Radeon HD 3850 vs Quadro FX 1800
Radeon HD 3850
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Quadro FX 1800
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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 Radeon HD 3850 is positioned at rank 308 and the Quadro FX 1800 is on rank 364, 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 Radeon HD 3850
Performance Per Dollar Quadro FX 1800
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 3850 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.5% higher G3D Mark score and 33.3% more VRAM (1 GB vs 768 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Quadro FX 1800.
| Insight | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 1800 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.5%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+33.3%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Quadro FX 1800 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Quadro FX 1800 holds the technical lead. Priced at $100 (vs $179), it costs 44% less, resulting in a 76.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 1800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+76.3%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($179) | ✅More affordable ($100) |
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 Radeon HD 3850 and Quadro FX 1800
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.
Quadro FX 1800
The Quadro FX 1800 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 11 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 610 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 189W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 395 points. Launch price was $3,499.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 3850 scores 401 and the Quadro FX 1800 reaches 395 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 3850 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Quadro FX 1800 uses Tesla 2.0, both on 28 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (Radeon HD 3850) vs 240 (Quadro FX 1800). Raw compute: 1.761 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 3850) vs 0.6221 TFLOPS (Quadro FX 1800).
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 1800 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 401+2% | 395 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Tesla 2.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 55 nm |
| Shading Units | 1024+327% | 240 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.761 TFLOPS+183% | 0.6221 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 64 | 80+25% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB+100% | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 1800 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 3850 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Quadro FX 1800 has 768 MB. The Radeon HD 3850 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 512 KB (Radeon HD 3850) vs 256 KB (Quadro FX 1800) — the Radeon HD 3850 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 1800 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB+33% | 0.75 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB+100% | 256 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 3850 draws 130W versus the Quadro FX 1800's 189W — a 37% difference. The Radeon HD 3850 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (Radeon HD 3850) vs 350W (Quadro FX 1800). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 1800 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 130W-31% | 189W |
| Recommended PSU | 450W | 350W-22% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 208mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 80°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 3.1+48% | 2.1 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 3850 launched at $179 MSRP and currently averages $179, while the Quadro FX 1800 launched at $489 and now averages $100. The Quadro FX 1800 costs 44.1% less ($79 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 2.2 (Radeon HD 3850) vs 4.0 (Quadro FX 1800) — the Quadro FX 1800 offers 81.8% better value. The Radeon HD 3850 is the newer GPU (2012 vs 2008).
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 1800 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $179-63% | $489 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $179 | $100-44% |
| Performance per Dollar | 2.2 | 4.0+82% |
| Codename | Pitcairn | GT200B |
| Release | March 5 2012 | November 11 2008 |
| Ranking | #503 | #815 |
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