Radeon R9 260 vs Radeon HD 7790
Radeon R9 260
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Radeon HD 7790
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 7790 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.4% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R9 260.
| Insight | Radeon R9 260 | Radeon HD 7790 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.4%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 2.0 (2013−2017)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 2.0 (2013−2017)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 7790 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 7790 holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $40), it costs 0% less, resulting in a 1.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 260 | Radeon HD 7790 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+1.4%) |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 R9 260 and Radeon HD 7790
Radeon R9 260
The Radeon R9 260 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 5 2013. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 947 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 275W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,048 points. Launch price was $399.
Radeon HD 7790
The Radeon HD 7790 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 22 2013. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 896 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 85W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,090 points. Launch price was $149.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 260 scores 3,048 and the Radeon HD 7790 reaches 3,090 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 260 is built on GCN 2.0 while the Radeon HD 7790 uses GCN 2.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (Radeon R9 260) vs 896 (Radeon HD 7790). Raw compute: 4.849 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 260) vs 1.792 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 7790).
| Feature | Radeon R9 260 | Radeon HD 7790 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,048 | 3,090+1% |
| Architecture | GCN 2.0 | GCN 2.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 2560+186% | 896 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 4.849 TFLOPS+171% | 1.792 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 64+300% | 16 |
| TMUs | 160+186% | 56 |
| L1 Cache | 640 KB+186% | 224 KB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 0.25 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 260 | Radeon HD 7790 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 2 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (Radeon R9 260) vs 0.25 MB (Radeon HD 7790) — the Radeon R9 260 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon R9 260 | Radeon HD 7790 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | 96 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 0.25 MB |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 260 draws 275W versus the Radeon HD 7790's 85W — a 105.6% difference. The Radeon HD 7790 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (Radeon R9 260) vs 400W (Radeon HD 7790). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin.
| Feature | Radeon R9 260 | Radeon HD 7790 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 275W | 85W-69% |
| Recommended PSU | 450W | 400W-11% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | — | 183mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | — | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 70 |
| Perf/Watt | 11.1 | 36.4+228% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 260 launched at $139 MSRP and currently averages $40, while the Radeon HD 7790 launched at $149 and now averages $40. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 76.2 (Radeon R9 260) vs 77.3 (Radeon HD 7790) — the Radeon HD 7790 offers 1.4% better value.
| Feature | Radeon R9 260 | Radeon HD 7790 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $139-7% | $149 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 76.2 | 77.3+1% |
| Codename | Hawaii | Bonaire |
| Release | November 5 2013 | March 22 2013 |
| Ranking | #316 | #579 |
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