AMD Radeon R9 280 Review | 118 Data compared
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AMD Radeon R9 280 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • VRAM: 3 GB
  • Memory bus width: 384 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 200 W

AMD Radeon R9 280 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Graphics cards category and whether it is worth buying.

4.2

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%

3.9

Technical Score

10.0%

7.1

User score

Poor
3.9

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of technical performance for products in the Graphics cards category across these key areas: Performance, Memory, Platform & Features, Connectivity & Media, Power & Cooling, Design.

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

Score components:

44.0%

2.0

Performance

24.0%

3.4

Memory

12.0%

7.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.1

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.1

Design

4.0%

6.3

Connectivity & Media

Poor
7.1

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%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

4.9

Popularity

User score:
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4.0
(20)
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4.0
(19)
Very good
  • 1.9
    Gaming

    What it is:

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.3
    Video editing

    What it is:

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 1.9
    1080p

    What it is:

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    10.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 1.6
    1440p

    What it is:

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    15.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 1.6
    4K

    What it is:

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.2

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Best prices

Best rankings

The first number in the "Best rankings" table above indicates the product's rank among all products in our database, while the second number (in brackets) represents its rank among available products only. | The "average product" rating mentioned below reflects the median values calculated across all attributes for products within this category.

Technical Specifications of graphics card AMD Radeon R9 280

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of technical performance for products in the Graphics cards category across these key areas: Performance, Memory, Platform & Features, Connectivity & Media, Power & Cooling, Design.

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

Score components:

44.0%

2.0

Performance

24.0%

3.4

Memory

12.0%

7.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.1

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.1

Design

4.0%

6.3

Connectivity & Media

3.9
AMD Radeon R9 280 has a technical score of 3.93 points, which is lower than that of 92.5% 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%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

4.9

Popularity

7.1
AMD Radeon R9 280 has a user score of 7.08 points, which is lower than that of 95.8% 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.
4.9
AMD Radeon R9 280 has a popularity of 4.9 points, which is higher than 52.9% 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%

4.2

Overall score

40.0%

9.4

Price

5.8
AMD Radeon R9 280 has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.8 points, which is lower than 90.4% 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

2180 points
AMD Radeon R9 280 scores 2,180 points in 3DMark Time Spy, which is lower than 95.3% of graphics cards.
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

0 points
AMD Radeon R9 280 scores 0 points in 3DMark Port Royal, which is lower than 83.2% of graphics cards and equal to 16.8% of graphics cards.
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

5532 points
AMD Radeon R9 280 scores 5,532 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 93.2% 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

2754 points
AMD Radeon R9 280 scores 2,754 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 92.5% of graphics cards.
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

3.34 TFLOPS
AMD Radeon R9 280 delivers 3.34 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 92% 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

3 GB
AMD Radeon R9 280 has 3 GB of VRAM, which is less than 94% of graphics cards and equal to 0.5% 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 280 uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85.9% 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

384 bit
AMD Radeon R9 280 uses a 384 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 89.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 7.3% 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

240 GB/s
AMD Radeon R9 280 reaches 240 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 83% 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 280 supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.7% 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 280 uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 23.4% of graphics cards and equal to 76.6% 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

11.1
AMD Radeon R9 280 supports DirectX 11.1, which is older than on 99.6% of graphics cards and equal to 0.4% of graphics cards.
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 280 supports Vulkan 1.2, which is older than on 95.1% of graphics cards and equal to 3.7% 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

4.4
AMD Radeon R9 280 supports OpenGL 4.4, which is older than on 98.9% of graphics cards and equal to 0.6% 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 280 supports up to 6 displays, which is more than 98.7% of graphics cards and equal to 1.3% 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 280 supports a maximum digital resolution of 4096x2160, which is lower than that of 92.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 4.4% 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 280 offers 1 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 88.7% 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 280 supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.9% of graphics cards and equal to 5.1% 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

5.4 Gbps
AMD Radeon R9 280 supports DisplayPort link rates up to 5.4 Gbps, which is slower than on 87.8% of graphics cards and equal to 6% of graphics cards.
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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

200 W
AMD Radeon R9 280 has a TDP of 200 W, which is lower than that of 51.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 3.9% 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

200 W
AMD Radeon R9 280 draws 200 W under peak load, which is lower than 54% of graphics cards and equal to 3.6% 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 280 recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 75.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 8.9% 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

200 W
AMD Radeon R9 280 has a board power limit of 200 W, which is lower than that of 55.9% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.5% 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

200 W
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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

275 x 109 x 36 mm
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

269 mm
AMD Radeon R9 280 is 269 mm long, which is shorter than 58.1% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.7% 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 280 is 109 mm tall, which is shorter than 89.7% 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 280 occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 53.4% of graphics cards and equal in width to 42.5% 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

