Here is a 2500+ word blog post on the 10 best alternatives to an RX 580 graphics card:
Released in 2017, the Radeon RX 580 was AMD‘s upgraded version of the popular RX 480 graphics card, featuring refined Polaris architecture tweaks for slightly higher clock speeds and improved power efficiency.
With a host of impressive alternatives now available five years later, RX 580 owners may be looking to upgrade their system‘s graphics horsepower. This guide will cover 10 excellent alternatives to consider in early 2023.
But before diving into the alternatives, let‘s quickly recap the RX 580‘s history and specs.
The RX 580: A Brief History and Overview
Unveiled on April 18, 2017, the Radeon RX 580 was part of AMD‘s Radeon 500 series lineup built on the 4th generation of the company‘s GCN (Graphics Core Next) architecture.
Specifically, the Radeon RX 580 cards utilized either AMD‘s Polaris 20 or Polaris 30 GPUs. The card shipped in both 4GB and 8GB GDDR5 memory options.
Compared to the previous RX 480, architecture tweaks improved thermals by around 10% while increasing clock speeds from 1,120MHz base and 1,266MHz boost clocks to 1,257MHz base and 1,340MHz boost clocks in the reference RX 580 models.
In terms of competition, the RX 580 directly went up against NVIDIA‘s GeForce GTX 1060 6GB card, battling it out in the value-focused 1080p gaming segment at launch. Let‘s see how they compare in a spec overview:
AMD Radeon RX 580 Specs:
- 2,304 Stream Processors
- 256-bit Memory Bus
- 4GB or 8GB GDDR5 VRAM
- Up to 1,340MHz Boost Clock
- 185W Power Consumption
So in a nutshell, the RX 580 delivered very strong 1080p performance in a power-efficient package upon release in 2017.
But what if you‘re looking to upgrade your aging RX 580 today with one of the latest and greatest GPU offerings? This guide covers 10 excellent alternatives worth considering in 2023.
10 Top-Notch Alternatives to an RX 580 Graphics Card
When researching replacements to the RX 580, there are a few important factors I considered for each recommendation:
- Performance Improvements: How much faster is the alternative compared to RX 580?
- Efficiency & Cooling: Does the card run cooler and quieter than RX 580?
- Special Features: Ray tracing? AI-Enhanced rendering? What unique capabilities are enabled?
- Value Proposition: Does the price match the performance and feature set?
Keeping those facets in mind, these are my top 10 alternatives to consider upgrading to from an aging RX 580:
1. NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti
Release Date: December 2020
Key Specs:
- 4,864 CUDA Cores
- 256-bit Bus Interface
- 8GB GDDR6 Memory
- 1.67GHz Boost Clock
Pros:
- Up to 70% faster performance over RX 580
- Excellent ray tracing support
- DLSS delivers up to 2X frame rate boost
- Quiet and efficient cooling
Cons
- Ray tracing impact on frame rates
- Can be hard to find at MSRP
If you‘re looking to maximize gaming performance with ray tracing enabled, the RTX 3060 Ti is a superb upgrade choice over the RX 580. Delivering buttery smooth 1440p gaming, the 3060 Ti offers over 2X the raw horsepower. Plus you gain access to NVIDIA-exclusive features like DLSS frame rate boosting and advanced ray tracing support.
The one catch is actually finding an RTX 3060 Ti at its $399 MSRP with supply constraints still persisting in early 2023. But its excellent combination of 1080p/1440p gaming prowess earns its spot as my top recommendation coming from an RX 580.
2. AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
Release Date: March 2021
Key Specs:
- 2,560 Stream Processors
- 192-bit Bus Interface
- 12GB GDDR6 Memory
- Up to 2,581MHz Game Clock
Pros:
- Up to 94% faster than RX 580
- Great 1440p gaming performance
- 12GB VRAM for future-proofing
- More efficient than RX 580
Cons:
- No equivalent to DLSS
- Ray tracing impact on frame rates
AMD‘s Radeon RX 6700 XT delivers a giant generational leap over the RX 580, nearly doubling its gaming performance. Leveraging AMD‘s advanced RDNA 2 architecture and speedy 12GB memory, the 6700 XT is an exceptional 1440p gaming card.
