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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£570
  • Avg. price in US: ~$700
  • VRAM: 3 GB
  • Memory bus width: 768 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 365 W

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

4.3

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%

4.3

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
4.3

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%

3.8

Performance

24.0%

3.3

Memory

12.0%

5.8

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.3

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.3

Design

4.0%

5.5

Connectivity & Media

Poor
?

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%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 2.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.2
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    ?

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.2
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.3

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £570

Best rankings

?

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

Verdict

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 590 is a flagship dual-GPU graphics card released in 2011, featuring two GF110 Fermi chips on a single PCB. Key specifications include 1024 CUDA cores (512 per GPU), 3GB of GDDR5 memory across dual 384-bit interfaces, and a core clock speed of 607 MHz. Main pros include its exceptional enthusiast-level performance for multi-monitor setups via its three DVI and one mini-DisplayPort outputs, and a dual vapor chamber cooling system designed for quieter operation compared to competitors. However, the card has significant cons, including a massive 365W TDP that requires a minimum 700W power supply and two 8-pin connectors, limited overclocking headroom due to strict power limits, and a lack of modern driver support as it is now discontinued.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 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%

?

Performance

24.0%

?

Memory

12.0%

?

Power & Cooling

11.0%

?

Platform & Features

5.0%

?

Design

4.0%

?

Connectivity & Media

4.3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a technical score of 4.26 points, which is lower than that of 87.2% 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%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
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.
1.0
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 55.9% 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%

4.3

Overall score

40.0%

7.5

Price

5.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.2 points, which is lower than 94.9% 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

3,341 points
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 scores 3341 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 81.2% 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

1,154 points
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 scores 1154 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 86% 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

2 TFLOPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 delivers 2 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 96.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% 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
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 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

768 bit
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 uses a 768 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 99.5% 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

327.7 GB/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 reaches 327.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 65.8% 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

2.0
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports PCIe 2.0, which is older than on 98.4% of graphics cards and equal to 1.3% 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
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 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

N/A
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
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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

2560x1600
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports a maximum digital resolution of 2560x1600, which is lower than that of 59.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.1% 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
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 offers 1 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 89.5% of graphics cards and equal to 8.6% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to 4.8% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

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

Importance: MEDIUM

365 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a TDP of 365 W, which is higher than that of 93.2% 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

365 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 draws 365 W under peak load, which is higher than 91.6% of graphics cards and equal to 0.1% 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

700 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 recommends a 700 W PSU, which is higher than that of 58.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 3.9% 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

365 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a board power limit of 365 W, which is higher than that of 86.6% 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

?
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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

279 x 111 x 40 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 measures 279x111 x 40 mm, which is more compact than 96.7% of graphics cards.
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

279 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 is 279 mm long, which is shorter than 54.3% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.5% 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
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 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

1,034 g
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 weighs 1034 g, which is heavier than 53.7% of graphics cards.
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 vs the average graphics card

  • 512 bit wider memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (768 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (768 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.768 bit vs 256 bit
  • 32 more ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has more ROPs than the average graphics card (96 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
    What it is: Total number of render output units on the GPU
    When it matters: When you want more context on pixel output capacity, especially for high-resolution play and older raster-heavy engines.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has more ROPs than the average graphics card (96 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.96 vs 64
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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
  • 3 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (3 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (3 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.3 vs 0
  • Better FP64 ratio
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:8 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:8 vs 1:64).1:8 vs 1:64
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Supports NVLink
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA NVLink or bridge connection for multi-GPU setups
    When it matters: When a professional or niche multi-GPU workflow needs a bridge connection.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • 32 more ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has more ROPs than the average graphics card (96 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • Better FP64 ratio
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:8 vs 1:64).
  • 512 bit wider memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (768 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Supports NVLink
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • 3 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (3 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.

