OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Graphics cards Methodology v3.0
Graphics cards Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Graphics cards Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Graphics cards Methodology v3.0

ATI Radeon HD 5850 review: 117 specs compared

Avg. price:~£220VRAM:1 GBMemory bus width:256 bitThermal Design Power (TDP):151 W

ATI Radeon HD 5850 Review: Compare 117 technical specifications and 27 expert and video reviews to see how this product ranks in the Graphics cards category and whether it is worth buying.

ATI Radeon HD 5850
6.1/10

Overall score

Score
6.1/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, expert reviews, best-of lists and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 40%, Reviews score 25%, List score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 88% of models
Score components

40%

4.2

Technical score

25%

8.3

Reviews score

25%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

4.2

Sentiment score

â–¼Worse than 88% of graphics cards
7.1

Value for money

Value for money
7.1/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 71% of models
Score components

70%

6.1

Overall score

30%

9.4

Price

â–¼Worse than 71%
4.2

Technical score

Technical score
4.2/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 92% of models
Score components

44%

2.9

Performance

24%

3.3

Memory

12%

7.4

Power

11%

5.8

Features

5%

8.6

Design

4%

4.7

Connectivity

â–¼Worse than 92%
8.3

Reviews score

Reviews score
8.3/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.6 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 77% of models

80%

8.1

Average grade

20%

9.2

Popularity

Grades by review (27)
22 reviews: 13 with a printed score, 9 estimated from the review. 5 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
â–²Better than 77%
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 25% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
  • ati-radeon-hd-5850
ati-radeon-hd-5850
Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.

What reviewers say about the ATI Radeon HD 5850

Based on 22 · 6

Reviewers like its modest power draw and cool running, but are split on gaming performance and find processing power and memory lacking.
Praised
Mixed views
Criticised
Pick a topic to see who said what

What owners say about the ATI Radeon HD 5850

Based on 182 owners sharing their experience in online comments

64%positive18%mixed18%negative

Owners praise its strong gaming speed and overclocking headroom, but demanding settings expose low frame rates and driver trouble.

What owners dislike

  • Frame rates fall well short at high settings in demanding games like Crysis, GTA V and Siege, often dropping to 25 to 30 fps.22
  • Overclocking often causes artifacts, black screens or lower speed, with many owners finding stable clocks only around 850 to 940 MHz.6
  • Newer driver versions have caused crashes or the card not being detected, so owners had to roll back to older Catalyst drivers.5
  • Temperatures climb to 70 to 85 degrees under demanding load, and fan speed often has to rise to keep them down.4

Points mentioned by at least 3 owners, most mentioned first.

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Technical Specifications of graphics card ATI Radeon HD 5850

Technical score
Technical score
4.2/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 92% of models
Score components:

44%

2.9

Performance

24%

3.3

Memory

12%

7.4

Power

11%

5.8

Features

5%

8.6

Design

4%

4.7

Connectivity

4.2
Reviews score
8.3
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
7.1/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 71% of models
Score components:

