There is probably nothing easier than choosing an entry-level gaming video card in the computer market. Indeed, for most buyers in this segment, the cost of a graphics accelerator is more important than performance. However, there are exceptions - when the manufacturer offers the user to purchase an inexpensive device that can surprise the future owner with worthy potential in work and games.
The focus of this article is the HD 6850 video adapter from the famous American concern ATI. The reader is invited to get acquainted with the game solution closer: see a full review and find out the technical characteristics of an interesting device. Owner reviews and expert recommendations will help a beginner make a choice in the market.
Elite representative
Oddly enough, the characteristics of the Radeon HD 6850 hint to a potential buyer that he is in front of him a representative of the game class, and not some budget employee. Indeed, according to computer market trends, only powerful video adapters are equipped with a high-speed 256-bit data bus. It's no secret that the bandwidth of a video card is directly proportional to the frequency of the graphics core and bus.
The second hint is the dimensions of the circuit board and the cooling system. Only gaming platforms are equipped with a turbofan and a closed casing for proper distribution of chilled air. It remains only to understand why the manufacturer set a low cost on such an interesting and attractive product.
High Performance Pledge
An overview of the HIS Radeon HD 6850 graphics card is best started with technical specifications, because it is thanks to them that the graphics accelerator is able to demonstrate high performance in gaming applications. The frequency of the graphics core Barts Pro is only 775 MHz. As for the memory, the video card here is also not in full order, modern GDDR5 modules have too small a capacity of 1024 MB. Apparently, it was this indicator that made the manufacturer place its product in the lower price segment of the game class.
About 1.7 billion transistors and 960 stream processors are installed on the device’s chip. 48 blocks were given for the texture (the previous model, HD 5850, there were 72 of them). It is worth noting that the chip itself was produced by a 40-nanometer technical process.
About technology and software
The supported version of DirectX 11 is morally obsolete, but most gaming applications are designed specifically for this set of libraries. And it is unlikely that in the next few years the situation will change radically. In the hardware adapter HD 6850, the graphics accelerator supports 3D visualization. This solution allows the user to connect TVs and monitors to the computer that support the output of a three-dimensional image to the screen.
Naturally, the manufacturer equipped its product with an integrated processor for processing surround sound, as well as a special decoder that allows you to display an image in FullHD format. Confused only in the graphics card AMD Radeon HD 6850 characteristics of the energy-saving system. The device even in idle time consumes too much electricity and does not automatically go into economy mode.
Power System Features
In general, the topic of energy consumption should be given more time. After all, the smooth operation of the video card is a priority for every user who decided to find out in more detail the graphics accelerator Radeon HD 6850 specifications. User reviews in the media are understandable and understandable - a game video adapter is not as simple as it seems.
The claimed power consumption of the video card in the factory version is 127 watts, but this parameter can almost double when overclocking the graphics core and memory bus. The most interesting thing is that the performance of a video adapter in overclocking shows an increase of only 20-25%. Yes, from the outside it looks really strange. As for the requirements for the power supply, it is better not to save money for the game lover and provide the gaming platform with a powerful device (500 watts and above).
PCB package
Conducting a review of components on the HD 6850 graphics card, I want to draw the user's attention to one interesting factor. The manufacturer AMD allowed itself to place the batteries around the entire perimeter of the printed circuit board, and not put them in a separate unit, as is the case with more expensive gaming video adapters. The graphics core is located in the middle of the board, memory modules are spaced around the processor socket, and microcircuits and stabilizers are soldered near the video output board.
Externally , the HD 6850 printed circuit board does not inspire confidence, and it becomes quite clear to many users where the video card comes from so much power dissipation and strong heating during operation. It is logical to assume that many manufacturers representing AMD products on the world market will still be able to modify the power system and solve the problem of heating the video adapter.
Beautiful cooling system
Attractiveness and effectiveness rarely complement each other. Trying to make a beautiful product, most manufacturers of computer components simply distract the potential buyer from a more important detail. This happened with the ATI Radeon HD 6850 video adapter, the cooling system characteristics of which the technologists decided to veil at the factory.
Yes, it can really shock many users. It is unlikely that anyone will like that under a beautiful plastic fan casing there is only one copper plate, which is designed only to remove heat from the GPU. This approach of the producer to the consumer causes a lot of negativity, which can be found by studying the reviews of potential buyers.
