AMD Radeon RX 590
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon RX 590 Specifications
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.
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.
About AMD Radeon RX 590
The AMD Radeon RX 590 is an end-of-life graphics card built on the Polaris 30 chip with GCN 4.0 architecture, fabricated on GlobalFoundries' 12 nm process. It holds a 74th percentile ranking among all GPUs, indicating it outperforms roughly three-quarters of the hardware in the benchmark database. Its average benchmark score of 30457 places it in a tightly contested performance tier where the difference between it and its nearest rivals is often within a single percentage point.
Benchmark Performance
The RX 590's average benchmark score of 30457 is virtually identical to that of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, which scores 30459 with a deltaPct of 0. This statistical tie means the two cards deliver essentially indistinguishable average performance in the database's aggregate metrics, despite their very different architectural generations and market positions. In specific tests, the RX 590 achieves 1081 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and 59832 in Geekbench Metal, showing consistent behavior across both DirectX 12 and Apple's Metal API.
The performance picture becomes more nuanced when comparing against the other rivals. The AMD Radeon RX 590 GME holds a 1% advantage, scoring 30755, which is a negligible margin that falls well within normal run-to-run variance. The RX 590 itself is 1% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 570, which scores 30158, and 1.2% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 at 30109. These tiny deltas paint a clear picture: the RX 590 sits in a performance cluster where no single card has a decisive edge over its immediate competition. The practical takeaway is that in real-world gaming, the RX 590, RX 590 GME, RX 570, RTX 2080 Ti, and RTX 5060 will produce nearly interchangeable frame rates at most settings, with differences likely to be masked by game-specific optimization quirks.
Memory Subsystem
The RX 590 is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The memory operates at 2000 MHz, which translates to 8 Gbps effective data rate. This combination of capacity and bandwidth was well-suited for high-resolution gaming at the time of release, as 8 GB allows modern titles to load high-resolution textures without spilling into system RAM. The 256-bit memory interface provides sufficient throughput for the shading units to stay fed at 1440p, though at 4K the 256.0 GB/s bandwidth can become a limiting factor in texture-heavy scenes.
Comparing the memory subsystem to the RX 590's performance tier, the 8 GB capacity is notably generous for a card with 32 ROPs and 144 TMUs. The pixel rate of 49.44 GPixel/s and texture rate of 222.5 GTexel/s suggest the card is more balanced toward texture processing than raw fill-rate-heavy workloads. For high-resolution gaming, the data indicates the memory capacity is the stronger asset; bandwidth is adequate but not class-leading, so users should expect smooth 1440p performance with occasional dips at 4K when memory-intensive effects are enabled.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The RX 590 does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores; both fields are null in the specification data. This means the card relies entirely on its 2304 shading units for all compute tasks, including any ray-traced effects implemented through general-purpose shaders. The FP32 throughput is 7.119 TFLOPS, with FP16 performance also rated at 7.119 TFLOPS in a 1:1 ratio, indicating the card does not offer a half-precision boost for accelerated compute workloads.
In terms of API support, the RX 590 supports DirectX 12 at feature level 12_0, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. This modern API set ensures broad compatibility with contemporary games, though the lack of hardware-accelerated ray tracing means any RT effects must be handled via compute shaders, which is significantly less efficient than dedicated RT cores. The DX12_0 feature level is the baseline for current DirectX 12 titles, so the card will run them, but it will not support advanced DXR features at playable frame rates. The Vulkan 1.3 support is a strength, as many recent titles and emulators benefit from the lower overhead of this API.
Who Should Consider It
Benchmark results indicate the RX 590 is best suited for 1080p gaming at high to ultra settings, where its 7.119 TFLOPS of compute power and 8 GB memory capacity provide a comfortable margin. The 74th percentile ranking means it outperforms most GPUs in the database, making it capable of handling esports titles at very high frame rates and AAA games at 60 FPS with some settings turned down. For 1440p, the card remains viable but will require medium to high settings in demanding titles; the 256.0 GB/s bandwidth and 32 ROPs limit its ability to push high pixel counts at maximum quality.
Users considering 4K gaming should look elsewhere, as the RX 590's memory bandwidth and pixel rate are insufficient for consistent 60 FPS at that resolution in modern titles. However, for a secondary system, HTPC, or a primary 1080p rig, the card's 8 GB VRAM gives it better longevity than 4 GB competitors in the same performance class. The 1.2% advantage over the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 suggests that for pure rasterization, the RX 590 is not meaningfully slower, though the RTX card may offer other modern features that the RX 590 lacks.
FAQ
Q: How does the RX 590 compare to the RTX 2080 Ti in average performance?
A: The two cards have nearly identical average scores: the RX 590 scores 30457, while the RTX 2080 Ti scores 30459, a deltaPct of 0.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the RX 590?
A: The card has a 256-bit memory bus with GDDR5 memory running at 2000 MHz (8 Gbps effective), providing 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth.
Q: Does the RX 590 support hardware ray tracing?
A: No, the RX 590 has no ray tracing cores or tensor cores. All compute is handled by its 2304 shading units.
Q: What is the difference in performance between the RX 590 and the RX 590 GME?
A: The RX 590 GME scores 30755, which is 1% higher than the RX 590's 30457.
Q: What APIs does the RX 590 support?
A: It supports DirectX 12 (feature level 12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.
Q: How much VRAM does the RX 590 have?
A: It has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, which is well-suited for high-resolution textures at 1080p and 1440p.
Power and Cooling
The RX 590 has a TDP of 175 W, which requires a minimum suggested PSU rating of 450 W. Power delivery is handled by a single 8-pin connector, which is straightforward and compatible with most modern power supplies. The card occupies a dual-slot form factor and measures 241 mm in length (9.5 inches), making it a compact option for most mid-tower cases. The card's PCIe 3.0 x16 interface is fully compatible with modern motherboards, and the display outputs include 1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, covering multi-monitor setups and high refresh rate displays.
The 175 W TDP is moderate for the performance level, and the dual-slot cooler design provides adequate thermal headroom for the 12 nm Polaris 30 chip. The 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die result in a transistor density of 24.6M per mm², which is modest by today's standards but contributes to the card's manageable power draw. Users with a 450 W power supply should have no issues, though a higher-rated PSU provides more headroom for overclocking or additional components.
How It Compares
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti: The RTX 2080 Ti scores 30459, essentially identical to the RX 590's 30457 with a deltaPct of 0. Despite the RTX card being a flagship product in its generation, the aggregate benchmark data shows no average performance advantage over the RX 590. This is a surprising result that suggests the RTX 2080 Ti's advantages lie in ray tracing and other features, not raw rasterization in this test suite.
AMD Radeon RX 590 GME: The RX 590 GME scores 30755, a 1% advantage over the standard RX 590. This is a marginal difference, likely within manufacturing tolerance and driver variance. The two cards are effectively interchangeable in performance, and users should base their decision on availability and other factors rather than speed.
AMD Radeon RX 570: The RX 590 is 1% faster than the RX 570, which scores 30158. This is a smaller generational gap than expected, indicating that the RX 590's higher clocks (1469 MHz base, 1545 MHz boost) and 12 nm process yield only a modest real-world improvement over the older Polaris card.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060: The RX 590 holds a 1.2% advantage over the RTX 5060, which scores 30109. This is the largest delta among the rivals, but still a slim margin. The result shows that the RX 590 remains competitive with a much newer NVIDIA card in average benchmark performance, though the RTX 5060 likely offers better efficiency and modern features not captured in this comparison.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the AMD Radeon RX 590 are below.
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.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performersgeekbench_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.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
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