ATI Radeon HD 3450 128MB review

[cookerjc]

http://www.expreview.com/img/review/rv620-hd3450/rv620core.jpg

Die size of RV620 is about 66.5mm^2, while RV610 die size is 78.75mm^2. So it is about 15% smaller. Their PCB is the same, all 24*24mm^2.

http://www.expreview.com/img/review/rv620-hd3450/rv620hd3400.png

From the charts we can see, HD 3450 and HD 3470’s main difference is only their core/memory frequency. The core frequency of HD 3470 is 33.3% higher than HD 3450.

The card in our hand is RV620 LE, Radeon HD 3450 with 128MB GDDR2 memory. For NDA reason, we can not post any picture before the official launch.

http://www.expreview.com/img/review/rv620-hd3450/rivatuner2.png

http://www.expreview.com/img/review/rv620-hd3450/rv620pl.png

http://www.expreview.com/img/review/rv620-hd3450/rv620hdplayback.png

http://www.expreview.com/img/news/071127/rv620-3dmark06.png

http://www.expreview.com/img/review/rv620-hd3450/rv6203d.png

http://www.expreview.com/img/review/rv620-hd3450/rv620power.png
It is an ES, so it have power-sucking issues. The final retail version may fix the problem

Original Post at Expreview (http://en.expreview.com/?p=201)

[zanzabar]

we should all boycott this until they pull display port out

[GripS]

Why would anyone buy this card?

edit: even as a non-gamer......

[SparkyJJO]

Why would anyone buy this card?

If the price is right, for better-than-onboard crap graphics but cheaper than the next level up perhaps.

Remember, not everyone who buys gfx cards is an enthusiast ;)

[Vapor]

Why would anyone buy this card?Dude, it's the 3450! Gotta be better than the 2900! Can't wait for the 512MB version...it's gonna be even 4x faster!

[dasa]

Why would anyone buy this card?

edit: even as a non-gamer......

well im after a cheap gpu with low power usage to stick in my old opteron 170 system as im converting it from a gaming pc to a work pc
so with any luck there will be some fanless retail versions with lower power usage than the 2400pro that will be ideal
or do you have a better suggestion for a work pc that needs a pci-e gpu?

[NeedMoMegaHurtZ]

I can see someone using it for HTPC if the power consumption is improved

[[XC] gomeler]

HTPC and other such machines. Don't think it'll replace my S3 Virge powered PCI card in my server but it'd work great in an HTPC machine with that decoding ability. Very nice indeed, now just chop the power consumption a bit.

[Spawne32]

display port? http://smiliesftw.com/x/ughdown.gif (http://smiliesftw.com)

[Kasparz]

Even with 64bit memory interface, it still beats HD2400Pro and would be on par with HD2400XT. HD3470 would be even faster therefore if price for HD3470 stays within 50-60$ range, i can't see what can beat those. Very solid card for budget gamers.

[realsmasher]

2400xt allready beats the crap out of 8500gt while it costs only half and comsumes less power.

if 3450/70 is even better : :clap:

But i think most people are stupid and would still buy 8500gt, because of 8800 series.

[zanzabar]

display port is completely useless for a media box so the 3450 is trash but then the 3470had a dvi with hdmi scalability so that should be the focuse that one looked like a great pick, but the 3670 should be the best media card of all time and might play some games with how this looks imagine the 128bit bus and some higher clocks and some shaders

[AliG]

I dunno about 3670 being the best media card of all time, the 3850 at only $160 for the 256mb is really hard to beat, its performance is near the r600's, but its cheap and single slot and includes the hdmi dongle (such a funny word :p:)

[realsmasher]

why would you put a 3850 in some htpc for example, if the card is only for output and video encoding ?

[zanzabar]

i would before ties cards are out the 2600xt is the only one that can do 1080P of the lower cards at 60fps and the 3850 is only $40 more and will let u do some games on ur media box

[realsmasher]

3850 only 40$ more then 2600xt ?

here 2600xt is 60€ and 3850 is like 140€, so thats more then double and like 120$ more.