70%

6.1

Overall score

30%

9.4

Price

7.1
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
?
3DMark Port Royal score
0 points
Market range: <0 points – >22.4k points
This graphics card scores 0 points in 3DMark Port Royal, which is lower than 83.1% of graphics cards and equal to 16.9% of graphics cards.
PassMark (G3D) result
1952 points
Market range: <7.7k points – >36k points
This graphics card scores 1952 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 97.7% of graphics cards.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
1,132 points
Market range: <3.1k points – >26.3k points
This graphics card scores 1,132 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 96.7% of graphics cards.
FP32 performance
2.09 TFLOPS
Market range: <3.94 TFLOPS – >56.3 TFLOPS
This graphics card delivers 2.09 TFLOPS FP32 performance, which is lower than that of 94.1% of graphics cards.
Show more
What reviewers say
VRAM
1 GB
Market range: <4 GB – >16 GB
This graphics card has 1 GB of VRAM, which is less than 98.2% of graphics cards and equal to 1.8% of graphics cards.
Memory type
GDDR5
This graphics card uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85.4% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
256 bit
Market range: <128 bit – >384 bit
This graphics card uses a 256 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 50.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 35.5% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
128 GB/s
Market range: <168 GB/s – >960 GB/s
This graphics card reaches 128 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 92.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.8% of graphics cards.
Effective memory speed
4,000 MHz
Market range: <7k MHz – >28k MHz
This graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 4,000 MHz, which is slower than that of 97.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.4% of graphics cards.
Show more
What reviewers say
PCI Express (PCIe) version
2.1
This graphics card supports PCIe 2.1, which is older than on 97.8% of graphics cards and equal to 0.6% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
x16
This graphics card uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 24.1% of graphics cards and equal to 75.9% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
11.2
This graphics card supports DirectX 11.2, which is older than on 98.8% of graphics cards and equal to 0.8% of graphics cards.
Vulkan version
N/A
OpenGL version
4.4
This graphics card supports OpenGL 4.4, which is older than on 98.9% of graphics cards and equal to 0.6% of graphics cards.
Show more
What reviewers say
Max displays supported
3
Market range: <4 – >4
This graphics card supports up to 3 displays, which is fewer than 91% of graphics cards and equal to 6.6% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
2560x1600
This graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 2560x1600, which is lower than that of 97.9% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
1
Market range: <1 – >3
This graphics card offers 1 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 88.1% of graphics cards and equal to 8.7% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
1.1
This graphics card supports DisplayPort 1.1, which is older than on 99.3% of graphics cards and equal to 0.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
4 Gbps
Market range: <5.4 Gbps – >80 Gbps
This graphics card supports DisplayPort link rates up to 4 Gbps, which is slower than on 94% of graphics cards.
Show more
Thermal Design Power (TDP)
151 W
Market range: <86 W – >360 W
This graphics card has a TDP of 151 W, which is lower than that of 72.9% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
151 W
Market range: <106 W – >365 W
This graphics card draws 151 W under peak load, which is lower than 75.8% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
500 W
Market range: <450 W – >850 W
This graphics card recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 75.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 8.8% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
151 W
Market range: <107 W – >400 W
This graphics card has a board power limit of 151 W, which is lower than that of 75.6% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
151 W
Show more
What reviewers say
Size
241x 111x 37 mm
Length
241 mm
Market range: <200 mm – >337 mm
This graphics card is 241 mm long, which is shorter than 74.3% of graphics cards and equal in length to 1.7% of graphics cards.
Height
111 mm
Market range: <109 mm – >146 mm
This graphics card is 111 mm tall, which is shorter than 83.6% of graphics cards and equal in height to 5.1% of graphics cards.
Slot width
2 slot/s
Market range: <2 slot/s – >3.25 slot/s
This graphics card occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 52.4% of graphics cards and equal in width to 43.4% of graphics cards.
Weight
848 g
Market range: <541 g – >2k g
This graphics card weighs 848 g, which is lighter than 67.2% of Graphics cards.
Show more
What reviewers say

ATI Radeon HD 5850 vs the average graphics card

246810TotalPerformanceMemoryFeaturesConnectivityPowerDesign
  • 64 bit wider memory bus
    This graphics card has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (256 bit vs 192 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 192 bit.
    256 bit vs 192 bit
  • 2.29x faster VRAM clock
    This graphics card has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (4,000 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
    4,000 MHz vs 1,750 MHz
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    This graphics card 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
  • 29.8% lower TDP
    This graphics card has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (151 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    151 W vs 215 W
  • 15.3% higher review score
    Reviews score
    8.3/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.6 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–² Better than 77% of models

    80%

    8.1

    Average grade

    20%

    9.2

    Popularity

    Grades by review (27)
    22 reviews: 13 with a printed score, 9 estimated from the review. 5 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    8.3 vs 7.2
  • 14 mm lower card height
    This graphics card is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 125 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 125 mm.
    111 mm vs 125 mm
  • 41.2 mm shorter card length
    This graphics card is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 282.2 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 282.2 mm.
    241 mm vs 282.2 mm
  • 0.5 slot/s slimmer design
    This graphics card occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.
    2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s
  • 15.3% higher review score
    Reviews score
    8.3/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
    How we count it
    Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
    Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
    Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.6 for now.
    Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    Score distribution
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    â–² Better than 77% of models

