AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£250
  • VRAM: 8 GB
  • Memory bus width: 2048 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 210 W

AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

5.7

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%

5.3

Technical Score

10.0%

8.7

User score

Good
5.3

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%

4.5

Performance

24.0%

4.3

Memory

12.0%

7.0

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.7

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.6

Design

4.0%

7.7

Connectivity & Media

Good
8.7

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%

8.1

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
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4.1
(190)
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3.9
(94)
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4.1
(72)
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3.8
(27)
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4.3
(16)
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3.9
(15)
United States
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4.1
(196)
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4.2
(74)
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3.8
(33)
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4.1
(20)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Excellent
  • 4.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    2.4

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.9
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    2.4

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.6
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    2.4

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.6
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    2.4

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.9
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    2.4

    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 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 RX Vega 56 is a high-end graphics card built on the 14nm Vega 10 architecture, featuring 3584 shading units, 56 compute units, and a boost clock speed of 1471 MHz. A standout characteristic is its 8GB of HBM2 memory on a massive 2048-bit bus, providing 410 GB/s of bandwidth. Its main pros include strong 1080p and 1440p gaming performance that often outperforms the GTX 1070, excellent compute capabilities for tasks like rendering, and features like FreeSync and Dual BIOS support. However, it is held back by high power consumption (210W TDP), significant heat generation, and loud operation, especially in reference blower-style models.

Technical Specifications of AMD Radeon RX Vega 56

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%

4.5

Performance

24.0%

4.3

Memory

12.0%

7.0

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.7

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.6

Design

4.0%

7.7

Connectivity & Media

5.3
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a technical score of 5.32 points, which is lower than that of 74.4% 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%

8.1

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.1
(190)
amazon
3.9
(94)
amazon
4.1
(72)
amazon
3.8
(27)
amazon
4.3
(16)
amazon
3.9
(15)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(196)
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(74)
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
(33)
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(20)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

8.7
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a user score of 8.66 points, which is higher than that of 72.7% 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 Vega 56 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%

5.7

Overall score

40.0%

9.2

Price

6.7
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 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

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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

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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

10.54 TFLOPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 delivers 10.54 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 77.2% 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

8 GB
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 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

HBM2
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

N/A
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

2048 bit
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 uses a 2048 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 99.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.2% 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

410 GB/s
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 reaches 410 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 60.8% 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 Vega 56 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 Vega 56 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

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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 Vega 56 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 Vega 56 supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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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

4
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 7.8% of graphics cards and equal to 89.2% 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

7680x4320
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320, which is higher than that of 44.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 55.6% 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

3
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 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 Vega 56 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 Vega 56 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.
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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

210 W
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a TDP of 210 W, which is lower than that of 51.2% 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

210 W
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 draws 210 W under peak load, which is lower than 51.9% 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

650 W
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 recommends a 650 W PSU, which is lower than that of 41.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 14.2% 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

210 W
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a board power limit of 210 W, which is lower than that of 53.9% 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

210 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

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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

280 mm
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is 280 mm long, which is shorter than 52.8% of graphics cards and equal in length to 1.3% 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

111 mm
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is 111 mm tall, which is shorter than 89.6% of graphics cards and equal in height to 5.6% 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 RX Vega 56 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 Vega 56 vs the average graphics card

