Radeon R9 290 / 390
AMD
G3D Mark
8,150
MSRP
$329
AVG Price
$65
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 290 / 390 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 18 2015. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,150 points. Launch price was $329.
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 290 / 390
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for Radeon R9 290 / 390 across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Civilization VI
Counter-Strike 2
Delta Force
Dota 2
Final Fantasy XIV
Garry's Mod
Grand Theft Auto V
League of Legends
Naraka: Bladepoint
Palworld
Technical Analysis
Detailed breakdown of Radeon R9 290 / 390 specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 290 / 390 scores 8,150 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Mid-Range tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the GCN 2.0 (2013−2017) architecture (codename: Grenada), manufactured on a 28 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 2560 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 160 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 64 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 5.12 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance. Boost clock reaches 1000 MHz.
| Specification | Radeon R9 290 / 390 |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 8,150 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | GCN 2.0 (2013−2017) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | Grenada |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 28 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 2560 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 160 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 64 |
| Boost ClockMaximum GPU frequency under load | 1000 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 5.12 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 160.0 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 6,200 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #296 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon R9 290 / 390 is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 512-bit memory bus, delivering 320 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.
| Specification | Radeon R9 290 / 390 |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 4 GB |
| VRAM TypeMemory technology generation | GDDR5 |
| Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth | 512-bit |
| Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate | 8 Gbps |
| BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM | 320 GB/s |
| L1 Cache | 640 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1024 kB |
Advanced Features & APIs
The Radeon R9 290 / 390 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. Graphics API support: DirectX 12.0, Vulkan 1.2, OpenGL 4.6— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
| Specification | Radeon R9 290 / 390 |
|---|---|
| FSR Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| AMD Fluid Motion Frames | ❌ Not Supported |
| FidelityFX Super Resolution | ✅ Supported |
| DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version | 12.0 |
| VulkanCross-platform graphics API | 1.2 |
| OpenGLLegacy graphics API | 4.6 |
| Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL) | OpenCL 2.1 |
| Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink support | CrossFire |
Display & Media
Display outputs: 1x DP, 2x DVI, 1x HDMI — supports up to 6 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: VCE 2.0, decoder: UVD 4.2— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1.
| Specification | Radeon R9 290 / 390 |
|---|---|
| DP PortsNumber of DP display connectors | 1x |
| DVI PortsNumber of DVI display connectors | 2x |
| HDMI PortsNumber of HDMI display connectors | 1x |
| Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors | 6 |
| Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version | VCE 2.0 |
| Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version | UVD 4.2 |
| CodecsSupported video compression formats | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 290 / 390 draws 275 Watt under load (TDP) — a 750W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 6-pin + 8-pin. Physical size: 275mm long, 109mm tall, occupying 2 expansion slots, weighing 1010g— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 45°C at idle, 95°C under load.
| Specification | Radeon R9 290 / 390 |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | 275 Watt |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 750W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | 6-pin + 8-pin |
| Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance | 275mm |
| Card Height | 109mm |
| Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied | 2-slot |
| Weight | 1010g |
| Idle TemperatureTypical temperature at desktop idle | 45°C |
| Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load | 95°C |
Value Analysis
At an average price of $65 (MSRP: $329), the Radeon R9 290 / 390 delivers 125 G3D Mark points per dollar. Overall performance ranking position: #296 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | Radeon R9 290 / 390 |
|---|---|
| MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price | $329 |
| Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days | $65 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #296 |
| Release Date | June 18 2015 |
| Release Year | 2015 |
Similar Performance
Graphics cards with benchmark scores closest to the current hardware, grouped by manufacturer.
NVIDIA (12)
AMD (12)
Intel (8)
Our Recommendation for Radeon R9 290 / 390
Suggested pairings based on performance balance
Minimum (Avoid Bottleneck) (12)
Recommended (Balanced) (12)
High-End (Max Performance) (12)
Popular Comparisons
Compare Radeon R9 290 / 390 with other popular GPUs
Compare Radeon R9 290 / 390
See how this GPU stacks up against similar alternatives
Better Alternatives (8)
Similar or Lower Performance (8)
