Radeon R9 280X vs Radeon RX 540

When comparing Radeon R9 280X and Radeon RX 540, we look primarily at benchmarks and game tests. But it is not only about the numbers. Often you can find third-party models with higher clock speeds, better cooling, or a customizable RGB lighting. Not all of them will have all the features you need. Another thing to consider is the port selection. Most graphics cards have at least one DisplayPort and HDMI interface, but some monitors require DVI. Before you buy, check the TDP of the graphics card - this characteristic will help you estimate the consumption of the graphics card. You may even have to upgrade your PSU to meet its requirements. An important factor when choosing between Radeon R9 280X and Radeon RX 540 is the price. Does the additional cost justify the performance hit? Our comparison should help you make the right decision.

Radeon R9 280X Check Price

Radeon RX 540 Check Price

Radeon RX 540 is a Laptop Graphics Card

Note: Radeon RX 540 is only used in laptop graphics. It has lower GPU clock speed compared to the desktop variant, which results in lower power consumption, but also 10-30% lower gaming performance. Check available laptop models with Radeon RX 540 here:

Radeon RX 540 Laptops

Main Specs

	Radeon R9 280X	Radeon RX 540
Power consumption (TDP)	250 Watt	65 Watt
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 3.0 x16
Supplementary power connectors	1 x 6-pin + 1 x 8-pin	1x 6-pin
Memory type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount	3 GB	4 GB
Display Connectors	2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort
	Check Price	Check Price

Radeon R9 280X has 284% more power consumption, than Radeon RX 540.
Both video cards are using PCIe 3.0 x16 interface connection to a motherboard.
Radeon RX 540 has 1 GB more memory, than Radeon R9 280X.
Radeon R9 280X is used in Desktops, and Radeon RX 540 - in Laptops.
Radeon R9 280X is build with GCN architecture, and Radeon RX 540 - with Polaris.
Radeon R9 280X is manufactured by 28 nm process technology, and Radeon RX 540 - by 14 nm process technology.

Game benchmarks


high / 1080p	35−40	14−16
ultra / 1080p	21−24	8−9
QHD / 1440p	16−18	3−4
4K / 2160p	10−11	−
low / 720p	60−65	30−33
medium / 1080p	40−45	18−20
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Assassin's Creed Odyssey is 140% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p	55−60	21−24
ultra / 1080p	45−50	20−22
QHD / 1440p	35−40	6−7
4K / 2160p	18−20	5−6
low / 720p	100−110	45−50
medium / 1080p	60−65	24−27
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Battlefield 5 is 157% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p	50−55	45−50
QHD / 1440p	0−1	0−1
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Call of Duty: Warzone is 10% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p	250−260	200−210
medium / 768p	220−230	170−180
ultra / 1080p	180−190	90−95
QHD / 1440p	110−120	50−55
4K / 2160p	70−75	30−33
high / 768p	210−220	130−140
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is 53% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p	60−65	55−60
ultra / 1080p	−	35−40
medium / 1080p	55−60	45−50
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Cyberpunk 2077 is 15% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p	120−130	100−110
medium / 768p	110−120	90−95
ultra / 1080p	100−110	60−65
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Dota 2 is 33% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p	45−50	16−18
ultra / 1080p	40−45	14−16
QHD / 1440p	27−30	−
4K / 2160p	14−16	6−7
low / 720p	80−85	35−40
medium / 1080p	45−50	18−20
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Far Cry 5 is 147% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p	60−65	24−27
ultra / 1080p	45−50	18−20
QHD / 1440p	27−30	16−18
4K / 2160p	27−30	−
low / 720p	180−190	95−100
medium / 1080p	110−120	50−55
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Fortnite is 107% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p	60−65	24−27
ultra / 1080p	45−50	18−20
QHD / 1440p	30−35	8−9
4K / 2160p	24−27	−
low / 720p	100−110	50−55
medium / 1080p	65−70	27−30
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Forza Horizon 4 is 142% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p	140−150	80−85
medium / 768p	120−130	70−75
high / 1080p	70−75	27−30
ultra / 1080p	30−35	12−14
QHD / 1440p	21−24	2−3
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Grand Theft Auto V is 102% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p	24−27	9−10
ultra / 1080p	20−22	7−8
QHD / 1440p	16−18	−
4K / 2160p	8−9	2−3
low / 720p	65−70	27−30
medium / 1080p	30−35	12−14
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Metro Exodus is 158% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p	130−140	110−120
ultra / 1080p	−	100−110
medium / 1080p	120−130	100−110
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Minecraft is 18% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p	−	21−24
ultra / 1080p	14−16	16−18
low / 720p	100−110	55−60
medium / 1080p	18−20	24−27
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS is 39% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p	24−27	14−16
ultra / 1080p	16−18	9−10
QHD / 1440p	10−11	0−1
4K / 2160p	7−8	−
low / 720p	65−70	27−30
medium / 1080p	35−40	16−18
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in Red Dead Redemption 2 is 111% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p	130−140	50−55
medium / 768p	85−90	30−35
high / 1080p	45−50	18−20
ultra / 1080p	24−27	10−11
4K / 2160p	16−18	8−9
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is 158% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p	90−95	100−105
medium / 768p	60−65	60−65
ultra / 1080p	50−55	30−35
high / 768p	60−65	50−55
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 280X in World of Tanks is 8% more, than Radeon RX 540.

Full Specs

	Radeon R9 280X	Radeon RX 540
Architecture	GCN	Polaris
Code name	Thaiti XTL	Polaris 12
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Release date	8 October 2013	21 March 2017
Pipelines	2048	512
Boost Clock	1000 MHz	1219 MHz
Transistor count	4,313 million	1,500 million
Manufacturing process technology	28 nm	14 nm
Texture fill rate	128.0	39.01
Floating-point performance	4,096 gflops	1,248 gflops
Length	275 mm
Memory bus width	384 Bit	128 Bit
Memory clock speed		6000 MHz
Memory bandwidth	288 GB/s	96 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-
DirectX		12.0
Shader Model	5.1	5.0
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	1.2	1.2
Vulkan	+
Monero / XMR (CryptoNight)	0.5 kh/s
FreeSync	+	+
Bus support	PCIe 3.0
HDMI	+
Bitcoin / BTC (SHA256)	494 Mh/s
Laptop size		large
Eyefinity	+
HD3D	+
TrueAudio	+
Design	reference
DisplayPort support	+
CrossFire	+
DDMA audio	+
Decred / DCR (Decred)	1.07 Gh/s
Ethereum / ETH (DaggerHashimoto)	14.42 Mh/s
Zcash / ZEC (Equihash)	285 Sol/s
AppAcceleration	+
LiquidVR	+
TressFX	+
UVD	+
	Check Price	Check Price

Radeon R9 280X vs Radeon RX 540

Radeon RX 540 is a Laptop Graphics Card

Main Specs

Game benchmarks

Full Specs

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