GeForce 9800 GT vs Radeon HD 7850

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared 9800 GT and HD 7850 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

9800 GT outperforms HD 7850 by ~18% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+18%

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 9800 GT (~14%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider 9800 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 7850

  • 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
3933
Efficiency
10085
Price / performance
100100
Memory capacity
1356
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 81–86of 321
9800 GT#83position in the GPU ranking
HD 7850not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

Radeon HD 7850

163 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

BEST PRICE / PERFORMANCE

GeForce 9800 GT

Price $35.00

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

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

Category9800 GTHD 7850
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
39Better
33
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
34Better
30
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
32Better
28
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
100Better
85
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
57Better
50

Specifications

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

Specification9800 GTHD 7850
Device class
DirectX
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Architecture
Max monitors
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Interface
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory bus
Memory bandwidthBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSU
LengthBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cacheBetter
Transistor countBetter
Max resolution
USB Type-C
Upscaling
Vulkan
DisplayPort
HDMI

Gaming FPS

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

The Gaming FPS section compares 9800 GT and HD 7850 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.

9800 GTHD 7850
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
195 FPS
168 FPS
1080p Ultra
137 FPS
115 FPS
1440p Ultra
77 FPS
63 FPS
4K Ultra
29 FPS
23 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 29800 GT195 FPSHD 7850168 FPS9800 GT137 FPSHD 7850115 FPS9800 GT77 FPSHD 785063 FPS9800 GT29 FPSHD 785023 FPS
Cyberpunk 20779800 GT126 FPSHD 7850108 FPS9800 GT108 FPSHD 785091 FPS9800 GT56 FPSHD 785046 FPS9800 GT19 FPSHD 785016 FPS
Forza Horizon 59800 GT159 FPSHD 7850137 FPS9800 GT103 FPSHD 785086 FPS9800 GT69 FPSHD 785057 FPS9800 GT43 FPSHD 785034 FPS
Hogwarts Legacy9800 GT103 FPSHD 785089 FPS9800 GT86 FPSHD 785072 FPS9800 GT50 FPSHD 785041 FPS9800 GT20 FPSHD 785016 FPS
Average FPS9800 GT146 FPSHD 7850126 FPS9800 GT109 FPSHD 785091 FPS9800 GT63 FPSHD 785052 FPS9800 GT28 FPSHD 785022 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

Index9800 GTHD 7850Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 100393317%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100323612%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100323920%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 1001356125%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 1001008516%

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.

Index9800 GTHD 7850Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 100274346%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100284240%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100323920%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100244561%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100314025%

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

Specifications9800 GTHD 7850
DirectX10.011.1
VulkanNot supported1.2
OpenGL3.34.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.1, CUDA 1.1OpenCL 1.2

Architecture and release

Specifications9800 GTHD 7850
ArchitectureTeslaGCN 1.0
Process node65 nm28 nmBetter
Release date20082012
Device classDesktopDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

Specifications9800 GTHD 7850
Transistor count754 million2800 millionBetter
Die size324 mm²212 mm²Better
Shader units / cores1121024Better
Base clock600 MHz860 MHzBetter
Boost clock600 MHz860 MHzBetter

Board size, power and compatibility

Specifications9800 GTHD 7850
InterfacePCIe 2x16PCIe 3x16
Length229 mm210 mmBetter
ThicknessSingle-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU300 W300 W
Power connector6 pin6 pin

Display outputs and limits

Specifications9800 GTHD 7850
HDMIBoard dependentHDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortBoard dependentmini-DisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors34
Max resolution2560 × 16004096 × 2160

Memory and compute throughput

Specifications9800 GTHD 7850
VRAM512 MB GDDR3Better2 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR3GDDR5
Memory bus256 bit256 bit
TFLOPS0.3361.761Better

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

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

Device A9800 GT57
Device BHD 785050
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: 9800 GT or HD 7850?

9800 GT has the higher overall gaming score, while 9800 GT offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

9800 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?

9800 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?

9800 GT offers more overall performance, while 9800 GT offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

9800 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?

9800 GT is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

9800 GT leads in combined 1440p performance. 9800 GT can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

9800 GT is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

9800 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?

9800 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 9800 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.