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AMD Radeon RX 590 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£120
  • Avg. price in US: ~$110
  • VRAM: 8 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 175 W

AMD Radeon RX 590 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

5.4

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%

5.0

Technical Score

10.0%

8.5

User score

Good
5.0

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%

3.4

Performance

24.0%

4.1

Memory

12.0%

8.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

7.2

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.6

Design

4.0%

8.1

Connectivity & Media

Good
8.5

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%

7.9

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(258)
amazon
4.0
(65)
amazon
3.0
(7)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
(67)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Excellent
  • 3.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.8
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.3
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.3
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Best rankings

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

Verdict

The AMD Radeon RX 590 is a mid-range graphics card built on the 12nm Polaris 30 architecture, featuring 2,304 stream processors, 8GB of GDDR5 VRAM on a 256-bit bus, and a boosted clock speed of 1545 MHz. It excels in 1080p gaming with high frame rates and offers excellent value through its generous memory capacity and FreeSync support. However, it suffers from high power consumption (225W TDP), runs noticeably loud and hot under load, and offers only incremental performance gains over the older RX 580.

Technical Specifications of AMD Radeon RX 590

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%

3.4

Performance

24.0%

4.1

Memory

12.0%

8.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

7.2

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.6

Design

4.0%

8.1

Connectivity & Media

5.0
AMD Radeon RX 590 has a technical score of 5.01 points, which is lower than that of 77.7% 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%

7.9

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(258)
amazon
4.0
(65)
amazon
3.0
(7)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
(67)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

8.5
AMD Radeon RX 590 has a user score of 8.54 points, which is higher than that of 71.3% 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.
10
AMD Radeon RX 590 has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 77.9% 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%

5.4

Overall score

40.0%

9.9

Price

6.7
AMD Radeon RX 590 has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.7 points, which is lower than 52.1% 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

?
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

7.12 TFLOPS
AMD Radeon RX 590 delivers 7.12 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 83.3% of graphics cards.
Show more
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

8 GB
AMD Radeon RX 590 has 8 GB of VRAM, which is less than 57.6% of graphics cards and equal to 25.1% 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 RX 590 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 RX 590 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

256 GB/s
AMD Radeon RX 590 reaches 256 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 80.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.7% 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 RX 590 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 RX 590 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

1.3
AMD Radeon RX 590 supports Vulkan 1.3, which is older than on 73.5% of graphics cards and equal to 22.5% 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

4.6
AMD Radeon RX 590 supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% 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

5
AMD Radeon RX 590 supports up to 5 displays, which is more than 97% of graphics cards and equal to 1.7% 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

?
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

3
AMD Radeon RX 590 offers 3 DisplayPort outputs, which is more than 20.9% of graphics cards and equal to 77.3% 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

1.4
AMD Radeon RX 590 supports DisplayPort 1.4, which is older than on 77.3% of graphics cards and equal to 16.2% 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

8.1 Gbps
AMD Radeon RX 590 supports DisplayPort link rates up to 8.1 Gbps, which is slower than on 50.4% of graphics cards and equal to 40.5% of graphics cards.
Show more
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

175 W
AMD Radeon RX 590 has a TDP of 175 W, which is lower than that of 62.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.9% 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

225 W
AMD Radeon RX 590 draws 225 W under peak load, which is higher than 53.5% of graphics cards and equal to 0.9% 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 RX 590 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

?
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

175 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

?
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 RX 590 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

?
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 RX 590 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 RX 590 vs the average graphics card

  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon RX 590 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 RX 590 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports more displays than the average graphics card (5 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 RX 590 supports more displays than the average graphics card (5 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.5 vs 4
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon RX 590 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 RX 590 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
  • 14.3% faster VRAM clock
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,000 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
    What it is: Speed at which the GPU memory operates
    When it matters: When you want more context on how quickly the card's VRAM can move data.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,000 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.2000 MHz vs 1750 MHz
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    AMD Radeon RX 590 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 RX 590 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
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 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 RX 590 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • 4.42x cheaper
    AMD Radeon RX 590 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£120 vs £530).
    AMD Radeon RX 590 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£120 vs £530).£120 vs £530
  • 18.6% lower TDP
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    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

