Radeon HD 6850: characteristics, photos and reviews

Probably, there is nothing easier than to choose an entry-level video card on the computer market. After all, 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 a decent potential in work and games.

In the focus of this article - HD 6850 video adapter from the famous American concern ATI. The reader is invited to get acquainted with the game solution closer: see the full review and find out the technical characteristics of an interesting device. The owners' feedback and expert recommendations will help the newcomer to determine the choice in the market.

Elite representative

Strangely enough, the characteristics of Radeon HD 6850 hint to a potential buyer that it is a representative of the game class, and not some budgetary. After all, according to the trends of the computer market, only powerful video adapters are equipped with a high-speed 256-bit data bus. It's no secret that the video card's bandwidth is directly proportional to the frequency of the graphics core and the bus.

The second hint is the size of the printed circuit board and the cooling system. Only gaming platforms are equipped with a turbofan and a closed casing for correct distribution of the cooled air. It remains only to understand why the manufacturer has set a low cost for such an interesting and attractive product.

High performance pledge

The video card HIS Radeon HD 6850 is better to start with the technical characteristics, 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, here the video card is also not completely in order, modern GDDR5 modules have too small a volume - 1024 MB. Apparently, it was this indicator that forced the manufacturer to place its product in the lower price segment of the game class.

The chip device installed about 1.7 billion transistors and 960 stream processors. Under the textures are given 48 blocks (for the previous model, HD 5850, there were 72 of them). It is worth noting that the chip itself is made on a 40-nanometer technical process.

About technologies and software

Supported version of DirectX 11 even though it is obsolete, but most gaming applications are created specifically for this set of libraries. And it is unlikely that in the next few years the situation will change radically. In the HD 6850 video adapter at the hardware level, the graphics accelerator supports 3D visualization. This solution allows the user to connect TVs and monitors that support the output of a 3D image to a computer.

Naturally, the manufacturer has equipped its product with an integrated processor for processing surround sound, as well as a special decoder that allows to display the image in FullHD format. Confused only in the video card AMD Radeon HD 6850 characteristics of the energy-saving system. The device even in idle consumption consumes too much electricity and does not automatically go into an economical mode.

Features of the power system

In general, the topic of energy consumption should be given more time. After all, the uninterrupted operation of the video card is a priority for every user who has decided to learn more about the graphics accelerator Radeon HD 6850 specifications. User feedback in the media is understandable and understandable - the video game adapter is not as simple as it seems.

The declared power consumption of the video card in the factory version is 127 watts, however this parameter can almost double when overclocking the graphics core and the memory bus. The most interesting thing is that the performance of the 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 unit, it is better not to save the game lover here and provide the gaming platform with a powerful device (500 watts and above).

PCB assembly

Conducting on the video card HD 6850 an overview of the components, I want to draw the user's attention to one interesting factor. The AMD manufacturer allowed himself to arrange the batteries around the perimeter of the PCB, and not to take them to a separate unit, as it is realized with more expensive video game adapters. The graphics core is located in the middle of the board, memory modules are spaced around the processor socket, and the microcircuits and stabilizers are soldered near the video output card.

Externally, the printed circuit board HD 6850 does not inspire confidence, and it becomes quite clear to many users where the video card takes such a large dissipated power and strong heating during operation. It is logical to assume that many manufacturers who represent AMD products on the world market will still be able to modify the power system and solve the problem with the heating of the video adapter.

Beautiful cooling system

Attractiveness and efficiency 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. So it happened with the ATI Radeon HD 6850 video adapter, the characteristics of its cooling system decided to veil the technology at the plant.

Yes, many users this can really shock. Hardly anyone will like that under the beautiful plastic fan casing - only one copper plate, which is designed only for removing heat from the graphics processor. This approach of the manufacturer to the consumer causes a lot of negativity, which you can get acquainted with, having studied the feedback of potential buyers.

Leader of sales

The world-famous company HIS noticed an interesting product in the computer market and did its utmost to make the performance characteristics of the graphics accelerator AMD Radeon HD 6850 more attractive.

