AMD Radeon RX 560 4GB Review: 1080p Gaming On The Cheap

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Asus ROG Strix Radeon RX 560 4GB Gaming OC Edition

Specifications

Asus uses the same matte graphite shroud that we've seen on its previous models. It's not particularly conservative, but it doesn't jump out at you either. A back-lit logo is perhaps the most eye-catching highlight, and you're able to control its color output via software. There are also a couple of stickers in Asus' bundle for adding flair, if you feel like tacking them on.

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There’s no backplate, which we find a little surprising given this particular card's price tag (expect to pay ~$150, whereas the least-expensive Radeon RX 560s sell for $130).

A six-pin power connector is found on the card's top edge, all the way at its back.

The thermal solution's cooling fins are oriented vertically, meaning waste heat is directed down toward your motherboard and out to the side of your case. Fortunately, Polaris 11 isn't a particularly hot GPU.

Display outputs include one DP 1.4 connector, an HDMI 2.0 interface, and one DVI port, all three of which can be used simultaneously. DVI is fine, though it's really falling out of vogue. We imagine it makes the most sense on an entry-level graphics card like this one that might go into a lower-end machine without a brand new monitor.

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Board and Power Supply

Asus uses a custom PCB sporting 4+1 power phases. Its design looks a little unconventional from the front and back. Case in point, the memory's VRM is over there on top-right, below the six-pin power connector.

On the back and behind AMD's GPU, you'll find a number of surface-mount components that generate a significant thermal hot-spot in our infrared images. The BIOS is in the same vicinity, and it heats up quite a bit as well.

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GPU Power Supply
PWM ControllerDigi+ EPURealtekASP1206

VRMM3056MUBIQHigh-side1x per phaseM3054MUBIQLow-side2x per phaseN-channel MOSFETs

CoilsSAP IISuper Alloy PowerFerrite Core Chokes

Memory Modules & Power SupplyMemory ModulesH5GC8H24MJR-ROCSK hynix 4x 8Gb module7 Gb/s

PWM ControlleruP1540uPI SemiconductorSynchronous-rectified Buck converterSingle-phase

VRMM3056MUBIQHigh-sideM3054MUBIQLow-sideN-channel MOSFETs

CoilsSAP IISuper Alloy PowerFerrite Core Chokes

Other ComponentsFan Controller8915FNITEFan controlMonitoring

BIOSWinbond 25X20Kynix SemiconductorEEPROMBIOS

Other FeaturesAdditional Features- 1x six-pin auxiliary power connector- Regulated fan connection for case fan


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Chris Angelini
Chris Angelini
Chris Angelini is an Editor Emeritus at Tom's Hardware US. He edits hardware reviews and covers high-profile CPU and GPU launches.
25 Comments Comment from the forums
  • firerod1
    Cute the price of the 560 by 20$ than it will work.
    Reply
  • RomeoReject
    Cutting it by $20 would make it a $100 card. They'd likely be losing money at that price point.
    Reply
  • firerod1
    20235344 said:
    Cutting it by $20 would make it a $100 card. They'd likely be losing money at that price point.

    I meant this card since it’s 1050 ti price while offering 1050 performance.
    Reply
  • cryoburner
    ...we couldn’t wait to see how Radeon RX 560 improved upon it.

    Is that why you waited almost half a year to review the card? :3
    Reply
  • shrapnel_indie
    20235672 said:
    ...we couldn’t wait to see how Radeon RX 560 improved upon it.

    Is that why you waited almost half a year to review the card? :3

    Did you read the review?

    At the beginning of the conclusion:
    The pace at which new hardware hit our lab this summer meant we couldn’t review all of AMD’s Radeon RX 500-series cards consecutively.
    Reply
  • Wisecracker
    4GB on the Radeon RX 560 = "Mining Card"

    The minimal arch (even with the extra CUs) can't use 4GB for gaming like the big brother 570. The 2GB RX 560 even trades blows with its 4GB twin, along with the 2GB GTX 1050, at the $110-$120 price point for the gamer bunch.

    Leave the RX 560 4GB for the "Entrepreneurial Capitalist" crowd ...

    Reply
  • bit_user
    I think your power dissipation for the 1050 Ti is wrong. While I'm sure some OC'd model use more, there are 1050 Ti's with 75 W TDP.

    Also, I wish the RX 560 came in a low-profile version, like the RX 460 did (and the GTX 1050 Ti does). This excludes it from certain applications. It's the most raw compute available at that price & power dissipation.
    Reply
  • senzffm123
    correct, i got one of those 1050 TI with 75 W TDP in my rig, doesnt have a power connector as well. hell of a card!
    Reply
  • turkey3_scratch
    My RX 460 I bought for $120 back in the day (well, not that far back). There were some for $90 I remember, too. Seems like just an RX 460. Well, it is basically an RX 460.
    Reply
  • jdwii
    Man Amd what is up with your GPU division for the first time ever letting Nvidia walk all over you in performance per dollar, performance per watt and overall performance, this is very sad.

    Whatever Amd is doing with their architecture and leadership in the GPU division needs to change. I can't even think of a time 2 years ago and before where nvidia ever offered a better value.
    Reply