Radeon R9 M290X vs Pro 560X

Place in the ranking	461	497
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Power efficiency	8.83	5.87
Architecture	GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)	GCN 1.0 (2011−2020)
GPU code name	Polaris 21	Neptune
Market segment	Mobile workstation	Laptop
Release date	16 July 2018 (6 years ago)	9 January 2014 (10 years ago)

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	1024	1280
Compute units	no data	20
Core clock speed	1004 MHz	850 MHz
Boost clock speed	no data	900 MHz
Number of transistors	3,000 million	2,800 million
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	75 Watt	100 Watt
Texture fill rate	64.26	72.00
Floating-point processing power	2.056 TFLOPS	2.304 TFLOPS
ROPs	16	32
TMUs	64	80

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop size	large	large
Bus support	no data	PCIe 3.0 x16
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x8	PCIe 3.0 x16
Supplementary power connectors	None	None

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount	4 GB	4 GB
Memory bus width	128 Bit	256 Bit
Memory clock speed	1270 MHz	1200 MHz
Memory bandwidth	81.28 GB/s	153.6 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors	No outputs	No outputs
Eyefinity	-	+

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

FreeSync	+	+
HD3D	-	+
PowerTune	-	+
DualGraphics	-	+
ZeroCore	-	+
Switchable graphics	-	+

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12 (12_0)	DirectX® 11
Shader Model	6.4	5.1
OpenGL	4.6	4.4
OpenCL	2.0	Not Listed
Vulkan	1.2.131	-
Mantle	-	+

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Pro 560X 9.53
+12.9%

R9 M290X 8.44

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

Pro 560X 3677
+12.9%

R9 M290X 3256

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

Pro 560X 7590
+11.3%

R9 M290X 6817

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

Pro 560X 5699
+7.7%

R9 M290X 5294

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

Pro 560X 32449

R9 M290X 33147
+2.2%

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD	39 −17.9%	46 +17.9%
1440p	26 +23.8%	21−24 −23.8%
4K	15 +25%	12−14 −25%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

14−16
+15.4%

12−14

−15.4%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	31 +47.6%	21−24 −47.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	14−16 +16.7%	12−14 −16.7%
Battlefield 5	49 +88.5%	24−27 −88.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	29 +70.6%	16−18 −70.6%
Cyberpunk 2077	14−16 +15.4%	12−14 −15.4%
Far Cry 5	28 +47.4%	18−20 −47.4%
Far Cry New Dawn	38 +58.3%	24−27 −58.3%
Forza Horizon 4	60−65 +14.3%	55−60 −14.3%
Hitman 3	18−20 +12.5%	16−18 −12.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn	50−55 +10.4%	45−50 −10.4%
Metro Exodus	41 +57.7%	24−27 −57.7%
Red Dead Redemption 2	36 +56.5%	21−24 −56.5%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	57 +104%	27−30 −104%
Watch Dogs: Legion	60−65 +6.9%	55−60 −6.9%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	50 +138%	21−24 −138%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	14−16 +16.7%	12−14 −16.7%
Battlefield 5	42 +61.5%	24−27 −61.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	25 +47.1%	16−18 −47.1%
Cyberpunk 2077	14−16 +15.4%	12−14 −15.4%
Far Cry 5	26 +36.8%	18−20 −36.8%
Far Cry New Dawn	28 +16.7%	24−27 −16.7%
Forza Horizon 4	60−65 +14.3%	55−60 −14.3%
Hitman 3	18−20 +12.5%	16−18 −12.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn	50−55 +10.4%	45−50 −10.4%
Metro Exodus	33 +26.9%	24−27 −26.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2	29 +26.1%	21−24 −26.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	30−35 +10.7%	27−30 −10.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	24−27 +8.3%	24−27 −8.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion	60−65 +6.9%	55−60 −6.9%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	14 −50%	21−24 +50%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	14−16 +16.7%	12−14 −16.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	18 +5.9%	16−18 −5.9%
Cyberpunk 2077	14−16 +15.4%	12−14 −15.4%
Far Cry 5	19 +0%	18−20 +0%
Forza Horizon 4	36 −55.6%	55−60 +55.6%
Hitman 3	18−20 +12.5%	16−18 −12.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn	50−55 +10.4%	45−50 −10.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	30−35 +10.7%	27−30 −10.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	20 −20%	24−27 +20%
Watch Dogs: Legion	60−65 +6.9%	55−60 −6.9%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

25
+8.7%

21−24

−8.7%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	18−20 +18.8%	16−18 −18.8%
Far Cry New Dawn	14−16 +15.4%	12−14 −15.4%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	9−10 +12.5%	8−9 −12.5%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	5−6 +25%	4−5 −25%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	10−11 +25%	8−9 −25%
Cyberpunk 2077	4−5 +0%	4−5 +0%
Far Cry 5	10−12 +10%	10−11 −10%
Forza Horizon 4	40−45 +20.6%	30−35 −20.6%
Hitman 3	12−14 +8.3%	12−14 −8.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn	20−22 +11.1%	18−20 −11.1%
Metro Exodus	14−16 +27.3%	10−12 −27.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	12−14 +33.3%	9−10 −33.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	9−10 +12.5%	8−9 −12.5%
Watch Dogs: Legion	60−65 +11.1%	50−55 −11.1%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

16
+14.3%

14−16

−14.3%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	9−10 +12.5%	8−9 −12.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	7−8 +16.7%	6−7 −16.7%
Hitman 3	6−7 +20%	5−6 −20%
Horizon Zero Dawn	40−45 +25%	30−35 −25%
Metro Exodus	7−8 +16.7%	6−7 −16.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	7−8 +40%	5−6 −40%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	5−6 +0%	5−6 +0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	4−5 +0%	4−5 +0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	4−5 +0%	4−5 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	1−2 +0%	1−2 +0%
Far Cry 5	5−6 +25%	4−5 −25%
Forza Horizon 4	12−14 +20%	10−11 −20%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	6−7 +50%	4−5 −50%
Watch Dogs: Legion	3−4 +0%	3−4 +0%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

9−10
+12.5%

8−9

−12.5%

This is how Pro 560X and R9 M290X compete in popular games:

R9 M290X is 18% faster in 1080p
Pro 560X is 24% faster in 1440p
Pro 560X is 25% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the Pro 560X is 138% faster.
in Forza Horizon 4, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the R9 M290X is 56% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

Pro 560X is ahead in 62 tests (86%)
R9 M290X is ahead in 3 tests (4%)
there's a draw in 7 tests (10%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	9.53	8.44
Recency	16 July 2018	9 January 2014
Chip lithography	14 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	75 Watt	100 Watt

Pro 560X has a 12.9% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, a 100% more advanced lithography process, and 33.3% lower power consumption.

The Radeon Pro 560X is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon R9 M290X in performance tests.

Be aware that Radeon Pro 560X is a mobile workstation card while Radeon R9 M290X is a mobile workstation one.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.