GeForce GT 730 vs Radeon HD 3850 X2
GeForce GT 730
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Radeon HD 3850 X2
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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 GT 730 is positioned at rank 139 and the Radeon HD 3850 X2 is on rank 303, so the GeForce GT 730 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GT 730
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 3850 X2
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GT 730 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.2% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (2 GB vs 1 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 3850 X2.
| Insight | GeForce GT 730 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.2%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | Standard Size (267mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GT 730 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GT 730 holds the technical lead. Priced at $45 (vs $349), it costs 87% less, resulting in a 677.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GT 730 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+677.4%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($45) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($349) |
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 GT 730 and Radeon HD 3850 X2
GeForce GT 730
The GeForce GT 730 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 29 2014. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 64W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 824 points. Launch price was $89.
Radeon HD 3850 X2
The Radeon HD 3850 X2 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 19 2011. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 960 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 254W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 822 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GT 730 scores 824 and the Radeon HD 3850 X2 reaches 822 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GT 730 is built on Kepler while the Radeon HD 3850 X2 uses TeraScale 2, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce GT 730) vs 960 (Radeon HD 3850 X2). Raw compute: 0.7626 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 730) vs 1.536 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 3850 X2).
| Feature | GeForce GT 730 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 824 | 822 |
| Architecture | Kepler | TeraScale 2 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 960 ×2+150% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.7626 TFLOPS | 1.536 TFLOPS ×2+101% |
| ROPs | 16 | 32 ×2+100% |
| TMUs | 32 | 48 ×2+50% |
| L1 Cache | 32 KB | 192 KB+500% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 512 KB+100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GT 730 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 GT 730 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 3850 X2 has 1 GB. The GeForce GT 730 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 256 KB (GeForce GT 730) vs 512 KB (Radeon HD 3850 X2) — the Radeon HD 3850 X2 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GT 730 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB+100% | 1 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 512 KB+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GT 730) vs 10.1 (Radeon HD 3850 X2). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 2.
| Feature | GeForce GT 730 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12+19% | 10.1 |
| OpenGL | 4.6+39% | 3.3 |
| Max Displays | 3+50% | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Decoder: NVDEC 1st gen vs UVD+. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce GT 730) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (Radeon HD 3850 X2).
| Feature | GeForce GT 730 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | — |
| Decoder | NVDEC 1st gen | UVD+ |
| Codecs | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GT 730 draws 64W versus the Radeon HD 3850 X2's 254W — a 119.5% difference. The GeForce GT 730 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GT 730) vs 450W (Radeon HD 3850 X2). Power connectors: None vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 145mm vs 267mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 90°C.
| Feature | GeForce GT 730 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 64W-75% | 254W |
| Recommended PSU | 300W-33% | 450W |
| Power Connector | None | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 145mm | 267mm |
| Height | 69mm | — |
| Slots | 1-50% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 75°C-17% | 90°C |
| Perf/Watt | 12.9+303% | 3.2 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GT 730 launched at $89 MSRP and currently averages $45, while the Radeon HD 3850 X2 launched at $349 and now averages $349. The GeForce GT 730 costs 87.1% less ($304 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 18.3 (GeForce GT 730) vs 2.4 (Radeon HD 3850 X2) — the GeForce GT 730 offers 662.5% better value. The GeForce GT 730 is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2011).
| Feature | GeForce GT 730 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $89-74% | $349 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $45-87% | $349 |
| Performance per Dollar | 18.3+663% | 2.4 |
| Codename | GK107 | Barts |
| Release | May 29 2014 | September 19 2011 |
| Ranking | #777 | #630 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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