Let's be real, the AMD Radeon R7 360 896SP wasn't designed to crush professional 3D rendering or complex simulations. Built on the 28nm GCN 2.0 architecture, this 2GB GDDR5 card struggles with modern, GPU-accelerated professional apps like Blender Cycles or CAD software that demand more VRAM and compute power. Its 896 stream processors and modest memory bandwidth create a bottleneck for detailed modeling or real-time visualization. For basic tasks like photo editing or lightweight 2D design, it can get the job done, but it's seriously outmatched by newer architectures. If your workflow involves any serious prosumer applications, this GPU will feel like a major constraint. It's a clear pass for anyone whose paycheck depends on rendering speed, making it a legacy piece for very light office duties.
For video editing, the R7 360 is strictly in the budget, entry-level tier, best suited for simple 1080p projects. It can provide some basic GPU acceleration for effects and encoding in older versions of software like Premiere Pro, but don't expect buttery smooth timeline playback with multiple layers or color grading LUTs. The 2GB frame buffer fills up instantly with high-bitrate footage or any 4K content, leading to constant stuttering and frustrating crashes. Modern codecs like H.265/HEVC will bring this card to its knees in software that relies on GPU decode. You'd be better off using a modern CPU's integrated graphics for a more stable experience. This GPU is a relic from a time when GPU acceleration in editing was a luxury, not a necessity.
Driver support is a mixed bag for this aging GCN product. While AMD's Adrenalin software suite still offers basic support, you're unlikely to see performance optimizations for newer games or creative applications. The focus is overwhelmingly on stability and security for this legacy hardware, which means you might encounter bugs or incompatibilities with the latest Windows feature updates. However, for its era, the drivers were generally solid, and the card's low 85W TDP made it a simple plug-and-play option. The key takeaway is that you shouldn't buy this GPU expecting driver-driven performance miracles; what you see is what you get. Its driver lifecycle is in maintenance mode, so keep those expectations firmly in check.
Considering multi-GPU with this card is basically a dead end and not recommended for any realistic scenario. AMD's CrossFire technology for the R7 360 was always niche and is now entirely deprecated in modern games and applications, with most titles offering zero scaling or even negative performance. You'd also need a compatible motherboard, a beefier PSU, and deal with the micro-stuttering and compatibility headaches that plagued multi-GPU setups. The limited 2GB VRAM per card would be a crippling limitation, as games and apps don't pool memory. Investing in a second-hand, single more powerful GPU is infinitely smarter than trying to bridge two of these. The Radeon R7 360 896SP remains a solitary player, best left to run solo in basic systems.