Radeon RX 480 8GB vs Radeon RX 590

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared RX 480 8GB and RX 590 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

RX 480 8GB outperforms RX 590 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 RX 480 8GB (~12%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider RX 480 8GB

  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Lower recorded market price
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 2.0 / DirectCompute 5.0 · Not supported

Reasons to consider RX 590

  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 2.1 · AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR)
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
4141
Efficiency
9161
Price / performance
100100
Memory capacity
6868
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 91–96of 321
RX 480 8GB#93position in the GPU ranking
RX 590not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

Radeon RX 480 8GB

152 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

BEST PRICE / PERFORMANCE

Radeon RX 480 8GB

Price $56.00

Based on catalog performance per unit of current market price, not measured FPS.

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

CategoryRX 480 8GBRX 590
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
41
41
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
36
36
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
34
34
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
91Better
61
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
57Better
51

Specifications

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

SpecificationRX 480 8GBRX 590
Device class
DirectX
Vulkan
OpenGL
HDMI
DisplayPort
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Launch price
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAM
Memory frequency
Memory bus
Memory bandwidth
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Architecture
Transistor count
Die size
Shader units / cores
Memory cache
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
Recommended PSU
Length
Thickness
Upscaling
Compute API

Gaming FPS

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

The Gaming FPS section compares RX 480 8GB and RX 590 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.

RX 480 8GBRX 590
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
188 FPS
191 FPS
1080p Ultra
132 FPS
134 FPS
1440p Ultra
95 FPS
97 FPS
4K Ultra
31 FPS
32 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 2RX 480 8GB188 FPSRX 590191 FPSRX 480 8GB132 FPSRX 590134 FPSRX 480 8GB95 FPSRX 59097 FPSRX 480 8GB31 FPSRX 59032 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077RX 480 8GB121 FPSRX 590123 FPSRX 480 8GB104 FPSRX 590106 FPSRX 480 8GB69 FPSRX 59070 FPSRX 480 8GB21 FPSRX 59021 FPS
Forza Horizon 5RX 480 8GB153 FPSRX 590155 FPSRX 480 8GB99 FPSRX 590101 FPSRX 480 8GB86 FPSRX 59087 FPSRX 480 8GB46 FPSRX 59046 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyRX 480 8GB99 FPSRX 590101 FPSRX 480 8GB83 FPSRX 59084 FPSRX 480 8GB62 FPSRX 59063 FPSRX 480 8GB21 FPSRX 59022 FPS
Average FPSRX 480 8GB140 FPSRX 590143 FPSRX 480 8GB105 FPSRX 590106 FPSRX 480 8GB78 FPSRX 59079 FPSRX 480 8GB30 FPSRX 59030 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

IndexRX 480 8GBRX 590Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10041410%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 10045474%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 10049490%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 10068680%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100916139%

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.

IndexRX 480 8GBRX 590Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 10053530%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 10052520%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 10049490%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 10056560%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 10049490%

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

SpecificationsRX 480 8GBRX 590
DirectX12.012.0
Vulkan1.21.3
OpenGL4.64.6
UpscalingNot supportedAMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR)
Compute APIOpenCL 2.0 / DirectCompute 5.0OpenCL 2.1

Architecture and release

SpecificationsRX 480 8GBRX 590
ArchitecturePolarisGCN 4.0
Process node14 nm12 nmBetter
Release date20162018
Device classDesktopDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

SpecificationsRX 480 8GBRX 590
Transistor count5700 million5700 million
Die size232 mm²232 mm²
Shader units / cores23042304
Base clock1120 MHz1469 MHzBetter
Boost clock1266 MHz1545 MHzBetter

Board size, power and compatibility

SpecificationsRX 480 8GBRX 590
InterfacePCIe 3x16PCIe 3x16
LengthVaries by board241 mm
ThicknessVaries by boardDual-slot
Recommended PSUVaries by board450 W
Power connector8 pin8 pin

Display outputs and limits

SpecificationsRX 480 8GBRX 590
HDMIHDMI 2.0bHDMI 2.0b
DisplayPortDisplayPort 1.4DisplayPort 1.4a
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitorsVaries by board4
Max resolution7680 × 43207680 × 4320

Memory and compute throughput

SpecificationsRX 480 8GBRX 590
VRAM8 GB GDDR58 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory bus256 bit256 bit
TFLOPS5.8347.119Better

Other comparisons

6

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

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

Device ARX 480 8GB57
Device BRX 59051
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 (6)

Verified community results

No verified community benchmarks yet.

Reviewed by

No individual editorial review is recorded for this comparison.

Comparison history

Show recorded changes (4)
  1. · Record updated: products
  2. · Record updated: products
  3. · Record updated: products
  4. · 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: RX 480 8GB or RX 590?

RX 480 8GB has the higher overall gaming score, while RX 480 8GB offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

RX 480 8GB 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?

RX 480 8GB is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

RX 480 8GB offers more overall performance, while RX 480 8GB offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

RX 480 8GB is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

RX 480 8GB is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

RX 480 8GB leads in combined 1440p performance. RX 480 8GB can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

RX 480 8GB is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

RX 480 8GB 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?

RX 480 8GB 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 RX 480 8GB 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.