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AMD Radeon R9 270X Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£180
  • VRAM: 2 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 180 W

AMD Radeon R9 270X review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

4.1

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.7

Technical Score

10.0%

7.9

User score

Poor
3.7

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.7

Performance

24.0%

3.2

Memory

12.0%

7.5

Power & Cooling

11.0%

5.6

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.5

Design

4.0%

6.6

Connectivity & Media

Poor
7.9

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.2

User reviews

30.0%

7.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(82)
amazon
4.6
(37)
amazon
4.0
(12)
amazon
3.7
(5)
amazon
5.0
(1)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
(87)
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(37)
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
(7)
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
(6)
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Very good
  • 3.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.1
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • amd-radeon-r9-270x
amd-radeon-r9-270x

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The AMD Radeon R9 270X, launched in October 2013, is a performance-tier graphics card built on the 28nm GCN 1.0 architecture (Curacao XT) with 1,280 stream processors and a 1,000 MHz base clock (boostable to 1,050 MHz). It is equipped with 2GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit interface, delivering a bandwidth of 179.2 GB/s, and features a maximum TDP of 180W powered by dual 6-pin connectors. Main pros include solid 1080p performance for its time, competitive launch pricing around $199, and flexibility through multiple display outputs (DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort). However, its primary cons in the modern landscape are the restrictive 2GB VRAM buffer that causes issues in newer AAA titles, lack of official driver support since 2021, and limited DirectX 12 feature level (11_1) compatibility.

Technical Specifications of AMD Radeon R9 270X

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.7

Performance

24.0%

3.2

Memory

12.0%

7.5

Power & Cooling

11.0%

5.6

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.5

Design

4.0%

6.6

Connectivity & Media

3.7
AMD Radeon R9 270X has a technical score of 3.65 points, which is lower than that of 92.3% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.2

User reviews

30.0%

7.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(82)
amazon
4.6
(37)
amazon
4.0
(12)
amazon
3.7
(5)
amazon
5.0
(1)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
(87)
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(37)
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
(7)
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
(6)
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

7.9
AMD Radeon R9 270X has a user score of 7.92 points, which is lower than that of 77.5% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
7.3
AMD Radeon R9 270X has a popularity of 7.3 points, which is higher than 70.1% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.1

Overall score

40.0%

9.6

Price

5.7
AMD Radeon R9 270X has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.7 points, which is lower than 87.7% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

?
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

4,482 points
AMD Radeon R9 270X scores 4482 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 74.6% of graphics cards.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

2.688 TFLOPS
AMD Radeon R9 270X delivers 2.688 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 94.6% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

2 GB
AMD Radeon R9 270X has 2 GB of VRAM, which is less than 94.5% of graphics cards and equal to 3.9% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
AMD Radeon R9 270X uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

256 bit
AMD Radeon R9 270X uses a 256 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 49.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 36.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

179.2 GB/s
AMD Radeon R9 270X reaches 179.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 89.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

3.0
AMD Radeon R9 270X supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
AMD Radeon R9 270X uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

?
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.2
AMD Radeon R9 270X supports Vulkan 1.2, which is older than on 96% of graphics cards and equal to 2.5% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.3
AMD Radeon R9 270X supports OpenGL 4.3, which is older than on 99.2% of graphics cards and equal to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Show more
Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

6
AMD Radeon R9 270X supports up to 6 displays, which is more than 98.8% of graphics cards and equal to 1.2% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

4096x2160
AMD Radeon R9 270X supports a maximum digital resolution of 4096x2160, which is lower than that of 56.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.4% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

1
AMD Radeon R9 270X offers 1 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 89.5% of graphics cards and equal to 8.6% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.2
AMD Radeon R9 270X supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to 4.8% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

?
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

180 W
AMD Radeon R9 270X has a TDP of 180 W, which is lower than that of 58.1% of graphics cards and equal to that of 4.1% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

180 W
AMD Radeon R9 270X draws 180 W under peak load, which is lower than 59.3% of graphics cards and equal to 4.2% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

500 W
AMD Radeon R9 270X recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 76.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 9.6% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

180 W
AMD Radeon R9 270X has a board power limit of 180 W, which is lower than that of 60.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 4.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

