ATI Radeon HD 5450: Eyefinity And HTPCs For Everyone?

By Don Woligroski
published

Benchmark Results: DiRT 2 And DirectX 11

We included DiRT 2 as a DirectX 11 benchmark. Unfortunately, DirectX 11 is irrelevant here because all of the enhanced effects are pre-empted by the medium detail setting. This setting was required to get playable performance from the low-end Radeon HD 5450. So while enabling the newer shader model doesn't cause a performance hit, it doesn't really offer any enhanced DirectX 11 effects, either. Crowds and water effects are turned off at the medium setting, two of the main areas that receive tessellation enhancements from DirectX 11 mode.

Even with the effects turned down to medium, the Radeon HD 5450 is barely playable. Once again, the Radeon HD 4650 puts the similarly-priced competition to shame.

Don Woligroski
76 Comments Comment from the forums
  • popaholic
    For the all the idiots out there, yes it can run Crysis, slightly.

    Whats the point of releasing a new graphics card thats worse than older cards? It runs Dx11 but there's no way it could even run a supported game.

    Reply
  • The links to the article pages are either missing or directed wrongly. For example, the "Power and Temperature Benchmarks", "Conclusion" pages are missing or directed wrongly.
    Reply
  • cangelini
    serokichimThe links to the article pages are either missing or directed wrongly. For example, the "Power and Temperature Benchmarks", "Conclusion" pages are missing or directed wrongly.
    Try refreshing the page. Should be working correctly now!
    Reply
  • robertking82881
    well those that are not gameing but want direct x11 can pick this up
    Reply
  • acasel
    a crossfire config with this video card + overclock will make this article much better in a gamers point of view...
    Reply
  • cleeve
    acasela crossfire config with this video card + overclock will make this article much better in a gamers point of view...
    Not really, look at the specs. In CrossFire these cards would cost $100 for a total 160 shader cores. They still wouldn't hold a candle to a single $100 5670 when gaming, which has 400 shader cores all by itself.

    CrossFiring the 5450 would be a total waste.
    Reply
  • masterjaw
    Passively-cooled 5450 in crossfire = fail

    How do you expect it to handle the increase in temps? Even if you got some good airflow inside the case, that won't be sufficient.
    Reply
  • footsoldier
    Kinda failed product, ATI..focus on price drop plssss! But still, ATI rocks
    Reply
  • skora
    How selfish you all are thinking THG only does gaming cards!!!! When ATI cuts the hardware (shaders/ROPs) to the bone, its not about gaming. Its for the HTPC and multi-monitor office crowd and thats it. It's a niche card and looks to do that admirably.
    Reply
  • shubham1401
    Lol...
    They needed a i7 and 1200W PSU to test this card... :)

    Useless...Either get a good card or stick with integrated.
    Reply