Radeon Vega 7 vs R9 M290X

#ad 
Buy on Amazon
VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Radeon R9 M290X and Radeon Vega 7, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

R9 M290X
2014
4 GB GDDR5, 100 Watt
8.54
+14.2%

R9 M290X outperforms Vega 7 by a moderate 14% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking503535
Place by popularitynot in top-10012
Power efficiency5.8911.46
ArchitectureGCN 1.0 (2011−2020)GCN 5.1 (2018−2022)
GPU code nameNeptuneCezanne
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
Release date9 January 2014 (11 years ago)13 April 2021 (3 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 cores1280448
Compute units20no data
Core clock speed850 MHz300 MHz
Boost clock speed900 MHz1900 MHz
Number of transistors2,800 million9,800 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)100 Watt45 Watt
Texture fill rate72.0053.20
Floating-point processing power2.304 TFLOPS1.702 TFLOPS
ROPs328
TMUs8028

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 sizelargeno data
Bus supportPCIe 3.0 x16no data
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16IGP
Supplementary power connectorsNoneNone

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 typeGDDR5System Shared
Maximum RAM amount4 GBSystem Shared
Memory bus width256 BitSystem Shared
Memory clock speed1200 MHzSystem Shared
Memory bandwidth153.6 GB/sno data
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 ConnectorsNo outputsNo 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.

DirectXDirectX® 1112 (12_1)
Shader Model5.16.4
OpenGL4.44.6
OpenCLNot Listed2.1
Vulkan-1.2
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.

R9 M290X 8.54
+14.2%
Vega 7 7.48

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.

R9 M290X 6817
+29.9%
Vega 7 5249

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.

R9 M290X 5294
+58.1%
Vega 7 3348

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.

R9 M290X 33147
+34.1%
Vega 7 24726

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 HD46
+100%
23
−100%
1440p27−30
+8%
25
−8%
4K16−18
+6.7%
15
−6.7%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 14−16
+7.1%
14−16
−7.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+21.4%
14−16
−21.4%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 27−30
+16.7%
24−27
−16.7%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
+7.1%
14−16
−7.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+21.4%
14−16
−21.4%
Forza Horizon 4 30−35
+17.2%
29
−17.2%
Forza Horizon 5 21−24
+16.7%
18
−16.7%
Metro Exodus 21−24
+9.5%
21
−9.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
−17.4%
27
+17.4%
Valorant 30−35
+10.3%
29
−10.3%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 27−30
+16.7%
24−27
−16.7%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
+7.1%
14−16
−7.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+21.4%
14−16
−21.4%
Dota 2 30−33
+76.5%
17
−76.5%
Far Cry 5 35−40
+28.6%
28
−28.6%
Fortnite 50−55
+13.6%
40−45
−13.6%
Forza Horizon 4 30−35
+41.7%
24
−41.7%
Forza Horizon 5 21−24
+23.5%
16−18
−23.5%
Grand Theft Auto V 30−33
+25%
24−27
−25%
Metro Exodus 21−24
+53.3%
15
−53.3%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 65−70
+45.7%
46
−45.7%
Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+9.5%
21−24
−9.5%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 35
+52.2%
21−24
−52.2%
Valorant 30−35
+129%
14
−129%
World of Tanks 120−130
+119%
58
−119%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 27−30
+16.7%
24−27
−16.7%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
+7.1%
14−16
−7.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+21.4%
14−16
−21.4%
Dota 2 30−33
+25%
24−27
−25%
Far Cry 5 35−40
+9.1%
30−35
−9.1%
Forza Horizon 4 30−35
+61.9%
21
−61.9%
Forza Horizon 5 21−24
+75%
12
−75%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 65−70
+11.7%
60−65
−11.7%
Valorant 30−35
+28%
25
−28%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 10−11
+11.1%
9−10
−11.1%
Grand Theft Auto V 10−12
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 40−45
+20%
35−40
−20%
Red Dead Redemption 2 7−8
+16.7%
6−7
−16.7%
World of Tanks 60−65
+14.8%
50−55
−14.8%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 16−18
+23.1%
12−14
−23.1%
Counter-Strike 2 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+16.7%
6−7
−16.7%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+12.5%
16−18
−12.5%
Forza Horizon 4 18−20
+20%
14−16
−20%
Forza Horizon 5 12−14
+18.2%
10−12
−18.2%
Metro Exodus 14−16
+36.4%
10−12
−36.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12−14
+20%
10−11
−20%
Valorant 21−24
+10.5%
18−20
−10.5%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 3−4
+200%
1−2
−200%
Dota 2 18−20
+5.6%
18−20
−5.6%
Grand Theft Auto V 18−20
+18.8%
16−18
−18.8%
Metro Exodus 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 24−27
+13.6%
21−24
−13.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2 5−6
+0%
5−6
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 18−20
+5.6%
18−20
−5.6%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 7−8
+16.7%
6−7
−16.7%
Counter-Strike 2 3−4
+200%
1−2
−200%
Cyberpunk 2077 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Dota 2 18−20
+18.8%
16−18
−18.8%
Far Cry 5 10−11
+11.1%
9−10
−11.1%
Fortnite 9−10
+28.6%
7−8
−28.6%
Forza Horizon 4 10−11
+11.1%
9−10
−11.1%
Forza Horizon 5 6−7
+20%
5−6
−20%
Valorant 8−9
+14.3%
7−8
−14.3%

This is how R9 M290X and Vega 7 compete in popular games:

  • R9 M290X is 100% faster in 1080p
  • R9 M290X is 8% faster in 1440p
  • R9 M290X is 7% faster in 4K

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

  • in Counter-Strike 2, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the R9 M290X is 200% faster.
  • in Red Dead Redemption 2, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the Vega 7 is 17% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • R9 M290X is ahead in 48 tests (94%)
  • Vega 7 is ahead in 1 test (2%)
  • there's a draw in 2 tests (4%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.54 7.48
Recency 9 January 2014 13 April 2021
Chip lithography 28 nm 7 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 100 Watt 45 Watt

R9 M290X has a 14.2% higher aggregate performance score.

Vega 7, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 7 years, a 300% more advanced lithography process, and 122.2% lower power consumption.

The Radeon R9 M290X is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon Vega 7 in performance tests.


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

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.


AMD Radeon R9 M290X
Radeon R9 M290X
AMD Radeon Vega 7
Radeon Vega 7

Other comparisons

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


3.2 12 votes

Rate Radeon R9 M290X on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.8 2319 votes

Rate Radeon Vega 7 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about this comparison, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.