GeForce GTX 850M vs Radeon HD 6950
GeForce GTX 850M
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 6950
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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. The GeForce GTX 850M is positioned at rank #68 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Balanced cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 850M
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 6950 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.2% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce GTX 850M offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 850M | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / TeraScale 3 (2010−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | Standard Size (275mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 850M offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 850M holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $100), it costs 60% less, resulting in a 144.6% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 850M | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+144.6%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($40) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($100) |
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 GTX 850M and Radeon HD 6950
GeForce GTX 850M
The GeForce GTX 850M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 12 2014. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock speed is Up to 936 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 45W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,537 points.
Radeon HD 6950
The Radeon HD 6950 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in December 14 2010. It features the TeraScale 3 architecture. The boost clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 1408 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,593 points. Launch price was $299.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 850M scores 2,537 and the Radeon HD 6950 reaches 2,593 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 850M is built on Maxwell while the Radeon HD 6950 uses TeraScale 3, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 640 (GeForce GTX 850M) vs 1,408 (Radeon HD 6950). Raw compute: 1.155 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 850M) vs 2.253 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 6950).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 850M | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,537 | 2,593+2% |
| Architecture | Maxwell | TeraScale 3 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 640 | 1408+120% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.155 TFLOPS | 2.253 TFLOPS+95% |
| ROPs | 16 | 32+100% |
| TMUs | 40 | 88+120% |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 352 KB+10% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 0.5 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 850M | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 850M comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 6950 has 1 GB. The GeForce GTX 850M offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 850M) vs 0.5 MB (Radeon HD 6950) — the GeForce GTX 850M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 850M | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB+100% | 1 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 0.5 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.0 (GeForce GTX 850M) vs 11_2 (Radeon HD 6950). Maximum simultaneous displays: 1 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 850M | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.0 | 11_2 |
| Max Displays | 1 | 4+300% |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 2.0 (GeForce GTX 850M) vs UVD 3 (Radeon HD 6950). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs UVD 3.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 850M | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 2.0 | UVD 3 |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP6 | UVD 3 |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP,H.265 | — |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 850M draws 45W versus the Radeon HD 6950's 200W — a 126.5% difference. The GeForce GTX 850M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 850M) vs 500W (Radeon HD 6950). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 275mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 850M | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 45W-78% | 200W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-30% | 500W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 0mm | 275mm |
| Height | 0mm | — |
| Slots | 0-100% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 80°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 56.4+334% | 13.0 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 850M costs 60% less ($60 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 63.4 (GeForce GTX 850M) vs 25.9 (Radeon HD 6950) — the GeForce GTX 850M offers 144.8% better value. The GeForce GTX 850M is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2010).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 850M | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $299 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-60% | $100 |
| Performance per Dollar | 63.4+145% | 25.9 |
| Codename | GM107 | Cayman |
| Release | March 12 2014 | December 14 2010 |
| Ranking | #629 | #623 |
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