AMD Radeon RX 480From real comments

Verdict distilled from 38 mentions across 10 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment74%
PROS 74%
CONS 26%

Rank based on 38 mentions across 10 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a proven, cheap secondhand 1080p card for budget or first-time builds
  • You mainly play older or less demanding titles that don't need newest drivers
  • You value a track record of years of reliable gaming performance

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need official driver support for the newest games (ended Oct 2023)
  • You're sensitive to fan noise or run demanding games that push it to high temps
  • You need guaranteed PCIe-spec-compliant power draw for a sensitive motherboard

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
PowerColor RX 6800
Cool, quiet cooling performanceSleek, understated build qualityLow power consumptionHigh prices during shortageCoil whine on some unitsFan durability concerns long-term
PowerColor RX 6800
Cool, quiet cooling performance
Sleek, understated build quality
Low power consumption
High prices during shortage
Coil whine on some units
Fan durability concerns long-term
Best value
2Budget
Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti
Exceptional longevitySolid 1080p performanceGood upgrade path from old GPUsLimited to lower/medium settings for demanding gamesNot top-tier performanceFan/cooler reliability over time
Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti
Exceptional longevity
Solid 1080p performance
Good upgrade path from old GPUs
Limited to lower/medium settings for demanding games
Not top-tier performance
Fan/cooler reliability over time
3Premium
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Exceptional longevityStrong 1440p gaming performanceGreat used market valueEventually needs replacement in demanding gamesLacks modern feature setThermal paste degradation over time
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Exceptional longevity
Strong 1440p gaming performance
Great used market value
Eventually needs replacement in demanding games
Lacks modern feature set
Thermal paste degradation over time
4Mid
Nvidia GeForce GTX 660
Strong 1080p gaming performanceExcellent value for moneyLong-term reliability and longevityBrand-specific fan noise concernsLimited VRAM versus competitorsOccasional driver/compatibility issues
Nvidia GeForce GTX 660
Strong 1080p gaming performance
Excellent value for money
Long-term reliability and longevity
Brand-specific fan noise concerns
Limited VRAM versus competitors
Occasional driver/compatibility issues
5Mid
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
Strong 1080p/1440p performancePerformance comparable to GTX 1070/1070Ti at lower priceLong-term reliability and aging wellHigh price for a mid-range card12GB variant seen as poor value or confusingLimited 6GB VRAM
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
Strong 1080p/1440p performance
Performance comparable to GTX 1070/1070Ti at lower price
Long-term reliability and aging well
High price for a mid-range card
12GB variant seen as poor value or confusing
Limited 6GB VRAM
6Budget
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
No external power connector neededGreat for small form factor and HTPC buildsLater became a good value due to shortagesPoor value versus RX 570Overpriced at launchRegional price disparities make it worse value
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
No external power connector needed
Great for small form factor and HTPC builds
Later became a good value due to shortages
Poor value versus RX 570
Overpriced at launch
Regional price disparities make it worse value
7Mid
PNY RTX 5070 Ti
Near-MSRP pricing and dealsCool operating temperaturesQuiet operation for most unitsCoil whine / fan noise on some unitsConfusing naming schemeNew 12-pin power connector adoption concerns
PNY RTX 5070 Ti
Near-MSRP pricing and deals
Cool operating temperatures
Quiet operation for most units
Coil whine / fan noise on some units
Confusing naming scheme
New 12-pin power connector adoption concerns
8Mid
PNY RTX 5070
Frequently available at or near MSRPStrong performance upgrade from older GPUsRuns cool and quiet, undervolts wellCoil whine or fan noise on some units12GB VRAM may limit future-proofingVoltage locked, limiting overclocking on some units
PNY RTX 5070
Frequently available at or near MSRP
Strong performance upgrade from older GPUs
Runs cool and quiet, undervolts well
Coil whine or fan noise on some units
12GB VRAM may limit future-proofing
Voltage locked, limiting overclocking on some units
9Budget
Nvidia GeForce GTX 750
Solid 1080p performanceExcellent budget valueExceptional longevityStruggles with demanding modern gamesCooling wear over yearsDriver instability
Nvidia GeForce GTX 750
Solid 1080p performance
Excellent budget value
Exceptional longevity
Struggles with demanding modern games
Cooling wear over years
Driver instability
10Budget
Zotac GTX 1650
Low power draw
Zotac GTX 1650
Low power draw
You are here
31Budget
AMD Radeon RX 480
Excellent long-term valueLong-lasting performanceHandles modern and demanding games wellOverheating and thermal throttling on some unitsUnderwhelming vs pre-launch hypeLoud fan noise under load
AMD Radeon RX 480
Excellent long-term value
Long-lasting performance
Handles modern and demanding games well
Overheating and thermal throttling on some units
Underwhelming vs pre-launch hype
Loud fan noise under load

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Exceptional long-term value for the price. Commenters repeatedly highlight how cheaply they acquired the RX 480 (as low as £15-£60 or $35-40) and how long it kept delivering smooth 1080p gaming, sometimes into 2025. Several used it in budget flips or first PC builds, and one skipped PSU upgrades. This value narrative, spanning nearly a decade of use, is the card's clearest strength according to buyers.

Thermal and noise behavior is inconsistent across units. Some owners report calm operation at 35-41C idle and 70-83C load with quiet fans even at max RPM, while others describe 80-90C loads with fans screaming at 90-100% and visible stutter/freezing above 70C. A few blame Adrenalin driver updates resetting to auto profiles causing throttling, and one questioned whether mismatched RX 580 drivers or bad thermal paste were the culprit.

Driver support cutoff limits its future usefulness. Multiple commenters note the last driver update landed in October 2023, meaning newer releases like Palworld and Helldivers 2 aren't officially supported, though some still got Helldivers 2 running after flashing an RX 580 BIOS. This capped support, combined with one comment about power draw exceeding PCIe spec, is a recurring concern for anyone wanting a future-proof budget option.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?