    80%

    8.1

    Average grade

    20%

    9.2

    Popularity

    Grades by review (27)
    22 reviews: 13 with a printed score, 9 estimated from the review. 5 video reviews, each counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
    User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
    8.3 vs 7.2
  • 2.36x cheaper
    ATI Radeon HD 5850 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£220 vs £520).
    £220 vs £520
  • 64 bit wider memory bus
    This graphics card has a wider memory bus than the average graphics card (256 bit vs 192 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 192 bit.
    256 bit vs 192 bit
  • 2.29x faster VRAM clock
    This graphics card has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (4,000 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
    4,000 MHz vs 1,750 MHz
  • 4 more GPUs supported
    This graphics card supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (4 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.
    4 vs 0
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    This graphics card supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    This graphics card has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    2 vs 0
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    This graphics card 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
  • 29.8% lower TDP
    This graphics card has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (151 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    151 W vs 215 W
  • 31.4% lower board power limit
    This graphics card has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (151 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
    151 W vs 220 W
  • 14 mm lower card height
    This graphics card is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 125 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 125 mm.
    111 mm vs 125 mm
  • 41.2 mm shorter card length
    This graphics card is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 282.2 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 282.2 mm.
    241 mm vs 282.2 mm
  • 0.5 slot/s slimmer design
    This graphics card occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.
    2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    This graphics card has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    1 GB vs 12 GB
  • 40 fewer ray tracing cores
    This graphics card has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 ray tracing cores.
    0 vs 40
  • 8x larger process node
    This graphics card uses a larger manufacturing process than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a manufacturing process of 5 nm.
    40 nm vs 5 nm
  • 2 fewer fans
    This graphics card has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    1 vs 3
  • 62.2% lower base clock speed
    This graphics card has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (725 MHz vs 1920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1920 MHz.
    725 MHz vs 1,920 MHz
  • 22 fewer compute units
    This graphics card has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (18 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    18 vs 40
  • Less advanced frame generation
    This graphics card has less advanced frame generation than the average graphics card (no vs multi frame generation).
  • No CUDA support
    This graphics card does not support CUDA, the average graphics card does.
  • 46.2% lower sentiment score
    4.2 vs 7.8
  • 5.1% worse value for money
    ATI Radeon HD 5850 has worse value for money than the average graphics card (7.06 vs 7.4).
    7.06 vs 7.41
  • 40 fewer ray tracing cores
    This graphics card has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 ray tracing cores.
    0 vs 40
  • 62.2% lower base clock speed
    This graphics card has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (725 MHz vs 1920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1920 MHz.
    725 MHz vs 1,920 MHz
  • 22 fewer compute units
    This graphics card has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (18 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    18 vs 40
  • No CUDA support
    This graphics card does not support CUDA, the average graphics card does.
  • 112 fewer TMUs
    This graphics card has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (72 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    72 vs 184
  • 86.2% lower texture rate
    This graphics card has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (52.2 GTexel/s vs 378 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 378 GTexel/s.
    52.2 GTexel/s vs 378 GTexel/s
  • 85.6% lower pixel rate
    This graphics card has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (23.2 GPixel/s vs 161.3 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 161.3 GPixel/s.
    23.2 GPixel/s vs 161.3 GPixel/s
  • 144 fewer AI cores
    This graphics card has fewer AI cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 144). The average graphics card has 144 AI cores.
    0 vs 144
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    This graphics card has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
    32 vs 64
  • 90.8% lower FP32 performance
    This graphics card has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (2.1 TFLOPS vs 22.6 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.6 TFLOPS.
    2.09 TFLOPS vs 22.6 TFLOPS
  • 14 years older
    This graphics card was released earlier than the average graphics card (2009 vs 2023).
    September 2009
    2009 vs 2023
  • 91.4% lower PassMark score
    This graphics card has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (1952 points vs 22,638 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 22,638 points.
    1,952 points vs 22,638 points
  • 90.6% lower compute score
    This graphics card has a lower compute score than the average graphics card (1,132 points vs 12,70.5 points). The average graphics card has a compute score of 12,070.5 points.
    1,132 points vs 12,070.5 points
  • 95.4% lower FP16 performance
    This graphics card has a lower FP16 performance than the average graphics card (1.4 TFLOPS vs 29.5 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP16 performance of 29.5 TFLOPS.
    1.36 TFLOPS vs 29.5 TFLOPS
  • 2,912 fewer FP32 units
