Radeon R9 285
GPU·Budget

Radeon R9 285

AMD

G3D Mark

6,680

MSRP

$249

AVG Price

$40

September 2 2014
190 Watt
GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)

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 R9 285 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: 6,680 points. Launch price was $249.

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.

Technical Analysis

Detailed breakdown of Radeon R9 285 specifications and capabilities.

Graphics Performance

The Radeon R9 285 scores 6,680 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Budget tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the GCN 3.0 (2014−2019) architecture (codename: Tonga), manufactured on a 28 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 1792 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 112 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 32 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 3.29 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.

SpecificationRadeon R9 285
G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score6,680
ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generationGCN 3.0 (2014−2019)
CodenameInternal GPU die codenameTonga
Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient28 nm
Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute1792
TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling112
ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending32
Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency918 MHz
Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance3.29 TFLOPS
Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second102.8 GTexel/s
PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generationPCIe 3.0 x16
Transistor Count5,000 million
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#365
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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon R9 285 is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 256-bit memory bus, delivering 176 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.

SpecificationRadeon R9 285
VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures4 GB
VRAM TypeMemory technology generationGDDR5
Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth256-bit
Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate8 Gbps
BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM176 GB/s
L1 Cache448 kB
L2 Cache512 kB

Advanced Features & APIs

The Radeon R9 285 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 12.0, Vulkan 1.2, OpenGL 4.4— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.

SpecificationRadeon R9 285
FSR Frame Generation❌ Not Supported
AMD Fluid Motion Frames❌ Not Supported
FidelityFX Super Resolution✅ Supported
DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version12.0
VulkanCross-platform graphics API1.2
OpenGLLegacy graphics API4.4
Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL)OpenCL 2.0
Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink supportCrossFire
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Display & Media

Display outputs: 1x DP, 2x DVI, 1x HDMI — supports up to 4 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: VCE 3.0, decoder: UVD 5.0— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264.

SpecificationRadeon R9 285
DP PortsNumber of DP display connectors1x
DVI PortsNumber of DVI display connectors2x
HDMI PortsNumber of HDMI display connectors1x
Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors4
Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine versionVCE 3.0
Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine versionUVD 5.0
CodecsSupported video compression formatsMPEG-2,H.264
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Power & Dimensions

The Radeon R9 285 draws 190 Watt under load (TDP) — a 500W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 2x 6-pin. Physical size: 221mm long, 109mm tall, occupying 2 expansion slots— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 30°C at idle, 65°C under load.

SpecificationRadeon R9 285
TDPPower consumption under load190 Watt
Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage500W
Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type2x 6-pin
Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance221mm
Card Height109mm
Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied2-slot
Idle TemperatureTypical temperature at desktop idle30°C
Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load65°C
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Value Analysis

At an average price of $40 (MSRP: $249), the Radeon R9 285 delivers 167 G3D Mark points per dollar. Overall performance ranking position: #365 among all indexed GPUs.

SpecificationRadeon R9 285
MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price$249
Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days$40
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#365
Release DateSeptember 2 2014
Release Year2014

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