Total
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Design
  • 68.4% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (607 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 79.4% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (77.7 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 88.2% lower pixel rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (19.5 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 56 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (128 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 8 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (32 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 70.7% lower PassMark score
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (3,341 points vs 11,411 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 11,411 points.
  • 91.3% lower compute throughput
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (2 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 75.7% lower compute score
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower compute score than the average graphics card (1,154 points vs 4,745 points). The average graphics card has a compute score of 4,745 points.
  • 83.3% lower FP64 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower FP64 performance than the average graphics card (0.1 TFLOPS vs 0.4651 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP64 performance of 0.4651 TFLOPS.
  • 3,328 fewer FP32 units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,024 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 9 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (3 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 82% slower memory speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (3,416 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 95.3% smaller L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (1.5 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 51.2% slower VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (854 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 26.9% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (327.7 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 50% smaller L1 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (64 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Older PCIe version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (2 vs 4.0).
  • No FSR support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 does not support FSR, the average graphics card does.
  • 12 older
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,011 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older OpenCL version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.1 vs 3.0).
  • Older shader model
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (5.1 vs 6.8).
  • No sampler feedback
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 70.9% larger GPU die
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher GPU die size than the average graphics card (520 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
  • 2 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 decoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Older DisplayPort version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • Not VR ready
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • Lower display resolution
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (2560x1600 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • 69.8% higher TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher TDP than the average graphics card (365 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • No fan stop
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 65.9% higher board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher board power limit than the average graphics card (365 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
  • 17 °C higher load temperature
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher load temperature than the average graphics card (84 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • 13 dB noisier under load
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (48 dB vs 35 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35 dB.
  • 65.9% higher peak power draw
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher peak power draw than the average graphics card (365 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a peak power draw of 220 W.
  • 7.7% higher PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher PSU requirement than the average graphics card (700 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 4 °C lower thermal ceiling
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (97 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.40 nm vs 5 nm
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 68.4% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (607 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (607 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.607 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 9 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 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
  • 79.4% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (77.7 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (77.7 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.77.7 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 88.2% lower pixel rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (19.5 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (19.5 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.19.46 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
  • 82% slower memory speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (3,416 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (3,416 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.3416 MHz vs 19000 MHz
  • 69.8% higher TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher TDP than the average graphics card (365 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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 has a higher TDP than the average graphics card (365 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.365 W vs 215 W
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Third-party reviews

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590?

  • Excellent overall performance for high-end gaming and multi-monitor setups
  • Vastly quieter cooling system compared to contemporary dual-GPU competitors like the Radeon HD 6990
  • More compact physical footprint than rival cards, allowing it to fit into a wider variety of cases
  • Features multiple display outputs (three DVI and one mini DisplayPort) for easier multi-monitor connectivity
  • Strong performance in specific titles like Lost Planet 2 and H.A.W.X. 2

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590?

  • High power consumption under load, earning it a reputation as an 'energy hog'
  • Significant thermal management issues, with some user and reviewer reports of cards failing or 'blowing up' during overclocking or high-voltage testing
  • Often surpassed in pure performance by the Radeon HD 6990, especially in certain DirectX 11 titles
  • Expensive launch price ($699) made it hard to justify over cheaper, faster dual-card (SLI/CrossFire) configurations
  • Heavy power requirements needing at least a 700W PSU and two eight-pin adapters

Expert reviews

T
techpowerup.com
24/03/2011
ASUS GeForce GTX 590 3 GB Review | TechPowerUp

The TechPowerUp review of the ASUS GeForce GTX 590 highlights a dual-GF110 GPU card offering significant raw performance and 3D Vision Surround support, operating quieter than the AMD HD 6990. It features 1024 CUDA cores and 3 GB of GDDR5 memory with effective multi-monitor connectivity via three DVI ports and a mini-DisplayPort. However, the card is plagued by a high $699 price,...Read more

T
tomshardware.com
24/03/2011
Nvidia GeForce GTX 590 3 GB Review - Tom's Hardware

Overview The Nvidia GeForce GTX 590 3 GB is a dual-GPU flagship graphics card designed to counter AMD's Radeon HD 6990. Built on a 12-layer PCB, it packs two uncut 40 nm GF110 Fermi processors tied together by an NF200 bridge chip. Together, they deliver a massive total of 1024 CUDA cores, 128 texture units, and 96 ROPs. However, because Fermi architecture chips run notoriously hot,...Read more

E
expertreviews.co.uk
24/03/2011
Nvidia GeForce GTX 590 review - Expert Reviews

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 590 is a dual-GPU graphics card featuring two underclocked GTX 580 chips, designed to compete directly against AMD's flagship Radeon HD 6990. In single-monitor testing at 1,920×1,080 resolution, the card delivers exceptional power, averaging 64.1fps in Crysis on Very High detail (beating AMD by nearly 20fps) and matching its rival closely in Stalker (79.4fps)...Read more

