AMD Radeon R9 280X vs AMD Radeon R9 380X

These two cards score identically in our gaming index. The decision comes down to VRAM, power draw and price.

Dead heat — both cards score 11/100
Specification AMD Radeon R9 280X AMD Radeon R9 380X
Performance score 11/100 11/100
Tier D D
VRAM 3 GB 4 GB
Power draw (TDP) 250 W 190 W
Launch MSRP $299 $229
Performance per $100 3.7 4.8
Release year 2013 2015
DLSS — No — No
FSR ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
XeSS — No — No
Ray tracing — No — No

Which should you buy?

Performance is a tie, so the tie-breakers below decide it. The AMD Radeon R9 380X carries more VRAM (4GB vs 3GB), which matters at 1440p and above and for texture-heavy titles. The AMD Radeon R9 380X draws 60W less, so it is easier on your power supply and case cooling — check the PSU calculator before committing. On launch pricing, the AMD Radeon R9 380X offers better performance per dollar.