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GeForce GTX 1080 vs Radeon R9 390X

Quick Verdict

Performance-wise the GeForce GTX 1080 is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 160% up on the Radeon R9 390X.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 1080
Price
$270 CAD✓
Performance
13/100✓
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5X✓
Key Specs Advantage
+65% Boost Clock (1,733 MHz vs 1,050 MHz)
$619 CADMSI GeForce GTX 1080 FE 8GB GDDR5X PCI Express 3.0 x16 SLI Support Graphics Card GEFORCE GTX 1080 Founders Edition
$270 CADEVGA GeForce GTX 1080 FTW GAMING ACX 3.0, 8GB GDDR5X, RGB LED, 10CM FAN, 10 Power Phases, Double BIOS, DX12 OSD Support (PXOC) Graphics Card 08G-P4-6286-KR
Used
AMD Radeon
R9 390X
Price
Reference GPU
Performance
5/100
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5✓
Key Specs Advantage
+100% Memory Bus (512-bit vs 256-bit)
+20% Bandwidth (384 GB/s vs 320 GB/s)
+10% Stream Processors (2,816 vs 2,560)
Reference GPUNo Listing Available
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GeForce GTX 1080 vs Radeon R9 390X: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 vs Radeon R9 390X

The GeForce GTX 1080 is dramatically faster, around 160% ahead of the Radeon R9 390X. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce GTX 1080 sips power at 180W next to the Radeon R9 390X's 275W, and still leads on performance-per-watt — quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU. Its more modern Pascal architecture on a TSMC 16nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce GTX 1080 brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon R9 390X offers AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or Radeon R9 390X?

The GeForce GTX 1080 is the faster card by about 160%. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 1080 better than the Radeon R9 390X?

The GeForce GTX 1080 is dramatically faster, roughly 160% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 or the Radeon R9 390X?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at entry-level 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or Radeon R9 390X?

The GeForce GTX 1080 is the faster card by about 160%. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080Radeon R9 390X
ArchitecturePascalGCN 2.0
Process NodeTSMC 16nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)2,5602,816✓

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080Radeon R9 390X
Base Clock1,607 MHz✓1,050 MHz
Boost Clock1,733 MHz✓1,050 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080Radeon R9 390X
VRAM Capacity8 GB8 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR5
Memory Bus256-bit512-bit✓
Memory Speed10 Gbps✓6 Gbps
Bandwidth320 GB/s384 GB/s✓

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080Radeon R9 390X
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP180 W✓275 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedMay 2016Jun 2015