ATI Radeon X850 PRO

The ATI Radeon X850 PRO, built on the R480 chip using TSMC's 130 nm process, is an end-of-life graphics card from the Radeon R400 PCIe generation. It integrates 160 million transistors on a 297 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 538.7K per square millimeter. With a 256-bit memory bus and GDDR3 memory, this single-slot card was positioned for high-resolution gaming in its era, though it supports DirectX 9.0b (9_2) and OpenGL 2.1, which limits its modern utility. The database lists no benchmark scores for this unit, but its percentile rank of 50 places it exactly at the median of all GPUs in the database, indicating a middle-of-the-road standing rather than a high-end or entry-level one.

Memory Subsystem

The X850 PRO ships with 256 MB of GDDR3 memory across a 256-bit bus. The memory clock is 520 MHz, which translates to 1040 Mbps effective data rate. Multiplying the bus width and effective rate yields a total memory bandwidth of 33.28 GB/s. This bandwidth figure is the key constraint for high-resolution workloads, as the card must feed its 12 texture mapping units and 12 render output units with data. For the era's typical resolutions of 1024x768 or 1280x1024, 33.28 GB/s was adequate. However, at higher resolutions like 1600x1200 or beyond, the bandwidth becomes a bottleneck, especially with heavy texture filtering and anti-aliasing. The 256 MB frame buffer is also a limiting factor; modern games with large texture sets will exceed this capacity, forcing texture thrashing. The pixel rate of 6.084 GPixel/s and texture rate of 6.084 GTexel/s are identical, meaning the card balances pixel and texel throughput. For users considering this card today, the memory subsystem is the primary reason to avoid 1440p or 4K gaming — the bandwidth and capacity simply cannot sustain those workloads.

Who Should Consider It

Given the absence of benchmark scores, recommendations must be derived from the hardware specifications and the percentile rank. The X850 PRO sits at the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database, which suggests it performs at the median level. That means it is neither a high-end part nor a low-end one. For practical use, this card is only suitable for legacy gaming at 1024x768 or 1280x1024 with reduced detail settings. Users running games released before 2005, or lightweight indie titles that do not require DirectX 9.0c or later, may find it functional. The DirectX 9.0b (9_2) support is a hard cap — any game requiring Shader Model 3.0 (DirectX 9.0c) will not run. The 256 MB VRAM and 33.28 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for modern titles at any resolution. Therefore, this card is for collectors, retro PC builders, or those running period-appropriate software. It is not a viable option for current gaming, even at low settings. The single-slot design and PCIe 1.0 x16 interface mean it will fit in most motherboards, but the lack of Vulkan support and limited OpenGL 2.1 capability further restrict its use to very old applications.

Benchmark Performance

The FACT PACK contains no benchmark scores for the ATI Radeon X850 PRO; the `benchmarks` array is empty and the average benchmark score is listed as 0. This absence of data means no direct performance comparisons against rivals can be made from the provided information. The only performance indicator available is the `percentileVsAllGpus` field, which is 50. This percentile represents the card's standing relative to every other GPU in the database — a value of 50 means it performs better than 50% of all GPUs and worse than 50% of all GPUs. This is a median position, suggesting that in the database's historical context, the X850 PRO is an average performer. Without specific rival scores, it is impossible to state exact percentage deltas. The hardware itself — 12 TMUs, 12 ROPs, and a 256-bit bus — aligns with a mid-range product of its generation. The pixel rate of 6.084 GPixel/s and texture rate of 6.084 GTexel/s are modest figures. Given the 0 benchmark score, the database treats this card as untested, so any performance claims beyond the percentile rank would be speculative. Users should interpret the 50th percentile as a neutral indicator: the card is not exceptional, nor is it a failure, within the database's historical scope.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory configuration of the X850 PRO?

A: It has 256 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a memory clock of 520 MHz (1040 Mbps effective) and a bandwidth of 33.28 GB/s.

Q: Does this card support modern graphics APIs?

A: No. It supports DirectX 9.0b (9_2) and OpenGL 2.1. It has no Vulkan support, so it cannot run applications requiring DirectX 9.0c or later, nor any Vulkan-based titles.

Q: What is the power draw and PSU requirement?

A: The TDP is not listed in the data, but the suggested power supply is 200 W. It requires a single 6-pin power connector.

Q: What is the card's performance percentile?

A: It ranks at the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database, meaning it sits exactly at the median. No benchmark scores are recorded for it.

Q: When was this card released and what was its launch price?

A: Its release date is 2004-11-30, and the launch MSRP was 279 USD. It is now end-of-life.

Q: What display outputs are available?

A: The card provides 1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x S-Video outputs.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals for the X850 PRO. The `nearestRivals` array is empty, so there are no specific competitor names, scores, or delta percentages to analyze. In the absence of direct rival data, the card's position can only be inferred from its percentile rank of 50 — exactly the midpoint of the database. This suggests that, relative to all other GPUs tracked, the X850 PRO is a median performer. Its predecessor in the product line is the Radeon R300, and its successor is the Radeon R500 PCIe, but no performance figures are provided for either. The architecture is R400, built on the R480 chip. Without benchmark data, any comparison to specific rivals would be unfounded. The database simply does not contain the necessary information to place this card against named competitors. Users seeking a performance comparison should note that the 50th percentile is the only quantitative reference available, and it indicates a mid-pack position rather than a leader or laggard.

Power and Cooling

The ATI Radeon X850 PRO is a single-slot card with a suggested power supply rating of 200 W. It draws power through a single 6-pin connector. The TDP is not listed in the FACT PACK, so no exact wattage figure can be stated. The 130 nm process node and 160 million transistors suggest a moderate power draw for its generation, but without a TDP value, the 200 W PSU recommendation is the only power-related guidance available. The single-slot design implies a low-profile cooling solution — likely a blower-style cooler that exhausts heat out of the case. This is adequate for the card's thermal output, given its era. For a modern system, a 200 W PSU is minimal, but the card's PCIe 1.0 x16 interface and single 6-pin connector make installation straightforward. Users should ensure their power supply has a free 6-pin cable. The card's length and height are not specified, so physical fitment in compact cases cannot be guaranteed, but the single-slot width is confirmed. Given the end-of-life status, the cooling fan may be aged, and users should inspect it for wear. The card's power requirements are modest, but the lack of a TDP figure means builders must rely on the 200 W PSU recommendation as the definitive constraint.