AMD Radeon RX 480 Graphics Card Now Available

[AsRock]

Did you think the 480 was going to be better than your 290x?

In many ways it is, how ever if you have a 290(X) already it's not really worth the change, in no way that make the 480 a bad card. If he or better still i had not jumped from my 6970 to a 290X i would be thinking of picking up RX480 for sure.

Only other thing that would hold me back is the low warranty's which seem to be 3 year max but typically 2 years which is not long enough.

 

[Beastie]

Personally I'd wait for Sapphire or someone to sort out the obvious flaws.

Looks like there is a decent card in there, just needs better cooling and an 8 pin or bigger power connector.

Shame the efficiency is so so, but it is great value anyway.

 

[chief-gunney]

I agree Beastie, this chip has great potential and performance for the price, and the partner cards will be the way to go for improvements. Hopefully there will be not too much of price increase for their modifications.
Performance in DX12 is where you get to see what this card is about and it will only get better with each driver update. Btw, I think there is a new driver released today supporting it which is later than the one used in this review.
I only play Battlefield and BF1(DX12 and Async compute supported) is the focus of my upgrade plans. Currently run 27" monitor@ 1080p constant 60fps from GTX 670 but have to use vsync because of tearing, and want to move to 144hz and fps.

I'm preparing to switch to AMD and Free-sync because I don't like the huge price tag of Nvidia and G-sync -($779 AU for GTX 1070 AND $1000 AU for a monitor is just over the top), and AMD are performing better in DX12 at the moment. IMO, AMD are on the right track for the future compared to Nvidia.

RX480+ Free-sync monitor should give me the performance I'm looking for and save me at least $500.

 

[NC37]

I was a little worried I had bought my 390 too soon last year after my 460s died. Now that I see this, nah. Just confirms what I originally thought that Polaris is just a tiny blip on the radar compared to Vega.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Good ol Newegg has them up already in the US at least
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007709 601203818&Tpk=rx480&ignorear=1

Wow, and not overpriced....in other words, the various card companies are following the MSRP. LOL!

 

[AsRock]

Yeah good to see.

 

[Naito]

AMD lying about power draw is a dangerous game. All it would take is some poor fool to have a cheaper motherboard or power supply and end up cooking something, if not worse. Let's hope AIB partners start using dual 6pin or 8pin connectors in future for safer, stronger power delivery. Probably best to stay away from reference boards if unsure of your PC specifications in terms of power limits and tolerances.

As for the card's performance, it ain't too bad at the end of the day. Perhaps overhyped a bit by the fans, but still appears offers decent value. Power is somewhat appalling considering the node and targeted price point. A mid-range card should be more efficient than this. Maybe Nvidia has been spoiling some of us?

 

[AsRock]

AMD lying about power draw is a dangerous game. All it would take is some poor fool to have a cheaper motherboard or power supply and end up cooking something, if not worse. Let's hope AIB partners start using dual 6pin or 8pin connectors in future for safer, stronger power delivery. Probably best to stay away from reference boards if unsure of your PC specifications in terms of power limits and tolerances.

As for the card's performance, it ain't too bad at the end of the day. Perhaps overhyped a bit by the fans, but still appears offers decent value. Power is somewhat appalling considering the node and targeted price point. A mid-range card should be more efficient than this. Maybe Nvidia has been spoiling some of us?

People must love taking a a long run on a short pier. I think people just getting bent over nothing.

Whats the power usage with the 4GB ?, just a thought could be what taking it over the 150w ?, no concern kick ass card for the price anyways and people are just getting there panty's\knickers in a twist for all we know.

 

[Naito]

People must love taking a a long run on a short pier. I think people just getting bent over nothing.

Cheap hardware can have low tolerances with power delivery. A motherboard with weak PCIe slots with easily burnt contacts? Budget PSU with low quality, thin gauge wire? Perhaps add some component age to the equation to. Sure it's only 10W+ over the stated TDP, but what if you add some OC and increased voltage? Things could go up in smoke quite quickly. Sure that's an extreme case, but it's not impossible. Besides, the 'typical' power consumption under gaming is still over the power limit stated, which is somewhat appalling for a card of this tier. Price and value is still good, but it's clear that AMDs products, for now, remain second-rate products only for the most diehard, unsuspecting or extremely budget minded people. Don't get me wrong though, I want to see this change.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Where I'm from the price for the cards are starting from 300EU. I hope they get 0 sells ! ))

 

[AsRock]

Cheap hardware can have low tolerances with power delivery. A motherboard with weak PCIe slots with easily burnt contacts? Budget PSU with low quality, thin gauge wire? Perhaps add some component age to the equation to. Sure it's only 10W+ over the stated TDP, but what if you add some OC and increased voltage? Things could go up in smoke quite quickly. Sure that's an extreme case, but it's not impossible. Besides, the 'typical' power consumption under gaming is still over the power limit stated, which is somewhat appalling for a card of this tier. Price and value is still good, but it's clear that AMDs products, for now, remain second-rate products only for the most diehard, unsuspecting or extremely budget minded people. Don't get me wrong though, I want to see this change.

