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Radeon R9 390 vs Radeon R9 390X

Quick Verdict

Raw performance is basically a wash between the Radeon R9 390 and Radeon R9 390X — 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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VS
AMD Radeon
R9 390
Price
$80 USD✓
Performance
5/100✓
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5✓
Key Specs Advantage

Comparable or lower specs

$299 USDASUS Strix Radeon R9 390 Overclocked 8 GB DDR5 512-bit DisplayPort HDMI 1.4a DVI-I Gaming Graphics Card
$80 USDUsed - Very Good ASUS Radeon R9 390 8GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 CrossFireX Support Graphics Card R9390-DC2-8GD5
Used
AMD Radeon
R9 390X
Price
$429 USD
Performance
5/100✓
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5✓
Key Specs Advantage
+10% Stream Processors (2,816 vs 2,560)
+5% Boost Clock (1,050 MHz vs 1,000 MHz)
$429 USDXFX BLACK Edition Radeon R9 390X 8GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 CrossFireX Support Graphics Card R9-390X-8286
Used - No Listing
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Radeon R9 390 vs Radeon R9 390X: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon R9 390 vs Radeon R9 390X

The Radeon R9 390 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 390 at $80 USD, $349 USD under the Radeon R9 390X's $429 USD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the Radeon R9 390 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 436%. The Radeon R9 390 is trading below its $329 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Which should you buy: Radeon R9 390 or Radeon R9 390X?

The Radeon R9 390 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 390X if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Radeon R9 390 better than the Radeon R9 390X?

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

Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon R9 390 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 $349 USD over the Radeon R9 390?

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

Which should you buy: Radeon R9 390 or Radeon R9 390X?

The Radeon R9 390 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 390X if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between Radeon R9 390 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationRadeon R9 390Radeon R9 390X
ArchitectureGCN 2.0GCN 2.0
Process NodeTSMC 28nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors)2,5602,816✓

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between Radeon R9 390 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationRadeon R9 390Radeon R9 390X
Base Clock1,000 MHz1,050 MHz✓
Boost Clock1,000 MHz1,050 MHz✓

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between Radeon R9 390 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationRadeon R9 390Radeon R9 390X
VRAM Capacity8 GB8 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus512-bit512-bit
Memory Speed6 Gbps6 Gbps
Bandwidth384 GB/s384 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between Radeon R9 390 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationRadeon R9 390Radeon R9 390X
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP275 W275 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedJun 2015Jun 2015