  • 1,792 bit wider memory bus
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (2,048 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 RX Vega 56 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (2,048 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.2048 bit vs 256 bit
  • 16 more compute units
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has more compute units than the average graphics card (56 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 RX Vega 56 has more compute units than the average graphics card (56 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.56 vs 40
  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 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 Vega 56 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 16 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 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 RX Vega 56 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.111 mm vs 127 mm
  • 40 more TMUs
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has more TMUs than the average graphics card (224 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 RX Vega 56 has more TMUs than the average graphics card (224 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.224 vs 184
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 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 RX Vega 56 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).1:16 vs 1:64
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire multi-GPU setup
    When it matters: When you still run legacy multi-GPU gaming or rendering workflows.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2.12x cheaper
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£250 vs £530).
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£250 vs £530).£250 vs £530
  • 16 more compute units
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has more compute units than the average graphics card (56 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 40 more TMUs
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has more TMUs than the average graphics card (224 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • 1,792 bit wider memory bus
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (2,048 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 16 mm lower card height
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 41.2% lower boost clock speed
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,471 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 39.8% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,156 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • No CUDA support
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support CUDA, the average graphics card does.
  • 43% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (94.1 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 54.1% lower FP32 performance
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (10.5 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 12.6% lower texture rate
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (329.5 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 54.4% lower compute throughput
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (10.5 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 91.6% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (1,600 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 Vega 56 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 54.3% slower VRAM clock
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (800 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 87.5% smaller L2 cache
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (4 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 8.5% lower memory bandwidth
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (410 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 2.8x larger process node
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (14 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • No DLSS support
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • Older PCIe version
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • 6 older
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,017 vs 2,023).
  • No AI upscalers
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support AI upscalers, the average graphics card does.
  • No XeSS support
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • No DirectStorage support
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 1.4).
  • Older OpenCL version
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (2.1 vs 3.0).
  • No sampler feedback
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 62.7% larger GPU die
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a higher GPU die size than the average graphics card (495 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
  • Older shader model
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.7 vs 6.8).
  • No AV1 encoding
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDCP version
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 12 °C lower thermal ceiling
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (105 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • 7 dB noisier under load
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (42 dB vs 35 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35 dB.
  • 45.5% higher idle power draw
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a higher idle power draw than the average graphics card (16 W vs 11 W). The average graphics card has an idle power draw of 11 W.
  • 8 °C higher load temperature
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a higher load temperature than the average graphics card (75 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • No RGB lighting
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 41.2% lower boost clock speed
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,471 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 Vega 56 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,471 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1471 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 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 RX Vega 56 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 2.8x larger process node
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (14 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 Vega 56 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (14 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.14 nm vs 5 nm
  • 39.8% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,156 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 RX Vega 56 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,156 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1156 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 91.6% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (1,600 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 RX Vega 56 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (1,600 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.1600 MHz vs 19000 MHz
  • No CUDA support
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 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 Vega 56 does not support CUDA, the average graphics card does.
  • No DLSS support
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 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 Vega 56 does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • 4 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 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 RX Vega 56 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.8 GB vs 12 GB

Graphic comparison of AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 and

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about AMD Radeon RX Vega 56?

  • Strong 1440p and 1080p high-refresh gaming performance, often matching or beating the NVIDIA GTX 1070
  • Excellent compute performance, making it suitable for tasks like AI acceleration, mining, and rendering
  • Highly tweakable, with significant gains possible through undervolting and flashing the Vega 64 BIOS
  • Support for AMD FreeSync, providing a smooth gaming experience without the price premium of G-Sync monitors
  • Equipped with 8GB of HBM2 memory, offering high bandwidth that benefits higher resolutions like 1440p ultrawide
  • Good long-term value on the used market, often found at budget-friendly prices years after launch

What customers dislike about AMD Radeon RX Vega 56?

  • High power consumption compared to NVIDIA's Pascal and newer RDNA architectures
  • Reference models with blower-style coolers tend to be very loud and run hot
  • Struggles at 4K resolution without significant lowering of in-game detail settings
  • Poor out-of-the-box consistency; often requires manual tuning (undervolting) for optimal thermal and noise performance
  • Reported instability and driver-related issues like black or blue screens in some user configurations
  • Inconsistent support for older technologies like Crossfire in modern gaming titles

Expert reviews

R
rockpapershotgun.com
09/03/2018

AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 Review Summary The Asus Radeon RX Vega 56 ROG Strix OC Gaming graphics card delivers impressive performance for 1440p gaming and acts as a competent entry-level 4K option. In real-world benchmarks, the card excels in titles like Hitman, Doom, and Wolfenstein II, pushing steady 60fps frame rates on high or ultra settings even at 4K resolutions. Its hardware...Read more

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techadvisor.com
23/11/2017

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is a 14nm "Vega 10" architecture graphics card designed to compete directly with Nvidia’s GTX 1070 and GTX 1070 Ti, offering 56 compute units, 3,584 stream processors, and a boost clock speed up to 1,471 MHz. Equipped with 8GB of HBM2 high-bandwidth memory delivering 410 GB/s of bandwidth, it easily handles smooth virtual reality gameplay and stable 60 fps...Read more

H
hardwarecanucks.com
28/09/2017

AMD RX Vega 64 & 56 Performance Review Summary The AMD RX Vega 64 and Vega 56 graphics cards launch represents a highly anticipated yet controversial entry aimed at competing with NVIDIA’s high-end graphics stack, arriving over a year after initial teases. The flagship Vega 64 offers competitive performance in a bubble, trading blows evenly with the NVIDIA GTX 1080 and achieving its...Read more

P
pcmag.com
30/08/2017

The PCMag review positions the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 as a highly competitive, better-value alternative to the Vega 64, optimized for 1440p gaming and holding its own against the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070. It offers roughly 87% of the stream processors of the Vega 64 with significantly lower power consumption, making it a compelling option for high-refresh-rate 1080p experiences....Read more

