AMD Radeon RX 560D

AMD Radeon RX 560D in 2025: An Affordable Choice for Basic Tasks
Updated: April 2025
Introduction
Despite the release of new generations of graphics cards, the AMD Radeon RX 560D remains a popular choice for users who do not require ultimate performance. This model, released back in 2017, continues to occupy a niche in the budget GPU market thanks to its low cost and modest system requirements. But how relevant is it in 2025? Let’s take a detailed look.
Architecture and Key Features
Polaris — The Foundation of Stability
The RX 560D is built on the Polaris (4th generation GCN) architecture, which, while considered outdated in 2025, still holds relevance for less demanding tasks. The manufacturing process is 14 nm, which explains the higher power consumption compared to modern 7 nm and 6 nm chips.
Functional Capabilities
- AMD FidelityFX: A set of technologies for improving graphics (contrast adaptive sharpening, upscaling).
- FreeSync: Support for adaptive synchronization to eliminate screen tearing.
- Lack of Hardware Ray Tracing: Ray tracing is implemented only through software, which significantly reduces FPS.
The card is aimed at basic tasks — office work, video watching, old and lightweight games.
Memory: Modest but Sufficient for HD
- Memory Type: GDDR5 (not GDDR6 or HBM).
- Size: 4 GB — the minimum acceptable for modern games even at low settings.
- Bus Width: 128-bit.
- Bandwidth: 112 GB/s (7 Gbps × 128 bits / 8).
These specifications are adequate for 1080p work, but in memory-intensive scenarios (e.g., high-resolution textures), FPS drops may occur.
Gaming Performance: Realistic Expectations
In 2025, the RX 560D is suitable only for light projects and older games. Examples of FPS (at medium settings, 1080p):
- CS:GO: 90–110 FPS.
- Fortnite (Performance mode): 50–60 FPS.
- GTA V: 45–55 FPS.
- The Witcher 3: 30–35 FPS (low settings).
- Cyberpunk 2077: 20–25 FPS (low settings, no Ray Tracing).
Supported Resolutions:
- 1080p: Optimal choice.
- 1440p and 4K: Not recommended—the card will struggle even with simple games.
Ray Tracing is absent as a hardware feature. Software emulation significantly degrades performance by 2–3 times, making ray tracing impractical.
Professional Tasks: Limited Potential
- Video Editing: Suitable for working in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro with 1080p videos, but rendering complex projects will take a long time.
- 3D Modeling: In Blender or Maya, basic objects can be created, but for rendering with Cycles or Arnold, it’s better to choose cards with hardware Ray Tracing support.
- Scientific Calculations: OpenCL is supported, but due to weak computational power (up to 2.6 TFLOPS), the card lags behind even budget NVIDIA models with CUDA.
Power Consumption and Thermal Output
- TDP: 75 W — powered through PCIe with no additional connectors.
- Cooling: Passive or single-fan systems. Even under load, temperatures rarely exceed 75–80°C.
- Case Recommendations: A case with 1–2 fans for ventilation is adequate.
Comparison with Competitors
In 2025, the RX 560D competes with:
1. NVIDIA GTX 1650 (4 GB):
- Higher gaming performance (by 15–20%).
- Support for DLSS (but no Ray Tracing).
- Price: $130–150 (new models).
2. Intel Arc A380 (6 GB):
- Better support for modern APIs (DirectX 12 Ultimate).
- Price: $140–160.
3. AMD Radeon RX 6400:
- Newer architecture (RDNA 2).
- Weaker in gaming due to a reduced memory bus (64 bits).
Conclusion: The RX 560D only wins on price ($100–130), but loses in performance and functionality.
Practical Tips
- Power Supply: A minimum of 400 W is sufficient (e.g., EVGA 400 W1).
- Compatibility:
- PCIe 3.0 x8 — works with all modern motherboards.
- Supported OS: Windows 10/11, Linux (AMDGPU drivers).
- Drivers: Regularly update via AMD Adrenalin Edition to improve stability.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low price ($100–130).
- Minimal system requirements.
- Quiet operation.
Cons:
- Weak for modern games.
- Only 4 GB of memory.
- No hardware Ray Tracing.
Final Verdict: Who Should Consider the RX 560D?
This graphics card is ideal for:
1. Office PCs: Working with documents, browsing, HD video playback.
2. HTPC: Watching movies in 4K (with hardware decoding).
3. Basic Gaming: Games up to 2018 or lightweight projects like indie titles.
4. Backup Card: In case the primary GPU fails.
If you can spend $30–50 more, consider the NVIDIA GTX 1650 or Intel Arc A380 — they'll offer better performance. However, if your budget is strictly limited, the RX 560D remains one of the most affordable options in 2025.