NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 vs AMD Radeon R9 290
The AMD Radeon R9 290 is the faster card by roughly 8%. Here is how the two compare across every spec that matters for gaming.
| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 | AMD Radeon R9 290 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance score | 13/100 | 14/100 |
| Tier | D | D |
| VRAM | 3 GB | 4 GB |
| Power draw (TDP) | 250 W | 275 W |
| Launch MSRP | $649 | $399 |
| Performance per $100 | 2.0 | 3.5 |
| Release year | 2013 | 2013 |
| DLSS | — No | — No |
| FSR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| XeSS | — No | — No |
| Ray tracing | — No | — No |
Which should you buy?
The AMD Radeon R9 290 is the stronger performer of the two, and it is the default choice if raw frame rate is what you care about. The AMD Radeon R9 290 carries more VRAM (4GB vs 3GB), which matters at 1440p and above and for texture-heavy titles. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 draws 25W 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 290 offers better performance per dollar.