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AMD Radeon HD 6950 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£35
  • Avg. price in US: ~$45
  • VRAM: 2 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 200 W

AMD Radeon HD 6950 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.3

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.3

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
3.3

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

3.2

Memory

12.0%

4.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.5

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.9

Design

4.0%

7.0

Connectivity & Media

Poor
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 2.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    6.4

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.9
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    6.4

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.2
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    6.4

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.3
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    6.4

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    6.4

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The AMD Radeon HD 6950, released in 2010 on the 40nm 'Cayman' architecture, features 1,408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, with a core clock speed of 800 MHz and a 256-bit memory interface. It typically comes equipped with 2GB (or sometimes 1GB) of GDDR5 VRAM running at an effective 5.0 Gbps, providing 160 GB/s of bandwidth. Main characteristics include support for DirectX 11, AMD Eyefinity for multi-monitor setups, and a dual-BIOS switch that often allowed users to 'unlock' the card into a more powerful HD 6970. Key pros are its strong performance-to-price ratio at launch, high overclocking potential, and efficient cooling via its vapor chamber design. However, cons include a high maximum power draw of 200W, significant noise under heavy load, and a lack of modern driver support since 2016.

Technical Specifications of AMD Radeon HD 6950

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

?

Performance

24.0%

?

Memory

12.0%

?

Power & Cooling

11.0%

?

Platform & Features

5.0%

?

Design

4.0%

?

Connectivity & Media

3.3
AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a technical score of 3.31 points, which is lower than that of 95.2% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
1.0
AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 55.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.3

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

5.3
AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.3 points, which is lower than 93.8% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

?
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

2.253 TFLOPS
AMD Radeon HD 6950 delivers 2.253 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 95.7% of graphics cards.
Show more
VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

2 GB
AMD Radeon HD 6950 has 2 GB of VRAM, which is less than 94.5% of graphics cards and equal to 3.9% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
AMD Radeon HD 6950 uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

256 bit
AMD Radeon HD 6950 uses a 256 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 49.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 36.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

160 GB/s
AMD Radeon HD 6950 reaches 160 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 91.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

2.1
AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports PCIe 2.1, which is older than on 97.9% of graphics cards and equal to 0.4% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
AMD Radeon HD 6950 uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

?
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

N/A
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.4
AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports OpenGL 4.4, which is older than on 98.6% of graphics cards and equal to 0.6% of graphics cards.
Show more
Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

6
AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports up to 6 displays, which is more than 98.8% of graphics cards and equal to 1.2% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

?
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

2
AMD Radeon HD 6950 offers 2 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 79.2% of graphics cards and equal to 10.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.2
AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to 4.8% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

?
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

200 W
AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a TDP of 200 W, which is lower than that of 51.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 3.9% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

200 W
AMD Radeon HD 6950 draws 200 W under peak load, which is lower than 52% of graphics cards and equal to 3.8% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

500 W
AMD Radeon HD 6950 recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 76.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 9.6% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

?
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

?
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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

?
Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

286 mm
AMD Radeon HD 6950 is 286 mm long, which is longer than 50.1% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.4% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

126 mm
AMD Radeon HD 6950 is 126 mm tall, which is shorter than 52.1% of graphics cards and equal in height to 2.1% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
AMD Radeon HD 6950 occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

?
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AMD Radeon HD 6950 vs the average graphics card

  • 16x larger L2 cache
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
    What it is: Total size of the GPU’s L2 cache memory
    When it matters: When cache size can help the GPU feed data faster in demanding scenes.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.512 MB vs 32 MB
  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
    What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
    When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.6 vs 4
  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Includes dual BIOS for redundancy or overclocking profiles
    When it matters: When you want a safer recovery path after tweaking fan curves or overclock settings, or you need separate quiet and performance profiles.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.500 W vs 650 W
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • 15.14x cheaper
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£35 vs £530).
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£35 vs £530).£35 vs £530
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:4 vs 1:64).
    What it is: Ratio of double-precision (FP64) to single-precision (FP32) performance
    When it matters: When you need to know whether FP64 is merely present or genuinely useful.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:4 vs 1:64).1:4 vs 1:64
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire multi-GPU setup
    When it matters: When you still run legacy multi-GPU gaming or rendering workflows.

