The AMD Radeon RX 590 Review, feat. XFX & PowerColor: Polaris Returns (Again)
by Nate Oh on November 15, 2018 9:00 AM ESTAshes of the Singularity: Escalation (DX12)
A veteran from both our 2016 and 2017 game lists, Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation remains the DirectX 12 trailblazer, with developer Oxide Games tailoring and designing the Nitrous Engine around such low-level APIs. The game makes the most of DX12's key features, from asynchronous compute to multi-threaded work submission and high batch counts. And with full Vulkan support, Ashes provides a good common ground between the forward-looking APIs of today. Its built-in benchmark tool is still one of the most versatile ways of measuring in-game workloads in terms of output data, automation, and analysis; by offering such a tool publicly and as part-and-parcel of the game, it's an example that other developers should take note of.
Settings and methodology remain identical from its usage in the 2016 GPU suite. To note, we are utilizing the original Ashes Extreme graphical preset, which compares to the current one with MSAA dialed down from x4 to x2, as well as adjusting Texture Rank (MipsToRemove in settings.ini).
With Ashes, the RX 590 performance uplift over the RX 580 pays off in terms of beating its main competition, the GTX 1060 6GB. The lead is slim enough, however, that custom GTX 1060 6GB cards could easily make up the difference. With the price premium the RX 590 has over the GTX 1060 6GB, the reference GeForce is a little too close for comfort.
While not particularly known as a VRAM-eater, Ashes at 1440p brings down the GTX 960 and its anemic 2GB framebuffer, though it wouldn't be managing playable framerates anyhow.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
136 Comments
View All Comments
eva02langley - Thursday, November 15, 2018 - link
Who the hell is using SFX?There is plenty of small form factor case using regular ATX standard.
Unless you use Silverstone cases, SFX is not even a matter.
JoeyJoJo123 - Thursday, November 15, 2018 - link
I am using a Silverstone case and a SFX power supply. Not that either of the two matter in regards to an RX590 announcement.duploxxx - Friday, November 16, 2018 - link
hard to find any psu below 500w these days....Gasaraki88 - Thursday, November 15, 2018 - link
Unless the 1060 GDDR5X version comes out... which is soon.eva02langley - Thursday, November 15, 2018 - link
GDDR5X is only having an impact at higher resolutions than 1080p... which the 1060 GTX is clearly not aiming at.eva02langley - Thursday, November 15, 2018 - link
Exactly, this is selling at the same price as a 1060 GTX and offer a game bundle, it is brainless and right before christmas.Unlike a lot of people here, I think it is the best new card of the year. RTX was such a disaster and especially more with BF5 benchmarks.
ragenalien - Thursday, November 15, 2018 - link
Still viable for smaller cases that have stricter heat requirements.Uelmo - Thursday, November 15, 2018 - link
I bought my GTX titan X I bought in mid 2016 for cheaper than current price rtx 2080 ti , it's sad that GPU advancement has slowed , my card can still good with best :(goatfajitas - Thursday, November 15, 2018 - link
Boy oh boy, if AMD keeps pushing like this by next year they will be as fast as Nvidia was in 2016.mapesdhs - Thursday, November 15, 2018 - link
Problem is, far too many gamers just don't buy AMD even when they do have something genuinely competitive or objectively better. Many people use them merely as a means of buying a cheaper NVIDIA option when the latter drops its prices. I've even seen people say such dumb things as they hope AMD will release something good so they can buy a cheaper NVIDIA card. With such a consumer mindset, there's no incentive for AMD to target the high end at all. AMD are going after the mainstream, which is where the volume is. If they can do well there then they can build the brand recognition and aim higher later.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guK2XoFbPFw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USMlET3L7mA