AMD Radeon RX 560X Mobile

AMD Radeon RX 560X Mobile: Overview and Analysis of a Mobile GPU for Budget Systems
April 2025
1. Architecture and Key Features
Polaris Architecture: A Time-Tested Foundation
The AMD Radeon RX 560X Mobile is based on the Polaris (GCN 4.0) architecture, which debuted back in 2016. Despite its age, this platform continues to be used in budget mobile solutions due to its energy efficiency and low production costs. The manufacturing process is 14-nm FinFET by GlobalFoundries, which explains its moderate thermal output.
Unique Features: FidelityFX and Lack of RT Acceleration
The RX 560X Mobile supports the AMD FidelityFX technology suite, including Contrast Adaptive Sharpening (CAS) and FSR 1.0 for upscaling optimization. However, hardware ray tracing and the more advanced FSR 3.0 are absent—these are reserved for GPUs in the RDNA 2/3 series.
2. Memory: Modest, But Sufficient for Basic Tasks
GDDR5 and 128-bit Bus
The graphics card is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus. The bandwidth is 112 GB/s, which is half of what modern GDDR6 solutions offer. For gaming at 1080p on low to medium settings, this is adequate, but high-resolution textures and complex effects may cause FPS drops due to the limited bandwidth.
Tip: For comfortable operation in professional applications (e.g., Adobe Premiere), it is recommended to increase the laptop's RAM to 16 GB to reduce VRAM load.
3. Gaming Performance: 1080p as the Limit
Average FPS in Popular Titles (2025)
- CS2 (Counter-Strike 2): 90–110 FPS on medium settings.
- Fortnite: 45–55 FPS (medium settings + FSR 1.0).
- Cyberpunk 2077: 25–30 FPS (low settings + FSR 1.0).
- EA Sports FC 2025: 60–70 FPS (high settings).
Resolutions Above 1080p are Not for RX 560X Mobile
Attempts to run games at 1440p or 4K result in FPS dropping below 20 frames even on minimum settings. Technologies like ray tracing are not supported in hardware, and their software emulation (via FSR) is impractical due to low performance.
4. Professional Tasks: Basic Level
Video Editing and 3D Modeling
The GPU handles rendering in DaVinci Resolve or Blender on simple projects thanks to OpenCL support. However, it lacks sufficient power for complex scenes or 4K timelines. Compared to NVIDIA cards (which have CUDA and RTX acceleration), the RX 560X Mobile falls short in processing speed.
Scientific Calculations
For tasks in MATLAB or Python (NumPy), the graphics card is of little use—CPU performance and RAM capacity are critical here.
5. Power Consumption and Thermal Output
TDP 65 W: Balance Between Power and Battery Life
The RX 560X Mobile is suitable for thin gaming laptops and versatile models. Cooling systems typically include one fan and a compact heatsink. In gaming scenarios, the GPU temperature reaches 75–85°C, but throttling is avoided due to frequency capping.
Recommendations:
- Regularly clean the vents of dust.
- Use cooling pads during long gaming sessions.
6. Comparison with Competitors
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile: Main Competitor
- NVIDIA Pros: DLSS 1.0 support, higher performance in DX12 games (~15–20% advantage).
- AMD Pros: Better optimization for Vulkan (Doom Eternal – 70 FPS vs 60 FPS on GTX 1650), often lower price.
Intel Arc A350M: A New Player
- Intel Advantages: Support for XeSS and hardware ray tracing.
- Disadvantages: Drivers are still less stable than AMD's.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply and Compatibility
- Laptops with RX 560X Mobile generally come with a power supply rated at 120–150 W.
- Check compatibility with external monitors via HDMI 2.0 (max resolution – 4K@60 Hz).
Drivers: Stability Above All
AMD continues to release updates for Polaris, but current features (e.g., FSR 3.0) are unavailable. For gaming, it is recommended to use driver version Adrenalin 24.4.1 (April 2025), optimized for Windows 11 23H2.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low price: Laptops with this graphics card cost $550–$700.
- Good energy efficiency.
- FSR support for improved FPS in games.
Cons:
- No hardware ray tracing.
- Only 4 GB VRAM—insufficient for modern AAA games.
- Outdated architecture.
9. Final Conclusion: Who is RX 560X Mobile Suitable For?
This graphics card is a choice for those looking for a budget laptop for studying, office tasks, and undemanding gaming. It can handle CS2, Dota 2, or FIFA on medium settings, but for demanding projects like Starfield or Alan Wake 2, an upgrade is necessary.
Why is it still relevant in 2025?
Despite the emergence of more modern GPUs, the RX 560X Mobile remains relevant in the under $700 device niche, where balancing price and basic performance is essential. If you are not chasing ultra settings and want to save money—this could be your option.