The GTX 970 vs RX 590 comparison remains interesting for gamers building or upgrading an older budget gaming PC. Both graphics cards belong to an earlier generation, but they were designed with slightly different priorities. NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 970 became one of the most popular Maxwell GPUs thanks to its strong efficiency and excellent 1080p performance, while AMD’s Radeon RX 590 arrived later with higher clock speeds and a larger 8GB VRAM capacity aimed at demanding 1080p gaming.
On paper, the RX 590 has several advantages, particularly its 8GB memory, higher memory bandwidth, and generally stronger raw performance. The GTX 970, however, is considerably more power-efficient and can still provide respectable performance in older esports and AAA games.
For anyone considering either card on the used market, the choice is not simply about which GPU is faster. Price, power supply requirements, VRAM, game compatibility, condition, and expected resolution all matter. This GTX 970 vs RX 590 guide compares their specifications, gaming performance, features, power consumption, advantages, disadvantages, and overall value to determine which card makes more sense today.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison Table
Before looking at gaming performance, it helps to compare the fundamental specifications of the GTX 970 and RX 590. The two GPUs use very different architectures and have notable differences in VRAM capacity, power consumption, and theoretical performance.
| Feature | NVIDIA GTX 970 | AMD RX 590 |
| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 | Polaris |
| GPU Process | 28nm | 12nm |
| CUDA/Stream Processors | 1,664 CUDA Cores | 2,304 Stream Processors |
| Base Clock | Around 1050 MHz | Around 1469 MHz |
| Boost Clock | Around 1178 MHz | Around 1545 MHz |
| VRAM | 4GB GDDR5 | 8GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 8 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 256 GB/s |
| Typical Board Power | Around 145W | Around 175–185W |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
| Ray Tracing | No hardware RT | No hardware RT |
| Recommended Resolution | 1080p | 1080p |
| Launch Generation | 2014 | 2018 |
| Main Strength | Efficiency | Raw performance and VRAM |
The RX 590 is the newer card and provides twice as much VRAM, higher memory bandwidth, and stronger raw processing capability. The GTX 970 counters with significantly lower power consumption and strong efficiency for its age.
Quick Highlights Table
The following table summarizes the most important differences for gamers who want a quick answer before reading the detailed comparison.
| Category | Winner | Why |
| Overall Gaming Performance | RX 590 | Usually delivers higher 1080p performance |
| VRAM | RX 590 | 8GB vs 4GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | RX 590 | 256 GB/s vs 224 GB/s |
| Power Efficiency | GTX 970 | Lower power consumption |
| Older Game Performance | GTX 970 / Tie | Excellent performance in many older titles |
| Modern 1080p Gaming | RX 590 | Extra VRAM helps in newer games |
| Esports Gaming | RX 590 | Generally higher raw performance |
| Thermals | GTX 970 | Lower power draw can simplify cooling |
| Used-Market Value | Depends on Price | Condition and local pricing matter |
| Overall | RX 590 | Better performance and longer VRAM headroom |
Key Takeaways
The GTX 970 vs RX 590 battle is relatively straightforward when the cards are evaluated strictly on hardware capability. The RX 590 generally comes out ahead, but the GTX 970 remains attractive for low-power systems and inexpensive used builds.
- RX 590 is generally faster in traditional 1080p gaming.
- 8GB VRAM gives the RX 590 a major advantage over the GTX 970’s 4GB.
- GTX 970 consumes less power, making it easier to run in modest systems.
- Both GPUs are primarily suited to 1080p gaming.
- Neither card has hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
- The RX 590’s additional VRAM can reduce texture-related limitations in newer games.
- The GTX 970 remains capable in older AAA games and esports titles.
- For a new purchase, used-market price and condition are extremely important.
- If both cards cost roughly the same, the RX 590 is usually the better gaming choice.
- For a low-power PC, the GTX 970 can still make sense.
Gaming Performance
Gaming performance is the most important part of the GTX 970 vs RX 590 comparison. Both GPUs were designed primarily for 1080p gaming, although their age means expectations should be realistic when running modern games.
In many traditional rasterized games, the RX 590 has the performance advantage. Its Polaris architecture features 2,304 stream processors, higher clock speeds, and 8GB of GDDR5 memory running across a 256-bit interface. This combination gives it strong performance for its class.
The GTX 970 is based on NVIDIA’s Maxwell architecture and features 1,664 CUDA cores. Despite its lower specification count, Maxwell was highly efficient, and the GTX 970 delivered impressive performance when it launched.
