Radeon HD 6850 vs GeForce GTX 285

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared HD 6850 and GTX 285 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

HD 6850 outperforms GTX 285 by ~3% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+3%

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: Radeon HD 6850 (~17%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider HD 6850

  • Higher catalog performance index
  • More graphics memory
  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.2 · Not supported

Reasons to consider GTX 285

  • Lower recorded market price
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 1.3 · 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
3231
Efficiency
8451
Price / performance
100100
Memory capacity
5643
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 194–199of 321
HD 6850not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking
GTX 285not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

GeForce GTX 285

117 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

BEST PRICE / PERFORMANCE

Radeon HD 6850

Price $25.00

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

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

CategoryHD 6850GTX 285
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
32Better
31
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
29
29
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
27Better
26
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
84Better
51
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
49Better
42

Specifications

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

SpecificationHD 6850GTX 285
DisplayPort
HDMI
Device class
USB Type-C
DirectX
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Max monitors
Max resolution
Power consumptionBetter
Interface
Clock speedBetter
LengthBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Architecture
Thickness
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAM
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cacheBetter
Transistor countBetter
Vulkan
Upscaling

Gaming FPS

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

The Gaming FPS section compares HD 6850 and GTX 285 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.

HD 6850GTX 285
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
161 FPS
156 FPS
1080p Ultra
110 FPS
109 FPS
1440p Ultra
63 FPS
60 FPS
4K Ultra
23 FPS
23 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 2HD 6850161 FPSGTX 285156 FPSHD 6850110 FPSGTX 285109 FPSHD 685063 FPSGTX 28560 FPSHD 685023 FPSGTX 28523 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077HD 6850104 FPSGTX 285101 FPSHD 685087 FPSGTX 28586 FPSHD 685046 FPSGTX 28544 FPSHD 685016 FPSGTX 28515 FPS
Forza Horizon 5HD 6850131 FPSGTX 285127 FPSHD 685083 FPSGTX 28582 FPSHD 685057 FPSGTX 28554 FPSHD 685034 FPSGTX 28533 FPS
Hogwarts LegacyHD 685085 FPSGTX 28582 FPSHD 685069 FPSGTX 28568 FPSHD 685041 FPSGTX 28539 FPSHD 685016 FPSGTX 28516 FPS
Average FPSHD 6850120 FPSGTX 285117 FPSHD 685087 FPSGTX 28586 FPSHD 685052 FPSGTX 28549 FPSHD 685022 FPSGTX 28522 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

IndexHD 6850GTX 285Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10032313%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100353112%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100393414%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 100564326%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 100845149%

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.

IndexHD 6850GTX 285Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 100433618%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100413613%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100393414%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100453817%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100393511%

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

SpecificationsHD 6850GTX 285
DirectX11.010.0
VulkanNot supportedNot supported
OpenGL4.43.3
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.2OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 1.3

Architecture and release

SpecificationsHD 6850GTX 285
ArchitectureTeraScale 2Tesla 2.0
Process node40 nmBetter55 nm
Release date20102008
Device classDesktopDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

SpecificationsHD 6850GTX 285
Transistor count1700 millionBetter1400 million
Die size255 mm²Better470 mm²
Shader units / cores960Better240
Base clock775 MHzBetter648 MHz
Boost clock775 MHzBetter648 MHz

Board size, power and compatibility

SpecificationsHD 6850GTX 285
InterfacePCIe 2x16PCIe 2x16
Length198 mmBetter267 mm
ThicknessDual-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU300 WBetter550 W
Power connector6 pin6+6 pin

Display outputs and limits

SpecificationsHD 6850GTX 285
HDMIHDMI 1.3aBoard dependent
DisplayPortmini-DisplayPort 1.1Board dependent
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors53
Max resolution4096 × 21602560 × 1600

Memory and compute throughput

SpecificationsHD 6850GTX 285
VRAM1 GB GDDR51 GB GDDR3
Memory typeGDDR5GDDR3
Memory bus256 bit512 bitBetter
TFLOPS1.488Better0.709

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

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

Device AHD 685049
Device BGTX 28542
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: HD 6850 or GTX 285?

HD 6850 has the higher overall gaming score, while HD 6850 offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

GTX 285 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?

GTX 285 is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

HD 6850 offers more overall performance, while HD 6850 offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

GTX 285 is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

HD 6850 is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

HD 6850 leads in combined 1440p performance. HD 6850 can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

HD 6850 is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

HD 6850 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?

HD 6850 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 HD 6850 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.