Hot sale
HIS, a world-famous company, noticed an interesting product in the computer market and did everything possible to make the performance characteristics more attractive under its logo on the AMD Radeon HD 6850 graphics accelerator.
Better to start with the fact that on the world market there are several modifications of the same chip. All of them are equipped with the same printed circuit board, but have different heat dissipation systems and appearance. Yes, the manufacturer managed to achieve greater efficiency from the device and reduce power dissipation.
As one would expect, the company's technologists completely modified the board's power system. The power system was not only placed in a separate unit on the back of the circuit board, but also divided into additional phases. The manufacturer also replaced electrolytic capacitors with solid-state cells and installed additional PWM controllers.
Icy air flow
The domestic buyer has already managed to get acquainted with the IceQ X Turbo HIS Radeon HD 6850 product, the characteristics of which allow the video adapter to legally be located in the initial gaming segment. A feature of this graphics accelerator is not high performance, but complete silent operation. The manufacturer managed to achieve such results thanks to the proprietary cooling system.
The huge aluminum radiator not only completely covers the graphics core, memory modules and batteries, it, like a sarcophagus, rises up to the protective casing, hiding a huge fan in it. A low-speed cooler with large blades works almost silently, pumping a large amount of cold air onto the radiator.
As for the performance of the HD 6850, here the company's technologists managed to slightly improve the performance. So, the graphics core in normal mode is able to demonstrate 820 MHz, and the memory operates at a frequency of 4400 MHz. But with the chip overclocking, things are bad, the processor is limited to a frequency of 850 MHz. The reason is the cooling system, which is designed only for the basic characteristics of the device.
A serious player in the market
But the video card HIS Radeon HD 6850 Overlocker clearly claims to take a leadership position in the middle segment of the gaming class. At least, this product is compared in many test laboratories with the more expensive solutions of competitor Nvidia. Again, a modified power management system on the PCB and a decent cooling system allowed the graphics accelerator to break ahead.
Having taken a psychological barrier, the GPU shows the user a frequency of 1122 MHz. But the manufacturer did not experiment with memory - 4500 MHz. It is worth noting that Hynix modules are installed on the board (the photo of the original chip can be seen on the manufacturer’s website), which have a hardware memory frequency limit at this point, so the company's technologists do not recommend the owner to continue overclocking GDDR5 modules.
Separate cooling story
The more productive and expensive HIS Radeon HD 6850 solution, the characteristics of which were discussed above, is equipped with a very interesting cooling system. The manufacturer clearly did not save on non-ferrous metals, so it is not surprising that copper became the predominant material for the radiator. It is not worth explaining that in terms of thermal conductivity, red metal is much more efficient than aluminum; therefore, users will have no questions about cooling the platform.
The owner and the power reserve of the installed fan will delight. In their reviews, many users claim that the HIS graphics card cooling system has excellent overclocking potential. The performance of the Radeon HD 6850 is increasing by almost 10%. The graphics accelerator accelerates to 1244 MHz without any problems and demonstrates stable operation. Only the noise of the fan on the board slightly affects the nerves.
Similar products from other manufacturers
HIS is not a monopolist in the computer market. Quite a few other manufacturers drew attention to an interesting product. The Radeon HD 6850 graphics card, whose characteristics are directly proportional to the cooling efficiency, interested XFX, PowerColor, MSI, Gigabyte, Asus and other equally well-known brands. However, no one was able to surpass HIS products in terms of performance and overclocking efficiency.
The secret is quite simple - not one of the market representatives has delved into the problem of the AMD printed circuit board and has not made any changes to the hardware. Therefore, installing a more powerful cooler did not bring victory to the Taiwanese companies Asus and Gigabyte. But the potential was, given that world famous brands equipped the graphics accelerator with proprietary cooling systems. Therefore, the description of characteristics is not impressive for similar video adapters based on Radeon HD 6850.
Finally
In the price range of up to 6,000 rubles, there are a lot of interesting solutions that can cope with many toys, but experts recommend that the buyer pay attention to this video adapter. The fact is that he is one of the few representatives who is able to work on a 256-bit bus. Yes, and we should not forget about supported technologies, after all, DirectX 11 has a future.
The Radeon HD 6850 graphics card, reviews of which are more positive in the media, will be interesting to gamers who want to use resource-intensive applications at low and medium quality settings. This is the only thing that a buyer who has paid a small fee for an attractive graphics card in the computer market will have to sacrifice.