It lacks NVIDIA‘s proprietary DLSS and more optimized ray tracing features. But for sheer rasterization horsepower, the RX 6700 XT is a stellar performer that handily outmuscles its RX 580 predecessor.
Gamers wanting cutting-edge visuals should still consider the RTX 3060 Ti. However, I give the edge here to the RX 6700 XT for its excellent value-to-performance ratio and future-proof 12GB VRAM buffer.
3. NVIDIA RTX 3060 (12GB)
Release Date: February 2021
Key Specs:
- 3,584 CUDA Cores
- 192-bit Bus Interface
- 12GB GDDR6 Memory
- 1.78GHz Boost Clock
Pros:
- Up to 2x faster than RX 580
- Solid 1440p gaming option
- DLSS and ray tracing support
- Quiet and power efficient
Cons:
- $50+ more than 6GB model
- Ray tracing impact on frame rates
Although it loses a small edge to AMD‘s 6700 XT in raw power, NVIDIA‘s RTX 3060 brings more well-rounded capabilities. Its tensor and RT cores enable advanced DLSS upscaling and ray tracing in the latest games where supported.
While the RTX 3060 takes a performance hit with ray tracing enabled, DLSS helps counterbalance the frame rate impact. For only $50 more than the 6GB 3060 model, you double your VRAM while gaining NVIDIA‘s software and hardware advantages.
4. AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT
Release Date: May 2022
Key Specs:
- 2,048 Stream Processors
- 128-bit Bus Interface
- Up to 4GB GDDR6 Memory
- Up to 2,635MHz Game Clock
Pros:
- Matches RTX 3060 performance
- Excellent 1080p/1440p gaming
- More VRAM than RTX 3050
- EfficientCooling
Cons:
- No DLSS equivalent
- Limited ray tracing support
As a newer mid-2022 release built on enhanced RDNA 2 architecture, the Radeon RX 6650 XT delivers RTX 3060-rivaling speed at an attractive $299 MSRP.
While you don‘t get DLSS or robust ray tracing features, the 6650 XT focuses its muscle on delivering maximum traditional rasterization throughput. If you play more competitive esports titles than cinematic AAA games, the RX 6650 XT warrants consideration.
5. NVIDIA RTX 3050
Release Date: January 2022
Key Specs:
- 2,048 CUDA Cores
- 128-bit Bus Interface
- 8GB GDDR6 Memory
- 1.78GHz Boost Clock
Pros:
- Up to 2x performance over RX 580
- Capable 1080p gaming card
- DLSS and ray tracing support
- Excellent power efficiency
Cons:
- Light ray tracing capabilities
- Can be hard to find at $249 MSRP
As NVIDIA‘s most affordable current-gen offering, the RTX 3050 brings Ampere architectural upgrades to the sub-$300 category. It doubles up on the RX 580‘s 1080p speeds while adding DLSS and basic ray tracing features.
Being limited to a 128-bit bus, the RTX 3050 does sacrifice some memory bandwidth. So it doesn‘t quite keep up with AMD‘s 6650 XT overall. But for around $50 less upfront, you gain DLSS/ray tracing access which helps compensate in games where supported.
6. AMD Radeon RX 6600
Release Date: October 2021
Key Specs:
- 1,792 Stream Processors
- 128-bit Bus Interface
- 8GB GDDR6 Memory
- 2,491MHz Game Clock
Pros:
- Up to 70% faster than RX 580 @ 1080p
- Capable 1080p gaming performance
- 8GB VRAM for buffer room
- Efficient cooling and acoustics
Cons:
- Lacks DLSS capabilities
- Light ray tracing support
Slotting in below the 6650 XT, the Radeon RX 6600 delivers very capable 1080p speeds while inclusion 8GBs of VRAM for plenty of triple-A texture headroom.
Its narrower bus compared to NVIDIA‘s competing RTX 3060 does lower memory bandwidth slightly. However, for top-tier 1080p gaming around the $250 mark, the RX 6600 warrants a hard look as an RX 580 replacement if you don‘t need robust ray tracing.