849 g
AMD Radeon R9 280 weighs 849 g, which is lighter than 67.7% of graphics cards and equal in weight to 0.1% of graphics cards.
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AMD Radeon R9 280 vs the average graphics card

  • 128 bit wider memory bus
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (384 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    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

    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (384 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.384 bit vs 256 bit
  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon R9 280 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 280 supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.6 vs 4
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon R9 280 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 280 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
  • 16 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon R9 280 is shorter than the average graphics card (109 mm vs 125 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 125 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 280 is shorter than the average graphics card (109 mm vs 125 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 125 mm.109 mm vs 125 mm
  • 0.5 slot/s slimmer design
    AMD Radeon R9 280 occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.
    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

    AMD Radeon R9 280 occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s
  • 4 more GPUs supported
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (4 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.
    What it is: Maximum number of GPUs supported in a multi-GPU setup
    When it matters: When you are planning a rendering or compute setup with more than one card.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (4 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.4 vs 0
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon R9 280 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 280 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:4 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 280 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:4 vs 1:64).1:4 vs 1:64
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:4 vs 1:64).
  • 128 bit wider memory bus
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (384 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 4 more GPUs supported
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (4 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon R9 280 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 280 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon R9 280 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 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon R9 280 is shorter than the average graphics card (109 mm vs 125 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 125 mm.
  • 0.5 slot/s slimmer design
    AMD Radeon R9 280 occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.

Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 62.8% lower boost clock speed
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (933 MHz vs 2,505 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,505 MHz.
  • 40 fewer ray tracing cores
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 ray tracing cores.
  • 56.9% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (827 MHz vs 1920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1920 MHz.
  • No CUDA support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support CUDA, the average graphics card does.
  • 75.7% lower texture rate
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (92.6 GTexel/s vs 381.2 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 381.2 GTexel/s.
  • 83.8% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (26.5 GPixel/s vs 163.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 163.2 GPixel/s.
  • 12 fewer compute units
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (28 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 72 fewer TMUs
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (112 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 144 fewer AI cores
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer AI cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 144). The average graphics card has 144 AI cores.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 85.2% lower FP32 performance
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (3.3 TFLOPS vs 22.57 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.57 TFLOPS.
  • 75.6% lower PassMark score
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (5,532 points vs 22,653 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 22,653 points.
  • 85.1% lower gaming score
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower gaming score than the average graphics card (2,180 points vs 14,678.5 points). The average graphics card has a gaming score of 14,678.5 points.
  • 77.2% lower compute score
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower compute score than the average graphics card (2,754 points vs 12,074 points). The average graphics card has a compute score of 12,074 points.
  • 88.8% lower FP16 performance
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower FP16 performance than the average graphics card (3.3 TFLOPS vs 29.725 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP16 performance of 29.725 TFLOPS.
  • 85.5% lower compute throughput
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (3.3 TFLOPS vs 22.98 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 22.98 TFLOPS.
  • 2,560 fewer FP32 units
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,792 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 9 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (3 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 73.7% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 46.4% lower memory bandwidth
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (240 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 28.6% slower VRAM clock
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,250 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    AMD Radeon R9 280 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 280 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 DLSS support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No ray tracing
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.
  • 9 older
    AMD Radeon R9 280 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2014 vs 2023).
    March 2014
  • Older PCIe version
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No AI upscalers
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support AI upscalers, the average graphics card does.
  • Older encoder generation
    AMD Radeon R9 280 uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (1 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • No mesh shaders
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • No XeSS support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No DirectStorage support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4).
  • Worse SAM support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older DirectX version
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports an older DirectX version than the average graphics card (11.1 vs 12 Ultimate).
  • Older OpenCL version
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3.0).
  • Older shader model
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.5 vs 6.8).
  • No sampler feedback
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • Older OpenGL version
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (4.4 vs 4.6).
  • 81.2% fewer transistors
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (4,313 million vs 22,900 million). The average graphics card has 22,900 million transistors.
  • 2 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    AMD Radeon R9 280 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 280 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • No VRR support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • Narrower encode codec support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports narrower hardware encode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9).
  • Narrower decode codec support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports narrower hardware decode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264/MPEG-2/VC-1 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9/MPEG-2/VC-1).
  • Older HDCP version
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 2.3).
  • lower display resolution
    AMD Radeon R9 280 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.
  • 2 fewer monitors per output type
    AMD Radeon R9 280 supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (1 vs 3). The average graphics card supports 3 monitors per output type.
  • 73% lower DisplayPort bandwidth
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower DisplayPort bandwidth than the average graphics card (5.4 Gbps vs 20 Gbps). The average graphics card has DisplayPort bandwidth of 20 Gbps.
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 39 dB noisier at idle
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a higher idle noise level than the average graphics card (39 dB vs 0 dB). The average graphics card has an idle noise level of 0 dB.
  • 3.6 dB noisier under load
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (39 dB vs 35.4 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35.4 dB.
  • No backplate
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • No RGB lighting
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 62.8% lower boost clock speed
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (933 MHz vs 2,505 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,505 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 280 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (933 MHz vs 2,505 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,505 MHz.933 MHz vs 2,505 MHz
  • 9 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (3 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 280 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (3 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.3 GB vs 12 GB
  • 5.6x larger process node
    AMD Radeon R9 280 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 280 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
  • 40 fewer ray tracing cores
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 ray tracing cores.
    What it is: Number of dedicated ray tracing processing cores or units
    When it matters: When you care about ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows in newer games.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 ray tracing cores.0 vs 40
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon R9 280 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 56.9% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (827 MHz vs 1920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1920 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 280 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (827 MHz vs 1920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1920 MHz.827 MHz vs 1,920 MHz
  • No CUDA support
    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support CUDA, the average graphics card does.
    What it is: Supports CUDA parallel computing platform
    When it matters: When your apps or AI tools specifically depend on the CUDA software stack.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon R9 280 does not support CUDA, the average graphics card does.
  • 75.7% lower texture rate
    AMD Radeon R9 280 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (92.6 GTexel/s vs 381.2 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 381.2 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 280 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (92.6 GTexel/s vs 381.2 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 381.2 GTexel/s.92.6 GTexel/s vs 381.2 GTexel/s
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design

