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Radeon R9 380 vs Radeon R9 380X

Quick Verdict

Raw performance is basically a wash between the Radeon R9 380 and Radeon R9 380X β€” the gap is within margin of error. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.

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Radeon R9 380 vs Radeon R9 380X: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon R9 380 vs Radeon R9 380X

The Radeon R9 380 and Radeon R9 380X 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 380 at $187,774 JPY, $862 JPY under the Radeon R9 380X's $188,636 JPY. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the Radeon R9 380 wins on performance-per-dollar. The Radeon R9 380 still sits about $187,575 JPY above its $199 JPY MSRP. The Radeon R9 380X still sits about $188,407 JPY above its $229 JPY MSRP.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The Radeon R9 380X carries 4GB versus 2GB on the Radeon R9 380. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers.

Which should you buy: Radeon R9 380 or Radeon R9 380X?

The Radeon R9 380 is the all-round winner here β€” it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon R9 380X if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Radeon R9 380 better than the Radeon R9 380X?

They're very close on raw performance. The Radeon R9 380 edges ahead on value, so price and availability should decide it.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon R9 380 or the Radeon R9 380X?

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 Radeon R9 380X worth the extra $862 JPY over the Radeon R9 380?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon R9 380 comes out ahead.

Does the Radeon R9 380X have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 4GB (vs 2GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Which should you buy: Radeon R9 380 or Radeon R9 380X?

The Radeon R9 380 is the all-round winner here β€” it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon R9 380X if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between Radeon R9 380 and Radeon R9 380X
SpecificationRadeon R9 380Radeon R9 380X
ArchitectureGCN 3.0GCN 3.0
Process NodeTSMC 28nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors)1,7922,048βœ“

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between Radeon R9 380 and Radeon R9 380X
SpecificationRadeon R9 380Radeon R9 380X
Base Clock970 MHz970 MHz
Boost Clock970 MHz970 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between Radeon R9 380 and Radeon R9 380X
SpecificationRadeon R9 380Radeon R9 380X
VRAM Capacity2 GB4 GBβœ“
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus256-bit256-bit
Memory Speed5.5 Gbps5.7 Gbpsβœ“
Bandwidth176 GB/s182.4 GB/sβœ“

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between Radeon R9 380 and Radeon R9 380X
SpecificationRadeon R9 380Radeon R9 380X
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP190 W190 W
Power Connectors2x 6-pin2x 6-pin
ReleasedJun 2015Nov 2015