    Importance: LOW

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Better FP64 ratio
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:4 vs 1:64).
  • 16x larger L2 cache
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more displays supported
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports more displays than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 2 more monitors per output type
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports more monitors per output type than the average graphics card (6 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.

Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
  • 58.3% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (800 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 18 fewer compute units
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (22 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 84.5% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (25.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 96 fewer TMUs
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (88 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 90.1% lower FP32 performance
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (2.3 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 90.2% lower compute throughput
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (2.3 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 2,944 fewer FP32 units
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,408 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 10 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 73.7% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 64.3% lower memory bandwidth
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (160 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 28.6% slower VRAM clock
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,250 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 93.8% smaller L1 cache
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (8 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 8x larger process node
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Older PCIe version
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (2.1 vs 4.0).
  • No FSR support
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not support FSR, the average graphics card does.
  • 13 older
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,010 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older OpenCL version
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3.0).
  • Older shader model
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (5 vs 6.8).
  • No sampler feedback
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • Older OpenGL version
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (4.4 vs 4.6).
  • 87.9% fewer transistors
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (2,640 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • 27.9% larger GPU die
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a higher GPU die size than the average graphics card (389 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
  • No AV1 encoding
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 decoding
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Older DisplayPort version
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • No VRR support
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDCP version
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 2.3).
  • Narrower decode codec support
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 supports narrower hardware decode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9).
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 81.8% higher idle power draw
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a higher idle power draw than the average graphics card (20 W vs 11 W). The average graphics card has an idle power draw of 11 W.
  • 10 °C higher load temperature
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a higher load temperature than the average graphics card (77 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • 37 dB noisier at idle
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a higher idle noise level than the average graphics card (37 dB vs 0 dB). The average graphics card has an idle noise level of 0 dB.
  • 6 dB noisier under load
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (41 dB vs 35 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35 dB.
  • No RGB lighting
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 8x larger process node
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.40 nm vs 5 nm
  • 2 fewer fans
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 10 GB less VRAM
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.2 GB vs 12 GB
  • 58.3% lower base clock speed
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (800 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (800 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.800 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 18 fewer compute units
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (22 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (22 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.22 vs 40
  • 84.5% lower pixel rate
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (25.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
    What it is: Number of pixels the GPU can render per second
    When it matters: When you play at high resolutions or care about older raster-heavy games.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (25.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.25.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
  • 73.7% slower memory speed
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
    What it is: Effective memory data rate combining clock and bus width
    When it matters: When you compare how quickly each card can push data through its memory subsystem.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.5000 MHz vs 19000 MHz
  • 96 fewer TMUs
    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (88 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    AMD Radeon HD 6950 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (88 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.88 vs 184
Total
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Memory
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Power & Cooling
Design

Graphic comparison of AMD Radeon HD 6950 and

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about AMD Radeon HD 6950?

  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio at launch
  • Many models feature a dual BIOS switch for safety during modding
  • Ability to unlock extra shaders via BIOS flash to match HD 6970 performance
  • Strong performance in DX11 titles and multi-monitor Eyefinity setups
  • 2GB GDDR5 standard on many models provides better longevity for high resolutions
  • Manageable physical size for most mid-to-large cases

What customers dislike about AMD Radeon HD 6950?

  • High power consumption, especially under heavy load or during Blu-ray playback
  • Stock blower-style fans can be noisy and run hot
  • Lacks support for proprietary NVIDIA features like PhysX and CUDA
  • Driver support has officially ended, limiting compatibility with modern games
  • 1GB variants may struggle with minimum frame rates in memory-intensive titles
  • Significant heat output can turn a PC into a 'space heater' in CrossFire setups

Expert reviews

U
uk.pcmag.com
20/05/2011
AMD Radeon HD 6950 - Review 2011

The PCMag UK review gives the AMD Radeon HD 6950 a "Good" rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, positioning it as a slightly scaled-back version of the high-end Radeon HD 6970. Priced right at $299 at the time of its 2011 release, this "Cayman" family graphics card features 2.25 teraflops of compute power, an 800 MHz core clock speed, and a generous 2GB GDDR5 frame buffer on a 256-bit...Read more

