GPU Comparison

Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the Radeon R9 390 comes out dramatically faster — about 150% ahead of the Radeon RX 560. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.

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

VS
AMD
Radeon R9 390
Price
$80 USD
Performance
5%
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+300% Memory Bus (512-bit vs 128-bit)
+243% Bandwidth (384 GB/s vs 112 GB/s)
+150% Stream Processors (2,560 vs 1,024)
Price
$55 USD
Performance
2%
VRAM
2 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+28% Boost Clock (1,275 MHz vs 1,000 MHz)

Radeon R9 390 vs Radeon RX 560: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon R9 390 vs Radeon RX 560

The Radeon R9 390 is dramatically faster, around 150% ahead of the Radeon RX 560. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The Radeon R9 390 packs 2,560 stream processors versus 1,024 on the Radeon RX 560.

Price & Value

The Radeon RX 560 currently lists from $55 USD, $25 USD less than the Radeon R9 390 at $80 USD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the Radeon R9 390 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 72%. The Radeon RX 560 is trading below its $99 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The Radeon R9 390 is trading below its $329 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

At 60W against 275W, the Radeon RX 560 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern GCN 4.0 (Polaris) architecture on a GloFo 14nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The Radeon R9 390 carries 8GB versus 2GB on the Radeon RX 560. The extra 6GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The Radeon R9 390's memory is also faster — 384 GB/s versus 112 GB/s (512-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Generation & Longevity

The Radeon RX 560 is roughly 2 years newer than the Radeon R9 390 (GCN 4.0 (Polaris) vs GCN 2.0), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Which should you buy: Radeon R9 390 or Radeon RX 560?

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 RX 560 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Radeon R9 390 better than the Radeon RX 560?

The Radeon R9 390 is dramatically faster, roughly 150% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon R9 390 or the Radeon RX 560?

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 390 worth the extra $25 USD over the Radeon RX 560?

Often yes — despite the higher price the Radeon R9 390 delivers better performance-per-dollar here.

Does the Radeon R9 390 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.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

SpecificationRadeon R9 390Radeon RX 560
ArchitectureGCN 2.0GCN 4.0 (Polaris)
Process NodeTSMC 28nmGloFo 14nm
CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors)2,5601,024

Clock Speeds

SpecificationRadeon R9 390Radeon RX 560
Base Clock1,000 MHz1,175 MHz
Boost Clock1,000 MHz1,275 MHz

Memory

SpecificationRadeon R9 390Radeon RX 560
VRAM Capacity8 GB2 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus512-bit128-bit
Memory Speed6 Gbps7 Gbps
Bandwidth384 GB/s112 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationRadeon R9 390Radeon RX 560
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x8
TDP275 W60 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pinNone
ReleasedJun 2015Apr 2017