Radeon RX 590 vs Radeon RX Vega 56
The Radeon RX Vega 56 is a massive performance leap — leading the Radeon RX 590 by roughly 71% in our performance index. The Radeon RX 590, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $791 USD cheaper.
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Radeon RX Vega 56 vs Radeon RX 590: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon RX Vega 56 vs Radeon RX 590
The Radeon RX Vega 56 is dramatically faster, around 71% ahead of the Radeon RX 590. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The Radeon RX Vega 56 packs 3,584 stream processors versus 2,304 on the Radeon RX 590.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $902 USD for the Radeon RX 590 versus $1,693 USD for the Radeon RX Vega 56. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 590 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~9% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 590 still sits about $623 USD above its $279 USD MSRP. The Radeon RX Vega 56 still sits about $1,294 USD above its $399 USD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The Radeon RX Vega 56 draws just 210W versus 225W for the Radeon RX 590, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom.
Memory & Bandwidth
The Radeon RX Vega 56's memory is faster — 410 GB/s versus 256 GB/s (2048-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: Radeon RX 590 or Radeon RX Vega 56?
Choose the Radeon RX Vega 56 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX 590 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Radeon RX Vega 56 better than the Radeon RX 590?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon RX 590 or the Radeon RX Vega 56?
Is the Radeon RX Vega 56 worth the extra $791 USD over the Radeon RX 590?
Which should you buy: Radeon RX 590 or Radeon RX Vega 56?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | Radeon RX 590 | Radeon RX Vega 56 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | GCN 4.0 (Polaris) | GCN 5.0 (Vega) |
| Process Node | GloFo 12nm | GloFo 14nm |
| CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors) | 2,304 | 3,584✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | Radeon RX 590 | Radeon RX Vega 56 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,469 MHz✓ | 1,156 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,545 MHz✓ | 1,471 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | Radeon RX 590 | Radeon RX Vega 56 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | HBM2 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 2048-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps✓ | 1.6 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 256 GB/s | 409.6 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | Radeon RX 590 | Radeon RX Vega 56 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 225 W | 210 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Nov 2018 | Aug 2017 |