Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual vs Radeon HD 3870
Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual
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Radeon HD 3870
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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 8550G + HD 8500M Dual is positioned at rank 542 and the Radeon HD 3870 is on rank 298, so the Radeon HD 3870 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 8550G + HD 8500M Dual
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 3870
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.3% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon HD 3870 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual | Radeon HD 3870 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.3%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / Legacy) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 3870 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 3870 holds the technical lead. Priced at $15 (vs $150), it costs 90% less, resulting in a 887.5% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual | Radeon HD 3870 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+887.5%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($150) | ✅More affordable ($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 8550G + HD 8500M Dual and Radeon HD 3870
Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual
The Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual is manufactured by AMD. It was released in August 1 2013. The core clock speed is 720 / 825 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 559 points.
Radeon HD 3870
The Radeon HD 3870 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 5 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 552 points. Launch price was $349.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual scores 559 and the Radeon HD 3870 reaches 552 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. Shader units: 640 (Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual) vs 1,280 (Radeon HD 3870).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual | Radeon HD 3870 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 559+1% | 552 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 640 | 1280+100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual | Radeon HD 3870 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 8550G + HD 8500M Dual comes with 512 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 3870 has 1 GB. The Radeon HD 3870 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual | Radeon HD 3870 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB | 1 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual draws 50W versus the Radeon HD 3870's 200W — a 120% difference. The Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual) vs 300W (Radeon HD 3870). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual | Radeon HD 3870 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 50W-75% | 200W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 300W-14% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 1mm | — |
| Slots | 0 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 11.2+300% | 2.8 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual launched at $150 MSRP and currently averages $150, while the Radeon HD 3870 launched at $219 and now averages $15. The Radeon HD 3870 costs 90% less ($135 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 3.7 (Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual) vs 36.8 (Radeon HD 3870) — the Radeon HD 3870 offers 894.6% better value. The Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual is the newer GPU (2013 vs 2012).
| Feature | Radeon HD 8550G + HD 8500M Dual | Radeon HD 3870 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150-32% | $219 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $15-90% |
| Performance per Dollar | 3.7 | 36.8+895% |
| Codename | — | Pitcairn |
| Release | August 1 2013 | March 5 2012 |
| Ranking | #863 | #460 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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