
Radeon HD 3850 vs Radeon HD 8650D

Radeon HD 3850
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Radeon HD 8650D
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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 Radeon HD 8650D is on rank 295, so the Radeon HD 8650D 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 Radeon HD 8650D
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 3850 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.3% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (1 GB vs 512 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 8650D.
| Insight | Radeon HD 3850 | Radeon HD 8650D |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.3%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 8650D offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 8650D holds the technical lead. Priced at $150 (vs $179), it costs 16% less, resulting in a 17.8% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 3850 | Radeon HD 8650D |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+17.8%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($179) | ✅More affordable ($150) |
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 Radeon HD 8650D

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.

Radeon HD 8650D
The Radeon HD 8650D 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: 396 points. Launch price was $249.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 3850 scores 401 and the Radeon HD 8650D reaches 396 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 3850 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon HD 8650D uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,024 (Radeon HD 3850) vs 1,024 (Radeon HD 8650D). Raw compute: 1.761 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 3850) vs 1.761 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8650D). Boost clocks: 1000 MHz vs 1000 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Radeon HD 8650D |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 401+1% | 396 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1024 | 1024 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.761 TFLOPS | 1.761 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 1000 MHz | 1000 MHz |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 64 | 64 |
| L1 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Radeon HD 8650D |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 3850 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8650D has 512 MB. The Radeon HD 3850 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Radeon HD 8650D |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB+100% | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 3850 draws 130W versus the Radeon HD 8650D's 130W — a 0% difference. The Radeon HD 8650D is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (Radeon HD 3850) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8650D). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Radeon HD 8650D |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 130W | 130W |
| Recommended PSU | 450W | 350W-22% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 208mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 80°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 3.1+3% | 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 3850 launched at $179 MSRP and currently averages $179, while the Radeon HD 8650D launched at $150 and now averages $150. The Radeon HD 8650D costs 16.2% less ($29 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 2.2 (Radeon HD 3850) vs 2.6 (Radeon HD 8650D) — the Radeon HD 8650D offers 18.2% better value.
| Feature | Radeon HD 3850 | Radeon HD 8650D |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $179 | $150-16% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $179 | $150-16% |
| Performance per Dollar | 2.2 | 2.6+18% |
| Codename | Pitcairn | Pitcairn |
| Release | March 5 2012 | March 5 2012 |
| Ranking | #503 | #503 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.















