Radeon HD 4850 vs HD 5850
Aggregated performance score
HD 5850 outperforms HD 4850 by 94% based on our aggregated benchmark results.
General info
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in performance ranking | 584 | 773 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Value for money | 0.79 | 0.16 |
| Architecture | Terascale 2 (2009−2015) | Terascale 1 (2008−2010) |
| GPU code name | Cypress | RV770 |
| Market segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Release date | 30 September 2009 (14 years old) | 25 June 2008 (15 years old) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $299 | $199 |
| Current price | $120 (0.4x MSRP) | $138 (0.7x MSRP) |
Value for money
Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.
ATI HD 5850 has 394% better value for money than ATI HD 4850.
Technical specs
General performance parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. These parameters indirectly speak of performance, but for precise assessment you have to consider their benchmark and gaming test results. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
| Pipelines / CUDA cores | 1440 | 800 |
| Core clock speed | 725 MHz | 625 MHz |
| Number of transistors | 2,154 million | 956 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 40 nm | 55 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 151 Watt | 110 Watt |
| Texture fill rate | 52.20 | 25.00 |
| Floating-point performance | 2,088.0 gflops | 1,000.0 gflops |
Size and compatibility
Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).
| Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | PCIe 2.0 x16 |
| Length | 241 mm | 246 mm |
| Width | 2-slot | 1-slot |
| Supplementary power connectors | 2x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin |
Memory
Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.
| Memory type | GDDR5 | GDDR3 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 1 GB | 512 MB |
| Memory bus width | 256 Bit | 256 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 2000 MHz | 993 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 128.0 GB/s | 63.55 GB/s |
Video outputs and ports
Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.
| Display Connectors | 2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort | 2x DVI, 1x S-Video |
| HDMI | + | no data |
API support
List of supported graphics and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 11.2 (11_0) | 10.1 (10_1) |
| Shader Model | 5.0 | 4.1 |
| OpenGL | 4.4 | 3.3 |
| OpenCL | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| Vulkan | N/A | N/A |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Non-gaming benchmark performance comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark performance score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.
HD 5850 outperforms HD 4850 by 94% based on our aggregated benchmark results.
Passmark
This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark, part of Passmark PerformanceTest suite. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.
Benchmark coverage: 25%
HD 5850 outperforms HD 4850 by 94% in Passmark.
3DMark Vantage Performance
3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.
Benchmark coverage: 17%
HD 5850 outperforms HD 4850 by 48% in 3DMark Vantage Performance.
Gaming performance
Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.
Average FPS across all PC games
Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:
| 900p | 59
+111%
| 28
−111%
|
| Full HD | 57
+42.5%
| 40
−42.5%
|
| 1200p | 35−40
+84.2%
| 19
−84.2%
|
Performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9−10
+80%
|
5−6
−80%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−11
+233%
|
3−4
−233%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 5−6
+150%
|
2−3
−150%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 14−16
+200%
|
5−6
−200%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 16−18
+33.3%
|
12−14
−33.3%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9−10
+80%
|
5−6
−80%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 10−12
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 10−12
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 16−18
+183%
|
6−7
−183%
|
| Hitman 3 | 12−14
+140%
|
5−6
−140%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 10−11
+150%
|
4−5
−150%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 10−11
+66.7%
|
6−7
−66.7%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 12−14
+44.4%
|
9−10
−44.4%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 7−8
+600%
|
1−2
−600%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−11
+233%
|
3−4
−233%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 5−6
+150%
|
2−3
−150%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 14−16
+200%
|
5−6
−200%
|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 16−18
+33.3%
|
12−14
−33.3%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9−10
+80%
|
5−6
−80%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 10−12
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 10−12
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 16−18
+183%
|
6−7
−183%
|
| Hitman 3 | 12−14
+140%
|
5−6
−140%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 10−11
+150%
|
4−5
−150%
|
| Metro Exodus | 7−8
+75%
|
4−5
−75%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 10−11
+66.7%
|
6−7
−66.7%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 12−14
+44.4%
|
9−10
−44.4%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 10−12
+83.3%
|
6−7
−83.3%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 7−8
+600%
|
1−2
−600%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 10−11
+233%
|
3−4
−233%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 5−6
+150%
|
2−3
−150%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 14−16
+200%
|
5−6
−200%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9−10
+80%
|
5−6
−80%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 10−12
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 10−12
+267%
|
3−4
−267%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 16−18
+183%
|
6−7
−183%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 10−12
+83.3%
|
6−7
−83.3%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 7−8
+600%
|
1−2
−600%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 8−9
+60%
|
5−6
−60%
|
| Hitman 3 | 9−10
+80%
|
5−6
−80%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 10−12
+22.2%
|
9−10
−22.2%
|
| Metro Exodus | 3−4
+200%
|
1−2
−200%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 3−4
+200%
|
1−2
−200%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 8−9
+33.3%
|
6−7
−33.3%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 3−4
+200%
|
1−2
−200%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 1−2 | 0−1 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 2−3
+100%
|
1−2
−100%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 8−9
+100%
|
4−5
−100%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 5−6
+150%
|
2−3
−150%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 7−8
+600%
|
1−2
−600%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 5−6
+66.7%
|
3−4
−66.7%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 1−2 | 0−1 |
4K
High Preset
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 4−5
+100%
|
2−3
−100%
|
| Hitman 3 | 5−6
+66.7%
|
3−4
−66.7%
|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 8−9
+14.3%
|
7−8
−14.3%
|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 3−4
+200%
|
1−2
−200%
|
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1−2 | 0−1 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 1−2 | 0−1 |
4K
Ultra Preset
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 3−4
+200%
|
1−2
−200%
|
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 2−3
+100%
|
1−2
−100%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 0−1 | 0−1 |
| Far Cry 5 | 5−6
+25%
|
4−5
−25%
|
| Far Cry New Dawn | 7−8
+16.7%
|
6−7
−16.7%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 3−4
+200%
|
1−2
−200%
|
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 0−1 | 0−1 |
This is how ATI HD 5850 and ATI HD 4850 compete in popular games:
900p resolution:
- ATI HD 5850 is 111% faster than ATI HD 4850
1080p resolution:
- ATI HD 5850 is 42.5% faster than ATI HD 4850
1200p resolution:
- ATI HD 5850 is 84.2% faster than ATI HD 4850
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Watch Dogs: Legion, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the ATI HD 5850 is 600% faster than the ATI HD 4850.
All in all, in popular games:
- Without exception, ATI HD 5850 surpassed ATI HD 4850 in all 53 of our tests.
Advantages and disadvantages
| Performance score | 5.13 | 2.65 |
| Recency | 30 September 2009 | 25 June 2008 |
| Cost | $299 | $199 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 1 GB | 512 MB |
| Chip lithography | 40 nm | 55 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 151 Watt | 110 Watt |
The Radeon HD 5850 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon HD 4850 in performance tests.
Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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