Why the XFX HD 7850 is a Great Card for Any User
And, although it’s true that on-board graphics are far superior today than they were 4-5 years ago, they still leave a lot left to be desired. Not only that, but if you run graphics-demanding videos, programs, or games with your on-board graphics, you will notice a significant decrease in your computer’s performance.
However, the solution to this is simple…
Add a stand-alone video card with dedicated memory.
A stand-alone video card will take over all of the graphics processing responsibilities.
And, by adding a stand-alone video card, you will free up a ton of resources for your CPU and you will see a nice overall improvement in your system’s performance.
Additionally, with a high-end video card you will enjoy smoother video playback, better frame rates in graphics-intensive games, and an easier time setting up multiple monitors.
With that being said, today I’m going to look at the XFX Radeon HD 7850.
The XFX 7850 — Does it Deliver?
With the HD 7850, XFX promises high-end graphics processing power at an affordable price. And, if you’re in the market for a high-quality video card, or you’re looking to improve your gaming experience/video editing capabilities/video playback, then this card will give you everything you want and more.
I’ll admit that for the average computer user, the XFX 7850 is a little bit overkill. So, if you’re just browsing the internet and sending email messages, you can definitely stick with your on-board graphics.
However, if you are using your computer for any of the following reasons, I strongly recommend that you keep reading:
- High-end gaming
- Video editing (non 3D)
- As a media or home entertainment center
- Multi-monitor setup
By purchasing an XFX HD 7850 and adding it to your computer, you can use your system for all of the above-mentioned tasks.
The Features and Benefits that Come With the XFX Radeon HD 7850
Like any other quality stand-alone video card, the XFX 7850 will take a huge load off of your processor. There are many HD 7850’s out there. Some are more expensive, and some cost less. However, XFX’s 7850 finds the perfect medium of cost and performance.
The following are some features and benefits that you will receive when you add the XFX Radeon HD 7850 to your computer:
- Smooth and flawless graphics for perfect video playback
- The ability to support up to four monitors for the ultimate viewing experience
- Increased overall system performance
- 1080p resolution for an outstanding HD experience (must have a 1080p monitor to utilize)
- Can connect via PCIe-3.0 for even better performance (must have an available PCIe-3.0 port)
- Realistic 3D gaming experience with DirectX 11 technology and Destruction Physics
With all of the above mentioned benefits that come with the XFX 7850, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more capable video card. However, in addition to the outstanding graphics that the card will display, XFX also backs their 7850 with a solid 2-year warranty and excellent customer support. That way, should anything go wrong, you are well protected.
The XFX 7850’s Graphics Capabilities
Multi-Monitor Support with the XFX Radeon HD 7850
Customer Reviews
From Tikrjee:
Most powerful card I’ve got to play with to date. Love it. Handles everything I’ve thrown at it and asks for more… (Read full review)
From CommanderKen:
Smoothly installed on an ASUS 990FX Sabertooth and after a driver update runs seamlessly. This is my second XFX card and both have been great. A great card for the value. (Read full review)
From Kreatos:
This card was everything I hoped it to be. The new CGN architecture is incredible. In my last build, I use a Sapphire HD6850 and it was nice. But, this one blows it away. (Read full review)
Drawbacks of the XFX Radeon HD 7850
There aren’t too many products out there that are perfect and, unfortunately, there are some downsides to the XFX HD 7850.
First off, this video card is probably not something you will want to just plug in and start up your computer. That might work. However, you’re going to need to make sure that your system can actually handle the addition of the HD 7850.
Furthermore, the XFX HD 7850 requires that you have a power supply that has a minimum wattage rating of at least 500w. Also, this video card works best when plugged into a PCI3-3.0 slot. It will operate in a 2.0 slot, but you it won’t perform as well.
In the event that you do try to install the HD 7850 into an outdated system, you run the risk of bottlenecking your computer. You probably won’t damage your computer in any way, but you definitely won’t get the performance you paid for.
Finally, many people have had problems with the 7850’s warranty. It’s not that warranty itself is bad, it’s just the fact that you have to register your card with XFX withing 30 days of purchasing it. If you fail to register your card, the warranty becomes void and if it goes out afterwards you’re out of luck.
So, before you buy the XFX HD 7850, make sure that your system can handle it. And, also be sure to register the card within 30 days of buying it.
Purchasing the XFX Radeon HD 7850
There are so many different computer components retailers on the internet that it’s often difficult to know where to buy your parts. Personally, I like to buy all of my computer components through Amazon.
I know that there are other more “computer-specific” retailers out there, but I’ve always had a good experience with Amazon no matter what I’ve purchased from them.
And, I’ve noticed that Amazon always has extremely competitive prices on their computer components.
So, if you do want to buy the XFX Radeon HD 7850, I highly recommend that you do so through Amazon. Not only do they offer a fast, easy, and secure checkout, but they also have excellent customer support.
