AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 vs AMD Radeon RX 560 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the database is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The AMD Radeon RX 560 scores 16,472 points, while the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 scores 3,977 points. That is a 314.2% advantage for the RX 560, meaning it delivers roughly four times the raw compute throughput in this workload. The gap is so large that it is not a close contest; the HD 6850 X2 is left in a different performance tier entirely.

Looking at the broader database context, the RX 560 holds an average benchmark score of 4,569 across all recorded tests, while the HD 6850 X2 averages just 3,977. The RX 560 sits at the 26th percentile among all GPUs, with its nearest rivals being the AMD Radeon R5 M230 (4,577 average score, 0.2% behind), the Intel HD Graphics P530 (4,560 average score, 0.2% ahead), and the NVIDIA Quadro M3000M (4,621 average score, 1.1% ahead). The HD 6850 X2, at the 24th percentile, trades blows with the NVIDIA Quadro K2000 (3,964 average score, 0.3% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce 830M (3,957 average score, 0.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon R5 M420 (3,956 average score, 0.5% ahead). In short, the RX 560 competes in a class roughly 15% above where the HD 6850 X2 lands, based on average scores.

For the RX 560, the individual benchmark suite shows a mixed profile. It scores 18,941 in Geekbench Metal, which is its strongest result, and 16,472 in Geekbench OpenCL. Its Passmark results are more modest: 57 in DirectX 9, 25 in DirectX 11, 21 in DirectX 12, and 16 in DirectX 10. The GPU compute score is 1,437, while the G3D score is 3,671 and the G2D score is 485. These numbers indicate that the card is far stronger in compute-oriented tasks than in legacy DirectX rasterization tests.

The HD 6850 X2 has only one recorded benchmark, the Geekbench OpenCL score of 3,977. There are no DirectX, Metal, or compute entries in the database for this card, so its performance profile is largely defined by that single result. The data suggests that the HD 6850 X2 is a product of an older era, and its absence from modern benchmark suites limits direct comparisons.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 560 wins in every category where both cards have recorded data. Its single head-to-head victory in Geekbench OpenCL is backed by a broader trend: it outperforms the HD 6850 X2 in average score, percentile ranking, and raw compute. The RX 560 is the clear choice for any workload that leverages OpenCL, which includes many scientific, rendering, and machine learning tasks.

The HD 6850 X2 does not win any head-to-head benchmark in the database. Its only recorded result places it well behind the RX 560, and its percentile ranking (24th versus 26th) reinforces that it is a lower-tier performer overall. However, the HD 6850 X2 does have one structural advantage: its 256-bit memory bus and 134.4 GB/s bandwidth exceed the RX 560's 128-bit bus and 112.0 GB/s bandwidth. In memory-bandwidth-bound scenarios, such as high-resolution texture streaming or certain compute kernels, the HD 6850 X2 could theoretically hold its own, but the database contains no benchmark to confirm this.

For practical purposes, the RX 560 is the winner in every measured category. The HD 6850 X2's only "win" is historical: it was released earlier and belongs to a different architectural generation, so it may have niche value for legacy software compatibility.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the RX 560 than the HD 6850 X2 in OpenCL?

A: The RX 560 scores 16,472 versus 3,977, a 314.2% improvement. This means the RX 560 delivers over four times the OpenCL performance.

Q: Which card has a better overall benchmark average?

A: The RX 560 has an average benchmark score of 4,569 across all tests, while the HD 6850 X2 averages 3,977. The RX 560 is approximately 15% higher.

Q: Does the HD 6850 X2 have any advantage in memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, the HD 6850 X2 offers 134.4 GB/s bandwidth over a 256-bit bus, compared to the RX 560's 112.0 GB/s over a 128-bit bus. However, no benchmark in the database isolates this advantage.

Q: What are the DirectX performance scores for each card?

A: The RX 560 scores 57 in DirectX 9, 25 in DirectX 11, 21 in DirectX 12, and 16 in DirectX 10. The HD 6850 X2 has no recorded DirectX benchmarks in the database.

Q: Which card ranks higher among all GPUs?

