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Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£220
  • Avg. price in US: ~$220
  • VRAM: 4 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 150 W

Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

4.8

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%

4.4

Technical Score

10.0%

8.5

User score

Poor
4.4

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%

2.6

Performance

24.0%

3.4

Memory

12.0%

8.5

Power & Cooling

11.0%

5.7

Platform & Features

5.0%

9.1

Design

4.0%

7.4

Connectivity & Media

Poor
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%

8.2

User reviews

30.0%

9.0

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(164)
amazon
4.5
(61)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(162)
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(68)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Excellent
  • 3.5
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.6

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.4
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.6

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.8
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.6

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.9
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.6

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.2
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.6

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • sapphire-nitro-radeon-rx-480-4gb
  • sapphire-nitro-radeon-rx-480-4gb
sapphire-nitro-radeon-rx-480-4gb
sapphire-nitro-radeon-rx-480-4gb

Best prices in UK

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 Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 480 4GB is a performance-tier graphics card based on the 14nm Polaris architecture, featuring 2,304 stream processors and a factory-overclocked boost clock of 1306 MHz. It is equipped with 4GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering an effective speed of 7000 MHz and 224 GB/s of bandwidth. Main characteristics include the Dual-X cooling system with twin 95mm dual-ball bearing fans, customizable 'Nitro Glow' RGB lighting, and a Dual BIOS switch for toggling between 'Quiet' and 'Boost' modes. Key pros are its premium aluminum backplate, 'Quick Connect' fans for easy maintenance, and dual HDMI ports that make it VR-friendly compared to reference designs. However, main cons include a smaller VRAM pool that can limit performance at resolutions above 1080p in modern titles and a cooler that can become significantly audible when pushed near its thermal limits.

Technical Specifications of Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB

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%

2.6

Performance

24.0%

3.4

Memory

12.0%

8.5

Power & Cooling

11.0%

5.7

Platform & Features

5.0%

9.1

Design

4.0%

7.4

Connectivity & Media

4.4
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a technical score of 4.38 points, which is lower than that of 86% of products in this category.
User score

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

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

Score components:

70.0%

8.2

User reviews

30.0%

9.0

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(164)
amazon
4.5
(61)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(162)
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(68)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

8.5
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a user score of 8.47 points, which is higher than that of 70.6% 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.
9.0
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a popularity of 9 points, which is higher than 75.4% 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%

4.8

Overall score

40.0%

9.4

Price

6.2
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.2 points, which is lower than 75.6% 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

6.018 TFLOPS
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB delivers 6.018 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 87% 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

4 GB
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has 4 GB of VRAM, which is less than 88% of graphics cards and equal to 6% 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
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

224 GB/s
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB reaches 224 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 83.9% 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
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

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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

12
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports DirectX 12, which is older than on 92.7% of graphics cards and equal to 7.1% of graphics cards.
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.3
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

5
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

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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

2
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB offers 2 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 79.2% of graphics cards and equal to 10.2% 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
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

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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

150 W
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a TDP of 150 W, which is lower than that of 73% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.5% 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

177 W
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB draws 177 W under peak load, which is lower than 63.6% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

500 W
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

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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

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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

240 mm
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB is 240 mm long, which is shorter than 76.8% of graphics cards and equal in length to 1.4% 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

125 mm
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB is 125 mm tall, which is shorter than 54.3% of graphics cards and equal in height to 3.2% 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
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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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Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB vs the average graphics card

  • Includes dual BIOS
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more displays supported
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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
  • 30.2% lower TDP
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (150 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (150 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.150 W vs 215 W
  • 45.37 mm shorter card length
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB is shorter than the average graphics card (240 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB is shorter than the average graphics card (240 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.240 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • Better FP64 ratio
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).1:16 vs 1:64
  • 2.41x cheaper
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB is cheaper than the average graphics card (£220 vs £530).
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB is cheaper than the average graphics card (£220 vs £530).£220 vs £530
  • Better FP64 ratio
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more displays supported
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports more displays than the average graphics card (5 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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.
  • 30.2% lower TDP
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (150 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 45.37 mm shorter card length
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB is shorter than the average graphics card (240 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.

