AMD Radeon RX 590
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
AMD Radeon RX 590 Specifications
Radeon RX 590 GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon RX 590 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.
RX 590 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon RX 590'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 RX 590 by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon RX 590 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon RX 590'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 RX 590 by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the RX 590, 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.
RX 590 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon RX 590 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 4.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon RX 590 is built on AMD's GCN 4.0 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 RX 590 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon RX 590 Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon RX 590 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 RX 590 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon RX 590 by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon RX 590 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 RX 590. 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 RX 590 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon RX 590 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 RX 590 by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon RX 590 Benchmark Scores
3dmark_3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12Source
3DMark Steel Nomad is the latest GPU benchmark running at native 4K with DirectX 12. It's roughly 3x more demanding than Time Spy, testing AMD Radeon RX 590 with cutting-edge rendering techniques.
geekbench_metalSource
Geekbench Metal tests GPU compute using Apple's Metal API. This shows how AMD Radeon RX 590 performs in macOS and iOS applications that leverage GPU acceleration. Metal provides low-overhead access to Apple silicon GPUs.
About AMD Radeon RX 590
The AMD Radeon RX 590, built on the refined 12nm Polaris architecture, delivers solid compute performance for a budget-conscious workstation. Its GCN 4.0 cores and 8 GB of GDDR5 memory provide ample resources for parallel processing tasks like video encoding and lightweight simulation. While not a dedicated compute card, it handles GPU-accelerated functions in applications like DaVinci Resolve or Blender's Cycles engine reasonably well. The card's 1545 MHz boost clock ensures responsive performance during these compute-heavy workloads. For users whose workflows lean more on general GPU acceleration than pure number crunching, this GPU is a viable option. It effectively bridges the gap between gaming hardware and entry-level professional compute performance.
When it comes to 3D rendering and viewport performance, this Polaris-based graphics card holds its own in a basic workstation context. It can smoothly drive complex models in CAD environments and provide a decent interactive experience in real-time engines. The 8 GB frame buffer is crucial here, allowing for larger textures and more detailed scenes without immediate memory bottlenecks. For rendering with GPU-accelerated engines like V-Ray GPU or OctaneRender, its architecture can be utilized, though speed will not compete with newer architectures. It's best suited for smaller-scale projects or as a transitional card for learning 3D content creation. This AMD offering provides a functional, if not blazing-fast, platform for mastering the fundamentals of 3D workflow.
Professional software certifications are a notable gap for the RX 590, as it lacks official ISV validation from vendors like Autodesk or SOLIDWORKS. This means you might encounter minor glitches or suboptimal performance in certified professional applications compared to a Quadro or Radeon Pro card. For many creators using open-source or consumer-focused software like Blender, Krita, or Unreal Engine, this lack of certification is less of an issue. The card's stability in these environments is generally good for a product of its generation. However, for mission-critical commercial projects in engineering or architecture, an uncertified card introduces an element of risk. It's a trade-off between significant cost savings and guaranteed application compatibility.
Multi-GPU configurations using this AMD graphics solution are technically possible via explicit multi-adapter APIs but are largely impractical for modern workstations. Most contemporary creative and professional software has moved away from supporting multi-GPU setups for rendering, favoring single, more powerful cards. Even when supported, the scaling is often poor, and the PCIe 3.0 interface could become a constraint when sharing data between cards. The 175W TDP also means installing two would require a robust power supply and excellent case cooling. Ultimately, investing in a single, more modern GPU will almost always yield better performance and fewer headaches than trying to scale with a pair of these. For a workstation built today, treating this Polaris GPU as a capable single-card solution is the only sensible approach.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon RX 590
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
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