180 W
Show more
Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

?
Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

241 mm
AMD Radeon R9 270X is 241 mm long, which is shorter than 75% of graphics cards and equal in length to 1.6% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

109 mm
AMD Radeon R9 270X is 109 mm tall, which is shorter than 96.3% of graphics cards and equal in height to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
AMD Radeon R9 270X occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

?
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AMD Radeon R9 270X vs the average graphics card

  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
    What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
    When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.6 vs 4
  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon R9 270X includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Includes dual BIOS for redundancy or overclocking profiles
    When it matters: When you want a safer recovery path after tweaking fan curves or overclock settings, or you need separate quiet and performance profiles.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon R9 270X includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 18 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon R9 270X is shorter than the average graphics card (109 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
    When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon R9 270X is shorter than the average graphics card (109 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.109 mm vs 127 mm
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.500 W vs 650 W
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    AMD Radeon R9 270X is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon R9 270X is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.241 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • 2.94x cheaper
    AMD Radeon R9 270X is cheaper than the average graphics card (£180 vs £530).
    AMD Radeon R9 270X is cheaper than the average graphics card (£180 vs £530).£180 vs £530
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
    What it is: Ratio of double-precision (FP64) to single-precision (FP32) performance
    When it matters: When you need to know whether FP64 is merely present or genuinely useful.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).1:16 vs 1:64
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Supports NVLink
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon R9 270X includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 16.3% lower TDP
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (180 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 18 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon R9 270X is shorter than the average graphics card (109 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    AMD Radeon R9 270X is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.

Total
Overall
Performance
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 58% lower boost clock speed
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,050 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 47.9% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,000 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 20 fewer compute units
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 77.7% lower texture rate
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (84 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 88.2% lower FP32 performance
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (2.7 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 60.7% lower PassMark score
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (4,482 points vs 11,411 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 11,411 points.
  • 88.4% lower compute throughput
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (2.7 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 3,072 fewer FP32 units
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,280 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 10 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 70.5% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,600 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 60% lower memory bandwidth
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (179.2 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 98.4% smaller L2 cache
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (0.5 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 20% slower VRAM clock
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,400 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 5.6x larger process node
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • No ray tracing
    AMD Radeon R9 270X does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.
  • 10 older
    AMD Radeon R9 270X was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,013 vs 2,023).
  • Older PCIe version
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No XeSS support
    AMD Radeon R9 270X does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    AMD Radeon R9 270X does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4).
  • No DirectStorage support
    AMD Radeon R9 270X does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • Older encoder generation
    AMD Radeon R9 270X uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (1 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • Older OpenCL version
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3.0).
  • Older OpenGL version
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (4.3 vs 4.6).
  • Older shader model
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.5 vs 6.8).
  • 87.2% fewer transistors
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (2,800 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • 2 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 encoding
    AMD Radeon R9 270X does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    AMD Radeon R9 270X does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    AMD Radeon R9 270X does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Older DisplayPort version
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDCP version
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 2.3).
  • Not VR ready
    AMD Radeon R9 270X is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • Lower display resolution
    AMD Radeon R9 270X supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (4096x2160 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • No fan stop
    AMD Radeon R9 270X does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 11 °C higher load temperature
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a higher load temperature than the average graphics card (78 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • 58% lower boost clock speed
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,050 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,050 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1050 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 5.6x larger process node
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.28 nm vs 5 nm
  • 10 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.2 GB vs 12 GB
  • 47.9% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,000 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,000 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1000 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 20 fewer compute units
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.20 vs 40
  • 77.7% lower texture rate
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (84 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (84 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.84.00 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.80 vs 184
  • 70.5% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,600 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
    What it is: Effective memory data rate combining clock and bus width
    When it matters: When you compare how quickly each card can push data through its memory subsystem.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon R9 270X has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,600 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.5600 MHz vs 19000 MHz
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
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4.0
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4.6
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3.7
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5.0
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United States
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3.9
87 Reviews
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4.7
37 Reviews
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3.8
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3.8
6 Reviews
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1 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about AMD Radeon R9 270X?

