AMD made waves at the Computex 2016 after they launched their very own architecture, the Polaris. With it, they have chosen to include a new graphics card called the RX 480, the first-ever Polaris-based GPU and has a $200 price tag.
According to a press release on AMD's official website, the RX 480 will be released on June 29. A lot of fans are anticipating this release since it offers optimal performance for its price tag. Comparing it to AMD's previous lineup, the R9, the newest Polaris-based GPU will theoretically boost a PC's graphic performance, especially for virtual reality, without burning a hole in people's wallets.
After all, the AMD Polaris is made using the FinFET manufacturing process, which shrinks its size to 14nm. This implies that this GPU will boast better performance and improved power efficiency. Furthermore, RX 480 uses some of the features native to AMD's previous generation cards. Also, it gives users more versatility since it comes in two variations: either 4GB or 8GB VRAM card. It does have more steam processors compared to the R9 380 though, and it even has a 216MHz core clock improvements compared to the R9 390X.
This GPU still has a lot of unknown specs, but it will have a 256-bit memory bus width running on an 8Gbps memory clock, according to PC Advisor. With that in mind, the RX 480 could be considered to be the successor to the R9 380 GPU, but performance-wise it's still in between the R9 390 and R9 380.
But in the end, aside from its median price, the AMD Polaris GPU's improved VR capabilities are another reason for the fans' excitement over its release. But considering the fact that this GPU still has entry-level specs, most enthusiasts await AMD to release even higher-performing cards that would finally put the R9 series to bed.