Graphic comparison of AMD Radeon R9 280 and other products in the Graphics cards category

Attribute category
Attribute

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.

Pros

  • Wide memory bus (384 bit)
  • Many supported displays (6)
  • Low PSU requirement (500 W)
  • Low card height (109 mm)
  • Low TDP (200 W)
  • Includes dual BIOS
  • Slim slot width (2 slot/s)
  • Supports overclocking
  • Many PCIe lanes (x16)
  • Short card length (269 mm)

Cons

  • Low boost clock (933 MHz)
  • Small VRAM capacity (3 GB)
  • Few ray tracing cores (0)
  • Low base clock (827 MHz)
  • Low texture rate (92.6 GTexel/s)
  • Few compute units (28)
  • Low pixel rate (26.46 GPixel/s)
  • Low memory bandwidth (240 GB/s)
  • Low memory speed (5 MHz)
  • Few ROPs (32)

Third-party reviews

guru3d.com

no rating assigned

?

The Guru3D review of the HIS Radeon R9-280 IceQ X2 OC highlights it as a highly capable, factory-overclocked graphics card based on the 28nm "Tahiti" GPU architecture. Equipped with a custom PCB, a 4 PWM phase power design, and a 384-bit wide 3GB GDDR5 memory layout, the card is specifically optimized to deliver smooth performance for Full HD (1080p) gaming. A core pro emphasized by...Read more

Translate03/07/2014

techporn.ph

no rating assigned

?

The SAPPHIRE Radeon R9 280 DUAL-X OC is a factory-overclocked graphics card featuring 3GB of GDDR5 VRAM, a 384-bit memory bandwidth, and a core clock speed that boosts from 870MHz up to 940MHz. Built as a reincarnation of the older HD 7950, it targets Full HD (1080p) gaming at maximum settings, while showing commendable capabilities in GPU Compute tasks and entry-level 1440p gaming...Read more

Translate04/06/2014

bit-tech.net

no rating assigned

?

The bit-tech review of the AMD Radeon R9 280 XFX Double Dissipation Edition evaluates the card as a mid-range contender that serves as a rebadged version of the older HD 7950 Boost. Built on the 28nm "Tahiti Pro2" architecture, it features 1,792 stream processors, 32 ROPs, and 3GB of GDDR5 memory on a wide 384-bit bus. The pros highlighted in the review include its aggressive...Read more

Translate19/05/2014

pcmag.com

no rating assigned

?

The Asus Radeon R9 280 Direct CU II is a $259.99 midrange graphics card featuring a rebadged AMD Radeon HD 7950 architecture with upgraded 874MHz base/980MHz boost clocks and 3GB GDDR5 memory, optimized for high-end, quiet 1080p gaming via a custom air cooler. While delivering solid performance, the card's custom cooler exhausts heat into the PC case, and it faces stiff competition...Read more

Translate04/06/2014

nexthardware.com

no rating assigned

?

