RADEON 9800 SE vs RADEON A9800XT

AMD

RADEON 9800 SE

2025Core: 1295 MHzBoost: 2900 MHz
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

RADEON A9800XT

2015Boost: 970 MHz
Similar parts
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RADEON 9800 SE vs RADEON A9800XT 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.

RADEON 9800 SE vs RADEON A9800XT 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.

RADEON 9800 SE vs RADEON A9800XT: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

RADEON 9800 SE

2025

Why buy it

  • Better long-term bet: RDNA 3.5 (2024−2025) on 4nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
  • Draws 55W instead of 250W, a 195W reduction.
  • More future proof: RDNA 3.5 (2024−2025) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 256 MB vs 512 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

RADEON A9800XT

2015

Why buy it

  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs 256 MB).

Trade-offs

  • 2015 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 354.5% higher power demand at 250W vs 55W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
RADEON 9800 SE is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 4.3% in PassMark G3D (24 vs 23), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
RADEON 9800 SE is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 4nm process instead of 28nm, 40 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2025 generation instead of 2015. That gives it the more rounded hardware package for newer games.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
RADEON 9800 SE makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

RADEON 9800 SE vs RADEON A9800XT Technical Specifications

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

AMD

RADEON 9800 SE

The RADEON 9800 SE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 6 2025. It features the RDNA 3.5 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1295 MHz to 2900 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 55W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 24 points.

AMD

RADEON A9800XT

The RADEON A9800XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 19 2015. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 970 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 23 points. Launch price was $229.

Graphics Performance

The RADEON 9800 SE scores 24 and the RADEON A9800XT reaches 23 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 4.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The RADEON 9800 SE is built on RDNA 3.5 while the RADEON A9800XT uses GCN 3.0, both on 4 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (RADEON 9800 SE) vs 2,048 (RADEON A9800XT). Raw compute: 14.85 TFLOPS (RADEON 9800 SE) vs 3.973 TFLOPS (RADEON A9800XT). Boost clocks: 2900 MHz vs 970 MHz.

FeatureRADEON 9800 SERADEON A9800XT
G3D Mark Score
24+4%
23
Architecture
RDNA 3.5
GCN 3.0
Process Node
4 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
2560+25%
2048
Compute (TFLOPS)
14.85 TFLOPS+274%
3.973 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
2900 MHz+199%
970 MHz
ROPs
64+100%
32
TMUs
160+25%
128
L2 Cache
8 MB+1500%
0.5 MB

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureRADEON 9800 SERADEON A9800XT
Upscaling Tech
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
AMD Anti-Lag
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The RADEON 9800 SE has 256 MB of VRAM, while the RADEON A9800XT carries 512 MB. RADEON A9800XT gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the RADEON 9800 SE and 64-bit on the RADEON A9800XT. L2 Cache: 8 MB (RADEON 9800 SE) vs 0.5 MB (RADEON A9800XT) — the RADEON 9800 SE has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureRADEON 9800 SERADEON A9800XT
VRAM Capacity
0.25 GB
0.5 GB+100%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
64-bit
64-bit
L2 Cache
8 MB+1500%
0.5 MB
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The RADEON 9800 SE draws 55W versus the RADEON A9800XT's 250W — a 127.9% difference. The RADEON 9800 SE is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (RADEON 9800 SE) vs 350W (RADEON A9800XT). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy.

FeatureRADEON 9800 SERADEON A9800XT
TDP
55W-78%
250W
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
Legacy
Length
220mm
Slots
1
Perf/Watt
0.4+300%
0.1
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the RADEON 9800 SE came in at $0, while the RADEON A9800XT launched at $0. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): Infinity (RADEON 9800 SE) vs Infinity (RADEON A9800XT) — the RADEON A9800XT offers NaN% better value. The newer card here is RADEON 9800 SE (2025 vs 2015).

FeatureRADEON 9800 SERADEON A9800XT
MSRP
$0
$0
Performance per Dollar
Infinity
Infinity
Codename
Strix Halo
Antigua
Release
January 6 2025
November 19 2015
Ranking
#98
#394

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