A: The RX 560 is at the 26th percentile, while the HD 6850 X2 is at the 24th percentile. The RX 560 sits among rivals like the NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, while the HD 6850 X2 is near the NVIDIA Quadro K2000.

Q: Is the HD 6850 X2 still a viable option?

A: Based on the data, it is not competitive with the RX 560 in any recorded benchmark. Its single OpenCL score is far lower, and it lacks modern API support such as Vulkan.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every core specification. The RX 560 uses 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 112.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the HD 6850 X2 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 134.4 GB/s. The RX 560 has more shading units (1,024 versus 960) and more texture mapping units (64 versus 48), but the HD 6850 X2 has more ROPs (32 versus 16).

Clock speeds differ significantly. The RX 560 has a base clock of 1175 MHz and a boost clock of 1275 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective). The HD 6850 X2 has no base or boost clock listed, but its memory runs at 1050 MHz (4.2 Gbps effective).

The RX 560 has a pixel rate of 20.40 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 81.60 GTexel/s, while the HD 6850 X2 has a pixel rate of 25.60 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 38.40 GTexel/s. The RX 560's FP32 performance is 2.611 TFLOPS, and it supports FP16 at the same rate (1:1), whereas the HD 6850 X2 manages 1.536 TFLOPS FP32 with no FP16 support listed.

Power requirements are vastly different: the RX 560 has a TDP of 75 W, requires no power connectors, and suggests a 250 W PSU, while the HD 6850 X2 has a TDP of 254 W, requires two 8-pin connectors, and suggests a 600 W PSU. Both are dual-slot cards, but the RX 560 uses PCIe 3.0 x8, while the HD 6850 X2 uses PCIe 2.0 x16.

Display outputs also differ: the RX 560 offers 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and 1x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the HD 6850 X2 offers 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.1.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two cards is generational. The RX 560 is built on GCN 4.0 architecture using the Polaris 21 chip, while the HD 6850 X2 uses the older TeraScale 2 architecture with the Barts chip. The RX 560 is manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 3,000 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 24.4 million per mm². The HD 6850 X2 is built on a 40 nm process at TSMC, with 1,700 million transistors on a 255 mm² die, giving a density of 6.7 million per mm².

The RX 560 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, while the HD 6850 X2 only supports DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4, with no Vulkan support. This means the RX 560 is ready for modern APIs and features like asynchronous compute, while the HD 6850 X2 is limited to older rendering paths.

The RX 560's FP16 support at a 1:1 ratio is a notable advantage for compute workloads that use half precision, a feature absent from the HD 6850 X2. The RX 560 also has a much higher texture rate (81.60 GTexel/s versus 38.40 GTexel/s) despite lower pixel rate, reflecting its different balance of compute versus ROP throughput.

The HD 6850 X2 is a dual-GPU card by design (as its name implies), but the database lists it with a single Barts chip specification, so its actual transistor count and die size may double in practice. Regardless, the architectural improvements in GCN 4.0, including better instruction efficiency and memory compression, explain the RX 560's dominant benchmark results.

The Verdict

The AMD Radeon RX 560 is the superior card in every measurable way. Its 314.2% lead in OpenCL performance, higher average score, and better percentile ranking make it the obvious choice for any modern workload. The data shows that the RX 560 is roughly 15% above the HD 6850 X2 in average benchmarks, and its support for DirectX 12 and Vulkan ensures compatibility with current software.

The HD 6850 X2 should only be considered by someone with a very specific need for its higher memory bandwidth (134.4 GB/s versus 112.0 GB/s) or its older architecture. Its 254 W TDP and requirement for two 8-pin power connectors make it a power-hungry option, and its lack of modern API support limits its usefulness. The RX 560, with its 75 W TDP and no power connectors, is far more efficient and practical.

The verdict is clear: choose the RX 560 unless you have a legacy application that specifically requires the HD 6850 X2's characteristics. The RX 560 wins on performance, efficiency, and future-proofing. The HD 6850 X2 is a relic from a previous generation, and the database confirms it cannot keep pace.