Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS vs Radeon R9 280X

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 SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS vs Radeon R9 280X 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.

Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS vs Radeon R9 280X: 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 SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS

2023

Why buy it

✅Radeon R9 280X is already legacy-tier future-proofing, so Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS is the less risky modern option long term.
✅Draws 30W instead of 200W, a 170W reduction.
✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 3 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Older hardware, Unknown of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 20.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Radeon R9 280X

2013

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 20.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (3 GB vs Unknown).

Trade-offs

❌2013 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌566.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 30W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon R9 280X is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1.7% in PassMark G3D (6,100 vs 6,000), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 4nm process instead of 28nm and a newer 2023 generation instead of 2013. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon R9 280X makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Radeon R9 280X is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p headroom, Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS has the stronger long-term case.

Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS vs Radeon R9 280X Technical Specifications

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

Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS

The Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS is manufactured by Qualcomm. It was released in October 26 2023. The boost clock speed is 1250 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,000 points.

Radeon R9 280X

The Radeon R9 280X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 8 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,100 points. Launch price was $299.

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Graphics Performance

The Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS scores 6,000 and the Radeon R9 280X reaches 6,100 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. Shader units: 1,536 (Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS) vs 2,048 (Radeon R9 280X). Boost clocks: 1250 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

Feature	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS	Radeon R9 280X
G3D Mark Score	6,000	6,100+2%
Process Node	4 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1536	2048+33%
Boost Clock	1250 MHz+25%	1000 MHz

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS	Radeon R9 280X
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS has 0 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 280X carries 3 GB. Radeon R9 280X gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 135 GB/s (Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS) vs 288 GB/s (Radeon R9 280X) — a 113.3% advantage for the Radeon R9 280X. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS and 384-bit on the Radeon R9 280X.

Feature	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS	Radeon R9 280X
VRAM Capacity	Shared System RAM	3 GB
Memory Type	Shared	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	135 GB/s	288 GB/s+113%
Bus Width	128-bit	384-bit+200%

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS draws 30W versus the Radeon R9 280X's 200W — a 147.8% difference. The Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 1W (Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS) vs 500W (Radeon R9 280X). Power connectors: Integrated vs 6-pin + 8-pin.

Feature	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS	Radeon R9 280X
TDP	30W-85%	200W
Recommended PSU	1W-100%	500W
Power Connector	Integrated	6-pin + 8-pin
Slots	—	2
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	200.0+556%	30.5

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS came in at $0, while the Radeon R9 280X launched at $299. On MSRP, Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS was 100+% cheaper ($299 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): Infinity (Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS) vs 20.4 (Radeon R9 280X) — the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS (2023 vs 2013).

Feature	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS	Radeon R9 280X
MSRP	$0-100%	$299
Performance per Dollar	Infinity	20.4
Codename	—	Tahiti
Release	October 26 2023	October 8 2013
Ranking	#459	#404

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