At 1080p with medium-to-high settings, both cards can still perform well in older games. The RX 590 typically maintains a stronger position when the workload becomes more demanding, particularly when games use more than 4GB of VRAM.
For esports games and older competitive titles, the difference may not always matter. Games such as older versions of Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Dota 2, and similar competitive titles can run comfortably on either card when paired with a capable CPU.
Modern AAA games are a different story. The RX 590’s 8GB VRAM gives it more breathing room, while the GTX 970’s 4GB memory can become a significant limitation when using high-resolution textures.
1080p Gaming Performance
For 1080p gaming, both GPUs remain usable, but the RX 590 is generally the stronger option.
The GTX 970 can still provide smooth gameplay in many older titles using high settings. However, newer games may require reduced texture quality, shadows, effects, or overall graphical presets.
The RX 590 benefits from its 8GB memory capacity. Even when the GPU itself is not powerful enough to maintain very high frame rates, having more VRAM can help prevent severe texture-loading problems and reduce situations where memory capacity becomes the primary limitation.
That does not mean every game will automatically run faster on the RX 590. Performance depends heavily on the game’s engine and driver optimization. However, as a general-purpose 1080p card, the RX 590 has more useful headroom.
For gamers targeting 60 FPS at 1080p in older and moderately demanding games, either card can still be viable. For newer releases, the RX 590 is preferable.
VRAM Comparison
VRAM is one of the biggest differences in the GTX 970 vs RX 590 matchup.
The GTX 970 comes with 4GB of GDDR5, while the RX 590 generally comes with 8GB. That difference is substantial for modern gaming.
Games increasingly use larger textures, more detailed environments, higher-quality shadows, and larger asset pools. Although raw GPU processing power remains important, insufficient VRAM can cause stuttering, texture-quality restrictions, and inconsistent frame delivery.
The GTX 970’s 4GB capacity was adequate for its original generation of games. Today, however, 4GB can be restrictive, particularly when attempting to use high texture settings.
The RX 590’s 8GB capacity does not transform it into a modern high-end GPU, but it provides considerably more memory headroom. This makes the card more comfortable for 1080p gaming with higher texture settings.
Winner: RX 590
Architecture and Technology
The GTX 970 uses NVIDIA’s Maxwell architecture, while the RX 590 uses AMD’s Polaris architecture.
Maxwell was designed with efficiency in mind. The GTX 970 became famous for delivering strong gaming performance while consuming relatively little power compared with many competing GPUs of its generation.
Polaris focused heavily on improving mainstream performance and efficiency compared with earlier AMD architectures. The RX 590 was essentially a higher-clocked refinement of the Polaris family.
Neither GPU supports modern hardware ray tracing. Neither should be purchased with the expectation of running current ray-traced games comfortably.
For traditional rasterized gaming, however, both remain functional older GPUs.
Memory Bandwidth
Memory bandwidth is another area where the RX 590 has an advantage.
The GTX 970 provides approximately 224 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the RX 590 reaches approximately 256 GB/s. Both use a 256-bit memory bus, but the RX 590’s faster memory provides greater theoretical bandwidth.
Higher memory bandwidth can help when a GPU is processing large textures and high-resolution assets. It is not a guarantee of better frame rates by itself, but it complements the RX 590’s larger VRAM capacity and higher processing capability.
Winner: RX 590
Power Consumption and Efficiency
This is where the GTX 970 fights back.
The GTX 970 has a typical board power around 145W, while RX 590 models generally consume around 175–185W depending on the specific implementation and clock configuration.
That means the RX 590 can place a greater load on the power supply and cooling system.
For a desktop with a decent power supply and adequate airflow, this is usually manageable. However, users building compact or low-power systems may prefer the GTX 970.
The GTX 970’s efficiency was one of its biggest strengths when it launched, and it remains relevant for used systems today.
Winner: GTX 970
Thermal Performance and Cooling
Temperature performance depends heavily on the specific manufacturer model.
A GTX 970 with a large dual-fan or triple-fan cooler can operate at reasonable temperatures while maintaining relatively low power consumption. The RX 590 can also be cooled effectively, but its higher power draw means the cooler has more heat to dissipate.
Used GPUs introduce another concern: age.
A graphics card from this generation may have several years of operating time behind it. Dust buildup, degraded thermal paste, worn fan bearings, and previous overclocking can affect temperatures.
