Qualcomm Adreno 430 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£35
  • Avg. price in US: ~$45
  • VRAM: N/A GB
  • Memory bus width: 64 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): N/A W

Qualcomm Adreno 430 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

2.1

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%

2.1

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Very poor
2.1

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%

1.2

Performance

24.0%

1.2

Memory

12.0%

3.9

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.1

Platform & Features

5.0%

4.0

Design

4.0%

4.6

Connectivity & Media

Very 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

  • 8.0
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    ?

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    ?

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 7.7
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    ?

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    ?

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 8.0
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    ?

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    ?

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 8.0
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    ?

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    ?

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 8.0
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    ?

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    ?

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • No image
No image

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £35

Best rankings

?

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

Verdict

The Qualcomm Adreno 430 is an integrated mobile graphics card introduced in early 2015 as part of the high-end Snapdragon 810 SoC. It features 192 unified shaders clocked at up to 650 MHz and offers approximately 388-420 GFLOPS of performance. Key characteristics include support for modern APIs such as OpenGL ES 3.1, DirectX 11.2 (Feature Level 11_1), and OpenCL 1.2, along with 'FlexRender' technology that intelligently switches between tile-based and direct rendering to optimize efficiency. Its main advantages are high-tier 4K display support and significantly improved performance over the previous Adreno 330 generation, making it one of the fastest mobile GPUs of its time. However, it is primarily hindered by thermal issues associated with the 20nm fabrication process of its host chipset, which often leads to aggressive thermal throttling and reduced performance during sustained gaming sessions.

Technical Specifications of Qualcomm Adreno 430

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

2.1
Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a technical score of 2.13 points, which is lower than that of 99.9% 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
Qualcomm Adreno 430 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%

2.1

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

4.5
Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a quality-to-price ratio of 4.5 points, which is lower than 98.2% 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

?
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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

N/A
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

N/A
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

N/A
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

64 bit
Qualcomm Adreno 430 uses a 64 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 97.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.6% 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

25.6 GB/s
Qualcomm Adreno 430 reaches 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 99.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.3% 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

N/A
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

N/A
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

?
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

3.1
Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports OpenGL 3.1, which is older than on 100% of graphics cards.
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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

1
Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports up to 1 displays, which is fewer than 100% 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

3840x2160
Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports a maximum digital resolution of 3840x2160, which is lower than that of 58.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.4% of graphics cards.
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

N/A
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

N/A
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

N/A
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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

N/A
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

?
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

N/A
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

N/A
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

N/A
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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

N/A
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

N/A
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

N/A
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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Qualcomm Adreno 430 vs the average graphics card

  • 15.14x cheaper
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£35 vs £530).
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£35 vs £530).£35 vs £530
  • 74% lower boost clock speed
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (650 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 95.6% lower pixel rate
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (7.2 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 4,160 fewer FP32 units
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (192 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 192 bit narrower memory bus
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (64 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 94.3% lower memory bandwidth
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (25.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 4x larger process node
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (20 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • 9 older
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,014 vs 2,023).
  • No mesh shaders
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Older OpenCL version
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3.0).
  • Older OpenGL version
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (3.1 vs 4.6).
  • No AV1 encoding
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 3 fewer displays supported
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (1 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • No AV1 decoding
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Narrower decode codec support
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports narrower hardware decode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9).
  • Lower display resolution
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (3840x2160 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • 74% lower boost clock speed
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (650 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (650 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.650 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 192 bit narrower memory bus
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (64 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    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

    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (64 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.64 bit vs 256 bit
  • 4x larger process node
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (20 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

    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (20 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.20 nm vs 5 nm
  • 94.3% lower memory bandwidth
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (25.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
    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

    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (25.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.25.6 GB/s vs 448 GB/s
  • 95.6% lower pixel rate
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (7.2 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

    Qualcomm Adreno 430 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (7.2 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.7.2 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
  • 9 older
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,014 vs 2,023).
    What it is: Official release or launch date of the GPU
    When it matters: When you care about platform age, driver maturity, and how current the design is.

    Importance: LOW

    Qualcomm Adreno 430 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,014 vs 2,023).2,014 vs 2,023
  • No AV1 encoding
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
    What it is: Supports hardware encoding of AV1 video codec
    When it matters: When you stream or export video and want efficient AV1 encoding on the GPU.

    Importance: LOW

    Qualcomm Adreno 430 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.No vs yes
  • 3 fewer displays supported
    Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (1 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

    Qualcomm Adreno 430 supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (1 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.1 vs 4

Graphic comparison of Qualcomm Adreno 430 and

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about Qualcomm Adreno 430?

  • High benchmark performance for its era, outperforming previous generations like the Adreno 330 and 420
  • Capable of handling high-resolution displays, including early 4K development boards
  • Delivers a smooth gaming experience for most standard Android games
  • Significant 30% performance boost compared to its predecessor in the Snapdragon 800 series
  • Supports modern graphics APIs like DirectX 11.1 and OpenGL ES 3.1

What customers dislike about Qualcomm Adreno 430?

