Asus EAH3850/G/HTDI/512M Radeon Review

The Asus EAH3850/G/HTDI/512M, a video card based on the ATI Radeon 3850 “RV670 Pro” GPU, is a sub-$200 mainstream graphics solution for desktop PCs with the PCI Express slot.

The EAH3850/G/HTDI/512M has 512MB of GDDR3 video memory, a 256-bit memory interface, and 320 stream processing units. Its core and memory are clocked at 668MHz and 1650MHz respectively. These are stock speeds for the 3850 GPU, which is based on 55-nanometer production technology. The card is DirectX 10.1, PCI Express 2.0, and ATI Crossfire compatible.

This 3850 has an active cooling with large fan (the card occupies two slots) and is powered via a dedicated power cable from the power supply. A 500W PSU is a minimum for the EAH3850.

The unit has two DVI ports, and an S-Video output, while HDMI output with HDCP support is provided via a DVI-HDMI adapter. The card has a built-in multi-channel 5.1 surround audio which can be transmitted to a HDTV through the adapter, so there’s no need for additional audio cables.

Along with the HDMI adapter, in the package there are also a DVI to VGA/D-sub adapter, short HDTV cable, power cable, CrossFire bridge, copy of Company of Heroes - Oposing Fronts game, CD with drivers, user’s manual, and a CD wallet.

Asus EAH3850/G/HTDI/512M Tests, Benchmarks

I have tested the EAH3850 512MB on a system featuring the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ processor at 3.2GHz, Asus M2N-E SLI motherboard, 2GB of DDR2 800MHz memory, the Cooler Master M620 620-Watt power supply, and Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit.

The configuration scored 9177 3DMark 06 points.

The Desktop Performance for Windows Aero and 3D Business and Gaming Graphics Performance tests in Windows Vista show 5.9 points in the both categories.

The EAH3850 512MB is good for playing Crysis on lower resolutions.

The card has a decent performance in World in Conflict with medium and high graphics details, even under high resolutions.

The reviewed unit is excellent for playing Company of Heroes at 1280×1024 in Directx 9 mode, with the other settings on high. DirectX 10 significantly reduces frame rates.

The Asus EAH3850 512MB runs F.E.A.R. smoothly with all settings on maximum.

HD Video Playback, Temperature

I have played the Coral Reef Adventure trailer in a high-definition 1080p .wmv format in Vista’s Windows Media Player and found that the picture was sharp and clear. ATI Radeon 3850 GPUs are claimed to have a built-in UVD (Unified Video Decoder), but the reviewed Asus unit behaved like it doesn’t have it. The playback run smoothly, but processor utilization during the playback varied between 25 and 34 percent, which is unusually high for a GPU with UVD chip.

Asustek claims the EAH3850/G/HTDI/512M runs “20°C cooler than the reference 3850 design”. My test showed it operates at 31°C on idle, and 50°C under heavy load, which are very low temperatures for a GPU. Additionally, the fan is not loud at all.

Conclusion

Priced at around $180, the EAH3850/G/HTDI/512M is a decent graphics solution for mainstream gamers. According to some reviews, it provides better performance than an around $35 more expensive Nvidia GeForce 8800GT 256MB, when the EAH3850 is overclocked. Also, cool operation and a lot of accessories + free game included recommend this card as a good buying choice.