GeForce 7900 GS vs Radeon HD 8490
GeForce 7900 GS
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Radeon HD 8490
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The GeForce 7900 GS is positioned at rank 692 and the Radeon HD 8490 is on rank 294, so the Radeon HD 8490 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 7900 GS
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 8490
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 8490 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.4% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (1 GB vs 256 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce 7900 GS.
| Insight | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.4%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / G9x (2007−2010)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+300%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 8490 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 8490 holds the technical lead. Priced at $35 (vs $50), it costs 30% less, resulting in a 43.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+43.4%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50) | ✅More affordable ($35) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce 7900 GS and Radeon HD 8490
GeForce 7900 GS
The GeForce 7900 GS is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 15 2008. It features the G9x architecture. The core clock speed is 500 MHz. It has 224 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 262 points.
Radeon HD 8490
The Radeon HD 8490 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 2 2009. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 850 MHz. It has 800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 263 points. Launch price was $249.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce 7900 GS scores 262 and the Radeon HD 8490 reaches 263 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 7900 GS is built on G9x while the Radeon HD 8490 uses TeraScale, both on 65 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 7900 GS) vs 800 (Radeon HD 8490).
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 262 | 263 |
| Architecture | G9x | TeraScale |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 55 nm |
| Shading Units | 224 | 800+257% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce 7900 GS comes with 256 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8490 has 1 GB. The Radeon HD 8490 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.25 GB | 1 GB+300% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 9.0c (GeForce 7900 GS) vs 11.2 (Radeon HD 8490). OpenGL: 2.1 vs 4.4. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 9.0c | 11.2+24% |
| OpenGL | 2.1 | 4.4+110% |
| Max Displays | 2 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: None (GeForce 7900 GS) vs UVD 3.1 (Radeon HD 8490). Decoder: PureVideo vs UVD 3.1. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,WMV9 (GeForce 7900 GS) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (Radeon HD 8490).
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | UVD 3.1 |
| Decoder | PureVideo | UVD 3.1 |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,WMV9 | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 7900 GS draws 150W versus the Radeon HD 8490's 190W — a 23.5% difference. The GeForce 7900 GS is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 7900 GS) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8490). Power connectors: Legacy vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 198mm vs 168mm, occupying 1 vs 1 slots.
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 150W-21% | 190W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 198mm | 168mm |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | 80 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 1.7+21% | 1.4 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce 7900 GS launched at $259 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the Radeon HD 8490 launched at $99 and now averages $35. The Radeon HD 8490 costs 30% less ($15 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 5.2 (GeForce 7900 GS) vs 7.5 (Radeon HD 8490) — the Radeon HD 8490 offers 44.2% better value. The Radeon HD 8490 is the newer GPU (2009 vs 2008).
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $259 | $99-62% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $35-30% |
| Performance per Dollar | 5.2 | 7.5+44% |
| Codename | NB9E-GTX | RV790 |
| Release | July 15 2008 | April 2 2009 |
| Ranking | #825 | #762 |
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