When buying either card used, inspect the cooler, fans, PCB condition, and reported temperatures rather than assuming every model performs identically.
Driver and Software Considerations
Both GPUs are old enough that driver support and game compatibility deserve consideration.
The GTX 970 benefited from NVIDIA’s mature driver ecosystem and was extremely popular, meaning a large number of games were optimized around Maxwell hardware.
The RX 590 also benefited from AMD’s long-standing driver support for Polaris.
However, neither GPU should be considered an ideal choice for someone seeking the latest graphics technologies. Newer GPUs provide substantially better support for modern rendering features, hardware encoders, AI-assisted technologies, and ray tracing.
For an inexpensive second-hand gaming PC, though, software support is still sufficient for many games.
Esports Gaming
Esports games are generally less demanding than modern AAA titles, making both GPUs capable options.
At 1080p, the GTX 970 can produce high frame rates in many competitive games when paired with a reasonably powerful processor.
The RX 590 typically has the advantage in raw GPU performance, but the practical difference may be less noticeable if the game is CPU-limited.
For competitive players using a high-refresh-rate monitor, the RX 590 is generally preferable if prices are close. However, neither card should be considered an ideal solution for pushing extremely high frame rates in every modern esports title.
Productivity and Content Creation
These GPUs were designed primarily for gaming, but they can still handle basic GPU-accelerated workloads.
The GTX 970 can be useful for older versions of video-editing and 3D applications that support CUDA acceleration. NVIDIA’s CUDA ecosystem can be particularly useful in applications that specifically favor CUDA.
The RX 590, meanwhile, provides more VRAM, which can benefit certain workloads involving larger assets.
For professional content creation, however, both cards are dated. Modern GPUs offer significantly better encoding performance, compute capabilities, AI acceleration, and application support.
If your primary workload is professional video production, 3D rendering, or AI, neither should be your first choice unless the budget is extremely limited.
Streaming Performance
Streaming capabilities also favor newer GPU generations.
The GTX 970 can handle basic game streaming, but its hardware encoder is significantly older than what is found on current NVIDIA GPUs.
The RX 590 can also support hardware-assisted video encoding, but it does not provide the modern feature set or efficiency available on newer graphics cards.
For occasional 1080p streaming, either card can work with an appropriate CPU and streaming configuration. For serious content creators, upgrading to a newer GPU is strongly recommended.
Power Supply Requirements
Power supply requirements are important when buying either card second-hand.
A GTX 970 generally works well with a quality power supply in the roughly 500W range, depending on the rest of the system and the specific card.
An RX 590 can benefit from a stronger quality PSU because of its higher power consumption. A reputable 500–550W or higher unit is often a sensible pairing depending on the CPU and rest of the hardware.
The most important point is not simply wattage. PSU quality matters. An old or low-quality power supply can create instability regardless of which GPU you choose.
Used-Market Buying Considerations
Because both GPUs are several generations old, buying used requires more caution than buying a new graphics card.
Check the following before purchasing:
- Ask for real gaming or stress-test temperatures.
- Verify that all fans operate correctly.
- Look for excessive dust or corrosion.
- Check whether the card has been heavily overclocked.
- Test display outputs if possible.
- Watch for crashes, artifacts, or driver resets.
- Ask whether the card was previously used for cryptocurrency mining.
- Compare the price with newer used GPUs before buying.
A cheap GTX 970 may be a better deal than an expensive RX 590, even though the RX 590 is technically faster.
Likewise, an RX 590 with excellent cooling and a clean history may be worth paying more for because of its 8GB VRAM.
Pros & Cons
When comparing the GTX 970 vs RX 590, each card has a clear set of strengths and weaknesses. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize performance, VRAM, efficiency, or price.
GTX 970 Pros
- Strong 1080p performance in older games
- Lower power consumption
- Good performance-per-watt for its generation
- Mature NVIDIA driver ecosystem
- Excellent used-market availability
- Good option for inexpensive gaming PCs
- Often suitable for systems with modest power supplies
GTX 970 Cons
- Only 4GB of VRAM
- Older Maxwell architecture
- Limited suitability for modern AAA games
- No hardware ray tracing
- Less future-proof than the RX 590
- Used cards can have significant age-related wear
RX 590 Pros
- Stronger overall 1080p gaming performance
- 8GB VRAM
- Higher memory bandwidth
- Better suited to games requiring more VRAM
- Good value when found at a low used price
- Strong performance in traditional rasterized gaming
RX 590 Cons
- Higher power consumption
- More heat output
- Requires a stronger cooling solution
- Older architecture
- No hardware ray tracing
- Used models can suffer from fan or thermal issues
Buying Recommendations
Choosing between the GTX 970 and RX 590 depends heavily on your system and budget.
