AMD Radeon HD 6850
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon HD 6850 Specifications
Radeon HD 6850 GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon HD 6850 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 6850 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon HD 6850'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 6850 by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon HD 6850 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon HD 6850'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 6850 by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the HD 6850, 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 6850 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon HD 6850 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 6850 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 6850 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon HD 6850 Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon HD 6850 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 6850 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon HD 6850 by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon HD 6850 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 6850. 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 6850 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon HD 6850 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 6850 by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon HD 6850 Benchmark Scores
passmark_directx_10Source
DirectX 10 tests AMD Radeon HD 6850 with the graphics API introduced with Windows Vista. This shows performance in games from the 2007-2009 era that targeted this feature level. DX10 introduced geometry shaders and other features still used today.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performerspassmark_directx_11Source
DirectX 11 tests AMD Radeon HD 6850 with the widely-used graphics API powering most current games. This shows mainstream gaming performance across the majority of today's titles. DX11 remains the most common rendering path even in newer games. Tessellation and compute shaders introduced in DX11 are heavily used in modern game engines.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_directx_12Source
DirectX 12 tests AMD Radeon HD 6850 with the modern low-overhead graphics API. This shows performance in next-gen games that leverage DX12 features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_directx_9Source
DirectX 9 tests AMD Radeon HD 6850 performance with the legacy graphics API still used by older games. This shows compatibility and performance with classic titles from the 2000s era.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_g2dSource
PassMark G2D tests 2D graphics performance for desktop rendering, UI elements, and productivity applications. This shows how AMD Radeon HD 6850 handles everyday visual tasks.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_g3dSource
PassMark G3D measures overall 3D graphics performance of AMD Radeon HD 6850 across DirectX 9 through 12 tests. This provides a comprehensive gaming capability score. The combined result predicts performance across various game engines and API versions.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
passmark_gpu_computeSource
GPU compute tests parallel processing capability of AMD Radeon HD 6850 using OpenCL. This shows performance in video encoding, scientific computing, and AI workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
About AMD Radeon HD 6850
The AMD Radeon HD 6850, built on the Barts chip with TeraScale 2 architecture, represents a specific moment in GPU history. Its benchmark scores and technical specifications tell a story of a card designed for a particular era of gaming, one that is now firmly in the past. The data shows a product that was once a mid-range contender but now sits at the very bottom of the performance hierarchy, with a percentile rank of just 1 among all GPUs.
Memory Subsystem
The memory configuration of the HD 6850 is a study in early GDDR5 implementation. It features 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory across a 256-bit bus, which yields a bandwidth of 128.0 GB/s. This combination was considered robust for its time, but the data suggests its limitations for modern use. The 1 GB frame buffer is a significant constraint, as contemporary games at high resolutions and detail settings can easily exceed this capacity, leading to texture swapping and stuttering. The 128.0 GB/s bandwidth, while respectable then, is now a bottleneck when moving large amounts of texture and geometry data. For high-resolution gaming, the 256-bit bus width helps mitigate some of the bandwidth pressure, but the relatively small memory size ultimately caps its effectiveness. The effective memory clock of 4 Gbps is a fixed specification, and the card's performance is heavily tied to this allocation. In essence, the memory subsystem is sufficient for older titles or low-detail settings, but it lacks the capacity and speed to feed modern GPUs' demands at 1080p or higher.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The HD 6850 does not include any dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores, as these technologies were not part of the TeraScale 2 architecture. Its feature set is defined by its API support, which includes DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4. There is no Vulkan support listed. This means the card is fundamentally incapable of hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a feature now common in modern games. The lack of tensor cores also precludes any AI-accelerated features like DLSS. The card's compute capability is reflected in its Passmark GPU compute score of 750, which is a measure of its general-purpose processing power. This score is low, indicating that the card is not suited for compute-heavy workloads. The DirectX 11.2 support is its primary API for gaming, but this is now a legacy standard. The absence of Vulkan support further limits its compatibility with modern game engines that rely on this lower-level API for better performance and efficiency. The data clearly shows a card that is feature-limited by modern standards, lacking the dedicated hardware and software support for contemporary graphics technologies.
Who Should Consider It
Given its benchmark scores, the HD 6850 is not a card for modern gaming. Its Passmark G3D score of 1945 places it in the lowest percentile, and its DirectX 11 score of 14 is particularly telling. The data suggests that this card is only viable for very old games or basic desktop use. For gaming, the card's performance is best suited to titles from its release era, around 2010, and only at lower resolutions and detail settings. At 1080p, the card would struggle with most games released after 2012, and even older titles might require reduced settings to maintain playable frame rates. The DirectX 9 score of 50 is the highest of its API-specific benchmark scores, indicating that it can handle older DirectX 9 titles with relative ease. However, for any game that requires DirectX 11 or higher, the card's performance is severely limited, as evidenced by the score of 14. The card is not suitable for high-resolution gaming, with the 1024 MB memory buffer being a primary constraint. In short, this is a card for retro gaming or as a basic display adapter, not for any contemporary gaming workload.
