AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits the two cards cleanly by API and workload generation. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP wins the only two head-to-head benchmark comparisons available in the database, taking both the OpenCL and Vulkan tests. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 holds no recorded wins in the head-to-head set, which means the use-case split favors the AMD card for compute-style workloads and modern graphics API performance.

The RX 580 2048SP shows its strength in the Vulkan test, where the delta is massive. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 38,666 versus the GTX 780's 24,514 represents a 57.7% advantage. This is not a marginal edge; it is a generational gap in API efficiency. For users running Vulkan titles, the AMD card is the clear choice. In OpenCL, the RX 580 2048SP posts 29,668 against 22,863, a 29.8% lead. This covers general-purpose compute workloads, including OpenCL-accelerated applications outside gaming.

The GTX 780 does have one area of theoretical advantage based on raw specifications, but it does not translate into a benchmark win. The NVIDIA card has higher memory bandwidth at 288.4 GB/s versus 224.0 GB/s, and more texture units (192 versus 128) and ROPs (48 versus 32). However, the database shows no test where the GTX 780 comes out ahead. The AMD card wins on overall average benchmark score as well: 23,061 versus 19,164, a difference of roughly 20% in the aggregate.

The percentile ranking also favors AMD. The RX 580 2048SP sits at the 68th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 780 sits at the 64th. This is a modest gap, but it reinforces the head-to-head results. For anyone choosing between these two end-of-life cards, the data points exclusively to the AMD part for both modern API gaming and compute tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from different process nodes and design philosophies, which explains much of the performance gap. The AMD RX 580 2048SP uses the Polaris 20 chip on GlobalFoundries' 14 nm process, packing 5,700 million transistors into a 232 mm² die. The transistor density is 24.6 million per mm². The NVIDIA GTX 780 uses the GK110 chip on TSMC's 28 nm process, with 7,080 million transistors on a much larger 561 mm² die, yielding a lower density of 12.6 million per mm². The newer 14 nm node gives AMD a clear efficiency and density advantage.

Architecturally, the RX 580 2048SP is built on GCN 4.0, while the GTX 780 uses Kepler. This is a significant generational difference. GCN 4.0 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while Kepler only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. The newer API support on the AMD card is directly reflected in the Vulkan benchmark results. The GTX 780 also lacks FP16 support entirely, while the RX 580 2048SP delivers 5.259 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16 at a 1:1 ratio.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The RX 580 2048SP runs at 1168 MHz base and 1284 MHz boost, while the GTX 780 runs at 863 MHz base and 902 MHz boost. This clock advantage contributes to the AMD card's higher FP32 throughput of 5.259 TFLOPS versus 4.156 TFLOPS. The GTX 780 does have more shading units (2,304 versus 2,048), but the AMD card's higher clocks and newer architecture overcome that deficit.

Memory configurations also diverge. The RX 580 2048SP has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth and 7 Gbps effective memory speed. The GTX 780 has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a wider 384-bit bus with 288.4 GB/s bandwidth and 6 Gbps effective speed. The NVIDIA card has more raw bandwidth, but the AMD card has more capacity. Power draw tells the efficiency story: the RX 580 2048SP is rated at 150 W TDP with a suggested 450 W PSU, while the GTX 780 draws 250 W and needs a 600 W PSU. The AMD card delivers higher performance at lower power.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench OpenCL test is the first recorded head-to-head comparison. The AMD RX 580 2048SP scores 29,668, while the NVIDIA GTX 780 scores 22,863. The delta is 29.8% in favor of AMD. This is a substantial margin for an OpenCL compute workload, reflecting both the higher FP32 throughput and the architectural efficiency of GCN 4.0 versus Kepler. The GTX 780's higher memory bandwidth does not compensate for its lower compute throughput in this test.

The Geekbench Vulkan test shows an even larger gap. The RX 580 2048SP scores 38,666, and the GTX 780 scores 24,514. The delta is 57.7% in favor of AMD. This is the biggest win in the head-to-head set and highlights the Vulkan API advantage of the newer architecture. The GTX 780's Vulkan support is limited to version 1.2.175, while the RX 580 2048SP supports Vulkan 1.3. The combination of newer API support and higher clock speeds produces a dominant result.

In the broader benchmark database, the RX 580 2048SP also holds a lead in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test with a score of 849, though no comparable GTX 780 score is recorded for that test. The Geekbench Metal test is exclusive to the GTX 780 with a score of 10,114, but no RX 580 2048SP score exists for Metal. The average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 23,061 for the AMD card and 19,164 for the NVIDIA card. The nearest rivals to the RX 580 2048SP include the Intel Arc B580 at 23,021 (0.2% behind), the NVIDIA RTX 3080 at 23,172 (0.5% ahead), and the NVIDIA RTX 2080 at 22,895 (0.7% behind). The GTX 780's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA TITAN Xp at 19,177 (0.1% ahead) and the AMD RX 6600 at 19,036 (0.7% behind). This places the RX 580 2048SP in the company of much newer GPUs, while the GTX 780 sits alongside similarly dated hardware.

FAQ

Q: Which card has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP has an average benchmark score of 23,061, which is 20.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780's 19,164.

Q: How large is the Vulkan performance gap between the two cards?

A: In the Geekbench Vulkan test, the RX 580 2048SP scores 38,666 versus 24,514 for the GTX 780, a 57.7% advantage for the AMD card.

Q: Does the GTX 780 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The database records two head-to-head benchmarks, Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan, and the RX 580 2048SP wins both.

Q: What is the transistor density difference between the two chips?

A: The RX 580 2048SP has a transistor density of 24.6 million per mm² on a 14 nm process, while the GTX 780 has 12.6 million per mm² on a 28 nm process.

Q: Which card supports newer API versions?

A: The RX 580 2048SP supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, while the GTX 780 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175.

Q: How do the memory bandwidths compare?

A: The GTX 780 has higher memory bandwidth at 288.4 GB/s on a 384-bit bus, while the RX 580 2048SP has 224.0 GB/s on a 256-bit bus. The AMD card has 4 GB of memory versus 3 GB on the NVIDIA card.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP wins both recorded head-to-head benchmarks and holds a higher average score, a higher percentile ranking, and lower power draw. The GTX 780's advantages in memory bandwidth and raw texture/ROP counts do not translate into any recorded performance win. For compute workloads in OpenCL, the RX 580 2048SP is 29.8% faster. For Vulkan gaming, it is 57.7% faster. The newer 14 nm process, GCN 4.0 architecture, and Vulkan 1.3 support give the AMD card a decisive edge in modern API scenarios.

The GTX 780, released in 2013, is clearly a product of its era. Its Kepler architecture lacks FP16 support and its Vulkan implementation is older. The 250 W TDP and 600 W suggested PSU further disadvantage it against the 150 W RX 580 2048SP. The only scenario where the GTX 780 might be preferable is one where its higher memory bandwidth or larger shading unit count matters, but the recorded data shows no such scenario. The GTX 780's nearest rivals include the TITAN Xp and RTX 4050 Mobile, which places it in a different performance tier than the RX 580 2048SP, whose rivals include the RTX 3080 and Arc B580.

For users choosing between these two end-of-life cards, the RX 580 2048SP is the pick for Vulkan gaming, OpenCL compute, and overall efficiency. The GTX 780 offers no recorded performance advantage. The benchmark database speaks clearly, and it speaks in favor of AMD.