    This graphics card has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,440 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
    1,440 vs 4,352
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    This graphics card has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    1 GB vs 12 GB
  • 71.4% lower memory bandwidth
    This graphics card has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (128 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
    128 GB/s vs 448 GB/s
  • 78.9% slower memory speed
    This graphics card has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (4,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
    4,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz
  • 93.8% smaller L1 cache
    This graphics card has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (8 KB vs 128 KB). The average graphics card has 128 KB L1 cache.
    8 KB vs 128 KB
  • 8x larger process node
    This graphics card uses a larger manufacturing process than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a manufacturing process of 5 nm.
    40 nm vs 5 nm
  • Less advanced frame generation
    This graphics card has less advanced frame generation than the average graphics card (no vs multi frame generation).
  • No DLSS support
    This graphics card does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No ray tracing
    This graphics card does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.
  • No FSR support
    This graphics card does not support FSR, the average graphics card does.
  • Older PCIe version
    This graphics card supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (2.1 vs 4).
    2.1 vs 4
  • No AI upscalers
    This graphics card does not support AI upscalers, the average graphics card does.
  • No XeSS support
    This graphics card does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    This graphics card does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • No DirectStorage support
    This graphics card does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • No Resizable BAR
    This graphics card does not support Resizable BAR, while the average graphics card does. 76.4% of Graphics cards support it.
  • Older DirectX version
    This graphics card supports an older DirectX version than the average graphics card (11.2 vs 12 Ultimate).
    11.2 vs 12 Ultimate
  • Older OpenCL version
    This graphics card supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3).
    1.2 vs 3
  • Older shader model
    This graphics card supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (5 vs 6.8).
    5 vs 6.8
  • No sampler feedback
    This graphics card does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • Older OpenGL version
    This graphics card supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (4.4 vs 4.6).
    4.4 vs 4.6
  • 90.6% fewer transistors
    This graphics card has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (2,154 million vs 22,900 million). The average graphics card has 22,900 million transistors.
    2,154 million vs 22,900 million
  • Older FSR version
    This graphics card supports an older FSR version than the average graphics card (1 vs 3.1).
    1 vs 3.1
  • Older HDMI version
    This graphics card supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.3a vs 2.1a).
    1.3a vs 2.1a
  • 2 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    This graphics card has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
    1 vs 3
  • No AV1 encoding
    This graphics card does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer displays supported
    This graphics card supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (3 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
    3 vs 4
  • No AV1 decoding
    This graphics card does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    This graphics card does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • No VRR support
    This graphics card does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    This graphics card supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.1 vs 1.4a).
    1.1 vs 1.4a
  • Older HDCP version
    This graphics card supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 2.3).
    1.2 vs 2.3
  • Lower display resolution
    This graphics card supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (2560x1600 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
    2560x1600 vs 7680x4320
  • Not VR ready
    This graphics card is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • 2 fewer monitors per output type
    This graphics card supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (1 vs 3). The average graphics card supports 3 monitors per output type.
    1 vs 3
  • 81.5% lower DisplayPort bandwidth
    This graphics card has a lower DisplayPort bandwidth than the average graphics card (4 Gbps vs 21.6 Gbps). The average graphics card has DisplayPort bandwidth of 21.6 Gbps.
    4 Gbps vs 21.6 Gbps
  • 2 fewer fans
    This graphics card has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    1 vs 3
  • No dual BIOS
    This graphics card does not include dual BIOS, the average graphics card does.
  • No fan stop
    This graphics card does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 10 °C higher load temperature
    This graphics card 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.
    77 °C vs 67 °C
  • 6.6 dB noisier under load
    This graphics card has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (42 dB vs 35.4 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35.4 dB.
    42 dB vs 35.4 dB
  • 24 dB noisier at idle
    This graphics card has a higher idle noise level than the average graphics card (24 dB vs 0 dB). The average graphics card has an idle noise level of 0 dB.
    24 dB vs 0 dB
  • 2.25x higher idle power draw
    This graphics card has a higher idle power draw than the average graphics card (27 W vs 12 W). The average graphics card has an idle power draw of 12 W.
    27 W vs 12 W
  • 5 °C lower thermal ceiling
    This graphics card has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (100 °C vs 95 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 95 °C.
    100 °C vs 95 °C
  • No backplate
    This graphics card does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • No RGB lighting
    This graphics card does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