    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.175 W vs 215 W
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • 14.3% faster VRAM clock
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,000 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports more displays than the average graphics card (5 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon RX 590 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon RX 590 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.
  • 18.6% lower TDP
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    AMD Radeon RX 590 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
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 38.2% lower boost clock speed
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,545 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • No CUDA support
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support CUDA, the average graphics card does.
  • 70% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (49.5 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 23.5% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,469 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 41% lower texture rate
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (222.5 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 40 fewer TMUs
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (144 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 4 fewer compute units
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (36 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 75.9% lower FP16 performance
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower FP16 performance than the average graphics card (7.1 TFLOPS vs 29.5 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP16 performance of 29.5 TFLOPS.
  • 69.2% lower compute throughput
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (7.1 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 2,048 fewer FP32 units
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (2,304 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 57.9% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 4 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 42.9% lower memory bandwidth
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (256 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 93.8% smaller L2 cache
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (2 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 2.4x larger process node
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • No DLSS support
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No ray tracing
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.
  • Older PCIe version
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • 5 older
    AMD Radeon RX 590 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,018 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • No DirectStorage support
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 1.4).
  • Worse SAM support
    AMD Radeon RX 590 offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older OpenCL version
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (2.1 vs 3.0).
  • No sampler feedback
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 74% fewer transistors
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (5,700 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • Older shader model
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.7 vs 6.8).
  • No AV1 encoding
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0b vs 2.1).
  • 3 fewer monitors per output type
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (1 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Older HDCP version
    AMD Radeon RX 590 supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • 1 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • 11 °C higher load temperature
    AMD Radeon RX 590 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.
  • 36.4% higher idle power draw
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a higher idle power draw than the average graphics card (15 W vs 11 W). The average graphics card has an idle power draw of 11 W.
  • 38.2% lower boost clock speed
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,545 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 RX 590 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,545 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1545 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 2.4x larger process node
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 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 RX 590 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.12 nm vs 5 nm
  • 1 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 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 RX 590 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • No CUDA support
    AMD Radeon RX 590 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 RX 590 does not support CUDA, the average graphics card does.
  • 70% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (49.5 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
    What it is: Number of pixels the GPU can render per second
    When it matters: When you play at high resolutions or care about older raster-heavy games.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (49.5 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.49.54 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
  • 57.9% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon RX 590 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,000 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 RX 590 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.8000 MHz vs 19000 MHz
  • No DLSS support
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA DLSS upscaling technology
    When it matters: When you play NVIDIA-supported games and want better frame rates at higher settings.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No ray tracing
    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.
    What it is: Hardware support for real-time ray tracing effects
    When it matters: When you care about ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows and want to avoid buying a card that only handles traditional raster graphics well.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon RX 590 does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.No vs yes
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Platform & Features
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Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of AMD Radeon RX 590 and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
258 Reviews
amazon
4.0
65 Reviews
amazon
3.0
7 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
67 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about AMD Radeon RX 590?

  • Solid performance for high-FPS 1080p and fluid 1440p gaming in many titles
  • Noticeable performance boost (approx. 10-15%) over the RX 580 and GTX 1060
  • Generous 8GB of VRAM provides good headroom for modern textures
  • Initially bundled with high-value AAA games (e.g., Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry 5)
  • Support for FreeSync technology offers a smooth, tear-free gaming experience
  • Often features multiple display outputs including HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI-D

What customers dislike about AMD Radeon RX 590?

  • Extremely high power consumption for its performance level (up to 225W+)
  • Tends to run very hot and can reach thermal throttling limits in cases with poor airflow
  • Fans can become significantly noisy under sustained heavy load
  • Poor value proposition compared to the cheaper RX 580 or newer alternatives like the GTX 1660
  • Large physical size (often 2.5 slots thick) may not fit in compact PC cases
  • Requires a robust power supply, typically needing both 8-pin and 6-pin connectors

Expert reviews

T
techpowerup.com
08/03/2019
ASRock RX 590 Phantom Gaming X 8 GB Review

The ASRock RX 590 Phantom Gaming X is a cost-optimized 12 nm "Polaris 30" graphics card featuring 8 GB GDDR5, a 1560 MHz boost clock, and a single 8-pin connector. As a budget-friendly option, its main advantages include a competitive $250 launch price for solid 1080p gaming, an idle-fan-off feature for silent desktop operation, and better performance-per-watt than the RX 580....Read more

