Quadro FX 4600 vs Radeon HD 3850
Quadro FX 4600
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Radeon HD 3850
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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 4600 is positioned at rank 404 and the Radeon HD 3850 is on rank 308, so the Radeon HD 3850 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 4600
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 3850
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Quadro FX 4600 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.5% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon HD 3850 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Quadro FX 4600 | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.5%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+33.3%) |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Quadro FX 4600 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Quadro FX 4600 holds the technical lead. Priced at $50 (vs $179), it costs 72% less, resulting in a 259.8% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Quadro FX 4600 | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+259.8%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($50) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($179) |
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 4600 and Radeon HD 3850
Quadro FX 4600
The Quadro FX 4600 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 11 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 602 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 403 points. Launch price was $1,799.
Radeon HD 3850
The Radeon HD 3850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 5 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 130W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 401 points. Launch price was $249.
Graphics Performance
The Quadro FX 4600 scores 403 and the Radeon HD 3850 reaches 401 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Quadro FX 4600 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Radeon HD 3850 uses GCN 1.0, both on 55 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 192 (Quadro FX 4600) vs 1,024 (Radeon HD 3850). Raw compute: 0.4623 TFLOPS (Quadro FX 4600) vs 1.761 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 3850).
| Feature | Quadro FX 4600 | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 403 | 401 |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 55 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 192 | 1024+433% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.4623 TFLOPS | 1.761 TFLOPS+281% |
| ROPs | 24 | 32+33% |
| TMUs | 64 | 64 |
| L2 Cache | 192 KB | 512 KB+167% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Quadro FX 4600 | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Quadro FX 4600 comes with 768 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 3850 has 1 GB. The Radeon HD 3850 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 192 KB (Quadro FX 4600) vs 512 KB (Radeon HD 3850) — the Radeon HD 3850 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Quadro FX 4600 | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.75 GB | 1 GB+33% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 192 KB | 512 KB+167% |
Power & Dimensions
The Quadro FX 4600 draws 150W versus the Radeon HD 3850's 130W — a 14.3% difference. The Radeon HD 3850 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro FX 4600) vs 450W (Radeon HD 3850). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | Quadro FX 4600 | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 150W | 130W-13% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-22% | 450W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | — | 208mm |
| Slots | — | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 2.7 | 3.1+15% |
Value Analysis
The Quadro FX 4600 launched at $1999 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the Radeon HD 3850 launched at $179 and now averages $179. The Quadro FX 4600 costs 72.1% less ($129 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 8.1 (Quadro FX 4600) vs 2.2 (Radeon HD 3850) — the Quadro FX 4600 offers 268.2% better value. The Radeon HD 3850 is the newer GPU (2012 vs 2008).
| Feature | Quadro FX 4600 | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1999 | $179-91% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-72% | $179 |
| Performance per Dollar | 8.1+268% | 2.2 |
| Codename | GT200B | Pitcairn |
| Release | November 11 2008 | March 5 2012 |
| Ranking | #884 | #503 |
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