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Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£260
  • VRAM: 8 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 175 W

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

4.9

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%

4.9

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
4.9

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%

3.2

Performance

24.0%

4.3

Memory

12.0%

8.8

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.4

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.1

Design

4.0%

7.1

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

  • 3.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.8
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.3
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.3
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £260

Best rankings

?

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 590 is a performance-tier graphics card based on the 12nm Polaris 30 architecture, featuring 2,304 stream processors and 8GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus. It distinguishes itself with a factory-overclocked boost clock of up to 1560 MHz and an effective memory speed of 8.4 Gbps, supported by a dual-slot Dual-X cooling system with removable 92mm fans and a dual BIOS switch for performance or silent modes. Its main strengths include excellent 1080p and capable 1440p gaming performance, a premium metallic build with a backplate, and highly effective thermal management compared to other RX 590 models. However, its primary drawbacks are its high power consumption, often exceeding 225W under load, and the aging GCN architecture which lacks modern features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

Technical Specifications of Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

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

Score components:

44.0%

?

Performance

24.0%

?

Memory

12.0%

?

Power & Cooling

11.0%

?

Platform & Features

5.0%

?

Design

4.0%

?

Connectivity & Media

4.9
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a technical score of 4.87 points, which is lower than that of 79.3% 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
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 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%

4.9

Overall score

40.0%

9.2

Price

6.2
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 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

?
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

7.188 TFLOPS
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 delivers 7.188 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 82.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.2% 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
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has 8 GB of VRAM, which is less than 57.6% of graphics cards and equal to 25.1% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

256 bit
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 uses a 256 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 49.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 36.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

268.8 GB/s
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 reaches 268.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 79.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

3.0
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

?
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.3
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports Vulkan 1.3, which is older than on 73.5% of graphics cards and equal to 22.5% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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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 590 supports up to 5 displays, which is more than 97% of graphics cards and equal to 1.7% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

?
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

2
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 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 590 supports DisplayPort 1.4, which is older than on 77.3% of graphics cards and equal to 16.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

?
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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

175 W
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a TDP of 175 W, which is lower than that of 62.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.9% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

?
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 590 recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 76.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 9.6% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

235 W
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a board power limit of 235 W, which is higher than that of 53.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% 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

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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

260 mm
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 is 260 mm long, which is shorter than 65% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.7% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

135 mm
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 is 135 mm tall, which is taller than 67.3% of graphics cards and equal in height to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2.2 slot/s
Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 occupies 2.2 slot/s, which is wider than 51% of graphics cards and equal in width to 1.1% 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 590 vs the average graphics card

  • Includes dual BIOS
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Includes dual BIOS for redundancy or overclocking profiles
    When it matters: When you want a safer recovery path after tweaking fan curves or overclock settings, or you need separate quiet and performance profiles.

    Importance: LOW

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more displays supported
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports more displays than the average graphics card (5 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
    What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
    When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

    Importance: LOW

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports more displays than the average graphics card (5 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.5 vs 4
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.500 W vs 650 W
  • 20% faster VRAM clock
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,100 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
    What it is: Speed at which the GPU memory operates
    When it matters: When you want more context on how quickly the card's VRAM can move data.

    Importance: LOW

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,100 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.2100 MHz vs 1750 MHz
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • 18.6% lower TDP
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.175 W vs 215 W
  • Better FP64 ratio
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 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 590 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).1:16 vs 1:64
  • 25.37 mm shorter card length
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 is shorter than the average graphics card (260 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 590 is shorter than the average graphics card (260 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.260 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • Better FP64 ratio
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • 20% faster VRAM clock
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,100 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more displays supported
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports more displays than the average graphics card (5 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 1 more monitors per output type
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports more monitors per output type than the average graphics card (5 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 18.6% lower TDP
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (175 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 25.37 mm shorter card length
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 is shorter than the average graphics card (260 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.

Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 37.6% lower boost clock speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,560 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 69.8% lower pixel rate
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (49.9 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 23.5% lower base clock speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,469 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 40.4% lower texture rate
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (224.6 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 40 fewer TMUs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (144 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 4 fewer compute units
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (36 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 68.9% lower compute throughput
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (7.2 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 590 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (2,304 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 55.8% slower memory speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,400 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 4 GB less VRAM
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 40% lower memory bandwidth
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (268.8 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 590 has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (2 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 2.4x larger process node
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Older PCIe version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • 5 older
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,018 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 1.4).
  • Older encoder generation
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (3.4 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • Older OpenCL version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (2.1 vs 3.0).
  • No sampler feedback
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 74% fewer transistors
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (5,700 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • Older shader model
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.7 vs 6.8).
  • No AV1 encoding
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 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 590 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0b vs 2.1).
  • Older HDCP version
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • 1 fewer fans
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • 45.5% higher idle power draw
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 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
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 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.
  • 0.2 slot/s wider design
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 occupies more slots than the average graphics card (2.2 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.
  • 8 mm higher card profile
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 is taller than the average graphics card (135 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 37.6% lower boost clock speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,560 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 590 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,560 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1560 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 2.4x larger process node
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.12 nm vs 5 nm
  • 1 fewer fans
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 69.8% lower pixel rate
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (49.9 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 590 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (49.9 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.49.92 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
  • 55.8% slower memory speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,400 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 590 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,400 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.8400 MHz vs 19000 MHz
  • 4 GB less VRAM
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 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
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 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

    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.32 vs 64
  • 23.5% lower base clock speed
    Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,469 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    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 590 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,469 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1469 MHz vs 1920 MHz
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Third-party reviews

What customers like about Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590?