It's better to start with the fact that there are several modifications of the same chip on the world market. All of them are equipped with the same printed circuit board, but they have different systems of heat removal and appearance. Yes, the manufacturer managed to achieve from the device greater efficiency in operation and to reduce power dissipation.

As expected, the company's technologists completely changed the board's power supply system. The power supply system was not only taken out by a separate unit on the back of the PCB, but also broken down into additional phases. Also, the manufacturer changed electrolytic capacitors to solid-state elements and installed additional PWM controllers.

Icy Air Flow

The domestic buyer has already managed to get acquainted with the product IceQ X Turbo HIS Radeon HD 6850, the characteristics of which allow the video card to legally settle in the initial game segment. The peculiarity of this graphics accelerator is not high performance, but complete noiselessness in operation. To achieve such results it was possible to the manufacturer thanks to a firm cooling system.

The huge aluminum radiator not only completely closes the graphics core, memory modules and batteries, it, like a sarcophagus, rises up to the protective casing, hiding a huge fan in itself. A slow cooler with large blades works almost silently, pumping a large volume of cold air onto the radiator.

As for the performance of the HD 6850, the company's technologists have been able to slightly improve the performance. So, the graphics core in the nominal mode is capable of demonstrating 820 MHz, and the memory operates at a frequency of 4400 MHz. But with the overclocking of the chip things are bad, the processor is limited to 850 MHz. The fault 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 pretends to take the leading positions in the middle segment of the game class. At least, this product in many test laboratories is compared with the more expensive solutions of the competitor Nvidia. Again, a modified power management system on the PCB and a decent cooling system allowed the graphics accelerator to break forward.

Taking a psychological barrier, the graphics processor demonstrates to the user a frequency of 1122 MHz. But the manufacturer did not experiment with memory - 4500 MHz. It should be noted that the board has Hynix modules (you can see the photo of the original chip on the manufacturer's website), which have a hardware memory frequency limit on this mark, so the company's techs do not recommend the owner to continue overclocking the GDDR5 modules.

A separate story on cooling

The more efficient and expensive solution HIS Radeon HD 6850, the characteristics of which were discussed above, is equipped with a very interesting cooling system. The manufacturer clearly did not economize on non-ferrous metals, so it is not surprising that copper became the predominant material for the radiator. It is not necessary to explain that the thermal conductivity of red metal is much more efficient than aluminum, so users will not have to cool the platform of questions.

Will please the owner and the power reserve of the installed fan. In their responses, many users claim that the cooling system of the HIS graphics card has an excellent potential for overclocking. The characteristics of Radeon HD 6850 increase by almost 10%. The graphics accelerator accelerates to 1244 MHz without problems and demonstrates stable operation. Only the fan noise on the board slightly affects the nerves.

Similar products of 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 video card, the characteristics of which directly depend on cooling efficiency, interested XFX, PowerColor, MSI, Gigabyte, Asus and other not less well-known brands. However, no one succeeded in surpassing HIS products in terms of performance and overclocking efficiency.

The secret is quite simple - none of the market's representatives have considered the problem of the AMD circuit board and did not make any changes to the hardware part. Therefore, the installation of a more powerful cooler did not bring the Taiwanese companies Asus and Gigabyte victories. But the potential was, given that the world-famous brands equipped the graphics accelerator with proprietary cooling systems. Therefore, and does not impress users on similar video cards based on the Radeon HD 6850 description of the characteristics.

Finally

In the price category up to 6000 rubles, there are many 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 can work on a 256-bit bus. Yes, and about the supported technologies should not be forgotten, all the same, there is a future for DirectX 11.

The Radeon HD 6850 video card, whose reviews are more positive in the media, will be of interest to game enthusiasts who want to use resource-intensive applications at low and medium quality settings. This is the only thing that will have to be sacrificed to the buyer, who paid a small fee for an attractive video card on the computer market.