Are you in the market for a new graphics card to supercharge your gaming rig? With so many options across different price ranges, it can be tough to determine which GPU will give you the best bang for your buck. One card you may come across in your search is the AMD Radeon RX 580. Released in April 2017 for $229, the RX 580 was positioned as a mid-range refresh of the earlier RX 480.
While the RX 580 may be tempting, especially if you spot a good deal, there are several compelling reasons why you should think twice before pulling the trigger on this particular GPU. In this article, we‘ll dive into the details of the RX 580, examine its strengths and weaknesses, and explore some alternative graphics cards that will likely serve you better. By the end, you‘ll have all the information needed to make an informed buying decision. Let‘s get started!
RX 580 Overview
First, let‘s take a high-level look at the RX 580 and its specifications. The card launched in April 2017 at a starting price of $229 for the 4GB model and $279 for the 8GB version. In terms of performance, the RX 580 is essentially a slightly overclocked RX 480 built on the same Polaris GPU architecture.
The upgraded Polaris 20 XTR GPU in the RX 580 is clocked at 1340 MHz, just a 7% boost over the 1266 MHz speed of the RX 480. Memory clocks also received a small bump from 8000 MHz to 8500 MHz. The card packs 2304 stream processors and is available in 4GB or 8GB GDDR5 memory configurations with a 256-bit bus width. It requires an 8-pin power connector and has a board TDP of 185W.
Reasons to Avoid the RX 580
- Minor Improvements Over RX 480
One of the biggest strikes against the RX 580 is that it provides only a marginal performance gain compared to its predecessor, the RX 480, despite using the same GPU architecture. The 7% faster base clock and 6% memory bump result in average FPS increases in the 5-10% range depending on the game. That‘s not a huge leap forward, especially considering the 580 launched at around the same price as the 480.
If you already own an RX 480, there‘s little reason to upgrade to the 580. You‘re likely better off overclocking your existing 480 to achieve close to 580 levels of performance. And if you‘re buying new, you can likely find remaining stock of RX 480s at reduced prices that make them a better value than the 580 in cost per frame.
- Underwhelming Gaming Performance
When it comes to raw gaming prowess, the RX 580 is a capable mid-range performer but doesn‘t particularly impress, especially as the resolution climbs. In many AAA titles, the card hovers around the 60fps mark at 1080p with high settings, dropping to the 30-40fps range at 1440p. More demanding games really struggle on this GPU, dipping well below 60fps averages even at 1080p.
Considering most PC gamers play at 1080p or higher these days, the RX 580 falls a bit short of the ideal 1080p/60fps experience in a number of popular titles. It lacks the horsepower for smooth 1440p gaming and 4K is out of the question. Even at 1080p, you‘ll likely need to turn down some settings for a locked 60fps in many games. Overall, the RX 580 is far from the best option for gamers that want high refresh rates or to play at higher resolutions.
- Excessive Power Draw and Heat
Another area where the RX 580 struggles is its power consumption and heat output. Being an overclocked refresh of an existing GPU, it‘s not the most power efficient design. The card has a TDP of 185W, a 35W increase over the 480, and total board power can climb over 200W under full gaming load.
All that power generates a lot of heat and the RX 580 regularly hits temperatures in the 75-80°C range. You‘ll want good case airflow to avoid thermal throttling. Blower-style cooler designs are especially prone to running hot. This also makes the RX 580 a poor choice for small form factor builds.
Third party cards with open-air coolers fare better but are bulky at 2-2.5 slots wide and may have compatibility issues in tighter cases. The heat and power draw result in higher fan speeds, more noise output, and higher energy costs than comparable Nvidia GPUs like the GTX 1060.
- Loud Fan Noise
The high temperatures and increased power consumption of the RX 580 put its cooling solutions to work, often spinning the fans up to high RPMs and generating loud noise, especially under heavy load. Some brands and models are better than others in this regard, but almost all RX 580s are audible over other system fans when gaming.
An open test bench or case can make the noise even more apparent. While noise levels aren‘t a concern for everyone, it is something to keep in mind and a clear downside compared to competing cards. If you prefer a quiet gaming experience, the RX 580 may not be for you.
