Radeon HD 6550D vs Radeon HD 3850
Radeon HD 6550D
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Radeon HD 3850
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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 6550D is positioned at rank 207 and the Radeon HD 3850 is on rank 308, so the Radeon HD 6550D 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 6550D
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 3850
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 3850 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.3% 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 6550D.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6550D | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.3%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / TeraScale 3 (2010−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 6550D offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 6550D holds the technical lead. Priced at $70 (vs $179), it costs 61% less, resulting in a 155.1% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6550D | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+155.1%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($70) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($179) |
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 6550D and Radeon HD 3850
Radeon HD 6550D
The Radeon HD 6550D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in December 14 2010. It features the TeraScale 3 architecture. The boost clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 1408 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 400 points. Launch price was $299.
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.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 6550D scores 400 and the Radeon HD 3850 reaches 401 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 6550D is built on TeraScale 3 while the Radeon HD 3850 uses GCN 1.0, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,408 (Radeon HD 6550D) vs 1,024 (Radeon HD 3850). Raw compute: 2.253 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 6550D) vs 1.761 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 3850). Boost clocks: 800 MHz vs 1000 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6550D | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 400 | 401 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 3 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1408+38% | 1024 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.253 TFLOPS+28% | 1.761 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 800 MHz | 1000 MHz+25% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 88+38% | 64 |
| L1 Cache | 352 KB+38% | 256 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 6550D | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 6550D comes with 512 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 3850 has 1 GB. 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 6550D | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB | 1 GB+100% |
| 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 6550D draws 200W versus the Radeon HD 3850's 130W — a 42.4% difference. The Radeon HD 3850 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 6550D) vs 450W (Radeon HD 3850). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6550D | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 200W | 130W-35% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-22% | 450W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | — | 208mm |
| Slots | — | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 2.0 | 3.1+55% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 6550D launched at $70 MSRP and currently averages $70, while the Radeon HD 3850 launched at $179 and now averages $179. The Radeon HD 6550D costs 60.9% less ($109 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 5.7 (Radeon HD 6550D) vs 2.2 (Radeon HD 3850) — the Radeon HD 6550D offers 159.1% better value. The Radeon HD 3850 is the newer GPU (2012 vs 2010).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6550D | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $70-61% | $179 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $70-61% | $179 |
| Performance per Dollar | 5.7+159% | 2.2 |
| Codename | Cayman | Pitcairn |
| Release | December 14 2010 | March 5 2012 |
| Ranking | #623 | #503 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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