AMD Radeon R9 380X
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon R9 380X Specifications
Radeon R9 380X GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon R9 380X GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
R9 380X Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon R9 380X's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The Radeon R9 380X by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon R9 380X Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon R9 380X's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
Radeon R9 380X by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the R9 380X, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
R9 380X Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon R9 380X against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
GCN 3.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon R9 380X is built on AMD's GCN 3.0 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the R9 380X will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon R9 380X Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon R9 380X determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the Radeon R9 380X to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon R9 380X by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon R9 380X are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
AMD API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the AMD Radeon R9 380X. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
Radeon R9 380X Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon R9 380X is manufactured by AMD as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the Radeon R9 380X by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon R9 380X Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About AMD Radeon R9 380X
The AMD Radeon R9 380X is a 28 nm graphics card built on the GCN 3.0 architecture, using the Antigua chip from the Pirate Islands (R9 300) generation. It was released on 2015-11-18 and is now end-of-life, with a launch MSRP of 229 USD. This card occupies a specific historical niche, and its benchmark data reflects a GPU that sits at the 50th percentile against all GPUs in the database. The following analysis breaks down its specifications and positioning based strictly on the available data.
Power and Cooling
The R9 380X carries a thermal design power (TDP) of 190 W. This is a substantial power draw for a card of its era, indicating that adequate cooling and power delivery are non-negotiable for stable operation. The card is a dual-slot design, which is standard for a GPU with this thermal envelope, and it measures 221 mm (8.7 inches) in length and 111 mm (4.4 inches) in height. Builders should verify chassis clearance, as this length can conflict with drive cages in smaller cases.
For power supply requirements, the manufacturer suggests a 450 W PSU. This is a baseline recommendation; given the 190 W TDP, a quality 450 W unit should suffice for a system with a typical mid-range CPU. The card requires two 6-pin PCIe power connectors. Crucially, these are required, not optional — the card will not function without both connected. When planning a build, ensure the power supply has at least these two connectors available on dedicated cables, avoiding daisy-chaining if possible for cleaner power delivery. The power connectors and PSU rating are absolute constraints; pairing this card with an inadequate power supply risks system instability and shutdowns under load. The data shows a straightforward power profile: 190 W draw, 450 W PSU floor, and dual 6-pin connectors are the hard requirements.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
This GPU does not feature dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores. The architecture relies on traditional rasterization techniques, and the benchmark data reflects no hardware acceleration for ray-traced workloads. For API support, the card is rated for DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. This provides a baseline of modern software compatibility for its generation. The Vulkan version is notably mature, which can help with efficiency in titles that leverage it well. DirectX 12_0 support means it can run DX12 games, but it lacks features like mesh shaders or variable rate shading that are tied to newer API tiers. The absence of RT and tensor cores means that any ray-traced effects or AI-based upscaling features found in newer titles will be unavailable or will rely on compute shaders, which would be significantly slower. In practical terms, this card is a pure rasterization engine; its feature set is defined by the GCN architecture and the API levels listed. The FP32 and FP16 performance are identical at 3.973 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio), indicating no dedicated half-precision acceleration, which further underscores its focus on standard graphics workloads.
Memory Subsystem
The R9 380X is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 182.4 GB/s. The memory clock is 1425 MHz, translating to 5.7 Gbps effective. This bandwidth figure is a critical metric for its performance at high resolutions. At 1080p, 4 GB of VRAM was generally sufficient for the era's titles, but the 182.4 GB/s bandwidth becomes a bottleneck in scenarios with heavy texture streaming or high-resolution shadow maps. At 1440p and above, the combination of 4 GB capacity and this bandwidth will strain to maintain smooth frame pacing in modern titles. The 256-bit bus width is a positive factor; it provides a solid foundation for the bandwidth, but the raw 182.4 GB/s figure is a limiting factor compared to later cards with wider buses or faster memory. The pixel rate is 31.04 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 124.2 GTexel/s, which are derived from the core clocks and ROP/TMU counts. These figures suggest that the card is more balanced for pixel throughput than for extreme texture-heavy workloads. For users targeting 1080p, the memory subsystem is adequate for medium-to-high settings in older titles, but for 1440p, the data indicates it will struggle — both the capacity and bandwidth will be pressed. The 4 GB capacity is an absolute ceiling; exceeding it causes stuttering and texture pop-in, regardless of the core's compute capability.