  • Associated with thermal issues and overheating when paired with the Snapdragon 810 chipset
  • Occasional lag reported in particularly heavy or poorly optimized games
  • Higher power consumption compared to newer, more efficient 14nm or 7nm architectures
  • Performance can throttle during long, sustained gaming sessions due to heat build-up
  • Now considered legacy hardware, lacking support for modern features like Ray Tracing or advanced AI upscaling

Expert reviews

T
tomshardware.com
12/02/2015

The Snapdragon 810’s Adreno 430 GPU successfully delivers on Qualcomm's promise of a 30% performance jump over its predecessor, the Adreno 420. In 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited, the GPU posted a 36% higher graphics score. GFXBench 3.0 testing confirmed this trend, with the Adreno 430 outperforming the Adreno 420 by 35% in the Manhattan test and 27% in T-Rex. Furthermore, shader compute...Read more

P
pcper.com
12/02/2015

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 reference platform showcases mixed results, highlighting a powerful graphics upgrade alongside noticeable processing drawbacks. On the positive side, the Adreno 430 GPU delivers a strong performance leap, outpacing the Apple A8, Snapdragon 805, and Mali T760 in several tests. It achieves a 22% faster score in GFXBench T-Rex and 56% faster ALU shader...Read more

G
gsmarena.com
05/01/2015

The GSMArena hands-on review of the LG G Flex2 at CES 2015 highlights the smartphone as a highly powerful device powered by the state-of-the-art Snapdragon 810 octa-core 64-bit processor paired with an Adreno 430 GPU. A major pro emphasized in the review is its record-breaking CPU performance, as it achieved the highest GeekBench 3 score produced by a smartphone to date during...Read more

G
gsmarena.com
30/03/2015

The Samsung Galaxy S6 outperforms the HTC One M9 in overall processing capability, web browsing, and data access speeds due to its superior 14nm Exynos 7420 chipset and advanced UFS 2.0 internal storage standard. Its pros include significantly higher single-core, multi-core, and system benchmark scores, alongside exceptionally fast sequential and random storage read speeds that...Read more

G
gsmarena.com
07/12/2015

The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL shines with its innovative Windows Continuum feature, which effectively turns the smartphone into a makeshift PC by scaling universal apps to fill an external monitor when connected via the Microsoft Display Dock or Miracast. It handles everyday workflows smoothly with standard keyboard shortcuts like copying and pasting, and it allows users to make calls...Read more

G
gsmarena.com
24/08/2015

The OnePlus 2 delivers stable real-life performance and excellent graphics capabilities by utilizing a down-clocked Snapdragon 810 processor paired with an Adreno 430 GPU and up to 4GB of RAM. A major pro of this hardware configuration is its onscreen gaming performance, where its 1080p display resolution allows it to climb near the top of benchmarks like GFX T-Rex and Manhattan,...Read more

G
gsmarena.com
18/02/2015

The LG G Flex2 marks a significant hardware milestone as the first smartphone to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor, paired with the powerful Adreno 430 GPU. Its graphical capabilities are a major pro, as the phone dominated GPU benchmarks like GFX 2.7 T-Rex and GFX 3.0 Manhattan, outperforming top flagships like the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Apple iPhone 6...Read more

C
connect-living.de
26. Februar 2016

The Gigaset ME (GS55-6) is a high-quality Android 5.1 smartphone built by a manufacturer traditionally known for DECT home phones, featuring a premium design made of stainless steel and Gorilla Glass. Inside, it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor running at 1.8 GHz, paired with an Adreno 430 GPU, 3 GB of DDR4 RAM, and 32 GB of expandable eMMC storage. The...Read more

C
clubic.com
20/05/2015

The Clubic review characterises the LG G Flex 2 as a notable upgrade over its predecessor, shifting from a bulky 6-inch form factor to a more ergonomic and comfortable 5.5-inch design. A core strength highlighted in the review is the significantly improved 1080p P-OLED display, which eliminates the blurry, grainy issues of the original model while offering infinite contrast, lively...Read more

L
laptopmedia.com
20/07/2015

The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is lauded as a premium, lightweight (389g) 10.1-inch device, featuring a 6.1mm profile and IP68 water/dust resistance. It offers high-end performance via the Snapdragon 810 processor without overheating, paired with a bright 2560×1600 QHD display. However, the tablet suffers from reduced battery life compared to its predecessor, with a 17-18% decrease in...Read more

N
nerdattack.it
31/05/2016

The Nerd Attack review highlights the OnePlus 2 as a balanced smartphone aimed at defeating competitors by offering high-level specifications at a significantly lower price point. In terms of advantages, the device features an excellent 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display and a reliable fingerprint scanner built into the home button that works even when the screen is turned off....Read more

Video reviews

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