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techspot.com
27/12/2010
AMD Radeon HD 6950 Review

The TechSpot review of the AMD Radeon HD 6950 highlights superior energy efficiency, with the card drawing the same power as the HD 5870 while delivering 12% faster speeds. Pros include significant power savings over the HD 6970 and better performance than the GTX 470, offering an impressive performance-per-watt ratio for its era. TechSpot As a potential con, the card operates at...Read more

B
bit-tech.net
16/12/2010
ATI Radeon HD 6950 Review | bit-tech.net

The bit-tech.net review concludes that the ATI Radeon HD 6950 2GB is a highly capable, solid performer that comfortably carves out its own unique price-to-performance niche in the market. Throughout extensive benchmark testing across multiple games, its performance landed roughly halfway between the lower-end Radeon HD 6870 1GB and the premium Radeon HD 6970 2GB. It performed...Read more

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guru3d.com
15/12/2010
Radeon HD 6950 CrossfireX review | Guru3D

The ⁠Guru3D review of the Radeon HD 6950 CrossfireX setup, evaluated by Hilbert Hagedoorn, focuses on the massive multi-GPU scaling achieved by pairing two Cayman PRO-based graphics cards. Priced at roughly €269 per card, a dual-card configuration creates an interesting "sweet spot" for high-end gaming for under €550. Together, the system offers a combined total of 2816 Shader...Read more

G
guru3d.com
14/12/2010
Radeon HD 6950 & 6970 review

The AMD Radeon HD 6950 and HD 6970 reference graphics cards provide excellent value and high-end hardware capabilities for their era. A major highlight of the Cayman-architecture cards is the standard integration of 2GB of GDDR5 memory and multi-monitor Eyefinity support via dual mini-DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4a, and two DVI ports. Additionally, the review notes the inclusion of...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
29/03/2011
AMD Radeon HD 6950 1 GB Review | TechPowerUp

The TechPowerUp review of the AMD Radeon HD 6950 1 GB highlights the card as a cost-effective alternative, offering nearly identical performance to the 2 GB model for roughly $40 less. Key pros include excellent overclocking capabilities, a dual BIOS switch, improved display connectivity, and the potential to unlock shaders to a 6970. Conversely, the 1 GB variant suffers from...Read more

O
overclockers.com
12/01/2011
AMD HD 6950 Video Card Review

The AMD HD 6950, priced around $300, is identified as a high-value, high-performance option featuring 2GB of GDDR5, strong overclocking potential, and efficient anti-aliasing technologies. Benchmarks show the card delivering competitive performance, with specific tests highlighting an 11% advantage over the GTX 460 and a 4% lead over the GTX 470, further enhanced by robust...Read more

T
techspot.com
27/12/2010
AMD Radeon HD 6950 Review | TechSpot

The TechSpot review of the $299 AMD Radeon HD 6950 highlights a strong price-to-performance ratio, offering 18% better performance than the GTX 470 with lower power consumption, powered by the 40nm Cayman Pro architecture and 2GB GDDR5. Key advantages include superior DirectX 11 tessellation, a dual-BIOS switch, and efficient cooling under load. Conversely, the card offers limited...Read more

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tomshardware.com
14/12/2010
Radeon HD 6970 And 6950 Review: Is Cayman A Gator Or A Lizard? | Tom's Hardware

AMD's Radeon HD 6970 and 6950 graphics cards introduce the "Cayman" GPU architecture, which shifts from the older VLIW5 design to a more efficient VLIW4 architecture. Built on TSMC's mature 40 nm process, Cayman increases the transistor count to 2.64 billion and expands the silicon die size to 389 mm² compared to its Cypress predecessor. To maximize performance within these physical...Read more

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techpowerup.com
14/12/2010
HIS Radeon HD 6950 2 GB Review | TechPowerUp

The TechPowerUp review of the HIS Radeon HD 6950 2 GB highlights a reference-design card offering high value with 16% better performance-per-dollar than the HD 5870. Key advantages include 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, enhanced VLIW4 architecture for superior tessellation, and robust display options supporting up to six monitors. Drawbacks noted in the review center on restricted core...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
21/01/2011
MSI HD 6950 Twin Frozr II 2 GB Review | TechPowerUp