The Sapphire Radeon R9 280 OC Dual-X offers strong 1080p performance via its factory overclock (940 MHz boost) and 3GB GDDR5 memory, providing excellent value for a mid-range card. Its Dual-X cooling system ensures efficient, quiet thermal management under load, while the card still offers decent headroom for further manual overclocking. Conversely, the card is a rebranded Radeon HD...Read more

Translate19/05/2014

tomshardware.fr

no rating assigned

?

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 introduces the Maxwell architecture to the mid-range market as a replacement for the older Kepler-based GTX 760, launching at an aggressive promotional price of €199 (standard price €219). Built on the compact 28nm GM206 GPU, its design essentially cuts a GTX 980 in half, featuring 1,024 CUDA cores and 2 Go of GDDR5 memory. While its narrow 128-bit memory...Read more

Translate22/01/2015

expertreviews.co.uk

no rating assigned

?

The AMD Radeon R9 series, featuring the 270X and 280 chipsets, offers strong mid-range gaming performance and excellent value for money. The Club3D and PowerColor PCS+ variants of the R9 270X excel at 1080p gaming, easily handling demanding titles like Tomb Raider and Dirt Showdown at maximum settings. While both cards can handle higher resolutions up to 4K on less intensive games,...Read more

Translate14/03/2015

elchapuzasinformatico.com

no rating assigned

?

The review on El Chapuzas Informático awards both the Sapphire R9 285 Dual-X OC and the MSI R9 280 Gaming the Gold Award, concluding the older R9 280 is a better value due to a €50 price premium on the newer model. The Sapphire R9 285 brings lower power consumption, smaller size, and newer technologies (FreeSync, TrueAudio) as pros, but suffers from a limited 2GB VRAM, 256-bit bus,...Read more

Translate16/09/2014

ocinside.de

no rating assigned

?

The Sapphire Radeon R9 280 Dual-X OC features a black circuit board equipped with a dual-slot "Dual-X Cooling" system that relies on two 100mm fans and a dedicated copper heatpipe setup to cool the GPU, memory chips, and voltage regulators. For power, it requires two 6-pin connectors from a recommended minimum 500-watt power supply unit, with real-world system testing reaching a...Read more

Translate15/08/2014

download.gamestar.de

no rating assigned

?

The AMD Radeon R9 280 (specifically tested as the MSI Gaming edition) is a repurposed version of the older Southern Island architecture, mirroring the technical blueprint of the popular Radeon HD 7950 Boost. Priced around 200 Euros, this mid-range card bridges the gap between the R9 270X and R9 280X to directly target Nvidia's GeForce GTX 760. Powered by a slightly scaled-down...Read more

Translate01/07/2014

uk.pcmag.com

no rating assigned

?

The Asus Radeon R9 280 Direct CU II is a solid midrange graphics card based on AMD’s Graphics Core Next architecture, acting essentially as a rebadged Radeon HD 7950 but equipped with a higher maximum clock speed of 980MHz and 3GB of GDDR5 video memory. It provides strong, capable performance specifically tailored for 1080p gaming displays. Tested against its main market competitor,...Read more

Translate04/06/2014

forbes.com

no rating assigned

?

Jason Evangelho’s Forbes review highlights the MSI Radeon R9 280 Twin Frozr IV as an enhanced, rebranded AMD Radeon 7950 designed to counter severe cryptocurrency-driven market scarcity. Key advantages of this specific MSI iteration include factory overclocked core speeds of 1000MHz, an efficient Twin Frozr IV cooling system, and, crucially, stable pricing near the $279 MSRP, unlike...Read more

Translate17/03/2014
4.0
20 Reviews
4.0
19 Reviews

guru3d.com

no rating assigned

?

The Guru3D review of the HIS Radeon R9-280 IceQ X2 OC highlights it as a highly capable, factory-overclocked graphics card based on the 28nm "Tahiti" GPU architecture. Equipped with a custom PCB, a 4 PWM phase power design, and a 384-bit wide 3GB GDDR5 memory layout, the card is specifically optimized to deliver smooth performance for Full HD (1080p) gaming. A core pro emphasized by...Read more

Translate03/07/2014

techporn.ph

no rating assigned

?

The SAPPHIRE Radeon R9 280 DUAL-X OC is a factory-overclocked graphics card featuring 3GB of GDDR5 VRAM, a 384-bit memory bandwidth, and a core clock speed that boosts from 870MHz up to 940MHz. Built as a reincarnation of the older HD 7950, it targets Full HD (1080p) gaming at maximum settings, while showing commendable capabilities in GPU Compute tasks and entry-level 1440p gaming...Read more

Translate04/06/2014

bit-tech.net

no rating assigned

?

