AMD Radeon RX 470 vs AMD Radeon R9 390
Detailed gaming performance comparison
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
We compare the RX 470 and the R9 390 with real FPS across the most popular games at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, plus specs, launch price and AI upscaling support (DLSS/FSR/XeSS). See at a glance which is better for your resolution and budget.
The RX 470 and the R9 390 perform almost identically; price and features make the difference.
RX 470
- Index (1080p)
- 17/100
- VRAM
- 4 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $179 · ≈ €165
- Upscaling
- FSR
R9 390
- Index (1080p)
- 17/100
- VRAM
- 8 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $329 · ≈ €303
- Upscaling
- FSR
Average FPS by resolution
Estimated average FPS for each graphics card across the most popular games. The gap usually shows at 1080p and 1440p; at 4K both lose smoothness and upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps.
| Resolution | RX 470 | R9 390 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 19 | 19 | = |
| 1440p | 12 | 12 | = |
| 4K | 5 | 5 | = |
Specifications
Side-by-side specs of the RX 470 and R9 390: VRAM, power draw (TDP), performance index and launch price. The better value in each row is highlighted in blue.
| Spec | RX 470 | R9 390 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | AMD | AMD |
| VRAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| TDP | 120W | 275W |
| Tier | Entry-level | Mid-range |
| Score 1080p | 17 | 17 |
| Score 1440p | 12 | 12 |
| Score 4K | 5 | 6 |
| Price (MSRP) | $179 | $329 |
Gaming Performance
Per-game FPS detail at 1080p Ultra. The graphics card that wins each title is highlighted in blue.
| Game | RX 470 | R9 390 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 20FPS | 20FPS | Tie |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 15FPS | 15FPS | Tie |
| Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | 19FPS | 19FPS | Tie |
| Marathon | 19FPS | 19FPS | Tie |
| Gears of War: E-Day | 17FPS | 17FPS | Tie |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | 21FPS | 21FPS | Tie |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 19FPS | 19FPS | Tie |
| 007 First Light | 19FPS | 19FPS | Tie |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | 16FPS | 16FPS | Tie |
| Pathologic 3 | 24FPS | 24FPS | Tie |
Verdict
It's a tie: both GPUs win in 0 out of 10 games
Both GPUs offer very similar performance. Choose based on price and availability.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions when comparing the RX 470 with the R9 390.
Which is better, the RX 470 or the R9 390?
On average at 1080p, the RX 470 is 0% faster than the R9 390. The best one for you depends on your resolution, budget and whether you prioritise ray tracing or price.
Which is better at 4K?
At 4K Ultra, the RX 470 averages 5 FPS and the R9 390 5 FPS across the most popular games. For smooth 4K, enabling upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps on both.
Is it worth paying more for the faster one?
At 1080p or 1440p the FPS gap may not justify the extra cost; at 4K or with ray tracing the faster card matters more. Check the by-resolution table to decide.
Which has better ray tracing and upscaling?
AI upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, XeSS on Intel) raises FPS on both; for ray tracing, GeForce RTX cards usually lead. See each card’s support above.
How big is the FPS difference between them?
On average across top games, the gap is around 0% at 1080p. At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K) the relative difference usually stays similar.