The TechPowerUp review of the MSI HD 6950 Twin Frozr II 2 GB highlights a custom-designed AMD Cayman card featuring an effective Twin Frozr II cooler, which significantly reduces idle fan noise and temperatures compared to the reference design. The card offers 2 GB of GDDR5, HDMI 1.4a/DisplayPort 1.2 support, and excellent overclocking potential via a CHiL 8214 voltage controller....Read more

I
it.anandtech.com
15/12/2010
BattleForge: DX10 - AMD's Radeon HD 6970 & Radeon HD 6950 | AnandTech

AnandTech’s review of the AMD Radeon HD 6970 and HD 6950 highlights the move to "Cayman" architecture, utilizing VLIW4 design, 2GB GDDR5, and AMD PowerTune for dynamic power management. Key advantages include superior DirectX 11 performance, improved tessellation, and a dual-BIOS switch for safety. The HD 6950 is identified as a strong value option, yet the HD 6970 suffers from high...Read more

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guru3d.com
14/12/2010
Radeon HD 6950 & 6970 review | Guru3D

The Radeon HD 6950 and 6970 are capable high-end graphics cards that deliver great overall value, though their raw gaming performance struggles to consistently match expectations set by their predecessors and competition. While the cards excel in memory-intensive scenarios—such as high anti-aliasing settings, massive 2560x1600 resolutions, and multi-monitor Eyefinity or CrossfireX...Read more

H
hardwareluxx.de
29/07/2011
Test: XFX Radeon HD 6950 XXX Edition Dual Fan

The XFX Radeon HD 6950 XXX Dual Fan Edition is an overclocked graphics card based on AMD’s 40-nm Cayman Pro GPU architecture. Diverging from the standard AMD reference specifications, XFX factory-overclocks this variant to a core speed of 830 MHz (up from 800 MHz) and a memory frequency of 1300 MHz (up from 1250 MHz). Built with 2.6 billion transistors, the card features 1408 stream...Read more

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H
hardwareluxx.de
18/07/2011
Test: Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 DiRt 3 Edition

The Sapphire Radeon HD 6950 DiRt 3 Edition is a specialized graphics card built on AMD's 40-nm Cayman Pro architecture, featuring 1,408 stream processors, 32 ROPs, and 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit interface. While it strictly sticks to AMD's reference specifications with stock clock speeds of 800 MHz for the GPU and 1250 MHz for the memory, its standout feature is a completely...Read more

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H
hardwareluxx.de
17/01/2011
Test: ASUS Radeon HD 6970 und Radeon HD 6950

The reviewed ASUS Radeon HD 6970 and HD 6950 graphics cards are based on AMD’s 40nm "Cayman" architecture, which introduces a major architectural shift from a 5D to a more efficient 4D-VLIW shader design. While this restructuring results in fewer raw scalar stream processors than the older HD 5870 (1,536 for the HD 6970 and 1,408 for the HD 6950), the improved performance efficiency...Read more

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I
igorslab.de
12/02/2022
AMD Radeon HD 5850Go to product viewer dialog for this item. und HD 6950 wiederbelebt - igor´sLAB Would you like to see additional tests for specific...

Here is a specific summary of the hardware review from igor’sLAB: The reviewer takes a retrospective look at refreshing and overclocking two legacy DirectX 11 graphics cards purchased on a tight 20-Euro budget: a reference ATI Radeon HD 5850 ("Cypress" architecture) and a PowerColor HD 6950 ("Cayman" architecture). A major positive highlight of these vintage cards is their...Read more

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H
hardware.fr
21/01/2009
Radeon HD 6950 - [MAJ] Cartes graphiques et dégagement calorifique

summary of the Radeon HD 6950: The Radeon HD 6950 utilizes a reference design similar to the more powerful HD 6970, sharing the same PCB and a robust power supply stage. Its cooling system features a turbine-style fan and a vapor chamber, supplemented by an aluminum backplate to protect the PCB. Performance tests indicate that the card remains well-cooled during both idle and heavy...Read more

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