AMD Radeon RX 590
AMD Radeon RX 590 in 2025: Is It Worth Buying? A Comprehensive Analysis
Introduction
In 2024-2025, the graphics card market is experiencing a boom in technology: ray tracing, neural network upscalers, and architectures on 3-5 nm have become the standard. However, even seven years after its release, the AMD Radeon RX 590 continues to attract the attention of budget gamers. What is its secret, and how relevant is it today? Let’s dive into the details.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Polaris Architecture: A 2018 Legacy
The RX 590 is built on an updated Polaris architecture (codename Polaris 30), which is an optimized version of Polaris 10/20. The card utilizes a 12nm manufacturing process by GlobalFoundries, which is a step forward compared to its 14nm predecessor (RX 580), but still far from the modern 5nm solutions of AMD's RDNA 3.
Technologies and Features
- FidelityFX Suite: Support for AMD's open technology suite, including FSR 1.0 (FidelityFX Super Resolution). In 2025, FSR 3.0 and Fluid Motion Frames will be unavailable for the RX 590 due to hardware limitations.
- Lack of Hardware Ray Tracing: Like all Polaris cards, the RX 590 does not support RT cores, making it unsuitable for real-time ray tracing games.
- FreeSync: Compatibility with adaptive synchronization via DisplayPort and HDMI.
2. Memory: GDDR5 in the GDDR6X Era
Memory Specifications
- Volume: 8 GB GDDR5 — sufficient for most games in 2025 on medium settings.
- Bus and Bandwidth: A 256-bit bus provides 256 GB/s (memory frequency — 8 GHz). In comparison, modern budget cards with GDDR6 (like the RX 6600) offer up to 448 GB/s.
Impact on Performance
GDDR5 falls short in energy efficiency and speed, but due to its large memory capacity (8 GB), the RX 590 avoids VRAM shortages in games like Hogwarts Legacy or Starfield at medium settings. However, performance drops may occur at 4K or when using HD textures.
3. Gaming Performance: What Does It Show in 2025?
1080p: Comfortable Gaming
- Cyberpunk 2077: Average FPS 35-40 (medium settings, FSR 1.0 on “Quality”).
- Fortnite: 60-70 FPS (high settings, without ray tracing).
- Apex Legends: 75-85 FPS (high settings).
1440p: A Compromise Option
For a resolution of 2560×1440, settings will need to be lowered to medium:
- Elden Ring: 45-50 FPS (FSR 1.0 activated).
- Call of Duty: Warzone: 50-55 FPS.
4K: Only for Less Demanding Titles
In games like CS2 or Dota 2, 60 FPS can be achieved on high settings, but in AAA titles, 4K is unachievable without significant compromises.
Ray Tracing: Not Supported
Attempts to run RT games (like Alan Wake 2) result in FPS dropping below 20 even at low settings.
4. Professional Tasks: Basic Capabilities
Video Editing and Rendering
- DaVinci Resolve: Working with 1080p projects in basic presets is possible, but a 4K timeline will cause lag.
- Blender: OpenCL support allows the RX 590 to be used for simple rendering, but the speed is 2-3 times lower than modern Radeon RX 7600.
Scientific Calculations
The card is suitable for training simple neural networks through ROCm (support is limited) or tasks in MATLAB, but its 3.2 TFLOPS power (FP32) is weak for serious research.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Output
TDP and PSU Requirements
- TDP: 225 W — a high figure even for 2025.
- Power Supply: Minimum 500 W (recommended 550 W with 80+ Bronze certification).
Cooling and Cases
- Temperatures: Reference models are prone to overheating (up to 85°C under load).
- Tips: A case with 3-4 fans and mandatory ventilation from below (if the card is installed horizontally).
6. Comparison with Competitors
2025 Analogues
- AMD Radeon RX 6600: Priced at $200-250, offers 8 GB GDDR6, FSR 3.0 support, and 1.5 times higher performance.
- NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB: Priced at $180-220, comes with DLSS 3.5, ray tracing, but only 6 GB of memory.
- Intel Arc A580: Priced at $170-200, features 8 GB GDDR6, good DX12 support, but weak drivers for older games.
Conclusion: The RX 590 falls short compared to modern budget cards but can be a good buy if priced below $150.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply
- Minimum 500 W with two 8-pin connectors. Avoid cheap noname models.
Compatibility
- Platform: Compatible with PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 (performance not limited).
- Drivers: Use Adrenalin 23.x (latest available for GCN 4.0). Support for new games through patches, but some 2024-2025 projects may not be optimized.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low price ($120-150 for a new one in 2025).
- 8 GB memory — sufficient for most games.
- Support for FSR 1.0 and FreeSync.
Cons:
- High power consumption.
- No ray tracing or FSR 3.0.
- Outdated architecture.
9. Final Verdict: Who Is the RX 590 For?
This graphics card is a choice for:
- Budget gamers playing in 1080p on medium settings.
- Old PC owners seeking an upgrade without changing the power supply.
- Enthusiasts building retro systems based on Windows 10.
Why Not? If you plan to play new releases in 2025 with ray tracing or want to future-proof your build, it’s better to pay more for an RX 6600 or RTX 3050.
Conclusion
The AMD Radeon RX 590 in 2025 is an example of a “surviving” veteran. It does not impress in performance but remains an accessible option for less demanding tasks. As a temporary solution or part of a budget build — it has its place, but time takes its toll: it’s time to look for modern alternatives.