  • Solid 1080p performance for mid-range gaming at launch
  • Excellent value for money compared to competitors like the GTX 760
  • Efficient power consumption during active gaming
  • Reliable cooling performance, often staying below 70°C under load
  • Good overclocking headroom, even without voltage adjustments
  • Capable of running modern esports titles (e.g., Valorant, CS:GO) at high frame rates

What customers dislike about AMD Radeon R9 270X?

  • Limited 2GB VRAM can cause stuttering or low performance in modern, texture-heavy titles
  • High power consumption when using multiple monitors or playing media
  • Cooler can become quite noisy when fans are ramped up to higher speeds
  • Lack of official modern driver support on Windows due to its age
  • Noticeable performance gap when compared to newer budget cards like the GTX 1050 Ti
  • Incompatibility issues with some modern motherboards unless 'Compatibility Mode' is enabled in BIOS

Expert reviews

T
techgage.com
15/10/2013
AMD Radeon R9 270X Graphics Card Review

The Techgage review highlights the AMD Radeon R9 270X as a strong $199 midrange card delivering excellent 1080p performance and surprisingly capable multi-monitor support, often beating the NVIDIA GTX 660. While offering high value at launch, the card faced intense competition when NVIDIA reduced the GTX 660's price to $175, diminishing the 270X's market position. Pros include...Read more

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overclockers.com
08/10/2013
AMD R9 270X Graphics Card Review

The AMD R9 270X is a competitive, mid-priced GPU in the $199 range, delivering strong performance that consistently outpaces the NVIDIA GTX 660. The review highlights its excellent value,, strong performance scaling, and impressive, voltage-free overclocking results, achieving a 14% increase in core speed and 13% in memory speed. However, the card is limited by locked voltage...Read more

A
au.pcmag.com
17/06/2014
AMD Radeon R9 270X - Review 2014 Would you like a similar list for the base R9 270Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or the higher-end R9 280X...

The AMD Radeon R9 270X review by PCMag Australia evaluates a midrange graphics card priced at a $199 list price, aiming to deliver strong 1080p performance for budget-conscious gamers. It functions as a direct, drop-in refresh of the older AMD Radeon HD 7870, utilizing the same underlying architecture but boosting the core clock speed to 1,050MHz and increasing the memory transfer...Read more

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pcmag.com
10/02/2014
AMD Radeon R9 270X Review

The PCMag review highlights the AMD Radeon R9 270X as a strong, budget-friendly graphics card for 1080p gaming, boasting an "Excellent" 4.0 rating at its $199 MSRP. The card offers improved clock speeds and versatile display-out options over its predecessors. However, it is fundamentally a refresh of older architecture and offers little performance advantage over the cheaper HIS R9...Read more

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digitalfoundry.net
25/01/2014
Radeon R9 270X review | Digital Foundry If you want to look at more data, I can find reviews for specific custom partner versions (like ASUS DirectCU...

The AMD Radeon R9 270X is a mid-range graphics card based on the repurposed Pitcairn XT chipset from the previous generation's HD 7870. It targets enthusiast performance up to 2560x1440 resolution. Hardware enhancements over its predecessor include a 50MHz core clock bump to 1.05GHz and an 800MHz boost to the effective memory clock (now 5.6GHz). This increases the overall memory...Read more

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techpowerup.com
20/12/2013
MSI R9 270X GamingGo to product viewer dialog for this item. 2 GB Review

The MSI R9 270X Gaming 2 GB, reviewed by TechPowerUp, is a factory-overclocked card praised for its TwinFrozr dual-fan thermal design, which provides exceptionally quiet, low-temperature operation. Delivering 3% higher performance than the reference model due to a 1120 MHz factory GPU clock, it outperforms the HD 7870 by 11% while maintaining excellent single-monitor idle power...Read more

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legitreviews.com
02/12/2013
Gigabyte Radeon R9 270X OC Video Card Review

The Gigabyte Radeon R9 270X OC (GV-R927XOC-2GD) is a highly recommended, budget-friendly graphics card that delivers impressive price-to-performance value at its $199.99 retail price. Equipped with a 50MHz factory overclock out of the box, it consistently outperforms the standard AMD reference card in 1080p gaming across titles like Battlefield 4 and Far Cry 3. A major highlight of...Read more

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phoronix.com
22/10/2013
AMD Radeon R9 270X On Linux Review

