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GeForce GTX TITAN vs Radeon R9 390X

Quick Verdict

Raw performance is basically a wash between the GeForce GTX TITAN and Radeon R9 390X — the gap is within margin of error. But the Radeon R9 390X is the better value, undercutting it by $834 EUR for the performance you get.

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

VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX TITAN
Price
€1,198
Performance
5/100
VRAM
6 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage

Comparable or lower specs

AMD Radeon
R9 390X
Price
€364
Performance
5/100
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+33% Bandwidth (384 GB/s vs 288.4 GB/s)
+33% Memory Bus (512-bit vs 384-bit)
+20% Boost Clock (1,050 MHz vs 876 MHz)

GeForce GTX TITAN vs Radeon R9 390X: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX TITAN vs Radeon R9 390X

The GeForce GTX TITAN and Radeon R9 390X post nearly the same score in our performance index, so neither holds a meaningful raw-speed advantage. Both are best suited to entry-level 1080p gaming.

Price & Value

Pricing has the Radeon R9 390X at $364 EUR, $834 EUR under the GeForce GTX TITAN's $1,198 EUR. Despite being slower, the Radeon R9 390X offers the better performance-per-dollar (~229% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon R9 390X is trading below its $429 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX TITAN still sits about $199 EUR above its $999 EUR MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

Power draw favors the GeForce GTX TITAN (230W vs 275W), and it's the more efficient card too, so it's the easy pick if thermals or a smaller PSU matter.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The Radeon R9 390X carries 8GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX TITAN. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers.

Generation & Longevity

The Radeon R9 390X is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX TITAN (GCN 2.0 vs Kepler), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce GTX TITAN 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 TITAN or Radeon R9 390X?

Choose the GeForce GTX TITAN if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon R9 390X stretches your money further for near-identical performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

They're very close on raw performance. The Radeon R9 390X edges ahead on value, so price and availability should decide it.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX TITAN 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.

Is the GeForce GTX TITAN worth the extra $834 EUR over the Radeon R9 390X?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon R9 390X comes out ahead.

Does the Radeon R9 390X have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 8GB (vs 6GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

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

Choose the GeForce GTX TITAN if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon R9 390X stretches your money further for near-identical performance.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX TITAN and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX TITANRadeon R9 390X
ArchitectureKeplerGCN 2.0
Process NodeTSMC 28nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)2,6882,816

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX TITAN and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX TITANRadeon R9 390X
Base Clock837 MHz1,050 MHz
Boost Clock876 MHz1,050 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX TITAN and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX TITANRadeon R9 390X
VRAM Capacity6 GB8 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus384-bit512-bit
Memory Speed6 Gbps6 Gbps
Bandwidth288.4 GB/s384 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX TITAN and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX TITANRadeon R9 390X
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP230 W275 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedFeb 2013Jun 2015