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GeForce GTX 760 vs Radeon R9 390X

Quick Verdict

Performance-wise the Radeon R9 390X is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 150% up on the GeForce GTX 760. Value tips toward the GeForce GTX 760, though: $392 USD cheaper for what you get.

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

VS
AMD Radeon
R9 390X
Price
$429 USD
Performance
5/100βœ“
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5βœ“
Key Specs Advantage
+144% Stream Processors (2,816 vs 1,152)
+100% Bandwidth (384 GB/s vs 192.2 GB/s)
+100% Memory Bus (512-bit vs 256-bit)

Radeon R9 390X vs GeForce GTX 760: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon R9 390X vs GeForce GTX 760

The Radeon R9 390X is dramatically faster, around 150% ahead of the GeForce GTX 760. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

Right now the GeForce GTX 760 starts at $37 USD against $429 USD for the Radeon R9 390X. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 760 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~358% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 760 is trading below its $219 USD MSRP β€” a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce GTX 760 is the lighter draw at 170W against the Radeon R9 390X's 275W, making it the easier card to power and cool. The Radeon R9 390X draws more in absolute terms but squeezes out more performance per watt, so budget for a beefier PSU if you go that route. Its more modern GCN 2.0 architecture on a TSMC 28nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The Radeon R9 390X's 8GB (vs 2GB on the GeForce GTX 760) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads.

Generation & Longevity

The Radeon R9 390X is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 760 (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 760 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 760 or Radeon R9 390X?

Choose the Radeon R9 390X if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 760 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Radeon R9 390X better than the GeForce GTX 760?

The Radeon R9 390X is dramatically faster, roughly 150% ahead. The GeForce GTX 760 is still worth it if value matters more than top-end frames.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 760 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 Radeon R9 390X worth the extra $392 USD over the GeForce GTX 760?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce GTX 760 comes out ahead.

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

Its 8GB (vs 2GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 760 or Radeon R9 390X?

Choose the Radeon R9 390X if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 760 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 760 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 760Radeon R9 390X
ArchitectureKeplerGCN 2.0
Process NodeTSMC 28nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)1,1522,816βœ“

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 760 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 760Radeon R9 390X
Base Clock980 MHz1,050 MHzβœ“
Boost Clock1,033 MHz1,050 MHzβœ“

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 760 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 760Radeon R9 390X
VRAM Capacity2 GB8 GBβœ“
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus256-bit512-bitβœ“
Memory Speed6 Gbps6 Gbps
Bandwidth192.2 GB/s384 GB/sβœ“

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 760 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 760Radeon R9 390X
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP170 Wβœ“275 W
Power Connectors2x 6-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedJun 2013Jun 2015