6.0
Adrian's Tech Base
≈ estimated
31/08/2025
Hands-on review · overclocking and game benchmarks in 2025
Verdict
ATI Radeon HD 5850 still handles older games and makes a cheap retro pick, but its VRAM is too small and it lacks DX12 for newer games.
4.0
DanielC
≈ estimated
26/06/2024
Hands-on benchmark · gaming tests on an old card
Verdict
ATI Radeon HD 5850 is not recommended, mainly because of its high power draw despite good performance.
9.0
Motherboards.org
≈ estimated
31/03/2010
Hands-on review · benchmarks, cooling and design
Verdict
ATI Radeon HD 5850 is a cool, fast, well-priced card that suits high-resolution gaming.
9.0
BytesOfDanny
≈ estimated
11/01/2010
Hands-on review · benchmarks, temperatures and fan noise
Verdict
ATI Radeon HD 5850 is a great card for the money, with strong performance and low heat for its class.
8.0
Motherboards.org
≈ estimated
08/12/2009
Hands-on review · overclocked card benchmarks and warranty
Verdict
ATI Radeon HD 5850 plays any current game, and its lifetime warranty is a good reason to buy.
9.0
PCWizKids Tech Talk
≈ estimated
07/11/2009
Hands-on review · temperatures, size and included accessories
Verdict
ATI Radeon HD 5850 looks strong so far, with excellent temperatures; benchmarks come in part two.
Not graded
Not graded
Not graded
Not graded
Overview video
Hands-on video, no verdict

