Quadro FX 3800 vs Radeon HD 3850 X2
Quadro FX 3800
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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 Quadro FX 3800 is positioned at rank 347 and the Radeon HD 3850 X2 is on rank 303, so the Radeon HD 3850 X2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Quadro FX 3800
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 3850 X2
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Quadro FX 3800 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.2% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 3850 X2.
| Insight | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.2%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| 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 | Standard Size (267mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The Quadro FX 3800 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Quadro FX 3800 holds the technical lead. Priced at $20 (vs $349), it costs 94% less, resulting in a 1649.2% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+1649.2%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($20) | ⚠️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 Quadro FX 3800 and Radeon HD 3850 X2
Quadro FX 3800
The Quadro FX 3800 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 11 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 610 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 189W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 824 points. Launch price was $3,499.
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 Quadro FX 3800 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 Quadro FX 3800 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Radeon HD 3850 X2 uses TeraScale 2, both on 55 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 240 (Quadro FX 3800) vs 960 (Radeon HD 3850 X2). Raw compute: 0.6221 TFLOPS (Quadro FX 3800) vs 1.536 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 3850 X2).
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 824 | 822 |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | TeraScale 2 |
| Process Node | 55 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 240 | 960 ×2+300% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.6221 TFLOPS | 1.536 TFLOPS ×2+147% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 ×2 |
| TMUs | 80+67% | 48 ×2 |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 512 KB+100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | 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)
Both cards feature 1 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 256 KB (Quadro FX 3800) vs 512 KB (Radeon HD 3850 X2) — the Radeon HD 3850 X2 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 512 KB+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 10_0 (Quadro FX 3800) vs 10.1 (Radeon HD 3850 X2). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 10_0 | 10.1 |
| Max Displays | 2 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Decoder: PureVideo HD vs UVD+.
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | PureVideo HD | — |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD | UVD+ |
| Codecs | — | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The Quadro FX 3800 draws 189W versus the Radeon HD 3850 X2's 254W — a 29.3% difference. The Quadro FX 3800 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro FX 3800) vs 450W (Radeon HD 3850 X2). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 1mm vs 267mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 189W-26% | 254W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-22% | 450W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 1mm | 267mm |
| Slots | 1-50% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 90°C |
| Perf/Watt | 4.4+38% | 3.2 |
Value Analysis
The Quadro FX 3800 launched at $799 MSRP and currently averages $20, while the Radeon HD 3850 X2 launched at $349 and now averages $349. The Quadro FX 3800 costs 94.3% less ($329 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 41.2 (Quadro FX 3800) vs 2.4 (Radeon HD 3850 X2) — the Quadro FX 3800 offers 1616.7% better value. The Radeon HD 3850 X2 is the newer GPU (2011 vs 2008).
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon HD 3850 X2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $799 | $349-56% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-94% | $349 |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.2+1617% | 2.4 |
| Codename | GT200B | Barts |
| Release | November 11 2008 | September 19 2011 |
| Ranking | #815 | #630 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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