How It Compares
The HD 6850's position relative to its nearest rivals, based on average benchmark scores, shows a narrow performance band. The data reveals that the card is neither a clear leader nor a complete outlier among its closest competitors.
AMD Radeon HD 6750M: The HD 6850 has an average score of 459, which is 5.2% lower than the HD 6750M's score of 484. This is a notable result, as the HD 6850 is a desktop card while the HD 6750M is a mobile part. The data indicates that the mobile chip outperforms the desktop card in this aggregated benchmark, suggesting the HD 6850's architecture is less efficient in this comparison.
AMD Radeon HD 7750: The HD 6850 scores 6.7% higher than the HD 7750, which has an average score of 430. This is a modest lead, but it is a significant point in the HD 6850's favor. The newer architecture of the HD 7750 does not translate to a performance advantage, according to the data.
Intel HD Graphics 4000: The HD 6850 is 11% ahead of the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, which scores 414. This is the expected result, as a dedicated GPU should outperform an integrated solution. However, the margin is not overwhelming, which highlights the HD 6850's age and performance limitations.
ATI Radeon HD 5450: The HD 6850 leads the ATI Radeon HD 5450 by 18%, with the latter scoring 389. This is the largest performance gap among the listed rivals. The HD 5450 is an entry-level card, so the HD 6850's higher position in the product stack is reflected in this score difference.
FAQ
Q: What is the average benchmark score for the AMD Radeon HD 6850?
A: The average benchmark score is 459.
Q: How does the HD 6850 compare to the AMD Radeon HD 7750 in terms of average score?
A: The HD 6850 has an average score that is 6.7% higher than the HD 7750.
Q: Does the HD 6850 support DirectX 12?
A: No, its Passmark DirectX 12 score is 0, and its API support is limited to DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the HD 6850?
A: The memory bandwidth is 128.0 GB/s, which is delivered via a 256-bit bus and GDDR5 memory.
Q: What is the pixel fill rate of the HD 6850?
A: The pixel fill rate is 24.80 GPixel/s.
Q: What is the TDP of the HD 6850?
A: The TDP is 127 W.
Power and Cooling
The HD 6850 is specified with a TDP of 127 W, which is a modest power draw by modern standards. The recommended power supply is 300 W, indicating that the card is not power-hungry. It requires a single 6-pin power connector for operation. The card is a dual-slot design, which means it will occupy two expansion slots in a case. Its physical dimensions are 198 mm in length, or 7.8 inches, which is a standard size for a card of its era. The cooling solution is not specified in the data, but the dual-slot design suggests it uses a substantial heatsink and fan combination. The 127 W TDP is a key figure for system builders, as it dictates the minimum power supply requirements and thermal considerations. The card's power connectors are a single 6-pin, which is a standard requirement for many GPUs of its generation. The relatively low TDP and 300 W PSU recommendation make it an easy card to integrate into older systems with smaller power supplies.
Benchmark Performance
The benchmark data for the HD 6850 paints a clear picture of its performance profile. The Passmark G3D score of 1945 is a measure of overall 3D graphics performance, and it places the card in the 1st percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is among the slowest. The DirectX 11 score of 14 is particularly low, suggesting that the card struggles significantly with modern DirectX 11 workloads. In contrast, the DirectX 9 score of 50 is much higher, indicating that the card is more capable with older APIs. The DirectX 10 score is 15, which is also low. The compute score of 750 reflects its limited general-purpose processing power. The 2D score of 436 is a measure of desktop and 2D performance, which is less critical for gaming. The average benchmark score of 459 is the aggregate metric used for comparison with rivals. When looking at the delta percentages, the HD 6850 is 5.2% slower than the HD 6750M, but 6.7%, 11%, and 18% faster than the HD 7750, Intel HD Graphics 4000, and ATI Radeon HD 5450, respectively. These deltas show that the HD 6850 is positioned in a tight cluster of low-performing GPUs. The data indicates that its DirectX 11 performance is a major weakness, with a score of 14 being a clear indicator that it is not a viable option for modern gaming. The card's performance is best understood as a product of its time, capable of handling the games and APIs of its era but completely outclassed by modern hardware.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon HD 6850
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
Popular AMD Radeon HD 6850 Comparisons
See how the Radeon HD 6850 stacks up against similar graphics cards from the same generation and competing brands.
Compare Radeon HD 6850 with Other GPUs
Select another GPU to compare specifications and benchmarks side-by-side.
Browse GPUs