The Phoronix review of the Gigabyte Radeon R9 270X 2GB under Linux highlights strong performance for its $200 USD price point, outperforming the Radeon HD 6950 by 52% in Unigine Heaven 4.0. The card offers good power efficiency with a 207W average load and provides solid overclocking capability, reaching 1180MHz core and 1520MHz memory clocks using the Catalyst OverDrive utility....Read more

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techgage.com
15/10/2013
AMD Radeon R9 270X Graphics Card Review

Techgage’s review of the AMD Radeon R9 270X outlines a rigorous testing methodology designed for maximum accuracy, featuring strict environmental controls such as monitored ambient temperatures and a clean, background-process-free Windows 7 installation to eliminate data noise. The evaluation emphasizes high-resolution performance, with a specific focus on ensuring repeatable,...Read more

V
vortez.net
08/10/2013
AMD RADEON R9 270X Review - Introduction

The Vortez AMD Radeon R9 270X review evaluates this mid-range graphics card as a heavily redesigned Pitcairn-core contender targeting the highly competitive $199 / £134.99–£150 "gamer sweet spot" market segment. Built on AMD's award-winning Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture and natively supporting the Mantle API, the reference design comes equipped with 1,280 shaders, a 256-bit...Read more

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techspot.com
08/10/2013
AMD Radeon R9 270X and R7 260XGo to product viewer dialog for this item. Review

Steven Walton's 2013 TechSpot review highlights that the AMD Radeon R9 270X offers solid mid-range performance, featuring a 16% advantage over the Nvidia GTX 660 in Medal of Honor: Warfighter. The entry-level R7 260X shows similar value, delivering a 19% increase over the HD 7790 in Hitman: Absolution. Conversely, the review notes minimal generational gains, with the R9 270X...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
07/10/2013
AMD Radeon R9 270XGo to product viewer dialog for this item. 2 GB Review

The AMD Radeon R9 270X 2 GB, based on the "Pitcairn" silicon, offers excellent performance-per-dollar at the $199 price point, outperforming the NVIDIA GTX 660 by approximately 10%. It provides robust triple-monitor support, good gaming efficiency, and features a 5% higher core boost clock and 16% higher memory clock than the HD 7870 GHz Edition. Conversely, the reference design...Read more

U
uk.pcmag.com
16/06/2014
AMD Radeon R9 270X - Review 2014

The PCMag UK Review highlights the AMD Radeon R9 270X ($199 list price) as an excellent, budget-friendly midrange graphics card tailored for gamers seeking reliable 1080p performance without the premium cost of luxury models. Acting as a direct, drop-in replacement for the older Radeon HD 7870, this hardware refresh brings notable performance advantages, including a core clock bump...Read more

T
techspot.com
08/10/2013
AMD Radeon R9 270X and R7 260X Review

The TechSpot review highlights that the AMD Radeon R9 270X and R7 260X are architectural refreshes of older silicon, offering exceptional value-to-performance at mid-range ($199) and budget ($140) price points. The R9 270X outperforms the GeForce GTX 660 by 18%, while the R7 260X beats the GTX 650 Ti by 10%, with both cards supporting DirectX 11.2 and AMD’s Mantle API. Conversely,...Read more

V
vortez.net
08/10/2013
AMD RADEON R9 270X Review - Test Setup & Testing

The AMD Radeon R9 270X is an impressive mid-range graphics card that offers excellent value for money at its $199 retail launch price, clearly outperforming its direct price competitor, the NVIDIA GTX 660. Key performance pros highlighted by Vortez include solid overclocking capabilities, with the card successfully achieving a 165MHz core boost and a 210MHz memory overclock using...Read more

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hardwareluxx.de
20/10/2013
Sapphire Radeon R9 270X Vapor-X und Toxic im Test

This 2013 review evaluates two custom-designed graphics cards based on AMD's 28-nm "Curacao XT" architecture: the Sapphire Radeon R9 270X Vapor-X and the Sapphire Radeon R9 270X Toxic. Both models abandon AMD's baseline reference layout in favor of Sapphire's proprietary cooling solutions and factory overclocks. While the reference R9 270X runs at a 1,050 MHz core clock, the Vapor-X...Read more

