GeForce 8500 GT vs Radeon HD 7950

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared 8500 GT and HD 7950 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

8500 GT outperforms HD 7950 by ~17% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+17%

Scores are normalized on the Head to Head scale. Higher is better. How is this calculated?

H2HBench Data Quality

Low confidence
Specifications: Field verification not recordedVerified gaming results: 0Estimated / unverified results: 32Price record updated: Sep 6, 2026

Limited verified data

H2HBench Verdict

Higher catalog score: GeForce 8500 GT (~28%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider 8500 GT

  • Higher catalog performance index
  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Lower recorded market price
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 1.1 · Not supported

Reasons to consider HD 7950

  • More graphics memory
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported
Low confidence

Catalog metrics radar

Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.

H2H
Performance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
Performance
4135
Efficiency
10058
Price / performance
100100
Memory capacity
756
Missing values are never replaced with zero or an average.Model: H2H 2026.07 fixed scale.

Graphics card ranking

Full ranking →

The ranking is recalculated automatically from catalog data.

Positions 61–66of 321
8500 GT#63position in the GPU ranking
HD 7950not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

GeForce 8500 GT

157 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

BEST PRICE / PERFORMANCE

GeForce 8500 GT

Price $18.00

Based on catalog performance per unit of current market price, not measured FPS.

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

Category8500 GTHD 7950
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
41Better
35
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
36Better
32
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
34Better
29
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
100Better
58
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
59Better
46

Specifications

The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.

Specification8500 GTHD 7950
Transistor countBetter
LengthBetter
Device class
DirectX
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Architecture
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cacheBetter
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
Vulkan
DisplayPort
HDMI
Upscaling

Gaming FPS

Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.

The Gaming FPS section compares 8500 GT and HD 7950 across curated H2H Lab game presets. The useful signal is not only average FPS, but also how each device behaves at 1440p and 4K, how memory capacity and bus width affect heavy textures, and whether the game engine favors raster performance, ray tracing, or driver maturity.

8500 GTHD 7950
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
196 FPS
177 FPS
1080p Ultra
138 FPS
124 FPS
1440p Ultra
87 FPS
71 FPS
4K Ultra
33 FPS
24 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 28500 GT196 FPSHD 7950177 FPS8500 GT138 FPSHD 7950124 FPS8500 GT87 FPSHD 795071 FPS8500 GT33 FPSHD 795024 FPS
Cyberpunk 20778500 GT127 FPSHD 7950114 FPS8500 GT109 FPSHD 795098 FPS8500 GT63 FPSHD 795051 FPS8500 GT22 FPSHD 795016 FPS
Forza Horizon 58500 GT160 FPSHD 7950144 FPS8500 GT103 FPSHD 795093 FPS8500 GT79 FPSHD 795064 FPS8500 GT48 FPSHD 795036 FPS
Hogwarts Legacy8500 GT103 FPSHD 795093 FPS8500 GT86 FPSHD 795078 FPS8500 GT57 FPSHD 795046 FPS8500 GT22 FPSHD 795016 FPS
Average FPS8500 GT147 FPSHD 7950132 FPS8500 GT109 FPSHD 795098 FPS8500 GT72 FPSHD 795058 FPS8500 GT31 FPSHD 795023 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

Index8500 GTHD 7950Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100413516%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100323714%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100314128%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 100756156%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 1001005853%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

H2H AI workload indices

Estimated workload profiles based on available performance and memory data.

Index8500 GTHD 7950Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 100264451%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100274346%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100314128%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100224671%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100314128%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

Graphics APIs, SDKs and upscaling

Specifications8500 GTHD 7950
DirectX10.011.1
VulkanNot supported1.2
OpenGL3.34.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.1, CUDA 1.1OpenCL 1.2

Architecture and release

Specifications8500 GTHD 7950
ArchitectureTeslaGCN 1.0
Process node80 nm28 nmBetter
Release date20072012
Device classDesktopDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

Specifications8500 GTHD 7950
Transistor count210 million4313 millionBetter
Die size127 mm²Better352 mm²
Shader units / cores161792Better
Base clock459 MHz800 MHzBetter
Boost clock459 MHz800 MHzBetter

Board size, power and compatibility

Specifications8500 GTHD 7950
InterfacePCIe 1x16PCIe 3x16
Length229 mmBetter278 mm
ThicknessSingle-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU200 WBetter550 W
Power connectorNone6+6 pin

Display outputs and limits

Specifications8500 GTHD 7950
HDMIBoard dependentHDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortBoard dependentmini-DisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors34
Max resolution2560 × 16004096 × 2160

Memory and compute throughput

Specifications8500 GTHD 7950
VRAM256 MB DDR2Better3 GB GDDR5
Memory typeDDR2GDDR5
Memory bus128 bit384 bitBetter
TFLOPS0.0292.867Better

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

Beyond percentages: causes, relevant specifications, and practical impact behind every chart.

Device A8500 GT59
Device BHD 795046
What AI will explain

Overall score, radar, FPS, synthetic tests, specifications, efficiency, and value.

Evidence details

Data coverage

Verified gaming results
0
Verified synthetic results
0
Games with verified results
0
Verified community results
0
Estimated / unverified results
32
Specifications
0 / 70

Specification record updated:

Benchmarks updated:

Price record updated:

Comparison reviewed:

Calculated scores · How is this calculated?

Scores use the catalog model and may include estimated inputs. Open each score to see its origin and the methodology.

clamp(round(performance × 0.7 + (efficiency ?? 50) × 0.2 + (value is missing ? 0 : (value − 50) × 0.2)), 0, 100)
Price evidence · View sources (6)

Verified community results

No verified community benchmarks yet.

Reviewed by

No individual editorial review is recorded for this comparison.

Comparison history

Show recorded changes (4)
  1. · Record updated: products
  2. · Record updated: products
  3. · Record updated: products
  4. · Record updated: products

Why you can trust this comparison

Origin and confidence are evaluated from the evidence attached to each value. Unverified results are identified, and specification, benchmark and price dates remain separate.

Report incorrect data

Owner experiences

Real builds, results, and community feedback.

Moderator reviewedHelpful to the communityExpert badges

Frequently asked comparison questions

Short recommendations based on performance, memory, power consumption, and intended use.

01Which is better for gaming: 8500 GT or HD 7950?

8500 GT has the higher overall gaming score, while 8500 GT offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

8500 GT is the stronger streaming choice thanks to performance, hardware encoding, and application support. Check AV1, H.264, and HEVC support before buying.

03Which is better for Blender?

8500 GT is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

8500 GT offers more overall performance, while 8500 GT offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

8500 GT is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

8500 GT is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

8500 GT leads in combined 1440p performance. 8500 GT can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

8500 GT is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

8500 GT is easier to use in a quiet build because of its lower estimated power and thermal load. Actual noise depends on the specific cooler.

10Which is better without replacing the power supply?

8500 GT is the safer candidate because its stated power consumption is lower. Verify PSU wattage, age, and power connectors.

11Is it worth upgrading from the previous generation?

Consider upgrading to 8500 GT if your current device no longer delivers the required FPS, memory capacity, or feature support. A gain below 15–20% is usually worth waiting for a price cut.