Radeon HD 3850 vs Quadro FX 2800M
Radeon HD 3850
Popular choices:
Quadro FX 2800M
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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 2800M is on rank 106, so the Quadro FX 2800M 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 2800M
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Quadro FX 2800M is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 3.5% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 3850.
| Insight | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 2800M |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-3.5%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+3.5%) |
| 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 | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the Quadro FX 2800M remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
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 2800M
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 2800M
The Quadro FX 2800M 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: 415 points. Launch price was $3,499.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 3850 scores 401 and the Quadro FX 2800M reaches 415 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 3850 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Quadro FX 2800M uses Tesla 2.0, both on 28 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (Radeon HD 3850) vs 240 (Quadro FX 2800M). Raw compute: 1.761 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 3850) vs 0.6221 TFLOPS (Quadro FX 2800M).
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 2800M |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 401 | 415+3% |
| 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 2800M |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
Both cards feature 1 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 512 KB (Radeon HD 3850) vs 256 KB (Quadro FX 2800M) — the Radeon HD 3850 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 2800M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB | 1 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 2800M's 189W — a 37% difference. The Radeon HD 3850 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (Radeon HD 3850) vs 350W (Quadro FX 2800M). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 2800M |
|---|---|---|
| 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+41% | 2.2 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 3850 is the newer GPU (2012 vs 2008).
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Quadro FX 2800M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $179 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $179 | — |
| Codename | Pitcairn | GT200B |
| Release | March 5 2012 | November 11 2008 |
| Ranking | #503 | #815 |
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