The bit-tech review of the AMD Radeon R9 280 XFX Double Dissipation Edition evaluates the card as a mid-range contender that serves as a rebadged version of the older HD 7950 Boost. Built on the 28nm "Tahiti Pro2" architecture, it features 1,792 stream processors, 32 ROPs, and 3GB of GDDR5 memory on a wide 384-bit bus. The pros highlighted in the review include its aggressive...Read more

Translate19/05/2014

pcmag.com

no rating assigned

?

The Asus Radeon R9 280 Direct CU II is a $259.99 midrange graphics card featuring a rebadged AMD Radeon HD 7950 architecture with upgraded 874MHz base/980MHz boost clocks and 3GB GDDR5 memory, optimized for high-end, quiet 1080p gaming via a custom air cooler. While delivering solid performance, the card's custom cooler exhausts heat into the PC case, and it faces stiff competition...Read more

Translate04/06/2014

nexthardware.com

no rating assigned

?

The Sapphire Radeon R9 280 OC Dual-X offers strong 1080p performance via its factory overclock (940 MHz boost) and 3GB GDDR5 memory, providing excellent value for a mid-range card. Its Dual-X cooling system ensures efficient, quiet thermal management under load, while the card still offers decent headroom for further manual overclocking. Conversely, the card is a rebranded Radeon HD...Read more

Translate19/05/2014

tomshardware.fr

no rating assigned

?

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 introduces the Maxwell architecture to the mid-range market as a replacement for the older Kepler-based GTX 760, launching at an aggressive promotional price of €199 (standard price €219). Built on the compact 28nm GM206 GPU, its design essentially cuts a GTX 980 in half, featuring 1,024 CUDA cores and 2 Go of GDDR5 memory. While its narrow 128-bit memory...Read more

Translate22/01/2015

expertreviews.co.uk

no rating assigned

?

The AMD Radeon R9 series, featuring the 270X and 280 chipsets, offers strong mid-range gaming performance and excellent value for money. The Club3D and PowerColor PCS+ variants of the R9 270X excel at 1080p gaming, easily handling demanding titles like Tomb Raider and Dirt Showdown at maximum settings. While both cards can handle higher resolutions up to 4K on less intensive games,...Read more

Translate14/03/2015

elchapuzasinformatico.com

no rating assigned

?

The review on El Chapuzas Informático awards both the Sapphire R9 285 Dual-X OC and the MSI R9 280 Gaming the Gold Award, concluding the older R9 280 is a better value due to a €50 price premium on the newer model. The Sapphire R9 285 brings lower power consumption, smaller size, and newer technologies (FreeSync, TrueAudio) as pros, but suffers from a limited 2GB VRAM, 256-bit bus,...Read more

Translate16/09/2014

ocinside.de

no rating assigned

?

The Sapphire Radeon R9 280 Dual-X OC features a black circuit board equipped with a dual-slot "Dual-X Cooling" system that relies on two 100mm fans and a dedicated copper heatpipe setup to cool the GPU, memory chips, and voltage regulators. For power, it requires two 6-pin connectors from a recommended minimum 500-watt power supply unit, with real-world system testing reaching a...Read more

Translate15/08/2014

download.gamestar.de

no rating assigned

?

The AMD Radeon R9 280 (specifically tested as the MSI Gaming edition) is a repurposed version of the older Southern Island architecture, mirroring the technical blueprint of the popular Radeon HD 7950 Boost. Priced around 200 Euros, this mid-range card bridges the gap between the R9 270X and R9 280X to directly target Nvidia's GeForce GTX 760. Powered by a slightly scaled-down...Read more

Translate01/07/2014

uk.pcmag.com

no rating assigned

?

The Asus Radeon R9 280 Direct CU II is a solid midrange graphics card based on AMD’s Graphics Core Next architecture, acting essentially as a rebadged Radeon HD 7950 but equipped with a higher maximum clock speed of 980MHz and 3GB of GDDR5 video memory. It provides strong, capable performance specifically tailored for 1080p gaming displays. Tested against its main market competitor,...Read more

Translate04/06/2014

forbes.com

no rating assigned

?

Jason Evangelho’s Forbes review highlights the MSI Radeon R9 280 Twin Frozr IV as an enhanced, rebranded AMD Radeon 7950 designed to counter severe cryptocurrency-driven market scarcity. Key advantages of this specific MSI iteration include factory overclocked core speeds of 1000MHz, an efficient Twin Frozr IV cooling system, and, crucially, stable pricing near the $279 MSRP, unlike...Read more

Translate17/03/2014

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