Radeon R9 255 vs Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)

#175

Radeon RX 550X (móvel)

MSRP: $35|Avg: $35

362%

#177

GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $150

328%

#178

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $100

327%

#182

GeForce GTX 1050 (Mobile)

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $50

298%

#183

Radeon RX 6300

MSRP: $60|Avg: $40

296%

#185

Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)

MSRP: $50|Avg: $50

100%

#187

GeForce MX550

MSRP: $150|Avg: $150

100%

#195

GeForce GT625M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $45

94%

#197

Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 4.6 TFLOPS

MSRP: $250|Avg: $250

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

The Radeon R9 255 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.1% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (2 GB vs 512 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge).

Insight	Radeon R9 255	Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)
Performance	✅Leading raw performance (+0.1%)	❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.1%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019))	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / GCN 1.2/2.0 (2015−2016))
Ecosystem	Supports FSR Upscaling	Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM	✅ More VRAM (+300%)	❌ Less VRAM capacity
Efficiency	⚡ Higher Power Consumption	💡 Excellent Perf/Watt
Case Fit	—	—

💎 Value Proposition

The Radeon R9 255 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 255 holds the technical lead. Priced at $30 (vs $50), it costs 40% less, resulting in a 66.8% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	Radeon R9 255	Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)
Cost Efficiency	✅Better overall value (+66.8%)	❌Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅More affordable ($30)	⚠️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.

Radeon R9 255 Benchmark Check

Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge) Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Radeon R9 255 and Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)

Radeon R9 255

The Radeon R9 255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 2 2014. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 918 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,501 points. Launch price was $249.

Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)

The Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge) is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 1 2016. It features the GCN 1.2/2.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 12W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,500 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Radeon R9 255 scores 1,501 and the Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge) reaches 1,500 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 255 is built on GCN 3.0 while the Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge) uses GCN 1.2/2.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,792 (Radeon R9 255) vs 384 (Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)).

Feature	Radeon R9 255	Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)
G3D Mark Score	1,501	1,500
Architecture	GCN 3.0	GCN 1.2/2.0
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1792+367%	384

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon R9 255	Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)
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 R9 255 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge) has 512 MB. The Radeon R9 255 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	Radeon R9 255	Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)
VRAM Capacity	2 GB+300%	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon R9 255 draws 190W versus the Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)'s 12W — a 176.2% difference. The Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (Radeon R9 255) vs 350W (Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.

Feature	Radeon R9 255	Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)
TDP	190W	12W-94%
Recommended PSU	400W	350W-13%
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	PCIe-powered
Perf/Watt	7.9	125.0+1482%

💰

Value Analysis

The Radeon R9 255 launched at $139 MSRP and currently averages $30, while the Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge) launched at $50 and now averages $50. The Radeon R9 255 costs 40% less ($20 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 50.0 (Radeon R9 255) vs 30.0 (Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge)) — the Radeon R9 255 offers 66.7% better value. The Radeon R5 (Bristol Ridge) is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2014).