Radeon R9 255
AMD
G3D Mark
1,501
MSRP
$139
AVG Price
$30
Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Overview
The Radeon R9 255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 2 2014. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 918 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,501 points. Launch price was $249.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 255
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for Radeon R9 255 across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Path of Exile 2
Valorant
Technical Analysis
Detailed breakdown of Radeon R9 255 specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 255 scores 1,501 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Entry Level tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the GCN 3.0 (2014−2019) architecture (codename: Tonga), manufactured on a 28 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 1792 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 112 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 32 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 3.29 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.
| Specification | Radeon R9 255 |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 1,501 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | GCN 3.0 (2014−2019) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | Tonga |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 28 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 1792 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 112 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 32 |
| Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency | 918 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 3.29 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 102.8 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 5,000 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #365 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon R9 255 is equipped with 2 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 128-bit memory bus, delivering Unknown of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.
| Specification | Radeon R9 255 |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 2 GB |
| VRAM TypeMemory technology generation | GDDR5 |
| Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth | 128-bit |
| Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate | 8 Gbps |
| BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM | Unknown |
| L1 Cache | 448 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB |
Advanced Features & APIs
The Radeon R9 255 supports modern upscaling and frame generation technologies: FidelityFX Super Resolution — these can dramatically boost effective FPS by generating intermediate frames or upscaling from lower internal resolution.
| Specification | Radeon R9 255 |
|---|---|
| FSR Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| AMD Fluid Motion Frames | ❌ Not Supported |
| FidelityFX Super Resolution | ✅ Supported |
Display & Media
Display outputs: .
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 255 draws 190 Watt under load (TDP) — a 400W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 1x 6-pin.
| Specification | Radeon R9 255 |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | 190 Watt |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 400W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | 1x 6-pin |
Value Analysis
At an average price of $30 (MSRP: $139), the Radeon R9 255 delivers 50 G3D Mark points per dollar. Overall performance ranking position: #365 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | Radeon R9 255 |
|---|---|
| MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price | $139 |
| Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days | $30 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #365 |
| Release Date | September 2 2014 |
| Release Year | 2014 |
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Our Recommendation for Radeon R9 255
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