T
techspot.com
09/12/2018
AMD Radeon RX 590 Crossfire and the State of Multi-GPU Technology

The TechSpot review of the AMD Radeon RX 590 in Crossfire finds that while the configuration provides significant, up to 94% performance boosts in optimized titles like Strange Brigade, these successes are isolated. In supported scenarios, dual RX 590s can outperform a single RTX 2070, offering high-resolution, high-refresh-rate gaming at a lower entry cost. However, the analysis...Read more

E
eurogamer.net
15/11/2018
AMD Radeon RX 590 preview - refreshingly solid at 1080p

AMD Radeon RX 590 Performance Summary The AMD Radeon RX 590 is a refreshed mid-range graphics card built on a new 12nm process, designed to slot neatly between the older RX 580 and the more expensive Vega 56. In performance testing at 1080p, the card delivers a small but consistent 3% to 7% performance improvement over the RX 580, with the most notable gains appearing in demanding...Read more

P
pcper.com
15/11/2018
The AMD RX 590 Review - Featuring XFX!

Overview and Specifications The AMD Radeon RX 590, evaluated here via the partner-designed XFX RX 590 Fatboy, serves as a mid-range refresh built on Global Foundries' 12nm process node. This architecture is essentially a ported and refined version of the 14nm Polaris design found in the older RX 580, maintaining an identical count of 2,304 Stream Processors, 144 Texture Units, 32...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
15/11/2018
Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro+ Special Edition 8 GB Review

The TechPowerUp review of the Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro+ Special Edition highlights a highly capable midrange card that dominates the sub-$300 market, delivering excellent 1080p and entry-level 1440p performance based on AMD's 12 nm "Polaris 30" architecture. Key advantages include an effective dual-slot cooler with idle-fan-stop, a dual-BIOS switch with a quiet mode, and a...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
15/11/2018
XFX Radeon RX 590 Fatboy 8 GB Review

The TechPowerUp review of the XFX Radeon RX 590 Fatboy 8 GB, based on the 12 nm "Polaris 30" architecture, shows strong 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming performance, beating the NVIDIA GTX 1060. Pros include a high-quality VRM, a triple-slot cooler with silent idle-fan-stop mode, and a dual-BIOS switch at a competitive $279 MSRP. However, the card exhibits poor efficiency, pulling...Read more

J
jonpeddie.com
20/11/2018
AMD RX 590 extends Polaris to high-end of midrange If you'd like to see how this card holds up in modern 2024–2025 gaming, I can find updated benchmar...

Summary The AMD Radeon RX 590 is a "mid-life kicker" graphics card that extends the Polaris architecture by shrinking the process node from 14nm to 12nm. Priced at $279.99 at launch, it directly targets 1080p gaming and acts as a faster version of the older RX 580, boasting a 16.9% higher GPU clock speed. In performance testing against its main competitor, the $259.99 Nvidia GTX...Read more

P
pcmag.com
15/01/2019
XFX Radeon RX 590 Fatboy Review - PCMag

The PCMag review highlights the XFX Radeon RX 590 Fatboy as a strong midrange GPU capable of no-compromise 1080p and 1440p gaming, boasting a 14% to 30% performance advantage over the GTX 1060 6GB. Key features include dual-BIOS functionality for performance or quiet modes, ample display connectivity, and a solid price-to-performance ratio for the performance tier. However, the card...Read more

I
igorslab.de
15/11/2018
Radeon RX 590 in review – Polaris at the absolute limit

The Radeon RX 590 Fatboy by XFX represents the third iteration of AMD’s Polaris architecture, migrating to an optimized 12nm FinFET manufacturing process to squeeze out higher clock rates than its predecessor, the RX 580. While this process shrink helps the card compete more effectively against Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1060, the architectural gains were utilized strictly to boost...Read more

H
hardwarecanucks.com
15/11/2018
AMD RX 590 Review - The Card We Don't Need

The Hardware Canucks review labels the AMD Radeon RX 590 as a holiday-season placeholder card that showcases impressive performance gains over its main competitor, the NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB. Moving to TSMC's 12nm manufacturing process allowed AMD to aggressively push the aging Polaris architecture to a base clock of 1469MHz and a boost clock of 1545MHz. Pros include its ability to...Read more

H
hothardware.com
15/11/2018
AMD Radeon RX 590 Review: Benchmarks And Overclocking 12nm Polaris

