CPU
GPU
Radeon HD 6290
Popular choices:
GeForce 8400M GS
Popular choices:
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 6290 is positioned at rank 313 and the GeForce 8400M GS is on rank 637, so the Radeon HD 6290 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 6290
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 8400M GS
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 6290 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (512 MB vs 128 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce 8400M GS.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6290 | GeForce 8400M GS |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 3 (2010−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+300%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce 8400M GS offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce 8400M GS holds the technical lead. Priced at $20 (vs $50), it costs 60% less, resulting in a 147.6% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6290 | GeForce 8400M GS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+147.6%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50) | ✅More affordable ($20) |
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 6290 and GeForce 8400M GS
Radeon HD 6290
The Radeon HD 6290 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 8 2011. It features the TeraScale 3 architecture. The core clock speed is 830 MHz. It has 1536 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 375W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 105 points. Launch price was $699.
GeForce 8400M GS
The GeForce 8400M GS is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 12 2014. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1029 MHz to 1124 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 33W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 104 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 6290 scores 105 and the GeForce 8400M GS reaches 104 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 6290 is built on TeraScale 3 while the GeForce 8400M GS uses Maxwell, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,536 (Radeon HD 6290) vs 384 (GeForce 8400M GS). Raw compute: 2.55 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 6290) vs 0.8632 TFLOPS (GeForce 8400M GS).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6290 | GeForce 8400M GS |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 105 | 104 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 3 | Maxwell |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1536 ×2+300% | 384 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.55 TFLOPS ×2+195% | 0.8632 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 ×2+300% | 8 |
| TMUs | 96 ×2+500% | 16 |
| L1 Cache | 384 KB+100% | 192 KB |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 1 MB+100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 6290 | GeForce 8400M GS |
|---|---|---|
| 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 6290 comes with 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce 8400M GS has 128 MB. The Radeon HD 6290 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (Radeon HD 6290) vs 1 MB (GeForce 8400M GS) — the GeForce 8400M GS has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6290 | GeForce 8400M GS |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB+300% | 0.125 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 0.5 MB | 1 MB+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.2 (Radeon HD 6290) vs 10_0 (GeForce 8400M GS). OpenGL: 4.4 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6290 | GeForce 8400M GS |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.2+12% | 10_0 |
| OpenGL | 4.4+33% | 3.3 |
| Max Displays | 2 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Decoder: UVD 3 vs PureVideo. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (Radeon HD 6290) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,WMV9 (GeForce 8400M GS).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6290 | GeForce 8400M GS |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | — | PureVideo |
| Decoder | UVD 3 | PureVideo |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,WMV9 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 6290 draws 375W versus the GeForce 8400M GS's 33W — a 167.6% difference. The GeForce 8400M GS is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 6290) vs 350W (GeForce 8400M GS). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Legacy. Typical load temperature: 65°C vs 80°C.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6290 | GeForce 8400M GS |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 375W | 33W-91% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | Legacy |
| Slots | — | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | 65°C-19% | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 0.3 | 3.2+967% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 6290 launched at $50 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the GeForce 8400M GS launched at $50 and now averages $20. The GeForce 8400M GS costs 60% less ($30 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 2.1 (Radeon HD 6290) vs 5.2 (GeForce 8400M GS) — the GeForce 8400M GS offers 147.6% better value. The GeForce 8400M GS is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2011).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6290 | GeForce 8400M GS |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50 | $50 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $20-60% |
| Performance per Dollar | 2.1 | 5.2+148% |
| Codename | Antilles | GM108 |
| Release | March 8 2011 | March 12 2014 |
| Ranking | #583 | #854 |
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