7. AMD Radeon RX 6400
Release Date: April 2022
Key Specs:
- 768 Stream Processors
- 64-bit Bus Interface
- 4GB GDDR6 Memory
- 2,491MHz Game Clock
Pros:
- Faster than GTX 1650
- Very affordable price point
- Low 55W power consumption
Cons:
- Light 1080p performer
- 64-bit bus bottleneck
- No display outputs
As AMD‘s cheapest current-gen offering, the Radeon RX 6400 is targeted squarely as an affordable esports GPU. Coming from an RX 580, you will sacrifice some triple-A gaming performance in exchange for a sub-$150 price tag.
However, the cut-down 6400 still outpaces NVIDIA‘s GTX 1650 thanks to RDNA 2 architectural enhancements while sipping just 55 watts of total board power. Just note the limitations of its axed display outputs and 64-bit bus, requiring a motherboard with PCIe 4.0 support to prevent bottlenecks.
8. NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU
Release Date: January 2022
Key Specs:
- 2,560 CUDA Cores
- 128-bit Bus Interface
- 4GB GDDR6 Memory
- 1,485MHz Boost Clock
Pros:
- Faster than RTX 3050 Desktop
- Capable 1080p gaming
- DLSS and basic ray tracing
- Good match for RX 580 speeds
Cons:
- Only available for laptops
- Lower VRAM than desktop model
An interesting wildcard pick, the RTX 3050 Ti mobile GPU outpaces the lower-end desktop RTX 3050 card thanks to its fuller GPU configuration and faster memory.
Paired with a decent Intel 12th-gen or AMD Ryzen 6000 mobile processor, the RTX 3050 Ti can match and even outpace the aging RX 580‘s speeds while bringing modern DLSS/ray tracing capabilities. If searching for an on-the-go upgrade, this GPU could fit the bill.
9. AMD Radeon RX 570
Release Date: April 2017
Key Specs:
- 2,048 Stream Processors
- 256-bit Bus Interface
- Up to 8GB GDDR5 Memory
- 1,244MHz Boost Clock
Pros:
- Nearly identical performance
- Same architecture as RX 580
- Lower power consumption
- Very affordable pricing
Cons:
- Minimally faster than RX 580
- Older architecture than other picks
Originally launching alongside the RX 580 itself, the Radeon RX 570 very closely matches its big brother‘s gaming performance. It sacrifices some clock speeds and shader counts in exchange for lower power draw and thermals.
Coming from an RX 580, an RX 570 would admittedly be a very minor generational upgrade strictly looking at frame rates. However, it remains a candidate solely for its exceptionally low sub-$150 pricing on the secondary market if seeking a cheap interim card before a bigger future upgrade.
10. NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super
Release Date: October 2019
Key Specs:
- 1,408 CUDA Cores
- 192-bit Bus Interface
- 6GB GDDR6 Memory
- 1,785 MHz Boost Clock
Pros:
- Slightly faster 1080p gaming
- More efficient than RX 580
- Ada Lovelace architecture preview
Cons:
- Last-gen Turing GPU
- No DLSS or ray tracing
Rounding out the list, the GTX 1660 Super still stands as a compelling 1080p gaming option over three years after launch. Thanks to its efficient Turing architecture and 6GB GDDR6 memory, it narrowly outpaces the RX 580 in most titles.
Lacking DLSS and ray tracing cores, the GTX 1660 Super is a last-gen holdout at this point. However, it remains moderately supply-constrained versus current RTX/Radeon options. If you need a cards-in-hand upgrade from RX 580, the 1660 Super Could still fill the void respectably until next-gen GPUs land.
Wrapping Up: RX 580 Upgraders Have Lots of Excellent Options
As this breakdown highlights, former RX 580 gamers have an impressive range of newer graphics cards to consider upgrading to in 2023 and beyond. The key is first narrowing your search around:
– Target Resolution: Are you still gaming at 1080p? Or Planning an upgrade to 1440p or 4K?
– Target Performance: Do you want to max out triple-A settings at 60+ FPS? Or chase even higher refresh rates?
– Target Features: Are staples like DLSS and ray tracing important to you? Or mostly raw rasterization speed?
– Budget Limitations: What spending threshold are you working within for a new GPU?
Once you define those variables, you can zero in on the best fitting alternative from this RX 580 replacement shortlist.
I hope this guide gives former Polaris graphics card owners a helpful headstart researching the many exciting upgrades now available! Feel free to comment with any other questions as you explore options.