  • Superb 1080p gaming performance and capable 1440p gaming at high settings.
  • Highly effective custom dual-slot cooler that keeps temperatures lower than competing models.
  • Whisper-quiet operation under load, especially when using the 'Silent' BIOS profile.
  • Premium build quality featuring a sturdy metal backplate and high-quality internal components.
  • Useful extra features including dual BIOS functionality, 'Quick Connect' replaceable fans, and RGB LED customization.
  • Generous display connectivity with multiple HDMI and DisplayPort outputs plus a DVI-D port.

What customers dislike about Sapphire Nitro Radeon RX 590?

  • Astronomically high power consumption for its performance level, drawing nearly twice the power of its direct competitor, the GTX 1060.
  • Poor efficiency (performance per watt) compared to both older Polaris cards and modern architectures.
  • Marginal performance gains over the significantly cheaper Radeon RX 580.
  • Aesthetics of the 'Special Edition' blue shroud can be polarizing and may not match all PC builds.
  • High power draw during multi-monitor setups or at idle compared to similar cards.

Expert reviews

W
wccftech.com
28/11/2018
SAPPHIRE Nitro+ Radeon RX 590 Special Edition - Polaris Rides Again

The SAPPHIRE Nitro+ Radeon RX 590 Special Edition review by Wccftech highlights a graphics card built on the refined 12nm Polaris 30 architecture. The card maintains 2304 Stream Processors and 8GB of GDDR5 memory, matching the core configuration of the older RX 580 but utilizing a smaller node process to push core clock speeds to a stable 1560MHz out of the box. Positioned as a...Read more

P
pk.ign.com
31/05/2019
Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro Review - IGN Pakistan

The Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro is a highly capable midrange graphics card built on AMD's 12nm "Polaris" architecture, offering a slight node shrink from previous 14nm generations. In terms of pros, the card delivers excellent value at its sub-$200 price point, easily hitting 60fps at both 1080p and 1440p resolutions on ultra settings. It is well-equipped with 8GB of GDDR5 memory,...Read more

I
ign.com
31/05/2019
Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro Review KitGuru

The Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro is a highly capable midrange graphics card built on AMD’s 12nm "Polaris" architecture, providing a modest clock speed and efficiency boost over its 14nm predecessors, the RX 480 and RX 580. In terms of pros, reviewers from IGN highlight its excellent value at a $199–$200 price point, delivering a smooth 60fps performance in most games at both 1080p...Read more

P
pcworld.com
28/11/2018
Sapphire Radeon RX 590 NitroGo to product viewer dialog for this item.+ review: Taming a power-hungry GPU

The PCWorld review highlights the Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro+ as a premium, 12nm iteration of AMD's Polaris architecture, designed to deliver excellent 1080p performance at maximum settings and entry-level 1440p gaming. Key advantages include its superior performance over the GTX 1060, an exceptionally quiet and efficient cooling shroud, and strong value when bundled with free...Read more

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

The Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro+ is a highly capable 1080p gaming card utilizing 12nm "Polaris 30" silicon to deliver 10% higher performance than the RX 580. Key advantages highlighted by TechPowerUp include a robust 8GB GDDR5 configuration, a high 1560 MHz factory overclock, an exceptionally quiet cooling system with fan-stop technology, and a dual-BIOS feature. YouTube ·...Read more

L
lesnumeriques.com
23/11/2018
Test AMD Radeon RX 590 - Carte graphique - Les Numériques Les Numériques

summary of the review: The AMD Radeon RX 590 is a mid-range graphics card released in late 2018 that targets 1080p Full HD gaming. Built on a refined 12nm process rather than the previous 14nm, this card is essentially a factory-overclocked version of the older RX 580 and RX 480, maintaining the same Polaris architecture and 8GB of GDDR5 memory. Testing on the Sapphire Nitro+...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
tweakers.net
15/11/2018
AMD RX 590-videokaart Review: Een goedkope, opgevoerde RX 580

The AMD Radeon RX 590 is a mainstream gaming graphics card built on an optimized 12nm process node that functions as a factory-overclocked refresh of the older RX 580. While keeping the exact same 2,304 stream processors and 8GB of GDDR5 memory across a 256-bit bus, AMD boosted the base clock to 1469MHz and the boost clock to 1545MHz. Synthetics and real-world gaming benchmarks...Read more

(Translated)Show original

Video reviews

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