Radeon HD 8550G vs Radeon HD 3850
Radeon HD 8550G
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 3850
Popular choices:
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 is positioned at rank 151 and the Radeon HD 3850 is on rank 308, so the Radeon HD 8550G 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
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 3850
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 8550G is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 3.2% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon HD 3850 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8550G | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+3.2%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-3.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 8550G offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 8550G holds the technical lead. Priced at $50 (vs $179), it costs 72% less, resulting in a 269.6% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 8550G | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+269.6%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($50) | ⚠️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 8550G and Radeon HD 3850
Radeon HD 8550G
The Radeon HD 8550G 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: 414 points. Launch price was $249.
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 8550G scores 414 and the Radeon HD 3850 reaches 401 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 8550G is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon HD 3850 uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,024 (Radeon HD 8550G) vs 1,024 (Radeon HD 3850). Raw compute: 1.761 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8550G) vs 1.761 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 3850). Boost clocks: 1000 MHz vs 1000 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8550G | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 414+3% | 401 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1024 | 1024 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.761 TFLOPS | 1.761 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 1000 MHz | 1000 MHz |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 64 | 64 |
| L1 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 8550G | 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 8550G 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 8550G | 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 8550G draws 130W versus the Radeon HD 3850's 130W — a 0% difference. The Radeon HD 3850 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 8550G) vs 450W (Radeon HD 3850). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8550G | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 130W | 130W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-22% | 450W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | — | 208mm |
| Slots | — | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 3.2+3% | 3.1 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 8550G launched at $50 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the Radeon HD 3850 launched at $179 and now averages $179. The Radeon HD 8550G costs 72.1% less ($129 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 8.3 (Radeon HD 8550G) vs 2.2 (Radeon HD 3850) — the Radeon HD 8550G offers 277.3% better value.
| Feature | Radeon HD 8550G | Radeon HD 3850 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $50-72% | $179 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-72% | $179 |
| Performance per Dollar | 8.3+277% | 2.2 |
| Codename | Pitcairn | Pitcairn |
| Release | March 5 2012 | March 5 2012 |
| Ranking | #503 | #503 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on Radeon HD 8550G and Radeon HD 3850
