The AMD Radeon RX 480 came out in 2016 for a mere $199. It changed everything we thought we knew about gaming cards! The card could play VR games decently without draining our wallets. This GPU allowed more people to enjoy great gaming than ever before. The majority of gamers can play their favorite games without spending a fortune. Let’s see why this graphics card is still relevant in 2025.
What’s Inside the AMD Radeon RX 480
The Polaris design on the Radeon RX 480 was a step up for AMD. It utilized new 14nm materials, making the card faster and more power-efficient. The architecture allowed AMD to compete directly with NVIDIA cards at the time. The components and build quality of the RX 480 were much better than older cards. Let’s cover what makes this GPU special.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| GPU | Polaris 10 |
| Process | 14nm FinFET |
| Stream Processors | 2304 |
| Base Clock | 1120 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1266 MHz |
| Memory | 4GB/8GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps |
| Power Use | 150W |
- It uses Polaris tech built with 14nm parts
- It has 2304 stream processors for gaming
- It comes with 4GB or 8GB of fast GDDR5 memory
- Memory works through a wide 256-bit path
- It needs less power than past cards
- Keeps cool with a good fan system
Also Read: AMD Radeon 7900M vs NVIDIA RTX: Epic GPU Showdown 2024
How Well Does It Play Games
Looking back in 2025, the Radeon RX 480 gaming performance is still something to be discussed. When it came out, the card was on the cutting edge of 1080p gaming. Even today, it can run most games at reasonable settings. Esports players loved this card because it ran competitive games very well. The 8GB variant was great for games with high textures.
| Game | High Settings | Medium Settings |
|---|---|---|
| CS: GO | 220+ | 280+ |
| DOTA 2 | 140+ | 180+ |
| GTA V | 65+ | 85+ |
| The Witcher 3 | 55+ | 75+ |
- Runs most current games well at 1080p
- Can handle some games at 1440p
- Works with VR headsets nicely
- It matches the GTX 1060’s power
- Great for esports games
- Still okay for newer games
Was It Worth The Money
The price of RX 480 transformed the gaming market in 2016. For $199, it provided more significant value than any other card. A retrospective view of 2025 illustrates how it motivated other companies to produce better and cheaper cards. AMD demonstrated that great gaming does not need to be expensive. Success with this card enabled AMD to strengthen its position in the GPU market.
- The launch price was just $199
- Performed like $300+ cards
- Used less power than rivals
- Perfect for budget gamers
- Kept good resale value
- Many still use it in 2025
How Good Is It Now
The RX 480 remains playable in 2025 for the average gamer. AMD still releases driver updates to allow it to run newer games. The card shows that solid design will last for decades. While not the fastest, it shows that smart buying choices can last long. Newer cards learned some things from what the RX 480 did right.
- Runs many modern games at medium settings
- Gets regular driver updates
- Good for esports titles
- Can handle 1080p gaming
- Works well for media tasks
- It is still suitable for basic VR
Also Read: AMD RX 6700 XT vs NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti: The Ultimate 2024 GPU Comparison
Wrapping UP
The RX 480 showed us that excellent gaming doesn’t have to come at a high price tag. It played games well and was still budget-friendly. Even in 2025, its impact on GPU design can still be felt. It brought PC gaming to more people. When buying a graphics card today, remember what made the RX 480 great – good gaming power at a reasonable price. This card proves that the most outstanding value isn’t always in the most expensive options!