Total
Overall
Performance
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 47.8% lower boost clock speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,306 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 37.1% lower base clock speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,208 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 74.7% lower pixel rate
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (41.8 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 50.1% lower texture rate
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (188.1 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 73.7% lower FP32 performance
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (6 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 40 fewer TMUs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (144 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 4 fewer compute units
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (36 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 74% lower compute throughput
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (6 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 2,048 fewer FP32 units
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (2,304 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 8 GB less VRAM
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 63.2% slower memory speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (7,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 50% lower memory bandwidth
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (224 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 93.8% smaller L2 cache
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 2.8x larger process node
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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.
  • Older PCIe version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • 7 older
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,016 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • No DirectStorage support
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 1.4).
  • Older DirectX version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports an older DirectX version than the average graphics card (12 vs 12 Ultimate).
  • Older OpenCL version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (2.1 vs 3.0).
  • No sampler feedback
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 74% fewer transistors
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.7 vs 6.8).
  • No AV1 encoding
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 decoding
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0b vs 2.1).
  • 2 fewer monitors per output type
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Older HDCP version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • Narrower decode codec support
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB supports narrower hardware decode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9).
  • 1 fewer fans
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • 5 °C higher load temperature
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a higher load temperature than the average graphics card (72 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • 47.8% lower boost clock speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,306 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,306 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1306 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 2.8x larger process node
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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
  • 8 GB less VRAM
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.4 GB vs 12 GB
  • 37.1% lower base clock speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,208 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,208 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1208 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 1 fewer fans
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 74.7% lower pixel rate
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (41.8 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (41.8 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.41.8 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
  • 63.2% slower memory speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (7,000 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (7,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.7000 MHz vs 19000 MHz
  • 50% lower memory bandwidth
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (224 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
    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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (224 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.224 GB/s vs 448 GB/s
Total
Overall
Performance
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Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
164 Reviews
amazon
4.5
61 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
162 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
68 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB?

  • Excellent 1080p gaming performance at high/ultra settings
  • Dual BIOS switch allows for easy toggling between 'Quiet' and 'Boost' modes
  • Quick Connect fan system makes cleaning or replacing fans simple
  • Aesthetic design features a premium metal backplate and customizable RGB lighting
  • Strong performance in modern APIs like Vulkan and DirectX 12
  • Compact dimensions compared to some three-fan competitors, fitting better in smaller cases
  • Reliable build quality with long-lasting Black Diamond chokes and capacitors

What customers dislike about Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 480 4GB?

  • Fans can become significantly loud under heavy load, especially in Boost mode
  • Memory is clocked slower (7Gbps) compared to the 8GB version (8Gbps)
  • Limited overclocking headroom on the memory modules
  • Out-of-the-box fan profile can be aggressive, leading to 'aural ruckus' without manual tuning
  • Higher power consumption compared to competing Nvidia GTX 1060 models
  • Some users reported higher temperatures than expected for a custom-cooled card

Expert reviews

T
tomshardware.com
04/04/2017
Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 480 Review - Tom's Hardware

The Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 480 is a highly overclocked graphics card that stands out for its modest physical dimensions, lightweight 774-gram build, and dual-BIOS functionality. Out of the box, it features an aggressive maximum boost clock rate of 1342 MHz. Key advantages include strong 1080p gaming performance, an illuminated RGB logo, and a versatile array of video outputs...Read more

P
pcworld.com
22/07/2016
Sapphire Nitro+ RX 480 review: Polaris rethought and refined

The PCWorld review of the Sapphire Nitro+ RX 480 describes the card as a refined, premium take on AMD's Polaris architecture, featuring an efficient Dual-X cooling system with 95mm fans that operates quietly. Key improvements include addressing power issues with a single 8-pin connector and a robust build quality highlighted by a, functional backplate. Conversely, the review notes...Read more

H
hardwareluxx.de
02/08/2016
Sapphire Radeon RX 480 Nitro+ mit 4 GB im Test

Based on the review, the Sapphire Radeon RX 480 Nitro+ (4 GB) delivers solid performance by maintaining its maximum boost clock of 1,306 MHz in the tested overclocking (OC) mode across multiple demanding games, and 1,266 MHz in its default Silent mode. Built on AMD's 14-nm FinFET Polaris architecture, the card showcases strong efficiency improvements and excels particularly well in...Read more

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