AMD Radeon HD 6790
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon HD 6790 Specifications
Radeon HD 6790 GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon HD 6790 GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
HD 6790 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon HD 6790's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The Radeon HD 6790 by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon HD 6790 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon HD 6790's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
Radeon HD 6790 by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the HD 6790, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
HD 6790 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon HD 6790 against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
TeraScale 2 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon HD 6790 is built on AMD's TeraScale 2 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the HD 6790 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon HD 6790 Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon HD 6790 determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the Radeon HD 6790 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon HD 6790 by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon HD 6790 are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
AMD API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the AMD Radeon HD 6790. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
Radeon HD 6790 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon HD 6790 is manufactured by AMD as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the Radeon HD 6790 by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon HD 6790 Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About AMD Radeon HD 6790
The AMD Radeon HD 6790 is a mid-range graphics card from the Northern Islands generation, built on the TeraScale 2 architecture and the Barts chip. Manufactured on TSMC's 40 nm process, it packs 1,700 million transistors into a 255 mm² die, with a transistor density of 6.7M per mm². Released on April 3, 2011, it has since been marked end-of-life, and its 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates it sits squarely in the middle of the performance distribution. With a launch MSRP of 149 USD, it targeted the mainstream segment, but its age and feature set now limit its relevance to older titles and modest resolutions.
Memory Subsystem
The HD 6790 comes with 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 134.4 GB/s. The memory clock is 1050 MHz, which translates to 4.2 Gbps effective. This configuration was competitive for its time, offering enough bandwidth to feed the card's 800 shading units without severe bottlenecks. For high-resolution gaming, the 1 GB frame buffer is the more limiting factor than the bandwidth itself. At 1080p with moderate texture detail, the 134.4 GB/s can keep up, but at 1440p or above, the capacity and bandwidth would strain against modern game demands. The 256-bit bus width is a positive trait, as it provides a wider path for data than the 128-bit designs common in lower-tier cards, but the overall memory size remains a constraint for contemporary workloads. In practice, the HD 6790 is best suited to 1080p gaming with settings tuned to medium, and it will struggle with high-resolution textures or multi-monitor setups that require more than 1 GB of VRAM.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The HD 6790 does not include any dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores, as those technologies were not part of the TeraScale 2 architecture. Its API support is limited to DirectX 11.2 (feature level 11_0) and OpenGL 4.4; there is no Vulkan support listed. This means the card cannot accelerate real-time ray tracing or leverage modern AI-based upscaling techniques. The feature set is firmly rooted in the early 2010s, with no hardware support for variable rate shading, mesh shaders, or other DX12 Ultimate features. For gamers who prioritize the latest graphical effects, this card is clearly outdated. However, for older DirectX 11 titles or OpenGL-based applications, it retains functional compatibility, albeit without the performance headroom of newer architectures. The absence of Vulkan support also limits its use in many modern games that rely on Vulkan for cross-platform rendering, as those titles would fall back to older API paths or not run at all.
How It Compares
The fact pack provides no nearest rival data, so a direct comparison to specific competing cards is not possible from the given information. However, the 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs offers a broad reference point: the HD 6790 sits exactly at the median of the performance spectrum. This suggests that it outperforms half of all GPUs ever benchmarked while trailing the other half. Given its release date and architecture, this ranking likely reflects its position relative to both older and newer hardware, but without specific rival names or scores, no granular comparison can be made. The absence of benchmark scores in the fact pack further limits any quantitative analysis. In a historical context, the card would have competed with other mid-range offerings of its era, but those details are not available here. Thus, the only verifiable comparison is its percentile placement, which indicates a balanced, middle-of-the-road performance level.
FAQ
Q: What is the memory size and type of the AMD Radeon HD 6790?
A: It has 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory.
Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) of this card?
A: The TDP is 150 W.
Q: How many power connectors does it require?
A: It requires two 6-pin power connectors.
Q: What display outputs are available?
A: It offers two DVI ports, one HDMI 1.3a port, and one DisplayPort 1.1 port.
Q: What is the recommended power supply wattage?
A: A 450 W power supply is suggested.
Q: Does the card support Vulkan?
A: No, Vulkan support is not listed; it supports DirectX 11.2 and OpenGL 4.4.
Benchmark Performance
The fact pack contains no actual benchmark scores or average performance data, so any analysis must rely on theoretical specifications and the percentile ranking. The card's peak FP32 performance is 1,344.0 GFLOPS, with a pixel rate of 13.44 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 33.60 GTexel/s. These numbers indicate a compute capability that, in its era, would have handled 1080p gaming at medium to high settings in DirectX 11 titles. The 50th percentile ranking suggests that in aggregate benchmarks, it performed exactly as well as the median GPU, which aligns with its mid-range positioning. Without rival scores or delta percentages, it is impossible to state whether it is 10% faster or slower than any specific competitor. The theoretical throughput figures, combined with the 134.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, point to a card that was balanced for its time, but modern workloads would likely see it fall behind even entry-level current GPUs. The lack of benchmark data means that the only concrete performance metric is the percentile, which we can interpret as a neutral, average standing.
Power and Cooling
The HD 6790 has a TDP of 150 W, which is modest by modern standards but was typical for a mid-range card in 2011. It is a dual-slot design, meaning it occupies two expansion slots in a chassis. The card requires two 6-pin PCIe power connectors, and AMD recommends a 450 W power supply for a system using this GPU. The physical dimensions are 198 mm in length (7.8 inches), which should fit in most mid-tower cases, but users should verify clearance. The cooling solution is not detailed in the fact pack, but the dual-slot form factor suggests a substantial heatsink and fan assembly capable of dissipating 150 W of heat. Given its end-of-life status, users should ensure that the power supply has the necessary connectors and wattage headroom, as older units may not meet the 450 W recommendation under load. The card uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, which is backward compatible with modern motherboards but may limit performance if paired with a very new CPU that expects PCIe 4.0 or 5.0.
Who Should Consider It
The HD 6790 is a legacy product that is only suitable for very specific use cases. Given its 1024 MB VRAM and 134.4 GB/s bandwidth, it can handle 1080p gaming with older titles or esports games at lower settings. The 50th percentile ranking suggests it performs at the median of all GPUs, so it will run modern AAA games only at the lowest graphical presets and likely below playable frame rates. For users who have a 450 W power supply and two 6-pin connectors, the card could serve as a temporary placeholder in a budget build, but its lack of Vulkan support and modern features (no ray tracing, no tensor cores) makes it a poor choice for anything beyond basic desktop use or very old games. Enthusiasts seeking to play classic DirectX 9/10/11 titles from the early 2010s might find it adequate, especially at 720p or 1080p with reduced settings. However, for any current or near-future gaming, the card is not recommended. The 149 USD launch MSRP was reasonable in 2011, but today its value is purely historical. In summary, only collectors or those building a period-correct system should consider the HD 6790; all other users should look to modern GPUs with higher VRAM, better API support, and lower power consumption.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon HD 6790
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
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