AMD Radeon R7 250 Review | 118 Data compared

The Expert Reviews review of the AMD Radeon R7 250 highlights it as an entry-level graphics card powered by 384 stream processors, a 1.05GHz clock speed, and 1GB of graphics memory operating at 1.15GHz. A major pro identified in the review is its reliance entirely on motherboard bus power from a PCI Express x16 slot, which eliminates the need for extra power connectors and makes it an ideal option for low-budget or basic power supplies. Additionally, it features highly versatile display outputs with HDMI, DVI, and VGA connections. Performance-wise, it scored well relative to its £64 price point, running Dirt Showdown at a playable 47fps on 1080p High settings and delivering 31.3fps in the demanding Crysis 3 at 720p Medium settings. It even managed to beat the more expensive Asus GTX 650-E in the Ultra-quality Dirt Showdown benchmark. However, the card comes with notable cons, primarily that its performance offers only a minor step up from the market's best integrated graphics chips and falls short on modern, intensive titles. The review specifically noted that the card failed the 1080p High-quality...

The ASUS Radeon R7 240 and R7 250 are entry-level graphics cards tailored for budget-conscious users and older pre-built systems that require basic multimedia capabilities or light gaming at lower resolutions. Built on AMD's 28nm "Oland" GPU architecture, the R7 240 utilizes the slightly cut-down Oland Pro core with 320 stream processors paired with 2GB of slower DDR3 memory. In contrast, the faster R7 250 features the fully unlocked Oland XT core with 384 stream processors and 1GB of faster GDDR5 memory. In testing, both single-slot cards struggles to impress hardware enthusiasts on modern, demanding titles, but they provide a viable, ultra-affordable stop-gap solution for older titles or less demanding resolutions. A major advantage of both cards is their low Thermal Design Power (TDP)—30W for the R7 240 and 65W for the R7 250—meaning neither card requires external PCIe power connectors, making them ideal drop-in upgrades for restrictive OEM power supplies. Additionally, their sub-$100 price points ($70 for the R7 240 and $90 for the R7 250) present a very low barrier to entry. However, the review highlights significant drawbacks,...

The Sapphire Radeon R7 250 (2GB DDR3) is a budget-friendly, mainstream graphics card based on AMD’s 28nm "Oland" GPU architecture, which measures 90mm² and operates without an external power connector thanks to its low 65W power draw. The card features 384 processors and a peak core clock speed of 1,050MHz under Boost. This specific 2GB model is built on a compact, sub-six-inch PCB, making it highly affordable at around £62. While its large 2GB framebuffer is a strong marketing point, the card is particularly tailored to work alongside AMD APUs in Dual Graphics configurations, where its DDR3 configuration effectively matches system memory bandwidth for a performance boost. However, the card suffers from significant trade-offs that limit its overall appeal. Its largest con is the use of DDR3 memory clocked at just 1,800MHz, which cuts memory bandwidth drastically compared to the preferred 1GB GDDR5 variant, despite the core lacking the visceral power to even utilize the extra 2GB frame buffer. Additionally, its 1.5-slot cooler width makes it unsuitable for tightly restricted, small-form-factor systems. For connectivity, the single-link DVI port is a...

The Sapphire Radeon R7 250 (2GB) is a low-cost, mainstream graphics card based on AMD’s 28nm "Oland" architecture, designed to balance modest gaming and productivity needs without requiring an external power connector. A major benefit of this card is its highly frugal 65W power consumption and its ability to pair effectively with modern AMD APUs for boosted performance through Dual Graphics technology. Additionally, it features a small, sub-six-inch PCB layout and a versatile set of video outputs, including VGA, HDMI, and single-link DVI, all while retailing at an affordable price point of approximately £62. However, the card suffers from significant compromises, primarily due to its memory configuration. To offer a larger 2GB framebuffer, Sapphire utilized slow 1,800MHz DDR3 memory instead of the much faster GDDR5 alternative, which slashes the available memory bandwidth by more than half and renders the extra capacity largely useless for this entry-level GPU. Physical limitations are also a drawback; its cooler makes it a 1.5-slot card that may not fit into ultra-compact, spatially restricted systems. Furthermore, its single-link DVI port cannot support high-resolution 2,560x1,440 monitors at...