Radeon HD 8490
AMD
G3D Mark
263
MSRP
$99
AVG Price
$35
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.
Overview
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The Radeon HD 8490 is positioned at rank #294 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Radeon HD 8490
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for Radeon HD 8490 across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Technical Analysis
Detailed breakdown of Radeon HD 8490 specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 8490 scores 263 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Entry Level tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the TeraScale (2005−2013) architecture (codename: RV790), manufactured on a 55 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 800 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 40 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 16 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 1.36 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.
| Specification | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 263 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | TeraScale (2005−2013) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | RV790 |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 55 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 800 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 40 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 16 |
| Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency | 850 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 1.36 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 34.00 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 1.1 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 959 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #762 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 8490 is equipped with 1 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 64-bit memory bus, delivering Unknown of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.
| Specification | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 1 GB |
| VRAM TypeMemory technology generation | GDDR5 |
| Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth | 64-bit |
| Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate | 8 Gbps |
| BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM | Unknown |
| L1 Cache | 160 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB |
Advanced Features & APIs
The Radeon HD 8490 supports modern upscaling and frame generation technologies: FidelityFX Super Resolution — these can dramatically boost effective FPS by generating intermediate frames or upscaling from lower internal resolution. Graphics API support: DirectX 11.2, OpenGL 4.4— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
| Specification | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|
| FSR Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| AMD Fluid Motion Frames | ❌ Not Supported |
| FidelityFX Super Resolution | ✅ Supported |
| DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version | 11.2 |
| OpenGLLegacy graphics API | 4.4 |
Display & Media
Display outputs: 1x DVI, 1x DisplayPort 1.1 — supports up to 2 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: UVD 3.1, decoder: UVD 3.1— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1.
| Specification | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|
| DVI PortsNumber of DVI display connectors | 1x |
| DisplayPort 1.1 PortsNumber of DisplayPort 1.1 display connectors | 1x |
| Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors | 2 |
| Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version | UVD 3.1 |
| Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version | UVD 3.1 |
| CodecsSupported video compression formats | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 8490 draws 190 Watt under load (TDP) — a 350W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 1x 6-pin. Physical size: 168mm long, occupying 1 expansion slots— verify your case has clearance before purchasing.
| Specification | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | 190 Watt |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 350W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | 1x 6-pin |
| Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance | 168mm |
| Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied | 1-slot |
Value Analysis
At an average price of $35 (MSRP: $99), the Radeon HD 8490 delivers 8 G3D Mark points per dollar. It holds Rank #294 in the cost-benefit ranking — a comprehensive score that weighs raw performance against current market pricing. Overall performance ranking position: #762 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | Radeon HD 8490 |
|---|---|
| MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price | $99 |
| Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days | $35 |
| Cost-Benefit RankOverall value ranking position | #294 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #762 |
| Release Date | April 2 2009 |
| Release Year | 2009 |
Similar Performance
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Our Recommendation for Radeon HD 8490
Suggested pairings based on performance balance
Minimum (Avoid Bottleneck) (12)
Recommended (Balanced) (12)
High-End (Max Performance) (12)
Popular Comparisons
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