AMD Radeon RX 590 vs AMD Radeon RX 590 GME Comparison

AMD Radeon RX 590 GME and AMD Radeon RX 590 are two nearly identical graphics cards from the same Polaris family, separated by a single head-to-head benchmark and a handful of specification differences. The data shows both cards occupy the same performance tier, with the RX 590 holding a slight edge in the one direct comparison available, while the GME variant offers a distinct clock-speed profile that shifts its behavior.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct head-to-head benchmark recorded between these two cards is the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. In this workload, the AMD Radeon RX 590 scores 1081 points, while the RX 590 GME trails with 1001 points. That difference translates to a deltaPct of -7.4% for the GME relative to the RX 590, meaning the RX 590 is roughly 7.4% faster in this specific test. This is a meaningful gap for two cards that otherwise share the same architecture, memory configuration, and shading unit count.

Beyond the single head-to-head result, the aggregate benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The RX 590 GME posts an average benchmark score of 30755, while the RX 590 averages 30457. The GME therefore holds a 1% advantage in average score, as indicated by the deltaPct of 1 when comparing the RX 590 to its GME counterpart. This apparent contradiction — losing the Steel Nomad test but winning the average — suggests the GME may perform better in other unlisted workloads that pull its aggregate score upward.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each card clarifies the competitive landscape. The RX 590 GME sits between the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 6700, with an average score of 30755. It is 1% ahead of the RTX 2080 Ti (30459) and 1.1% behind the RX 6700 (31112). The RX 590, by contrast, is essentially tied with the RTX 2080 Ti at a 0% deltaPct, and it sits 1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 570 (30158). Both cards land at the 74th percentile among all GPUs, indicating they deliver comparable overall performance despite the RX 590's win in the Steel Nomad test.

FAQ

Q: Which card wins the head-to-head 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 590 wins with a score of 1081, while the RX 590 GME scores 1001, a -7.4% delta for the GME.

Q: Do the two cards have the same average benchmark score?

A: No. The RX 590 GME averages 30755, which is 1% higher than the RX 590's 30457 average, according to the deltaPct between them.

Q: How does the RX 590 GME compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti?

A: The RX 590 GME is 1% ahead of the RTX 2080 Ti, which has an average score of 30459, while the GME scores 30755.

Q: What is the RX 590's position relative to the AMD Radeon RX 6700?

A: The RX 590's nearest rival list does not include the RX 6700, but the RX 590 GME is 1.1% behind the RX 6700 (31112), and the RX 590 itself is 1% behind the GME.

Q: Are both cards in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both cards are at the 74th percentile versus all GPUs, confirming they sit in the same performance tier.

Q: Which card has more wins in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The RX 590 has 1 win, while the RX 590 GME has 0 wins in the recorded head-to-head benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 590 clearly wins the only direct head-to-head benchmark available, the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, by a margin of 7.4%. For users prioritizing that specific workload, the RX 590 is the stronger choice. Its higher base and boost clock speeds — 1469 MHz and 1545 MHz respectively — likely contribute to this result, as those clocks are substantially higher than the GME's 1257 MHz base and 1420 MHz boost.

The AMD Radeon RX 590 GME, however, wins on aggregate average benchmark score. Its 30755 average outperforms the RX 590's 30457, and this 1% edge suggests the GME performs better across a broader set of tests beyond the single Steel Nomad run. The GME also sits closer to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti in its nearest rival list, with the RTX 3070 Ti averaging 30849 and a deltaPct of -0.3%, meaning the GME is nearly tied with that higher-tier card. This makes the GME the better pick for general-purpose gaming where diverse workloads are common, even if it loses the one explicit head-to-head test.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in their chip designation and process node. The RX 590 GME uses the Polaris 20 chip fabricated on a 14 nm process, while the RX 590 uses Polaris 30 on a 12 nm process. This process difference is reflected in their clock speeds: the RX 590's base clock is 1469 MHz and boost clock is 1545 MHz, whereas the GME runs at 1257 MHz base and 1420 MHz boost. These are the most consequential differences between the two.

Clock-related rates also diverge. The RX 590 achieves a pixel rate of 49.44 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 222.5 GTexel/s, while the GME manages 45.44 GPixel/s and 204.5 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance follows suit: the RX 590 delivers 7.119 TFLOPS FP32, and the GME delivers 6.543 TFLOPS FP32. Both cards share identical memory specifications — 8 GB GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth and 2000 MHz memory clock (8 Gbps effective) — as well as the same TDP of 175 W, slot width, power connector, and suggested PSU rating of 450 W.

Architecture Differences

Both cards are built on the GCN 4.0 architecture and belong to the same Polaris (RX 500) generation, with the same 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die and a transistor density of 24.6M / mm². The shading unit count is identical at 2304, as are the TMUs at 144 and ROPs at 32. Neither card features ray tracing cores or tensor cores, and both support DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.

The key architectural distinction lies in the manufacturing process. The RX 590 GME uses Polaris 20 on a 14 nm node from GlobalFoundries, while the RX 590 uses Polaris 30 on a 12 nm node, also from GlobalFoundries. This smaller process node allows the RX 590 to reach higher clock speeds without increasing TDP, which remains at 175 W for both. The GME's lower clocks on the older 14 nm node result in reduced compute throughput — 6.543 TFLOPS FP32 versus 7.119 TFLOPS — while maintaining the same memory and output capabilities. Both cards offer identical display outputs (1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a) and dimensions (241 mm / 9.5 inches length), and both are end-of-life products with the same predecessor (Arctic Islands) and successor (Vega).

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice for users who prioritize the single recorded head-to-head benchmark: the AMD Radeon RX 590 wins the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test by 7.4%, with a score of 1081 versus 1001. Its higher clock speeds — 1469 MHz base and 1545 MHz boost versus 1257 MHz and 1420 MHz — deliver superior pixel rate, texture rate, and FP32 throughput. For anyone targeting that specific DX12 workload, the RX 590 is the definitive pick.

For users who value overall aggregate performance, the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME takes the edge with an average benchmark score of 30755, 1% ahead of the RX 590's 30457. The GME's position is also notable in its rival list: it sits only 0.3% behind the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, whereas the RX 590 is 1% behind the GME. This suggests the GME may offer more balanced performance across a wider range of tests, even if it loses the explicit head-to-head comparison.

Ultimately, the RX 590's 12 nm process and higher clocks make it the stronger card for applications that stress raw compute rates, as evidenced by its win in Steel Nomad. The RX 590 GME, despite its older 14 nm process and lower clocks, achieves a higher average score, making it the better all-rounder in aggregate terms. Neither card carries a launch MSRP in the data except the RX 590, which lists a launch MSRP of 279 USD. Both cards are end-of-life, so availability will dictate practical choice, but from a pure performance standpoint, the RX 590 wins the head-to-head, while the GME wins the average.