O
overclockersclub.com
24/03/2011
NVIDIA GTX 590 Review - Overclockers Club

The Overclockers Club review of the NVIDIA GTX 590 highlights a dual-GPU powerhouse featuring two 512-core GF110 Fermi GPUs, delivering massive performance and native support for 3D Vision Surround. Key pros include a compact 11-inch form factor that fits better than competition, along with a quiet, efficient cooling design that manages the dual-chip heat output. However, to manage...Read more

G
guru3d.com
24/03/2011
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 590 review - Guru3D

The Guru3D review of the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 590 highlights an enthusiast-grade card featuring dual underclocked GF110 GPUs, 1,024 CUDA cores, and 3GB GDDR5 memory, delivering exceptional performance at high resolutions. Key advantages include a quiet dual vapor chamber cooling system and native support for 3D Vision Surround on a single board. Drawbacks include high power...Read more

G
guru3d.com
23/03/2011
GeForce GTX 590 review - Guru3D

The Guru3D review of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 highlights a powerful dual-GPU card featuring twin GF110 cores, 3GB GDDR5, and 1,024 CUDA cores, specifically designed for high-resolution and 3D Vision Surround setups. Notable pros include an exceptionally quiet dual-vapor chamber cooler (operating at roughly 41 dBA under load) and high-end performance, although the card is limited...Read more

H
hardwareluxx.de
24/03/2011
Test: 3x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 launch review details a fierce multi-GPU battle against AMD's Radeon HD 6990, highlighting NVIDIA's achievement in squeezing two fully-featured, 40nm GF110 Fermi GPUs onto a single PCB. To manage the immense power and thermal constraints of housing six billion total transistors, NVIDIA reduced the operating clocks to 608 MHz for the core and 854 MHz for...Read more

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P
pcgameshardware.de
24. März 2011
Tests zu Geforce GTX 590 - PCGH

The PC Games Hardware review of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 590 covers the launch of Nvidia's dual-GPU flagship, which merges two GF110 Fermi chips onto a single PCB to compete directly with AMD’s Radeon HD 6990. The pros of this graphics card include its exceptional raw computing power, enabling ultra-smooth frame rates at extreme resolutions, and its remarkably quiet operation under...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
tomshardware.fr
04/04/2011
GeForce GTX 590 VS Radeon HD 6990Go to product viewer dialogue for this item. - Tom's Hardware

The GeForce GTX 590 is a dual-GPU graphics card utilizing two complete GF110 Fermi cores on a single PCB, designed to counter AMD's Radeon HD 6990. To maintain safe operating temperatures and power limits, Nvidia underclocked the graphics processing unit (GPU) to 607 MHz and the memory to 853 MHz compared to the single-GPU GTX 580. Performance testing yields a highly situational...Read more

(Translated)Show original
C
clubic.com
24/03/2011
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 : deux GPU sur une carte ! - Clubic

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 Review Summary The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 is a dual-GPU graphics card built on two GF110 chips (from the GTX 580 architecture) engineered to compete directly with AMD's Radeon HD 6990. To maintain a manageable thermal envelope and power consumption under its high 365W TDP, NVIDIA had to lower the operating frequencies compared to a standard GTX 580, dropping...Read more

(Translated)Show original
C
comptoir-hardware.com
24/03/2011
Test • GeForce GTX 590 & Radeon HD 6990

This hardware review by Le comptoir du hardware evaluates the ultimate DX11 dual-GPU flagship graphics cards released in early 2011: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 and the AMD Radeon HD 6990. To determine who wins the crown of ultimate performance supremacy, the review features an extensive, comprehensive benchmark suite comparing a total of 15 graphic cards across 18 demanding PC...Read more

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M
madboxpc.com
17/06/2011
Review Zotac GeForce GTX 590

The MadBoxPC review highlights the Zotac GeForce GTX 590 as an ultra-high-end card featuring dual Fermi GF110 cores on a single 12-layer PCB, operating at 607 MHz core and 3414 MHz memory speeds to manage thermal output. Pros include its status as a top-performing card at launch, featuring an efficient dual vapor-chamber cooler, low noise, and a 10-phase power design. However, the...Read more

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