M
m.hexus.net
14/08/2017

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 and Vega 56, released in August 2017, represent the high-end of AMD's Vega 10 architecture aimed at reclaiming competitiveness in the enthusiast graphics market. Based on a 14nm FinFET LPP process, these cards feature significant upgrades over the older Fury series, including 8GB of HBM2 memory and a nearly 50% increase in peak GPU clock speeds, which...Read more

S
semiaccurate.com
14/08/2017

AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 Review Summary The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is the entry-level $400 graphics card in the Vega 10 lineup, utilizing a slightly cut-down core with 8 compute units disabled, a 1471 MHz boost clock, and HBM2 memory clocked at 400 MHz. In terms of raw performance, it is highly efficient compared to older architectures, trading blows with the premium RX Vega 64 by...Read more

I
ign.com
14/08/2017

AMD Radeon RX Vega Review Summary The AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 and Vega 56 mark AMD's return to the high-end gaming GPU market, targeting Nvidia's GTX 1080 and 1070 respectively. Built on a large 14nm architecture, these flagship cards introduce cutting-edge High Bandwidth Memory (HBM2) on a massive 2048-bit wide path to rival Nvidia's performance. While the Vega 64 struggles to...Read more

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techspot.com
14/08/2017

The TechSpot review of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 presents it as a highly competitive $399, upper-midrange card that frequently edges out the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 by 2.5% overall. It excels at 1440p gaming and offers strong performance in modern titles using DX12 or Vulkan. Conversely, key drawbacks include high power consumption compared to Nvidia rivals and a loud, hot reference...Read more

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techpowerup.com
14/08/2017

The TechPowerUp review identifies the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 as a compelling $399 high-end card that outperforms the GTX 1070 by 6% while offering better power efficiency and lower noise than the Vega 64. It features 8 GB of HBM2 memory, a premium backplate, and delivers excellent 1440p gaming performance, with added value from features like dual BIOS and the High Bandwidth Cache...Read more

D
digitalfoundry.net
07/07/2018

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is a highly competitive, high-end graphics card designed to challenge Nvidia's GTX 1070, offering a superb value proposition for 1440p and 4K gaming. Built on a large 486mm² silicon area with 12.5 billion transistors, it features a cut-down configuration of 56 compute units, 3,584 stream processors, and 8GB of cutting-edge HBM2 memory delivering 410GB/s of...Read more

E
eurogamer.net
06/06/2019

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is an upper mid-range graphics card designed to compete directly with Nvidia's GTX 1070, providing a value-focused alternative to the faster but more power-hungry Vega 64. Built with 3,584 GPU cores, a 1471MHz boost clock, and 8GB of HBM2 memory, it delivers excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p resolutions across demanding titles. The card notably...Read more

U
uk.pcmag.com
30/08/2017

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is an excellent $399 enthusiast-grade graphics card designed to deliver uncompromising performance for 1440p gaming or high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming. Powered by the "Vega 10" chip with 56 compute units and 8GB of high-bandwidth HBM2 memory, it stands as a highly competitive and lower-priced alternative to Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1070. In benchmark testing,...Read more

T
tomshardware.com
09/01/2018

The Gigabyte Radeon RX Vega 56 Gaming OC 8G delivers strong performance but suffers from high power draw and thermal limitations when pushed to its limits. On the positive side, the graphics card features an exceptionally well-implemented power balancing architecture that keeps the motherboard's PCIe slot safe from heavy electrical loads, drawing a maximum of only 2.1A during...Read more

C
cgmagonline.com
18/12/2017

The AMD Radeon Vega 56 delivers exceptional raw performance, capable of reaching Nvidia GTX 1080 levels, and features advanced, efficient HBM2 memory technology. However, intense demand from cryptocurrency miners, coupled with high manufacturing costs, led to severely inflated retail pricing well above the intended $500 CAD MSRP. Comics Gaming Magazine These market-driven factors...Read more

T
techspot.com
02/03/2020

The TechSpot review revisits the 2017 AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, utilizing a 32-game benchmark suite to evaluate its performance against modern alternatives like the Radeon RX 5600 XT. While the card's aging architecture remains competitive in specific titles owing to its HBM2 memory, it is heavily criticized for its poor power efficiency, consuming nearly 40% more system power than...Read more

E
enostech.com
28/11/2017

The Gigabyte RX Vega 56 8G (GVRXVEGA56-8GD-B) is a reference-design graphics card featuring AMD's Vega 10 architecture built on a 14nm FinFET process. It is equipped with 3,584 stream processors, a 2048-bit memory bus interface, and 8GB of second-generation High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM2). Built with a premium, fully enclosed aluminium housing shroud, the card includes distinct...Read more