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

9.0
legitreviews.com
≈ estimated
29/09/2009
Review · Three-monitor support
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 is a cooler, lower-power cut-down version of the HD 5870 that supports three monitors at 2560x1600, but it is slower.
10
techpowerup.com
✓ explicit
02/10/2009
Lab review · Reference design
Verdict
The HIS HD 5850 is an AMD reference-design card with the HD 5870's features and memory, but about 15% slower.
9.0
techspot.com
≈ estimated
09/10/2009
Lab review · Shorter card
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 offers the HD 5870's DirectX 11 features in a shorter, less power-hungry card, but is hard to find in stores.
9.0
techradar.com
✓ explicit
10/06/2010
Lab test · Cut-down HD 5870
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 is a cut-down HD 5870 with DirectX 11 support, but its tessellation is weak and it still draws 151 W at peak.
8.0
hothardware.com
✓ explicit
30/09/2009
Review · Feature breakdown
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 is a DirectX 11 card that drives three displays at once and idles at 27 W, but it is less powerful than the HD 5870.
9.0
techradar.com
✓ explicit
10/06/2010
Review · Hardware breakdown
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 keeps most of the HD 5870's hardware, including full DirectX 11, but few games use its new features yet.
8.0
hothardware.com
✓ explicit
30/09/2009
Comparison test · Mid-range card
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 is a big step up from the HD 4870 at lower power, but it trails the HD 5870 in raw performance.
9.0
tomshardware.com
≈ estimated
Not Dated
Power and noise test · High-end card
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 uses up to 49W less than the HD 5870 under load, and a CrossFire pair runs quieter and cooler, though it is not truly green.
9.5
chip.de
≈ estimated
22/10/2009
Lab test · Quiet high-end card
Verdict
The HIS Radeon HD 5850 is a strong pick for gamers, with high frame rates, near-silent cooling and DirectX 11 support, though slightly slower than the HD 5870.
7.1
gamestar.de
✓ explicit
12/10/2009
Lab test · DirectX 11 card
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 is a shorter DirectX 11 card that trades some speed for lower power draw and similar noise compared with the HD 5870.
9.0
gamestar.de
≈ estimated
28/11/2009
Short test · Sapphire model
Verdict
The Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 performs the same as other HD 5850 cards and beats the GeForce GTX 285 in Crysis, though the lead shrinks with anti-aliasing on.
7.1
gamestar.de
✓ explicit
26/05/2010
Lab test · Overclocked model
Verdict
The Sapphire Radeon HD 5850 Toxic is a factory-overclocked card that stays quiet under load, though its extra speed is barely noticeable in games.
8.0
pcgameshardware.de
≈ estimated
30/09/2009
Benchmark test · Nine-game results
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 is a DirectX 11 card with 10 percent less computing power than the HD 5870, placing it near the GeForce GTX 285.
7.1
gamestar.de
✓ explicit
12/10/2009
Benchmark test · Five-game results
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 is a DirectX 11 card that edges out the GeForce GTX 285 in tests, though the lead is slim once anti-aliasing is on.
9.0
gamestar.de
≈ estimated
28/11/2009
Short test · High-end card
Verdict
The HIS Radeon HD 5850 suits most gamers, nearly matching the HD 5870 in games while drawing less power, but struggles at 2560x1600 with heavy anti-aliasing.
7.4
gamestar.de
✓ explicit
11/04/2010
Lab test · Custom cooler model
Verdict
The Powercolor Radeon HD 5850 PCS+ is a quiet, overclocked card with a large cooler, best for buyers who have room for its size and want extra speed.
7.6
gamestar.de
✓ explicit
17/09/2010
Lab test · Faster memory model
Verdict
The XFX Radeon HD 5850 Black Edition is a faster-clocked card with a quieter fan, roughly matching the GeForce GTX 460 in games overall.
7.4
gamestar.de
✓ explicit
30/09/2010
Benchmark test · Overclocked model
Verdict
The Club 3D HD 5850 OC is only about 6% faster than a standard HD 5850 and trails XFX's Black Edition, but runs all games smoothly except Crysis.
5.9
computerwoche.de
✓ explicit
Not Dated
Benchmark test · DirectX 11 card
Verdict
The HIS Radeon HD 5850 is quiet and uses little power, suiting gamers on 22- and 24-inch screens, though demanding games can stutter.
9.0
tomshardware.fr
≈ estimated
30/09/2009
Benchmark test · Single and dual card
Verdict
The Radeon HD 5850 beats the GTX 285 in most games and runs cooler and quieter, but gains over the HD 4890 are often small.

Third-party reviews

What customers like about ATI Radeon HD 5850

  • Excellent value for money, offering high-end performance at a mid-range price point.
  • Support for DirectX 11, providing future-proofing with features like hardware tessellation.
  • High energy efficiency with lower power consumption compared to its performance level and competitors.
  • Quiet operation, especially during idle and standard 2D tasks.
  • Advanced feature set including ATI Eyefinity for multi-monitor setups and HDMI bitstreaming for high-def audio.
  • Compact PCB design compared to the larger HD 5870, allowing it to fit easily into most mid-sized computer cases.

What customers don't like about ATI Radeon HD 5850

  • Severe availability issues at launch, making it difficult for many users to find in stock.
  • Price inflation occurred early on due to limited supply, temporarily affecting its value proposition.
  • Cooling performance is slightly less efficient than the HD 5870, leading to higher operating temperatures under heavy load.
  • Initial performance gains were less significant for users already owning high-end cards from the previous generation (e.g., HD 4850).

Verdict

The ATI Radeon HD 5850, launched in September 2009, is a high-performance graphics card built on a 40nm process featuring the Cypress PRO architecture with 1440 shading units, 72 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. It is equipped with 1GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a core clock speed of 725 MHz and an effective memory bandwidth of 128 GB/s. Major pros include its groundbreaking support for DirectX 11, efficient power consumption with a 151W TDP, and Eyefinity technology for triple-monitor setups, all while offering excellent price-to-performance value compared to its predecessor. However, main cons involve its significant physical length of 241mm which can hinder case compatibility, and a cooling solution that can run notably hotter than the flagship HD 5870 due to its more compact shroud design.

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