Radeon HD 7290 vs Radeon X1600 XT
Radeon HD 7290
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Radeon X1600 XT
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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 7290 is positioned at rank 211 and the Radeon X1600 XT is on rank 345, so the Radeon HD 7290 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 7290
Performance Per Dollar Radeon X1600 XT
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Radeon X1600 XT is significantly newer (2020 vs 2013). The Radeon X1600 XT likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The Radeon HD 7290 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon X1600 XT is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 3.6% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 7290.
| Insight | Radeon HD 7290 | Radeon X1600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-3.6%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+3.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | RDNA 2.0 (2020−2025) (7nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 7290 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $5 versus $15 for the Radeon X1600 XT, it costs 67% less. While it maintains basic entry-level capabilities, this results in a 189.7% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 7290 | Radeon X1600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+189.7%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($5) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($15) |
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 7290 and Radeon X1600 XT
Radeon HD 7290
The Radeon HD 7290 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 24 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 950 MHz to 1000 MHz. It has 2048 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 375W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 112 points. Launch price was $999.
Radeon X1600 XT
The Radeon X1600 XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 28 2020. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1825 MHz to 2250 MHz. It has 5120 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. It features 80 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 116 points. Launch price was $999.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 7290 scores 112 and the Radeon X1600 XT reaches 116 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 7290 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon X1600 XT uses RDNA 2.0, both on 28 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (Radeon HD 7290) vs 5,120 (Radeon X1600 XT). Raw compute: 4.096 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 7290) vs 23.04 TFLOPS (Radeon X1600 XT). Boost clocks: 1000 MHz vs 2250 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD 7290 | Radeon X1600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 112 | 116+4% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | RDNA 2.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 7 nm |
| Shading Units | 2048 ×2 | 5120+150% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 4.096 TFLOPS ×2 | 23.04 TFLOPS+463% |
| Boost Clock | 1000 MHz | 2250 MHz+125% |
| ROPs | 32 ×2 | 128+300% |
| TMUs | 128 ×2 | 320+150% |
| L1 Cache | 0.5 MB | 1 MB+100% |
| L2 Cache | 0.75 MB | 4 MB+433% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 7290 | Radeon X1600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
Both cards feature 512 MB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 0.75 MB (Radeon HD 7290) vs 4 MB (Radeon X1600 XT) — the Radeon X1600 XT has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon HD 7290 | Radeon X1600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 0.75 MB | 4 MB+433% |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 7290 draws 375W versus the Radeon X1600 XT's 300W — a 22.2% difference. The Radeon X1600 XT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 7290) vs 350W (Radeon X1600 XT). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | Radeon HD 7290 | Radeon X1600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 375W | 300W-20% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Perf/Watt | 0.3 | 0.4+33% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 7290 launched at $20 MSRP and currently averages $5, while the Radeon X1600 XT launched at $199 and now averages $15. The Radeon HD 7290 costs 66.7% less ($10 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 22.4 (Radeon HD 7290) vs 7.7 (Radeon X1600 XT) — the Radeon HD 7290 offers 190.9% better value. The Radeon X1600 XT is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon HD 7290 | Radeon X1600 XT |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $20-90% | $199 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-67% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.4+191% | 7.7 |
| Codename | Malta | Navi 21 |
| Release | April 24 2013 | October 28 2020 |
| Ranking | #412 | #35 |
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