AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 are from different eras, and the benchmark data reflects a generational chasm. The RX 9070 XT wins the only shared test decisively, but the GTX 590 holds a niche position due to its legacy status. This analysis compares the two strictly on the supplied metrics, focusing on performance deltas, architectural gaps, and where each card remains viable.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the result is a landslide. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT scores 17,428, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 scores 12,830. This gives the RX 9070 XT a 35.8% advantage, a massive lead that underscores the architectural progression between 2011 and 2025.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the RX 9070 XT is in a different league. Its average benchmark score across all tests is 13,543, which places it in the 55th percentile of all GPUs. The GTX 590’s average score is 12,830, placing it in the 52nd percentile. While the percentile gap is narrow, the RX 9070 XT’s score is built on a wider range of tests, including modern DirectX 12 and Vulkan workloads. The GTX 590 only has a single OpenCL score on record.

The RX 9070 XT’s individual scores tell a more complete story. In Passmark G3D, it hits 26,795, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it reaches 65,879. Its compute performance is also strong, with a Passmark GPU Compute score of 15,864. The GTX 590, by contrast, has no comparable scores in these categories, meaning its 12,830 OpenCL result is the only data point for cross-referencing. This asymmetry is critical — the RX 9070 XT is not just faster in the shared test; it has proven capability across a spectrum of modern APIs.

When comparing the RX 9070 XT to its nearest rivals, the delta is minimal. It is only 0.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon HD 7770M, 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570, and 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA P106-090. This suggests that in the database’s scoring system, the RX 9070 XT sits in a tightly packed performance band. The GTX 590, meanwhile, is virtually tied with the AMD Radeon Pro 455 (0% delta) and only 0.1% behind the AMD FirePro W5100. These rival comparisons show that both cards are clustered with older or lower-tier parts, but the RX 9070 XT’s raw scores in newer tests push it higher.

The Verdict

From the data, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the clear winner for almost any modern workload. Its 35.8% lead in OpenCL is compounded by its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and its massive 16 GB GDDR6 memory pool. If you need a card for current games, compute tasks, or any application leveraging modern APIs, the RX 9070 XT is the only sensible choice. The GTX 590’s 1,536 MB GDDR5 memory and lack of Vulkan support make it unsuitable for contemporary software.

However, the GTX 590 is not without a purpose. For a collector or someone building a period-correct system, it represents a piece of 2011 flagship hardware. Its Fermi 2.0 architecture and dual-GPU design are historically significant. The data shows it is still competitive in raw OpenCL against some modern integrated graphics, such as the AMD Radeon 740M (only 0.3% behind), but that is a low bar. If you prioritize legacy compatibility or collecting, the GTX 590 has value; for everything else, the RX 9070 XT dominates.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT in OpenCL than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590?

A: The RX 9070 XT scores 17,428 versus 12,830 for the GTX 590, a 35.8% improvement.

Q: Does the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 support Vulkan?

A: No. The FACT PACK lists no Vulkan API support for the GTX 590, while the RX 9070 XT supports Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference between the two cards?

A: The RX 9070 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, while the GTX 590 has 1,536 MB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The RX 9070 XT has an average benchmark score of 13,543, compared to the GTX 590’s 12,830.

Q: Is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 still in production?

A: No, the GTX 590 is marked as "End-of-life," while the RX 9070 XT is "Active."

Specification Differences

The two cards differ fundamentally in nearly every hardware specification. The RX 9070 XT uses a 4 nm process node, while the GTX 590 uses a 40 nm process. This results in a transistor count of 53,900 million for the RX 9070 XT versus 3,000 million for the GTX 590, and a die size of 357 mm² versus 520 mm². The RX 9070 XT has a transistor density of 151.0M per mm², while the GTX 590 has 5.8M per mm².

Memory is another major divergence. The RX 9070 XT offers 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus with 644.6 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 590 offers 1,536 MB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus with 164.0 GB/s bandwidth. The RX 9070 XT has 4,096 shading units, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs, versus 512 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 48 ROPs for the GTX 590. The RX 9070 XT also features 64 RT cores, which the GTX 590 lacks.

Power and connectivity also differ. The RX 9070 XT has a TDP of 304 W and a suggested PSU of 700 W, while the GTX 590 has a TDP of 365 W and a suggested PSU of 750 W. The RX 9070 XT uses PCIe 5.0 x16, while the GTX 590 uses PCIe 2.0 x16. Display outputs are also distinct: the RX 9070 XT has 1x HDMI 2.1b and 3x DisplayPort 2.1a, while the GTX 590 has 3x DVI and 1x mini-DisplayPort.

Architecture Differences

The RX 9070 XT is built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture, part of the Navi IV generation, and uses the Navi 48 chip. The GTX 590 is based on Fermi 2.0, part of the GeForce 500 generation, using the GF110 chip. The RX 9070 XT supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The GTX 590 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but no Vulkan.

The RX 9070 XT’s RDNA 4.0 architecture includes 64 dedicated RT cores for hardware ray tracing, a feature absent from the GTX 590. The RX 9070 XT also delivers 48.66 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 48.66 TFLOPS of FP16 (1:1), while the GTX 590 delivers 1,244.2 GFLOPS of FP32 and no listed FP16 capability. The pixel rate is 380.2 GPixel/s for the RX 9070 XT versus 19.46 GPixel/s for the GTX 590, and the texture rate is 760.3 GTexel/s versus 38.91 GTexel/s.

The manufacturing process is a key differentiator. The RX 9070 XT is built on TSMC’s 4 nm node, while the GTX 590 uses TSMC’s 40 nm node. This process shrink is the primary reason for the massive transistor density difference. The RX 9070 XT also has a boost clock of 2970 MHz and a game clock of 2400 MHz, whereas the GTX 590 has no listed core clock data in the FACT PACK.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT wins in every measurable category. It has a higher OpenCL score, more memory, newer API support, and substantially higher compute and fill rates. It is the clear choice for modern gaming, ray tracing, and any DirectX 12 or Vulkan workload. Its 16 GB memory buffer is suited for high-resolution textures and large datasets, and its 64 RT cores enable hardware-accelerated ray tracing. The data shows it is also more power-efficient in terms of performance per watt, despite a lower TDP than the GTX 590.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 wins only in the context of legacy scenarios. Its 279 mm length and 111 mm height make it a specific form factor for older cases, and its 3x DVI output is useful for connecting to older monitors. Its 1,536 MB memory is sufficient for early 2010s games, and its Fermi 2.0 architecture is historically relevant. However, the GTX 590’s 52nd percentile ranking and lack of Vulkan support mean it is only competitive in synthetic OpenCL tests against modern integrated graphics. For a retro build, it works; for any practical modern use, it does not.