Radeon R9 290X vs GeForce MX450

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared R9 290X and GeForce MX450 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

R9 290X outperforms GeForce MX450 by ~1% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+1%

Scores are normalized on the Head to Head scale. Higher is better. How is this calculated?

H2HBench Data Quality

Low confidence
Specifications: Field verification not recordedVerified gaming results: 0Estimated / unverified results: 32Price record updated: Sep 6, 2026

Limited verified data

H2HBench Verdict

Higher catalog score: Radeon R9 290X (~13%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider R9 290X

  • Higher catalog value index
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 2.1 · Not supported

Reasons to consider GeForce MX450

  • Recorded feature support: CUDA / OpenCL · Not supported
Low confidence

Catalog metrics radar

Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.

H2H
Performance
Price / performance
Performance
3838
Price / performance
10065
Missing values are never replaced with zero or an average.Model: H2H 2026.07 fixed scale.

Graphics card ranking

Full ranking →

The ranking is recalculated automatically from catalog data.

Positions 254–259of 321
R9 290Xnot in TOP100position in the GPU ranking
GeForce MX450not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

Radeon R9 290X

112 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

CategoryR9 290XGeForce MX450
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
38
38
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
34
34
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
31
31
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
44Better
33
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
45Better
40

Specifications

The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.

SpecificationR9 290XGeForce MX450
DisplayPort
HDMI
Device class
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
Length
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
TFLOPS
Power consumption
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Architecture
Thickness
Compute API
Launch price
Shader units / cores
Process node
Clock speed
Base clock
Boost clock
VRAM
Memory frequency
Memory bus
Memory bandwidth
Interface
Power consumption
Recommended PSU
Die size
Memory cache
Transistor count
Upscaling

Gaming FPS

Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.

The Gaming FPS section compares R9 290X and GeForce MX450 across curated H2H Lab game presets. The useful signal is not only average FPS, but also how each device behaves at 1440p and 4K, how memory capacity and bus width affect heavy textures, and whether the game engine favors raster performance, ray tracing, or driver maturity.

R9 290XGeForce MX450
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
185 FPS
157 FPS
1080p Ultra
130 FPS
111 FPS
1440p Ultra
81 FPS
86 FPS
4K Ultra
28 FPS
43 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 2R9 290X185 FPSGeForce MX450157 FPSR9 290X130 FPSGeForce MX450111 FPSR9 290X81 FPSGeForce MX45086 FPSR9 290X28 FPSGeForce MX45043 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077R9 290X119 FPSGeForce MX450102 FPSR9 290X103 FPSGeForce MX45088 FPSR9 290X58 FPSGeForce MX45062 FPSR9 290X19 FPSGeForce MX45029 FPS
Forza Horizon 5R9 290X150 FPSGeForce MX450128 FPSR9 290X97 FPSGeForce MX45083 FPSR9 290X73 FPSGeForce MX45077 FPSR9 290X41 FPSGeForce MX45063 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyR9 290X97 FPSGeForce MX45083 FPSR9 290X81 FPSGeForce MX45069 FPSR9 290X52 FPSGeForce MX45056 FPSR9 290X19 FPSGeForce MX45029 FPS
Average FPSR9 290X138 FPSGeForce MX450118 FPSR9 290X103 FPSGeForce MX45088 FPSR9 290X66 FPSGeForce MX45070 FPSR9 290X27 FPSGeForce MX45041 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

IndexR9 290XGeForce MX450Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10038380%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 10040385%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100433812%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 100560200%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100440200%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

H2H AI workload indices

Estimated workload profiles based on available performance and memory data.

IndexR9 290XGeForce MX450Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 100463819%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100453817%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100433812%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100483823%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100433812%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

Graphics APIs, SDKs and upscaling

SpecificationsR9 290XGeForce MX450
DirectX12.012.2
Vulkan1.21.2
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 2.1CUDA / OpenCL

Architecture and release

SpecificationsR9 290XGeForce MX450
ArchitectureGCN 2.0Pascal / Turing / Ampere
Process node28 nm
Release date20132017
Device classDesktopMobile

GPU cores, die and clocks

SpecificationsR9 290XGeForce MX450
Transistor count6200 millionNot publicly specified
Die size438 mm²Not publicly specified
Shader units / cores2816Not publicly specified
Base clock1000 MHzOEM/TGP dependent
Boost clock1000 MHzOEM/TGP dependent

Board size, power and compatibility

SpecificationsR9 290XGeForce MX450
InterfacePCIe 3x16OEM platform dependent
LengthVaries by boardOEM dependent
ThicknessTriple-slotOEM dependent
Recommended PSU950 WOEM dependent
Power connector6+8 pinIntegrated laptop power

Display outputs and limits

SpecificationsR9 290XGeForce MX450
HDMIHDMI 1.4aOEM dependent
DisplayPortDisplayPort 1.2OEM dependent
USB Type-CNoOEM dependent
Max monitors4OEM dependent
Max resolution4096 × 2160OEM dependent

Memory and compute throughput

SpecificationsR9 290XGeForce MX450
VRAM4 GB GDDR5OEM configuration dependent
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5 / GDDR6
Memory bus512 bitOEM configuration dependent
TFLOPS5.632OEM/TGP dependent

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

Beyond percentages: causes, relevant specifications, and practical impact behind every chart.

Device AR9 290X45
Device BGeForce MX45040
What AI will explain

Overall score, radar, FPS, synthetic tests, specifications, efficiency, and value.

Evidence details

Data coverage

Verified gaming results
0
Verified synthetic results
0
Games with verified results
0
Verified community results
0
Estimated / unverified results
32
Specifications
0 / 63

Specification record updated:

Benchmarks updated:

Price record updated:

Comparison reviewed:

Calculated scores · How is this calculated?

Scores use the catalog model and may include estimated inputs. Open each score to see its origin and the methodology.

clamp(round(performance × 0.7 + (efficiency ?? 50) × 0.2 + (value is missing ? 0 : (value − 50) × 0.2)), 0, 100)
Price evidence · View sources (4)

Verified community results

No verified community benchmarks yet.

Reviewed by

No individual editorial review is recorded for this comparison.

Comparison history

Show recorded changes (3)
  1. · Record updated: products
  2. · Record updated: products
  3. · Record updated: products

Why you can trust this comparison

Origin and confidence are evaluated from the evidence attached to each value. Unverified results are identified, and specification, benchmark and price dates remain separate.

Report incorrect data

Owner experiences

Real builds, results, and community feedback.

Moderator reviewedHelpful to the communityExpert badges

Frequently asked comparison questions

Short recommendations based on performance, memory, power consumption, and intended use.

01Which is better for gaming: R9 290X or GeForce MX450?

R9 290X has the higher overall gaming score, while R9 290X offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

GeForce MX450 is the stronger streaming choice thanks to performance, hardware encoding, and application support. Check AV1, H.264, and HEVC support before buying.

03Which is better for Blender?

GeForce MX450 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

R9 290X offers more overall performance, while R9 290X offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

GeForce MX450 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

R9 290X is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

R9 290X leads in combined 1440p performance. R9 290X can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

R9 290X is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

R9 290X is easier to use in a quiet build because of its lower estimated power and thermal load. Actual noise depends on the specific cooler.

10Which is better without replacing the power supply?

R9 290X is the safer candidate because its stated power consumption is lower. Verify PSU wattage, age, and power connectors.

11Is it worth upgrading from the previous generation?

Consider upgrading to R9 290X if your current device no longer delivers the required FPS, memory capacity, or feature support. A gain below 15–20% is usually worth waiting for a price cut.