Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU vs Radeon R9 260

Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU

2018
VS
AMD

Radeon R9 260

2013Core: 947 MHz

Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU vs Radeon R9 260 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 X1-85 GPU vs Radeon R9 260: 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 X1-85 GPU

2018

Why buy it

  • βœ…Draws 7W instead of 275W, a 268W reduction.
  • βœ…More future proof: Unknown architecture on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 2 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.
  • ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 21.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $139 MSRP).

Radeon R9 260

2013

Why buy it

  • βœ…Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 21.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($139 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • βœ…100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).
  • βœ…Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon R9 260 is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

  • ❌2013 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • ❌3828.6% higher power demand at 275W vs 7W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Radeon R9 260 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 0.4% in PassMark G3D (3,048 vs 3,035), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Radeon R9 260 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 2 GB vs Unknown of VRAM and the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Radeon R9 260 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU vs Radeon R9 260 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU

The Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU 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: 3,035 points.

AMD

Radeon R9 260

The Radeon R9 260 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 5 2013. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 947 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 275W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,048 points. Launch price was $399.

⚑

Graphics Performance

The Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU scores 3,035 and the Radeon R9 260 reaches 3,048 in the G3D Mark benchmark β€” just a 0.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance.

FeatureQualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPURadeon R9 260
G3D Mark Score
3,035
3,048
Process Node
7 nm
28 nm
✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureQualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPURadeon R9 260
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
Standard
AMD Anti-Lag
πŸ’Ύ

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU has 0 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 260 carries 2 GB. Radeon R9 260 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 X1-85 GPU and 128-bit on the Radeon R9 260.

FeatureQualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPURadeon R9 260
VRAM Capacity
Shared System RAM
2 GB
Memory Type
Shared
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
Unknown
Unknown
Bus Width
System
128-bit
πŸ”Œ

Power & Dimensions

The Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU draws 7W versus the Radeon R9 260's 275W β€” a 190.1% difference. The Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 1W (Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU) vs 450W (Radeon R9 260). Power connectors: Integrated vs 1x 6-pin.

FeatureQualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPURadeon R9 260
TDP
7W-97%
275W
Recommended PSU
1W-100%
450W
Power Connector
Integrated
1x 6-pin
Perf/Watt
433.6+3806%
11.1
πŸ’°

Value Analysis

At launch, the Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU came in at $0, while the Radeon R9 260 launched at $139. On MSRP, Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU was 100+% cheaper ($139 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): Infinity (Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU) vs 21.9 (Radeon R9 260) β€” the Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU (2018 vs 2013).

FeatureQualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPURadeon R9 260
MSRP
$0-100%
$139
Performance per Dollar
Infinity
21.9
Codename
β€”
Hawaii
Release
December 6 2018
November 5 2013
Ranking
#916
#316

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