How It Compares
The FACT PACK does not include any nearest rival data or benchmark scores for this card. The `nearestRivals` array is empty, and the `avgBenchmarkScore` is 0, with a `percentileVsAllGpus` of 50. This means the card sits exactly at the median of the database's GPU performance distribution. Without specific rival names and deltaPct values, it is impossible to position it against specific competing models. The data indicates that half of the GPUs in the database are faster, and half are slower. This suggests a mid-pack performer — a card that was competent in its time but is now outpaced by newer generations. The lack of benchmark scores further complicates direct comparisons; the percentile is the only performance indicator available. In the absence of rival data, the analysis must rely on the architectural and memory specifications to infer relative standing. The 50th percentile placement implies that for 1080p gaming at medium settings in modern titles, it would be near the bottom of usability, while for older or less demanding esports titles, it would remain functional. The empty rival list prevents any statement about being "20% ahead of card X" or "30% behind card Y." The only factual comparison possible is the percentile ranking: it is a median performer.
Who Should Consider It
Given the 50th percentile ranking and the memory configuration, the R9 380X is a card for specific use cases, not general-purpose modern gaming. The data suggests it is suitable for 1080p gaming, but with significant caveats. For titles released before 2018, at medium to high settings, the 4 GB VRAM and 182.4 GB/s bandwidth are likely sufficient. The FP32 throughput of 3.973 TFLOPS is adequate for these older workloads. However, for 1440p, the card is not recommended. The memory bandwidth will become a critical bottleneck, and the 4 GB capacity will be exceeded by modern game textures. The benchmark percentile confirms that half of all GPUs in the database are faster, meaning it will underperform relative to modern entry-level cards. For a builder with a strict legacy requirement — such as a retro PC build for Windows 7-era games — this card is a viable choice. It supports the necessary APIs (DirectX 12_0, Vulkan 1.2.170) for a range of titles. For anyone expecting to play current AAA releases at 1080p with high details, the data indicates this is the wrong card. The 31.04 GPixel/s pixel rate will limit fill-rate-heavy effects. The card's 190 W TDP also means it is not an efficient choice for a secondary or HTPC system, as it requires a 450 W PSU and dual 6-pin connectors. In short, the target user is someone building a period-correct machine or playing a curated library of older games at 1080p, not someone seeking competitive performance in modern software.
FAQ
Q: Does the Radeon R9 380X support ray tracing?
A: No. The FACT PACK lists no ray tracing cores (rtCores: null) and no tensor cores. It is a pure rasterization card based on the GCN 3.0 architecture.
Q: What is the required power supply for this card?
A: The suggested PSU rating is 450 W. The card has a 190 W TDP and requires two 6-pin PCIe power connectors.
Q: How much VRAM does it have and what is the bus width?
A: It has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 182.4 GB/s.
Q: What is the card's performance ranking in the database?
A: It sits at the 50th percentile against all GPUs in the database, meaning it is exactly in the middle of the performance distribution.
Q: Which graphics APIs does it support?
A: It supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.
Q: What is the memory clock speed?
A: The memory clock is 1425 MHz, which translates to 5.7 Gbps effective. The total bandwidth is 182.4 GB/s.
Q: What are the physical dimensions of the card?
A: It is a dual-slot card measuring 221 mm (8.7 inches) in length and 111 mm (4.4 inches) in height. It requires two 6-pin power connectors.
Q: Is this card suitable for 1440p gaming?
A: The data suggests no. The 4 GB VRAM capacity and 182.4 GB/s bandwidth are likely insufficient for modern 1440p titles, and the 50th percentile ranking indicates it will underperform. It is best suited for 1080p with older games.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon R9 380X
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
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