We know for a fact that the extra 13 ish watts are not coming from the 6 pin ?, well you should buy a quality PSU anyways with a single line.

 

[RejZoR]

Why is a "fan doesn't stop in idle" noted as a negative thing in TPU review? Since when have exhaust blower cards turn off the fan? Cooler fins are internal, it can't ever work passive...

 

[AsRock]

because some do turn the fan off at idle, but yes because it spins still should not be a negative unless it's making a noise doing so.

 

[RejZoR]

The exhausting style cards? I don't think I've ever seen one which does that. Internal exhaust sure, I own one. But exhausting ones, nope.

 

[RejZoR]

@W1zzard
Found a tiny typo in review (page 2):

The multimedia accelerators receive a major update, now supporting H.265 Main10 decode hardware acceleration and 4K60 HVEC encode hardware acceleration.

It's HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), not HVEC.

 

[W1zzard]

@W1zzard
Found a tiny typo in review (page 2):



It's HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), not HVEC.

Fixed. Thanks! You can just PM me those for more privacy

 

[ensabrenoir]

.......wooah finally able to get back on TPU...or site just came back up? Not sure how but im sure...........
its Nvdia's fault!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RejZoR]

I'm speculating something at this point. Is it possible that AMD didn't go all crazy on power efficiency here to reduce card costs? They designed it and said, this is good enough, lets keep it cheap. Which would also kinda explain why there are some rumors about Vega chips featuring even newer GCN 5.0 shaders at which point they could go all crazy on power efficiency design because cost won't be of such concern and they have to look at performance more.

 

[kmetek]

the joy of taxes.

USA: 240$ = 216,67€ + 20% tax = 260€
EUROPE: 270€ and up

well there there.

 

[jigar2speed]

Cheap hardware can have low tolerances with power delivery. A motherboard with weak PCIe slots with easily burnt contacts? Budget PSU with low quality, thin gauge wire? Perhaps add some component age to the equation to. Sure it's only 10W+ over the stated TDP, but what if you add some OC and increased voltage? Things could go up in smoke quite quickly. Sure that's an extreme case, but it's not impossible. Besides, the 'typical' power consumption under gaming is still over the power limit stated, which is somewhat appalling for a card of this tier. Price and value is still good, but it's clear that AMDs products, for now, remain second-rate products only for the most diehard, unsuspecting or extremely budget minded people. Don't get me wrong though, I want to see this change.

Discreet graphic card and cheap PSU, nice recipe for disaster if you ask me.

 

[newconroer]

I did not understand why people were so overhyped for this card, and and I now do not understand how people are so disappointed. The 480 is exactly what AMD said it would be. It hit the performance target AMD said it would hit. It hit the price point AMD said it would hit. It is the current king of price/performance. Did people not realize this was going to be competitor of the 1060 and not the 1080?

Yes the hype was big, and that's why the disappointment. I don't see it being any thing special. Right now you can get a new GTX 970 for the same price as the RX 480. The GTX 970 is still faster and only carries the draw back of being half the VRAM. And in terms of energy/heat, the RX 480 draws just as much power all the while running hotter.

This was touted as a card that would give you 980sh performance, at low TDP, low temperature, small footprint and a very cheap price.

We got none of that.

If this is the baseline for the capability of AMD's new generation of products, then AMD is fu((ed.

 

[Caring1]

The GTX 970 is still faster

Wrong.

 

[bencrutz]

Yes the hype was big, and that's why the disappointment. I don't see it being any thing special. Right now you can get a new GTX 970 for the same price as the RX 480. The GTX 970 is still faster and only carries the draw back of being half the VRAM. And in terms of energy/heat, the RX 480 draws just as much power all the while running hotter.

This was touted as a card that would give you 980sh performance, at low TDP, low temperature, small footprint and a very cheap price.

We got none of that.

If this is the baseline for the capability of AMD's new generation of products, then AMD is fu((ed.

not in here, 970 is USD 77 more, that's around 29% more expensive than RX480

 

[jboydgolfer]

249$ is the highest priced one @ newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129322&ignorebbr=1

 

[Caring1]

249$ is the highest priced one @ newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129322&ignorebbr=1

I checked Newegg Australia and it is $160 cheaper than the 970.
That makes choosing easy.