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lesnumeriques.com
13/10/2014
Test Asus R9 270X DirectCU II TOP, une carte discrète

This review of the Asus R9 270X DirectCU II TOP graphics card highlights its custom cooling solution and modified PCB design. The primary strength of this model is its exceptionally quiet operation, running near-silently at rest and remaining highly discrete and non-intrusive during intensive gaming sessions. Equipped with three heat pipes, an aluminum fin radiator, and two axial...Read more

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tomshardware.fr
26/03/2014
Comparatif : 10 Radeon R9 270 et 270X - Tom's Hardware

The Tom's Hardware comprehensive review evaluates ten custom-cooled AMD Radeon R9 270 and R9 270X graphics cards from major board partners like ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, Sapphire, Club 3D, HIS, and PowerColor. Built on the 28 nm Curaçao GPU architecture (a rebranded Pitcairn chip featuring 1280 shaders and a 256-bit memory bus), the test bypasses poorly optimized reference blowers to...Read more

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lesnumeriques.com
10/10/2013
Test : les Radeon R9 280X DCU II TOP et R9 270X DCU II TOP d'Asus

The review by Les Numériques evaluates the Asus Radeon R9 280X DirectCU II TOP and the R9 270X DirectCU II TOP, highlighting Asus's custom cooling and factory overclocks on AMD's graphics cards. The Asus R9 280X DirectCU II TOP earned a 4 out of 5-star rating due to its substantial factory overclocking, where Asus aggressively increased frequencies for both the GPU and the graphics...Read more

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hardware.fr
08/10/2013
AMD Radeon R9 280X, 270X et R7 260X en test : de nouveaux noms pour les HD 7000

This Hardware.fr review outlines AMD's strategy of shifting its established HD 7000 series GPU architectures into a newly structured nomenclature, creating the Radeon R9 and R7 200 series. The primary pro highlighted in the article is the consumer-friendly pricing structure: the Radeon R9 280X (Tahiti GPU), R9 270X (Pitcairn GPU), and R7 260X (Bonaire GPU) deliver highly capable,...Read more

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hd-tecnologia.com
26/11/2013
Review Sapphire Radeon R9 270X Vapor-X - HD Tecnología

The HD Tecnología hardware review evaluates the Sapphire Radeon R9 270X Vapor-X, highlighting it as a highly capable mid-to-high-end graphics card targeted at gamers and tech enthusiasts. Belonging to AMD’s Radeon R9-200 series, this card serves to replace the older HD 7000 lineup by packing modern architectural support for technologies like Mantle, DirectX 11.2, and OpenGL 4.4. The...Read more

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hwupgrade.it
08/10/2013
AMD Radeon R9 270X e R7 260X: il nuovo che è già visto

The Hardware Upgrade review introduces the AMD Radeon R9 270X and Radeon R7 260X as reference boards utilizing existing architectures with targeted performance and structural enhancements. The compact Radeon R7 260X is built on a 17.5 cm PCB, featuring a Bonaire GPU clocked at 1,100 MHz, 2 GB of GDDR5 memory at 5,500 MHz, and a single 6-pin power connector. Its key pros include its...Read more

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hwready.it
01/10/2013
Sapphire AMD R9 270X Toxic OC Recensione

The HWReady review of the Sapphire AMD R9 270X Toxic OC highlights the graphics card as a strong 1080p gaming solution, featuring a high factory overclock (1150 MHz core/6000 MHz memory) and an efficient Tri-X triple-fan cooler. Priced at roughly 170 euros upon launch, the card offers excellent performance-per-euro, backed by premium, robust construction. However, the review cites...Read more

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hardware.info
10/10/2013
AMD Radeon R9 280X / R9 270X van ASUS en MSI review: R9 in de praktijk

The Hardware Info review evaluates four custom graphics cards based on AMD’s rebranded R9 series architecture, featuring the Asus Radeon R9 280X DirectCu II Top, MSI Radeon R9 280X Gaming, MSI Radeon R9 270X Gaming, and MSI Radeon R9 270X Hawk. Because these GPUs leverage existing, familiar architecture—rebranding the high-end HD 7970 as the R9 280X and the mid-range HD 7870 as the...Read more

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