Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3
Radeon HD 6850
Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 vs Radeon HD 6850 Performance Spectrum
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.
Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 vs Radeon HD 6850 FPS Benchmarks
Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 vs Radeon HD 6850: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.
Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3
2018Why buy it
- ✅Draws 7W instead of 127W, a 120W reduction.
- ✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
Trade-offs
- ❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 1 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
- ❌2018 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
- ❌234.6% HIGHER MSRP$599 MSRPvs$179 MSRP
- ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 3.3 vs 10.8 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
Radeon HD 6850
2010Why buy it
- ✅Costs $420 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 233.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 10.8 vs 3.3 G3D/$ ($179 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
- ✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (1 GB vs Unknown).
- ✅Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon HD 6850 is the less risky modern option long term.
Trade-offs
- ❌2010 hardware with 1 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
- ❌1714.3% higher power demand at 127W vs 7W.
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Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 vs Radeon HD 6850 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3
The Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 is manufactured by Qualcomm. It was released in December 6 2018. The thermal design power (TDP) is 7W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,947 points.
Radeon HD 6850
The Radeon HD 6850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 21 2010. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. It has 960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 127W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,938 points. Launch price was $179.
Graphics Performance
The Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 scores 1,947 and the Radeon HD 6850 reaches 1,938 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance.
| Feature | Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 | Radeon HD 6850 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,947 | 1,938 |
| Process Node | 7 nm | 40 nm |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 | Radeon HD 6850 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | Upscaling support | FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 has 0 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 6850 carries 1 GB. Radeon HD 6850 gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is System on the Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 and 128-bit on the Radeon HD 6850.
| Feature | Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 | Radeon HD 6850 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | Shared System RAM | 1 GB |
| Memory Type | Shared | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | System | 128-bit |
Power & Dimensions
The Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 draws 7W versus the Radeon HD 6850's 127W — a 179.1% difference. The Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 1W (Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3) vs 500W (Radeon HD 6850). Power connectors: Integrated vs 2x 6-pin.
| Feature | Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 | Radeon HD 6850 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 7W-94% | 127W |
| Recommended PSU | 1W-100% | 500W |
| Power Connector | Integrated | 2x 6-pin |
| Perf/Watt | 278.1+1718% | 15.3 |
Value Analysis
At launch, the Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 came in at $599, while the Radeon HD 6850 launched at $179. On MSRP, Radeon HD 6850 was 70.1% cheaper ($420 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 3.3 (Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3) vs 10.8 (Radeon HD 6850) — the Radeon HD 6850 offers 227.3% better value. The newer card here is Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 (2018 vs 2010).
| Feature | Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 | Radeon HD 6850 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $599 | $179-70% |
| Performance per Dollar | 3.3 | 10.8+227% |
| Codename | — | Barts |
| Release | December 6 2018 | October 21 2010 |
| Ranking | #915 | #692 |
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