The AMD Radeon RX 590 is a mid-range graphics card that updates the older Polaris architecture using a newer 12nm FinFET manufacturing process. This process shrink allows the GPU to achieve much higher clock speeds within a similar power envelope compared to the RX 580, successfully filling a pricing gap between $200 entry-level cards and $400 high-end options. Custom partner models...Read more

T
techgage.com
15/11/2018
AMD Radeon RX 590 1440p, 1080p & Ultrawide Gaming Performance

The Techgage review of the AMD Radeon RX 590 highlights the card as a 12nm, 12% faster refresh of the Polaris architecture, offering strong 1080p and capable 1440p gaming performance for $279 USD. Key pros include a 10-15% performance increase over the RX 580, excellent value, and a bundled game package. Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks, particularly high power...Read more

P
pcgamer.com
15/11/2018
AMD Radeon RX 590 review - PC Gamer

The AMD Radeon RX 590 brings modest improvements to the midrange sector by utilizing TSMC's enhanced 12nm FinFET Polaris 30 architecture. Delivering great 1080p performance at ultra settings, the card achieves decisive wins over Nvidia's competing GTX 1060 6GB in titles like Deus Ex, Forza, and Hitman, outperforming it by about 10 percent overall. It features a boost clock of...Read more

T
tomshardware.com
15/11/2018
Radeon RX 590 Review: AMD's First 12nm GPU Hits 225W

The Radeon RX 590 is AMD’s first mainstream gaming graphics card built on a 12nm FinFET manufacturing process, designed to fill the performance gap between the older Radeon RX 580 and the premium Radeon RX Vega 56. Despite utilizing a newer GlobalFoundries 12nm node, the card remains rooted in AMD's aging fourth-generation Graphics Core Next (Polaris) architecture, maintaining the...Read more

E
eurogamer.net
06/06/2019
AMD Radeon RX 590 benchmarks: comfortable 1080p gaming If you need more resources, please let me know if you would like to look for video reviews, for...

The Eurogamer review benchmarks the AMD Radeon RX 590 at reference speeds against the RX 580 and Nvidia GTX 1060, positioning it as a highly capable mainstream GPU. Tested across ten demanding games, the card excels at 1080p resolution, frequently delivering over 60 frames per second (fps) in heavy titles like Battlefield 1 (101 fps average) and Rise of the Tomb Raider (89 fps...Read more

T
tomshardware.com
11/03/2019
ASRock Phantom Gaming X Radeon RX590 8G OC Review

ASRock Phantom Gaming X Radeon RX 590 8G OC Review Summary The ASRock Phantom Gaming X Radeon RX 590 8G OC is a cost-reduced, mainstream graphics card powered by the 12nm Polaris 30 GPU architecture, running at a default boost clock rate of 1560 MHz with 8GB of GDDR5 memory. It delivers great gaming performance at 1920 x 1080 resolution and occupies a dual-slot form factor, making...Read more

B
bit-tech.net
15/11/2018
AMD Radeon RX 590 Review feat. XFX

The XFX Radeon RX 590 Fatboy features a factory overclocked core clock speed of 1,580MHz, representing a modest two percent performance bump over standard specifications, while keeping its 8GB of GDDR5 memory at the stock speed of 8Gbps. Built on a 6 phase power design, this 2.5-slot card features an entirely LED-free, black-and-red plastic shroud paired with a rigid metal...Read more

V
video.golem.de
15/11/2018
Radeon RX 590 - Test

The Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro+ Special Edition is an upper mid-range graphics card priced between €260 and €300. Built on the 12 nm "Polaris 30" architecture, it represents a shrink from the previous 14 nm process used in the RX 580. This technological shift yields a higher out-of-the-box factory clock speed, allowing the card to perform 14% faster than its predecessor, the RX...Read more

(Translated)Show original
C
computerbase.de
15/11/2018
3 × AMD Radeon RX 590 im Test - ComputerBase

The AMD Radeon RX 590 is a mid-range graphics card designed for Full-HD gaming, featuring a Polaris 30 GPU that transitions from a 14 nm to a 12 nm manufacturing process. While the chip layout is identical to the older Polaris 10 and 20 architectures, the process shrink allows for a substantial 15% increase in clock speed out of the box, reaching 1,545 MHz. This brings a 22%...Read more

(Translated)Show original

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