B
babeltechreviews.com
12/09/2017

This review evaluates the stock performance of the reference AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 against the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition, both priced at a $399 MSRP, using a suite of 28 modern PC games and 4 synthetic benchmarks across multiple resolutions (1080p to 4K). Testing on an Intel Core i7-6700K system reveals that when the RX Vega 56 is configured to maximum power limits...Read more

A
au.pcmag.com
30/08/2017

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is a highly competitive, enthusiast-grade graphics card launched at a $399 MSRP to target Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1070 for 1440p gaming and high-refresh-rate 1080p experiences. Built on the "Vega 10" architecture with 56 compute units and 8GB of high-bandwidth HBM2 memory, it matches its pricier sibling, the Vega 64, in both physical card length (10.5 inches)...Read more

C
computerbase.de
13/09/2017

The Radeon RX Vega 64 and Vega 56 reference graphics cards feature a highly flexible but complex power system consisting of two hardware BIOS switches and three driver profiles (Balanced, Turbo, and Power Save), resulting in six distinct power and performance configurations. In terms of pros, this design grants users immense customisation freedom, allowing the Vega 64's GPU power...Read more

I
igorslab.de
02/07/2018

The Sapphire RX Vega 56 Pulse is highlighted as a smartly engineered, compact graphics card built on an ultra-short PCB paired with a full-length cooler. Weighing only 938 grams, it is significantly lighter and more compact than its monstrous sibling, the Nitro series. Despite lacking a traditional vapor chamber, the cooling performance remains effective thanks to dual 9.5 cm fans,...Read more

H
hardwareluxx.de
14/08/2017

This hardware review evaluates the launch of AMD’s high-end graphics cards, the Radeon RX Vega 64 (available in liquid-cooled and air-cooled models) and the smaller Radeon RX Vega 56. Built on the 14nm Vega 10 architecture, these GPUs pack a massive 12.5 billion transistors onto a 484 mm² die size—making the silicon physically comparable to NVIDIA's enthusiast GP102 chip, yet...Read more

L
lesnumeriques.com
14/08/2017

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is a high-end graphics card built on the Vega 10 architecture, featuring 56 active NCU blocks, 3,584 computing units, and 8 GB of HBM2 memory with a high bandwidth of 410 Go/s. In terms of performance, the card successfully targets the GeForce GTX 1070, offering a 6% advantage in 4K/UHD and matching its rival in 1080p, making it highly capable for seamless...Read more

T
tomshardware.fr
16/07/2018

The Sapphire RX Vega 56 Pulse is a highly compact, dual-slot graphics card that balances impressive thermal performance with a significantly shortened PCB design. Featuring a moderate 9% to 11% factory overclock compared to AMD's reference specifications, the card delivers a 5% to 7% increase in gaming framerates at a cost of just 10 additional watts. It is built for QHD (1440p)...Read more

C
comptoir-hardware.com
23/10/2017

The Le Comptoir du Hardware review provides a detailed evaluation of AMD’s reference Radeon RX Vega 56, a graphics card based on the Vega 10 architecture positioned as a more affordable, 100 € cheaper alternative to its larger sibling, the Vega 64. Evaluated using an updated 20-game testing suite across multiple 3D engines, the review explores whether the card serves as a highly...Read more

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lesnumeriques.com
19/01/2018

The Asus Radeon RX Vega 56 Strix OC graphics card succeeds in addressing the loud acoustic flaws of AMD’s reference design, offering a premium and significantly quieter user experience. Built on a completely redesigned custom PCB with an enhanced 11-phase power delivery system, it features a heavy 2.5-slot cooler adapted from the GTX 1080 Ti Strix. Key strengths include heavily...Read more

G
geeknetic.es
19/09/2017

The Geeknetic review highlights the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 as an impressive mid-range graphics card that outperforms its primary price competitor, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, particularly when running modern APIs like DX12 and Vulkan. Built on a 14nm FinFET architecture, the card features 56 compute units and 3584 shaders operating alongside 8GB of cutting-edge HBM2 memory, which...Read more

M
muycomputer.com
14/08/2017

The Radeon RX Vega 56 stands out as the superior choice from a price-performance perspective, delivering general performance slightly above NVIDIA's GTX 1070 and occasionally matching or beating the GTX 1080 in specific games like The Division, Battlefield 1, and DiRT 4. Its primary pros include competitive gaming performance, promising architectural advancements for future driver...Read more

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