Radeon R9 380 vs Radeon R9 380X
Raw performance is basically a wash between the Radeon R9 380 and Radeon R9 380X — 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 $42 USD, $307 USD under the Radeon R9 380X's $349 USD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the Radeon R9 380 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 722%. The Radeon R9 380 is trading below its $199 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The Radeon R9 380X still sits about $120 USD above its $229 USD 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 — 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?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon R9 380 or the Radeon R9 380X?
Is the Radeon R9 380X worth the extra $307 USD over the Radeon R9 380?
Does the Radeon R9 380X have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: Radeon R9 380 or Radeon R9 380X?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | Radeon R9 380 | Radeon R9 380X |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | GCN 3.0 |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors) | 1,792 | 2,048✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | Radeon R9 380 | Radeon R9 380X |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 970 MHz | 970 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 970 MHz | 970 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | Radeon R9 380 | Radeon R9 380X |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 5.5 Gbps | 5.7 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 176 GB/s | 182.4 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | Radeon R9 380 | Radeon R9 380X |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 190 W | 190 W |
| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Jun 2015 | Nov 2015 |