Superior Alternatives
- RX 480 – No Need to Upgrade
As mentioned previously, the RX 580 is such a minor improvement over the RX 480 that it doesn‘t make sense as an upgrade for current 480 owners. You can achieve similar performance by overclocking the 480 while maintaining lower power draw, temperatures, and noise levels.
Even if buying new, picking up a discounted RX 480 in the $150-200 range is likely a better value than a 580 at MSRP. It will perform within 5-10% of a stock 580 while drawing less power and putting out less heat. Unless the price gap is very small, the RX 480 gets you more performance per dollar spent.
- GTX 1060 6GB – Similar Performance, Less Power and Heat
The closest competition to the RX 580 from the Nvidia side is the GTX 1060 6GB. Launched in mid-2016, the 1060 is an older card than the 580 but still goes toe-to-toe with it in gaming benchmarks while typically drawing less power and running cooler and quieter.
The GTX 1060 6GB trades blows with the RX 580 8GB model depending on the game but has a significant efficiency advantage – its TDP is only 120W compared to the 580‘s 185W. This leads to lower temperatures, reduced fan noise, and makes the 1060 viable for small form factor builds. It‘s also available in short-PCB models ideal for mini-ITX cases.
The 1060 has been impacted by the crypto mining craze and global chip shortage like other GPUs, but can often be found for close to its original $250 MSRP in the used market. A new RX 580 typically costs more. For the same or less money, the GTX 1060 6GB performs neck-and-neck with the 580 while being the cooler, quieter, and more efficient option.
- RTX 3050 – Much Better Performance if Budget Allows
If you have some flexibility in your budget, it‘s worth considering Nvidia‘s newer RTX 3050 over a RX 580. Launched in early 2022 with a $249 MSRP, the RTX 3050 offers substantially better performance than the 580 or GTX 1060 thanks to its newer Ampere architecture. It supports cutting-edge features like ray tracing and DLSS that the 580 lacks.
The RTX 3050 consistently delivers over 60fps at max settings in the most popular titles at 1080p and generally still hits that mark at 1440p. The RX 580 would need to turn settings down to medium in many games for 60fps at 1080p. Nvidia‘s 1st gen RT cores and Tensor cores also give the 3050 usable ray tracing and DLSS/FSR to boost performance in supported games, features not available on the 580.
The RTX 3050 draws a bit more power than a GTX 1060 with a 130W TDP but is more efficient than the 580 and benefits from a newer 8nm Samsung manufacturing process versus 14nm on the 580. This advantage contributes to lower temps and quieter operation. The 3050 also comes with 8GB of faster GDDR6 memory compared to 8GB of GDDR5 on the RX 580.
Overall, the RTX 3050 trounces the RX 580 across the board – performance, features, efficiency, and cooling. Stepping up to the 3050 costs a bit more but is well worth it for a substantially better 1080p or entry-level 1440p gaming experience. It provides more headroom for the future as well with its modern feature set. If you can swing the price difference, the RTX 3050 is a much better buy than a RX 580 in 2022.
Conclusion
While AMD‘s RX 580 remains a capable performer for 1080p gaming on medium settings a number of years after its 2017 release, it‘s hard to recommend buying one in 2022 given its underlying weaknesses and the existence of superior alternatives at similar price points. The RX 580 runs hot, loud, and power hungry while only providing marginal improvements over the RX 480 that came before it.
If you already own an RX 480, the small speed boost of the 580 isn‘t worth the cost to upgrade. You‘re better off saving up for a newer GPU. For new buyers, picking up a discounted RX 480 or a used GTX 1060 6GB will net you similar performance to the 580 while avoiding its inefficiency pitfalls. If your budget allows, stepping up to an RTX 3050 will get you massively improved performance and features for not much more money.
Ultimately, the RX 580 is outclassed by competitors old and new. It‘s still viable for medium-high 1080p gaming in a pinch, but you‘ll likely be happier spending your money elsewhere. The GPU market evolves rapidly and the RX 580 just hasn‘t aged as well as its contemporaries. Consider your alternatives carefully before taking the plunge on this venerable but flawed mid-range graphics card.