Choose the RX 590 If You Want Better Gaming Performance
If both cards are similarly priced, the RX 590 is the better choice for most gamers.
Its 8GB VRAM provides substantially more headroom than the GTX 970’s 4GB. The additional memory can be particularly useful in games with large textures.
The RX 590 also tends to deliver higher raw performance in many traditional 1080p workloads.
Choose the GTX 970 If Power Efficiency Matters
If your system has a modest PSU or limited cooling, the GTX 970 is attractive.
Its lower power consumption can make it easier to integrate into an older PC without upgrading the entire power and cooling system.
It is also a good option if you primarily play older games and esports titles.
Choose Based on Price When Buying Used
Price can completely change the recommendation.
If you find a GTX 970 for significantly less money than an RX 590, it can still be an excellent budget purchase.
If the two cards are close in price, the RX 590’s 8GB VRAM and stronger performance make it the more sensible option.
However, never ignore condition. A well-maintained GTX 970 can be a better purchase than a heavily abused RX 590.
Final Verdict
The GTX 970 vs RX 590 comparison ultimately favors the RX 590 for most gaming scenarios.
The RX 590 offers stronger raw performance, 8GB of VRAM, and higher memory bandwidth. These advantages make it better suited for 1080p gaming, particularly when newer games require more memory.
The GTX 970 remains competitive in older titles and offers one major advantage: efficiency. Its lower power consumption makes it appealing for budget systems with limited cooling or modest power supplies.
For gamers choosing between equally priced and similarly conditioned cards, the RX 590 is the better overall choice. Its extra VRAM is especially important for extending the useful life of an older gaming system.
However, neither card should be considered a long-term modern gaming solution. If your budget allows, a newer GPU will provide substantially better performance, efficiency, driver longevity, and modern graphics features.
For a very cheap used gaming PC, though, the RX 590 remains the winner of this matchup.
FAQs
Q1: Is the RX 590 faster than the GTX 970?
Ans: Yes. The RX 590 is generally faster than the GTX 970 in traditional 1080p gaming. Its higher clock speeds, additional processing resources, and greater memory bandwidth give it an overall performance advantage.
Q2: Is GTX 970 better than RX 590 for gaming?
Ans: Generally, no. The RX 590 is the better gaming GPU when both cards are in similar condition and priced similarly. The GTX 970’s main advantage is its lower power consumption and strong performance in older games.
Q3: Is 8GB RX 590 better than 4GB GTX 970?
Ans: For most modern 1080p gaming workloads, yes. The RX 590’s 8GB VRAM provides considerably more memory headroom than the GTX 970’s 4GB. This can help with higher-quality textures and newer games.
Q4: Can GTX 970 run modern games at 1080p?
Ans: Yes, but settings may need to be reduced depending on the game. The GTX 970 remains capable of running many games at 1080p, but its 4GB VRAM and older architecture can limit performance in newer demanding titles.
Q5: Can RX 590 run 1080p games?
Ans: Yes. The RX 590 is primarily suited to 1080p gaming and can deliver good performance in many older and moderately demanding games. Newer AAA titles may require medium or lower settings.
Q6: Which uses less power, GTX 970 or RX 590?
Ans: The GTX 970 uses less power. Its typical board power is around 145W, while RX 590 cards commonly consume around 175–185W depending on the model and clock configuration.
Q7: Should I buy a GTX 970 or RX 590 in 2026?
Ans: If both cards are similarly priced and in similar condition, choose the RX 590 because of its higher performance and 8GB VRAM. Choose the GTX 970 if it is substantially cheaper or if lower power consumption is more important to you.
Short Conclusion
The GTX 970 vs RX 590 matchup shows how much GPU technology has changed over the years. The GTX 970 remains an efficient and capable option for older 1080p gaming, while the RX 590 provides better overall performance and twice the VRAM. For most budget gamers, the RX 590 is the stronger choice when prices are close. Its 8GB memory and higher performance give it more flexibility, while the GTX 970 remains appealing for low-power and inexpensive builds.
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