The RX 480 is a powerful graphics card from AMD, released in 2016 as part of their Polaris lineup. It was designed to provide a balance between performance and power efficiency, making it an attractive option for gamers and content creators. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of the RX 480’s performance, features, and capabilities to determine just how powerful it is.
Architecture and Specifications
The RX 480 is based on the Polaris 10 GPU architecture, which is a significant improvement over the previous generation. It features 2304 stream processors, 144 texture units, and 32 ROPs (render outputs). The card has a base clock speed of 1120 MHz and a boost clock speed of up to 1266 MHz. It also comes with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, which provides a memory bandwidth of 256 GB/s.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| GPU Architecture | Polaris 10 |
| Stream Processors | 2304 |
| Texture Units | 144 |
| ROPs | 32 |
| Base Clock Speed | 1120 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | Up to 1266 MHz |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 256 GB/s |
Performance
The RX 480’s performance is impressive, especially considering its price point. It’s capable of handling demanding games at high resolutions and detail settings. In 1080p, the RX 480 can easily handle games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Overwatch at high frame rates. In 1440p, it can still maintain high frame rates in less demanding games, but may struggle with more demanding titles.
In 4K, the RX 480’s performance is more limited, but it can still handle less demanding games at lower detail settings. However, it’s not recommended for 4K gaming, as it may not be able to maintain a smooth frame rate.
Benchmark Results
Here are some benchmark results for the RX 480 in various games:
- Fortnite (1080p, Ultra settings): 120 FPS
- League of Legends (1080p, Ultra settings): 140 FPS
- Overwatch (1080p, Ultra settings): 100 FPS
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (1440p, High settings): 60 FPS
- The Witcher 3 (1440p, High settings): 50 FPS
Power Consumption
The RX 480’s power consumption is relatively low, especially compared to other high-end graphics cards. It has a TDP (thermal design power) of 150W, which is significantly lower than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070’s TDP of 180W.
Power Consumption Comparison
Here’s a comparison of the RX 480’s power consumption with other graphics cards:
- RX 480: 150W
- GTX 1070: 180W
- GTX 1060: 120W
- R9 390: 230W
Features
The RX 480 comes with a range of features that enhance its performance and functionality. Some of the key features include:
- DirectX 12 Support: The RX 480 supports DirectX 12, which provides improved performance and efficiency in games that use the API.
- Vulkan Support: The RX 480 also supports Vulkan, which is a cross-platform API that provides improved performance and efficiency.
- Multi-Frame Sampled Anti-Aliasing (MFAA): The RX 480 supports MFAA, which is a technique that improves anti-aliasing quality without increasing the performance cost.
- Async Compute: The RX 480 supports async compute, which allows for improved performance in games that use the feature.
Virtual Reality (VR) Support
The RX 480 is also VR-ready, with support for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. It’s capable of handling demanding VR workloads, making it a great option for VR enthusiasts.
Conclusion
The RX 480 is a powerful graphics card that offers impressive performance and features at an affordable price. While it may not be the best option for 4K gaming, it’s more than capable of handling demanding games at lower resolutions. Its low power consumption and range of features make it a great option for gamers and content creators who want a balance between performance and efficiency.
Overall, the RX 480 is a great choice for anyone looking for a powerful graphics card that won’t break the bank. Its performance, features, and price make it an attractive option for anyone looking to upgrade their gaming PC or build a new one.
What is the RX 480 and how does it compare to other graphics cards?
The RX 480 is a high-performance graphics card developed by AMD, designed to provide fast and efficient performance for gaming and other graphics-intensive applications. Compared to other graphics cards in its class, the RX 480 offers competitive performance at an affordable price point, making it an attractive option for gamers and content creators.
In terms of specific comparisons, the RX 480 is often pitted against NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1060, another popular mid-range graphics card. While both cards offer similar performance, the RX 480 tends to excel in certain areas, such as power efficiency and multi-threaded workloads. However, the GTX 1060 may have an edge in terms of raw performance and support for advanced technologies like NVIDIA’s G-Sync.
What are the key features of the RX 480?
The RX 480 boasts a range of impressive features that make it a formidable graphics card. Some of its key features include 8GB of GDDR5 memory, a 256-bit memory bus, and a boost clock speed of up to 1266 MHz. The card also supports advanced technologies like DirectX 12, Vulkan, and AMD’s own FreeSync, which provides smooth and tear-free gaming performance.
In addition to its technical specifications, the RX 480 also features a compact design and a relatively low power consumption of 150W, making it an attractive option for gamers who want a powerful graphics card without breaking the bank. The card also supports multi-monitor setups and can handle 4K resolutions with ease, making it a great choice for gamers who want to future-proof their systems.
How does the RX 480 perform in gaming benchmarks?
The RX 480 has been extensively tested in various gaming benchmarks, and the results are impressive. In games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and The Witcher 3, the RX 480 delivers smooth and consistent performance at high resolutions and detail settings. The card also excels in esports titles like Overwatch and League of Legends, where fast frame rates and low latency are essential.
In terms of specific benchmark results, the RX 480 tends to score around 60-80 FPS in most modern games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. At 4K resolutions, the card’s performance drops to around 30-40 FPS, but this is still respectable considering the demanding nature of 4K gaming. Overall, the RX 480 is a solid choice for gamers who want fast and reliable performance without breaking the bank.
Is the RX 480 suitable for 4K gaming?
While the RX 480 can handle 4K resolutions, its performance may not be optimal for demanding games at this resolution. As mentioned earlier, the card’s performance drops to around 30-40 FPS at 4K resolutions, which may not be sufficient for smooth and responsive gaming.
However, the RX 480 can still deliver great performance at 4K resolutions in less demanding games or with reduced detail settings. Additionally, the card’s support for AMD’s FreeSync technology can help to reduce screen tearing and provide a smoother gaming experience, even at lower frame rates. Overall, the RX 480 is not the best choice for 4K gaming, but it can still deliver respectable performance in this area.
Can the RX 480 handle VR gaming?
The RX 480 is more than capable of handling VR gaming, thanks to its fast performance and support for advanced technologies like DirectX 12 and Vulkan. The card has been tested with various VR headsets, including the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, and has delivered smooth and responsive performance in VR applications.
In terms of specific VR performance, the RX 480 tends to score around 90-100 FPS in most VR games and applications, which is well above the recommended 60 FPS for smooth VR performance. The card’s support for AMD’s LiquidVR technology also helps to reduce latency and provide a more immersive VR experience.
Is the RX 480 power-hungry?
The RX 480 has a relatively low power consumption of 150W, which is impressive considering its performance capabilities. The card’s power efficiency is thanks to AMD’s 14nm FinFET manufacturing process, which provides a significant reduction in power consumption compared to older 28nm process.
In terms of specific power consumption, the RX 480 tends to draw around 120-150W of power under load, which is relatively low compared to other high-performance graphics cards. The card’s low power consumption also makes it an attractive option for gamers who want to build a compact and energy-efficient gaming PC.
Is the RX 480 still a good choice in today’s market?
While the RX 480 is an older graphics card, it still offers competitive performance and features at an affordable price point. However, the card’s age means that it may not support the latest technologies and features, such as ray tracing and artificial intelligence-enhanced graphics.
In terms of specific alternatives, the RX 480 has been largely replaced by newer graphics cards like the RX 580 and RX 590, which offer improved performance and features. However, the RX 480 can still be a good choice for gamers on a budget or those who want a compact and energy-efficient graphics card.