Radeon R9 290X vs Radeon RX 540
When comparing Radeon R9 290X 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 290X 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 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:
Main Specs
Radeon R9 290X
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
4 GB
4 GB
Display Connectors
2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort
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Radeon R9 290X has 284% more power consumption, than Radeon RX 540.
Both video cards are using PCIe 3.0 x16 interface connection to a motherboard.
Radeon R9 290X and Radeon RX 540 have maximum RAM of 4 GB.
Radeon R9 290X is used in Desktops, and Radeon RX 540 - in Laptops.
Radeon R9 290X is build with GCN architecture, and Radeon RX 540 - with Polaris.
Radeon R9 290X is manufactured by 28 nm process technology, and Radeon RX 540 - by 14 nm process technology.
Memory clock speed of Radeon RX 540 is 4750 MHz higher, than Radeon R9 290X.
Game benchmarks
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Battlefield 5
Call of Duty: Warzone
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Cyberpunk 2077
Dota 2
Far Cry 5
Fortnite
Forza Horizon 4
Grand Theft Auto V
Metro Exodus
Minecraft
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
World of Tanks
high / 1080p
35−40
14−16
ultra / 1080p
24−27
8−9
QHD / 1440p
18−20
3−4
4K / 2160p
10−11
−
low / 720p
60−65
30−33
medium / 1080p
45−50
18−20
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in Assassin's Creed Odyssey is 153% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p
60−65
21−24
ultra / 1080p
50−55
20−22
QHD / 1440p
35−40
6−7
4K / 2160p
18−20
5−6
low / 720p
110−120
45−50
medium / 1080p
65−70
24−27
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in Battlefield 5 is 180% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p
50−55
45−50
QHD / 1440p
0−1
0−1
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X 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
190−200
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 290X in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is 55% 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 290X 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 290X in Dota 2 is 33% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p
45−50
16−18
ultra / 1080p
45−50
14−16
QHD / 1440p
30−35
−
4K / 2160p
16−18
6−7
low / 720p
85−90
35−40
medium / 1080p
50−55
18−20
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in Far Cry 5 is 163% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p
65−70
24−27
ultra / 1080p
50−55
18−20
QHD / 1440p
30−35
16−18
4K / 2160p
27−30
−
low / 720p
180−190
95−100
medium / 1080p
120−130
50−55
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in Fortnite is 119% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p
65−70
24−27
ultra / 1080p
45−50
18−20
QHD / 1440p
35−40
8−9
4K / 2160p
24−27
−
low / 720p
110−120
50−55
medium / 1080p
70−75
27−30
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in Forza Horizon 4 is 161% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p
140−150
80−85
medium / 768p
130−140
70−75
high / 1080p
75−80
27−30
ultra / 1080p
30−35
12−14
QHD / 1440p
24−27
2−3
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in Grand Theft Auto V is 112% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p
27−30
9−10
ultra / 1080p
21−24
7−8
QHD / 1440p
18−20
−
4K / 2160p
9−10
2−3
low / 720p
70−75
27−30
medium / 1080p
35−40
12−14
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in Metro Exodus is 183% 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 290X 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 290X in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS is 39% more, than Radeon RX 540.
high / 1080p
27−30
14−16
ultra / 1080p
18−20
9−10
QHD / 1440p
12−14
0−1
4K / 2160p
8−9
−
low / 720p
70−75
27−30
medium / 1080p
35−40
16−18
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in Red Dead Redemption 2 is 129% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p
140−150
50−55
medium / 768p
90−95
30−35
high / 1080p
50−55
18−20
ultra / 1080p
27−30
10−11
4K / 2160p
16−18
8−9
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is 179% more, than Radeon RX 540.
low / 768p
90−95
100−105
medium / 768p
60−65
60−65
ultra / 1080p
55−60
30−35
high / 768p
−
50−55
The average gaming FPS of Radeon R9 290X in World of Tanks is 7% more, than Radeon RX 540.
Full Specs
Radeon R9 290X
Radeon RX 540
Architecture
GCN
Polaris
Code name
Hawaii XT
Polaris 12
Type
Desktop
Laptop
Release date
24 October 2013
21 March 2017
Pipelines
2816
512
Boost Clock
947 MHz
1219 MHz
Transistor count
6,200 million
1,500 million
Manufacturing process technology
28 nm
14 nm
Texture fill rate
176.0
39.01
Floating-point performance
5,632 gflops
1,248 gflops
Length
275 mm
Memory bus width
512 Bit
128 Bit
Memory clock speed
1250 MHz
6000 MHz
Memory bandwidth
320 GB/s
96 GB/s
Shared memory
-
-
DirectX
12.0
Shader Model
6.3
5.0
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
OpenCL
2.0
1.2
Vulkan
+
Monero / XMR (CryptoNight)
0.76 kh/s
FreeSync
+
+
Bus support
PCIe 3.0
HDMI
+
Bitcoin / BTC (SHA256)
623 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)
25.75 Mh/s
Zcash / ZEC (Equihash)
350 Sol/s
AppAcceleration
+
LiquidVR
+
TressFX
+
UVD
+
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