AMD Radeon RX 480
AMD Radeon RX 480 in 2025: A Retrospective and Relevance for Budget PCs
Updated: April 2025
Introduction
Although the AMD Radeon RX 480 was released back in 2016, this graphics card continues to be a topic of discussion among budget build enthusiasts. In 2025, it is regarded as a "workhorse" for undemanding tasks, but its potential warrants a detailed examination. In this article, we will look at what the RX 480 is capable of today and who might find it useful.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Polaris Architecture: Modesty as an Advantage
The RX 480 is built on the Polaris architecture (codename Polaris 10), manufactured using GlobalFoundries' 14nm process technology. In an era dominated by 5nm and 6nm chips, Polaris may seem outdated, but its simplicity ensures a low manufacturing cost.
Technologies and Features
The card supports DirectX 12, Vulkan, and OpenGL 4.6, allowing it to run most modern APIs. Notable AMD-exclusive technologies include:
- FidelityFX — A set of optimizations for improving image quality (e.g., CAS — Contrast Adaptive Sharpening). Support was added via drivers but works limitedly due to weak computational power.
- FreeSync — Anti-tearing for monitors with refresh rates up to 144Hz.
It's important to note that ray tracing and DLSS equivalents (e.g., FSR — FidelityFX Super Resolution) are not available due to the lack of dedicated blocks in the architecture.
2. Memory: A Modest but Crucial Resource
Type and Volume
The RX 480 comes equipped with GDDR5 memory (256-bit bus) in configurations of 4GB or 8GB. As of 2025, 4GB is critically low even for 1080p in modern games; therefore, only the 8GB versions remain relevant.
Bandwidth
The 224 GB/s bandwidth (for the 8GB model) appears weak today in comparison to GDDR6 (up to 600+ GB/s). This limits performance in memory-intensive projects, such as open-world games (Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield).
Tip: For games from 2023 to 2025, 8GB is the minimum requirement, but texture settings will need to be adjusted to "Medium".
3. Gaming Performance: What to Expect?
1080p: Acceptable for Undemanding Projects
- CS2: 90–120 FPS on high settings.
- Fortnite: 50–60 FPS on "Medium" (without activating Nanite or Lumen).
- Hogwarts Legacy: 30–40 FPS on "Low".
1440p and 4K: Not Recommended
Even in less demanding games (Apex Legends), 1440p drops FPS to 40–50, and 4K is virtually unplayable.
Ray Tracing: The lack of hardware support makes RT modes impossible.
Conclusion: The RX 480 is suitable for esports and older AAA games (such as The Witcher 3), but not for new releases.
4. Professional Tasks: Modest Capabilities
Video Editing
In software like DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro, the card handles rendering in H.264/HEVC at a basic level thanks to OpenCL support. However, 8GB of memory and low computational speed make working with 4K material painful.
3D Modeling
Blender and Maya can utilize the RX 480 through OpenCL, but rendering complex scenes will take 3 to 5 times longer than on modern GPUs with hardware acceleration (e.g., Radeon RX 7600).
Scientific Calculations
For tasks based on OpenCL (physics, machine learning), the card is largely unsuitable due to its outdated architecture.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Generation
TDP and PSU Requirements
The TDP of the RX 480 is 150W. For stable operation, a power supply rated at 450–500W with an 80+ Bronze certification is recommended.
Cooling
Reference models (with a turbine) are prone to overheating (up to 85°C under load). Non-reference versions (such as those from Sapphire or MSI) with 2-3 fans run quieter (65–75°C).
Tip: Use a case with good ventilation (at least 2 fans for intake/exhaust).
6. Comparison with Competitors
Historical Rivals:
- NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB (2016): Comparable in performance but excels in games optimized for DX11. By 2025, both cards are considered outdated.
Modern Alternatives (2025):
- AMD Radeon RX 6400 ($150): 15–20% faster, supports FSR 3.0, but has only 4GB GDDR6.
- Intel Arc A580 ($180): Better performance in DX12/Vulkan, has 8GB GDDR6, and support for XeSS.
Conclusion: The RX 480 is worth considering only at a price below $100 (new units are rare but occasionally available).
7. Practical Recommendations
Power Supply: 500W with overload protection (for example, Corsair CV550).
Compatibility:
- Motherboard with PCIe 3.0 x16 (backward compatible with PCIe 4.0/5.0, but without speed gain).
- Processor: Avoid paired configurations with Ryzen 7/9 or Core i7/i12 to prevent a "bottleneck".
Drivers: AMD continues to release updates for Polaris, but optimizations for new games are limited.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low price (if you find a new one for under $100).
- Energy efficiency for basic tasks.
- Support for FreeSync.
Cons:
- No ray tracing or FSR 3.0.
- Limited memory capacity for modern games.
- Outdated interfaces (HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4).
9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the RX 480?
This graphics card is a choice for:
1. Budget gamers willing to play on "Medium" settings at 1080p.
2. Owners of older PCs needing to upgrade their GPU without replacing the PSU.
3. Retro game enthusiasts and indie project fans.
However, if your budget allows a spend of $150–200, it would be better to consider newer models like the RX 6400 or Intel Arc A580 — they offer a better price-to-performance ratio in 2025.
Conclusion
The AMD Radeon RX 480 stands as an example of a "long-lifer" among GPUs. Despite its age, it remains an option for those on an extremely tight budget, though its time is running out. As a temporary solution or part of a nostalgic build — yes, but as the foundation for a modern PC — unfortunately, no.