Radeon HD 8490 vs GeForce 7900 GS
Radeon HD 8490
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GeForce 7900 GS
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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 8490 is positioned at rank 294 and the GeForce 7900 GS is on rank 692, so the Radeon HD 8490 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 8490
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 7900 GS
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 8490 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.4% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (1 GB vs 256 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce 7900 GS.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8490 | GeForce 7900 GS |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.4%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / G9x (2007−2010)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+300%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 8490 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 8490 holds the technical lead. Priced at $35 (vs $50), it costs 30% less, resulting in a 43.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8490 | GeForce 7900 GS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+43.4%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($35) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50) |
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 8490 and GeForce 7900 GS
Radeon HD 8490
The Radeon HD 8490 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 2 2009. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 850 MHz. It has 800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 263 points. Launch price was $249.
GeForce 7900 GS
The GeForce 7900 GS is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 15 2008. It features the G9x architecture. The core clock speed is 500 MHz. It has 224 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 262 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 8490 scores 263 and the GeForce 7900 GS reaches 262 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 8490 is built on TeraScale while the GeForce 7900 GS uses G9x, both on 55 nm vs 65 nm. Shader units: 800 (Radeon HD 8490) vs 224 (GeForce 7900 GS).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8490 | GeForce 7900 GS |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 263 | 262 |
| Architecture | TeraScale | G9x |
| Process Node | 55 nm | 65 nm |
| Shading Units | 800+257% | 224 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 8490 | GeForce 7900 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 8490 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce 7900 GS has 256 MB. The Radeon HD 8490 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8490 | GeForce 7900 GS |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB+300% | 0.25 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.2 (Radeon HD 8490) vs 9.0c (GeForce 7900 GS). OpenGL: 4.4 vs 2.1. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8490 | GeForce 7900 GS |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.2+24% | 9.0c |
| OpenGL | 4.4+110% | 2.1 |
| Max Displays | 2 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: UVD 3.1 (Radeon HD 8490) vs None (GeForce 7900 GS). Decoder: UVD 3.1 vs PureVideo. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (Radeon HD 8490) vs MPEG-2,WMV9 (GeForce 7900 GS).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8490 | GeForce 7900 GS |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | UVD 3.1 | None |
| Decoder | UVD 3.1 | PureVideo |
| Codecs | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 | MPEG-2,WMV9 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 8490 draws 190W versus the GeForce 7900 GS's 150W — a 23.5% difference. The GeForce 7900 GS is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8490) vs 350W (GeForce 7900 GS). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Legacy. Card length: 168mm vs 198mm, occupying 1 vs 1 slots.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8490 | GeForce 7900 GS |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 190W | 150W-21% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | Legacy |
| Length | 168mm | 198mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | 1 | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80 |
| Perf/Watt | 1.4 | 1.7+21% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 8490 launched at $99 MSRP and currently averages $35, while the GeForce 7900 GS launched at $259 and now averages $50. The Radeon HD 8490 costs 30% less ($15 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 7.5 (Radeon HD 8490) vs 5.2 (GeForce 7900 GS) — the Radeon HD 8490 offers 44.2% better value. The Radeon HD 8490 is the newer GPU (2009 vs 2008).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8490 | GeForce 7900 GS |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $99-62% | $259 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $35-30% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 7.5+44% | 5.2 |
| Codename | RV790 | NB9E-GTX |
| Release | April 2 2009 | July 15 2008 |
| Ranking | #762 | #825 |
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