Radeon 540X vs GeForce GTX 480

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Radeon 540X and GTX 480 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 480 outperforms Radeon 540X by ~6% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+6%

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 540X (~2%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider Radeon 540X

  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 2.1 · Not supported

Reasons to consider GTX 480

  • Higher catalog performance index
  • Higher catalog value index
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 2.0 · Not supported
Low confidence

Catalog metrics radar

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

H2H
Performance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
Performance
3133
Efficiency
10044
Price / performance
54100
Memory capacity
5656
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 288–293of 411
Radeon 540Xnot in TOP100position in the GPU ranking
GTX 480not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

Radeon 540X

89 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

CategoryRadeon 540XGTX 480
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
31
33Better
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
29
30Better
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
26
28Better
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
100Better
44
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
43Better
42

Specifications

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

SpecificationRadeon 540XGTX 480
DisplayPort
HDMI
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
Length
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Architecture
Memory type
Compute API
Launch price
Shader units / coresBetter
Interface
Power connector
Thickness
Die sizeBetter
Memory cache
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
Transistor countBetter
Device class
Release date
Upscaling

Gaming FPS

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

The Gaming FPS section compares Radeon 540X and GTX 480 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.

Radeon 540XGTX 480
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
155 FPS
169 FPS
1080p Ultra
109 FPS
116 FPS
1440p Ultra
58 FPS
63 FPS
4K Ultra
21 FPS
23 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 2Radeon 540X155 FPSGTX 480169 FPSRadeon 540X109 FPSGTX 480116 FPSRadeon 540X58 FPSGTX 48063 FPSRadeon 540X21 FPSGTX 48023 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077Radeon 540X100 FPSGTX 480109 FPSRadeon 540X86 FPSGTX 48092 FPSRadeon 540X42 FPSGTX 48046 FPSRadeon 540X14 FPSGTX 48015 FPS
Forza Horizon 5Radeon 540X126 FPSGTX 480138 FPSRadeon 540X81 FPSGTX 48087 FPSRadeon 540X52 FPSGTX 48057 FPSRadeon 540X31 FPSGTX 48034 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyRadeon 540X81 FPSGTX 48089 FPSRadeon 540X68 FPSGTX 48073 FPSRadeon 540X38 FPSGTX 48041 FPSRadeon 540X14 FPSGTX 48016 FPS
Average FPSRadeon 540X116 FPSGTX 480126 FPSRadeon 540X86 FPSGTX 48092 FPSRadeon 540X48 FPSGTX 48052 FPSRadeon 540X20 FPSGTX 48022 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

IndexRadeon 540XGTX 480Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10031336%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 10036353%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 10038393%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10056560%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 1001004478%

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.

IndexRadeon 540XGTX 480Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 10042432%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10041422%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 10038393%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 10045450%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 10038405%

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

SpecificationsRadeon 540XGTX 480
DirectX12.011.0
Vulkan1.3Vulkan 1.2 (driver support)
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 2.1OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 2.0

Architecture and release

SpecificationsRadeon 540XGTX 480
ArchitecturePolarisFermi
Process node14 nmBetter40 nm
Release date20172010
Device classMobileDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

SpecificationsRadeon 540XGTX 480
Transistor count2200 million3100 millionBetter
Die size103 mm²Better529 mm²
Shader units / cores384480Better
Base clock1183 MHzBetter700 MHz
Boost clock1183 MHzBetter700 MHz

Board size, power and compatibility

SpecificationsRadeon 540XGTX 480
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x8PCIe 2x16
LengthOEM dependent267 mm
ThicknessSingle-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU250 WBetter600 W
Power connectorNone6+8 pin

Display outputs and limits

SpecificationsRadeon 540XGTX 480
HDMIOEM dependentmini-HDMI 1.3a
DisplayPortDisplayPort 1.4aBoard dependent
USB Type-COEM dependentNo
Max monitorsOEM dependent3
Max resolutionOEM dependent2560 × 1600

Memory and compute throughput

SpecificationsRadeon 540XGTX 480
VRAM1 GB GDDR51,5 GB GDDR5Better
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory bus32 bit384 bitBetter
TFLOPS0.9081.345Better

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

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

Device ARadeon 540X43
Device BGTX 48042
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 / 69

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: Radeon 540X or GTX 480?

Radeon 540X has the higher overall gaming score, while GTX 480 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

GTX 480 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?

GTX 480 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

Radeon 540X offers more overall performance, while Radeon 540X offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

GTX 480 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

GTX 480 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

Radeon 540X leads in combined 1440p performance. Radeon 540X can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

Radeon 540X is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

Radeon 540X 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?

Radeon 540X 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 Radeon 540X 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.