GRID K520 vs Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire
GRID K520
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Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire
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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 GRID K520 is positioned at rank 350 and the Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire is on rank 479, so the GRID K520 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GRID K520
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GRID K520 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.5% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire.
| Insight | GRID K520 | Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.5%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / Terascale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GRID K520 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GRID K520 holds the technical lead. Priced at $50 (vs $150), it costs 67% less, resulting in a 201.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GRID K520 | Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+201.4%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($50) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($150) |
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 GRID K520 and Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire
GRID K520
The GRID K520 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 23 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 745 MHz. It has 1536 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,516 points. Launch price was $3,599.
Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire
The Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in July 12 2011. It features the Terascale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 715 MHz. It has 2240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,500 points.
Graphics Performance
The GRID K520 scores 3,516 and the Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire reaches 3,500 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GRID K520 is built on Kepler while the Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire uses Terascale 2, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 1,536 (GRID K520) vs 2,240 (Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire).
| Feature | GRID K520 | Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,516 | 3,500 |
| Architecture | Kepler | Terascale 2 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 1536 ×2 | 2240+46% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GRID K520 | Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| 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 2 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | GRID K520 | Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GRID K520) vs 11.0 (Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire). Vulkan: 1.2 vs N/A. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.4. Maximum simultaneous displays: 0 vs 6.
| Feature | GRID K520 | Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (11_0)+9% | 11.0 |
| Vulkan | 1.2 | N/A |
| OpenGL | 4.6+5% | 4.4 |
| Max Displays | 0 | 6 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 1 (GRID K520) vs None (Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire). Decoder: NVDEC 1 vs UVD 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GRID K520) vs MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC (Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire).
| Feature | GRID K520 | Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 1 | None |
| Decoder | NVDEC 1 | UVD 3.0 |
| Codecs | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 | MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC |
Power & Dimensions
The GRID K520 draws 225W versus the Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire's 50W — a 127.3% difference. The Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GRID K520) vs 350W (Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 90.
| Feature | GRID K520 | Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 225W | 50W-78% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 267mm | 0mm |
| Height | 111mm | 0mm |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 75°C-17% | 90 |
| Perf/Watt | 15.6 | 70.0+349% |
Value Analysis
The GRID K520 launched at $3599 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire launched at $699 and now averages $150. The GRID K520 costs 66.7% less ($100 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 70.3 (GRID K520) vs 23.3 (Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire) — the GRID K520 offers 201.7% better value. The GRID K520 is the newer GPU (2013 vs 2011).
| Feature | GRID K520 | Radeon HD 6990M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3599 | $699-81% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-67% | $150 |
| Performance per Dollar | 70.3+202% | 23.3 |
| Codename | GK104 | Blackcomb XTX |
| Release | July 23 2013 | July 12 2011 |
| Ranking | #540 | #517 |
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