, a 0.2% difference in the RX 590 GME's favor. These tight margins highlight how competitive this performance tier is, with both cards surrounded by similarly performing options.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in Vulkan workloads?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 590 GME is significantly faster in Vulkan, scoring 60,508 in Geekbench Vulkan versus the RX 480's 45,968. This represents a 24% performance advantage for the RX 590 GME, making it the clear winner for Vulkan-based applications.

Q: Does the RX 480 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the RX 480 wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 37,998 compared to the RX 590 GME's 36,294, a 4.7% advantage. This makes the RX 480 the better choice for OpenCL compute workloads.

Q: How do these cards compare in DirectX 12 performance?

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the RX 590 GME scores 1,001 versus the RX 480's 966, giving the RX 590 GME a 3.5% lead in DirectX 12 gaming performance.

Q: What is the overall benchmark score difference?

A: The RX 480 has a higher average benchmark score of 33,997 compared to the RX 590 GME's 32,601. This 1.3% difference favors the RX 480, despite the RX 590 GME winning the head-to-head gaming tests.

Q: Which card has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The RX 480 ranks in the 78th percentile of all GPUs, while the RX 590 GME ranks in the 77th percentile. This indicates the RX 480 sits slightly higher in the overall performance distribution.

Q: Are these cards similar in overall performance?

A: Yes, the average benchmark scores are very close, with the RX 480 at 33,997 and the RX 590 GME at 32,601. The performance difference is minimal in aggregate, but individual workloads can show significant swings in either direction.

Architecture Differences

Both the AMD Radeon RX 480 and AMD Radeon RX 590 GME are built on the same GCN 4.0 architecture and use the 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. They share identical transistor counts of 5,700 million and the same die size of 232 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 24.6 million transistors per square millimeter. This means the fundamental compute architecture is unchanged between the two cards, with both featuring 2,304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units.

The key architectural difference lies in the specific chip implementations. The RX 480 uses the Ellesmere chip, while the RX 590 GME uses the Polaris 20 chip. This difference in silicon revision allows the RX 590 GME to operate at significantly higher clock speeds. The RX 480 has a base clock of 1120 MHz and a boost clock of 1266 MHz, while the RX 590 GME runs at 1257 MHz base and 1420 MHz boost. This represents a 12.2% increase in base clock and a 12.2% increase in boost clock for the RX 590 GME.

The clock speed advantage directly translates into higher compute throughput. The RX 480 delivers 5.834 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the RX 590 GME achieves 6.543 TFLOPS, a 12.2% improvement. Similarly, the texture fill rate increases from 182.3 GTexel/s on the RX 480 to 204.5 GTexel/s on the RX 590 GME, and the pixel rate rises from 40.51 GPixel/s to 45.44 GPixel/s. These numbers confirm that the RX 590 GME's performance advantage in gaming benchmarks is directly attributable to its higher clock speeds.

Both cards feature 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing identical memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The memory clock is also the same at 2000 MHz with 8 Gbps effective data rate. This means memory capacity and bandwidth are not differentiating factors between the two cards, and any performance differences must come from the compute core clock speeds.

The power characteristics differ notably between the two cards. The RX 480 has a TDP of 150 W and requires a single 6-pin power connector, while the RX 590 GME has a 175 W TDP and requires a single 8-pin power connector. Both cards suggest a 450 W power supply, and both use a dual-slot cooler design. The higher power draw of the RX 590 GME is a direct consequence of its higher clock speeds, and the additional power connector reflects this increased demand.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a nuanced picture. For gamers using modern APIs like Vulkan and DirectX 12, the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME is the clear choice. Its 24% lead in Vulkan and 3.5% lead in DX12 demonstrate that the higher clock speeds translate into real-world gaming performance gains. The 12.2% increase in both base and boost clocks over the RX 480 directly powers these improvements in shader throughput and fill rates.

However, the RX 480's 4.7% victory in OpenCL, combined with its higher average benchmark score of 33,997 versus 32,601, suggests that it may be the better option for compute-focused users. The RX 480's lower TDP of 150 W versus 175 W also makes it more power-efficient in sustained compute workloads, which could explain its OpenCL advantage. For users running OpenCL-based applications, such as certain video encoders or scientific tools, the RX 480's performance profile is more favorable.

The RX 480 also holds a slight edge in overall percentile ranking, sitting at the 78th percentile versus the RX 590 GME's 77th. This, combined with its higher average benchmark score, indicates that the RX 480 has broader performance consistency across a wider range of workloads. The RX 590 GME's wins are concentrated in gaming APIs, while the RX 480 shows strength in compute.

Ultimately, the choice depends on the primary use case. The RX 590 GME is the better gaming card, with decisive wins in both Vulkan and DX12. The RX 480 is the better compute card, with a notable OpenCL advantage and higher overall average scores. Users who prioritize modern gaming performance should choose the RX 590 GME, while those focused on compute workloads might find the RX 480 more suitable.

Specification Differences

The AMD Radeon RX 480 and AMD Radeon RX 590 GME differ in several key specifications. The most significant difference is in clock speeds: the RX 480 has a base clock of 1120 MHz and a boost clock of 1266 MHz, while the RX 590 GME operates at 1257 MHz base and 1420 MHz boost. This 12.2% clock advantage for the RX 590 GME drives all other performance differences.

The compute throughput scales accordingly. The RX 480 delivers 5.834 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the RX 590 GME achieves 6.543 TFLOPS. The pixel rate increases from 40.51 GPixel/s on the RX 480 to 45.44 GPixel/s on the RX 590 GME, and the texture rate rises from 182.3 GTexel/s to 204.5 GTexel/s.

Power consumption is another differentiating factor. The RX 480 has a TDP of 150 W and uses a single 6-pin power connector, while the RX 590 GME has a 175 W TDP and requires a single 8-pin power connector. Both cards recommend a 450 W power supply.

The physical dimensions show minor differences. The RX 480 measures 240 mm in length, 95 mm in height, and 35 mm in width. The RX 590 GME is slightly longer at 241 mm, but its height and width are not specified in the data. Both cards use a dual-slot design.

The chip identifiers also differ, with the RX 480 using the Ellesmere chip and the RX 590 GME using the Polaris 20 chip. The release dates are substantially different, with the RX 480 launching on 2016-06-28 and the RX 590 GME on 2020-03-08. The RX 480 has a launch MSRP of 229 USD, while the RX 590 GME does not have a listed launch MSRP. All other specifications, including memory size, type, bus width, bandwidth, shading units, TMUs, ROPs, process node, foundry, transistor count, die size, API support, and display outputs, are identical between the two cards.