Radeon HD 6850 X2 vs Radeon HD 6950
Radeon HD 6850 X2
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 6950
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 6950 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.3% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon HD 6850 X2 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6850 X2 | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.3%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / TeraScale 3 (2010−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (285mm) | Standard Size (275mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 6850 X2 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 6850 X2 holds the technical lead. Priced at $50 (vs $100), it costs 50% less, resulting in a 95.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6850 X2 | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+95.4%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($50) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($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 6850 X2 and Radeon HD 6950
Radeon HD 6850 X2
The Radeon HD 6850 X2 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 19 2011. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 960 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 254W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,534 points.
Radeon HD 6950
The Radeon HD 6950 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: 2,593 points. Launch price was $299.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 6850 X2 scores 2,534 and the Radeon HD 6950 reaches 2,593 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 6850 X2 is built on TeraScale 2 while the Radeon HD 6950 uses TeraScale 3, both on a 40 nm process. Shader units: 960 (Radeon HD 6850 X2) vs 1,408 (Radeon HD 6950). Raw compute: 1.536 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 6850 X2) vs 2.253 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 6950).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6850 X2 | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,534 | 2,593+2% |
| Architecture | TeraScale 2 | TeraScale 3 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 960 ×2 | 1408+47% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.536 TFLOPS ×2 | 2.253 TFLOPS+47% |
| ROPs | 32 ×2 | 32 |
| TMUs | 48 ×2 | 88+83% |
| L1 Cache | 192 KB | 352 KB+83% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 6850 X2 | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 6850 X2 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 6950 has 1 GB. The Radeon HD 6850 X2 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6850 X2 | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB+100% | 1 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.2 (Radeon HD 6850 X2) vs 11_2 (Radeon HD 6950). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6850 X2 | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.2+2% | 11_2 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: UVD 2.2 (Radeon HD 6850 X2) vs UVD 3 (Radeon HD 6950). Decoder: UVD 2.2 vs UVD 3.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6850 X2 | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | UVD 2.2 | UVD 3 |
| Decoder | UVD 2.2 | UVD 3 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 6850 X2 draws 254W versus the Radeon HD 6950's 200W — a 23.8% difference. The Radeon HD 6950 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (Radeon HD 6850 X2) vs 500W (Radeon HD 6950). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 285mm vs 275mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6850 X2 | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 254W | 200W-21% |
| Recommended PSU | 600W | 500W-17% |
| Power Connector | 2x 8-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 285mm | 275mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Perf/Watt | 10.0 | 13.0+30% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 6850 X2 launched at $350 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the Radeon HD 6950 launched at $299 and now averages $100. The Radeon HD 6850 X2 costs 50% less ($50 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 50.7 (Radeon HD 6850 X2) vs 25.9 (Radeon HD 6950) — the Radeon HD 6850 X2 offers 95.8% better value. The Radeon HD 6850 X2 is the newer GPU (2011 vs 2010).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6850 X2 | Radeon HD 6950 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $350 | $299-15% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-50% | $100 |
| Performance per Dollar | 50.7+96% | 25.9 |
| Codename | Barts | Cayman |
| Release | September 19 2011 | December 14 2010 |
| Ranking | #630 | #623 |
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