GeForce 9450 vs Radeon HD 7290
GeForce 9450
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 7290
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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 9450 is positioned at rank 690 and the Radeon HD 7290 is on rank 211, so the Radeon HD 7290 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 9450
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 7290
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 7290 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 6.7% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce 9450.
| Insight | GeForce 9450 | Radeon HD 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-6.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+6.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 7290 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 7290 holds the technical lead. Priced at $5 (vs $25), it costs 80% less, resulting in a 433.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce 9450 | Radeon HD 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+433.3%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($25) | ✅More affordable ($5) |
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 9450 and Radeon HD 7290
GeForce 9450
The GeForce 9450 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 27 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 928 MHz to 1020 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 105 points.
Radeon HD 7290
The Radeon HD 7290 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 24 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 950 MHz to 1000 MHz. It has 2048 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 375W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 112 points. Launch price was $999.
Graphics Performance
In G3D Mark, the GeForce 9450 scores 105 versus the Radeon HD 7290's 112 — the Radeon HD 7290 leads by 6.7%. The GeForce 9450 is built on Maxwell while the Radeon HD 7290 uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 640 (GeForce 9450) vs 2,048 (Radeon HD 7290). Raw compute: 1.306 TFLOPS (GeForce 9450) vs 4.096 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 7290). Boost clocks: 1020 MHz vs 1000 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce 9450 | Radeon HD 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 105 | 112+7% |
| Architecture | Maxwell | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 640 | 2048 ×2+220% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.306 TFLOPS | 4.096 TFLOPS ×2+214% |
| Boost Clock | 1020 MHz+2% | 1000 MHz |
| ROPs | 16 | 32 ×2+100% |
| TMUs | 40 | 128 ×2+220% |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 512 KB+60% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+167% | 0.75 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce 9450 | Radeon HD 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
Both cards feature 512 MB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce 9450) vs 0.75 MB (Radeon HD 7290) — the GeForce 9450 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce 9450 | Radeon HD 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+167% | 0.75 MB |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 9450 draws 75W versus the Radeon HD 7290's 375W — a 133.3% difference. The GeForce 9450 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 9450) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7290). Power connectors: Legacy vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | GeForce 9450 | Radeon HD 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 75W-80% | 375W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 168mm | — |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 75°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 1.4+367% | 0.3 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce 9450 launched at $100 MSRP and currently averages $25, while the Radeon HD 7290 launched at $20 and now averages $5. The Radeon HD 7290 costs 80% less ($20 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 4.2 (GeForce 9450) vs 22.4 (Radeon HD 7290) — the Radeon HD 7290 offers 433.3% better value. The GeForce 9450 is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2013).
| Feature | GeForce 9450 | Radeon HD 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100 | $20-80% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25 | $5-80% |
| Performance per Dollar | 4.2 | 22.4+433% |
| Codename | GM107 | Malta |
| Release | October 27 2015 | April 24 2013 |
| Ranking | #671 | #412 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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