MSI Radeon HD3650 – latest technologies at affordable price
Recently, we have been focusing primarily on high-end video cards, so today we'll be looking at a value video card for a change. While we look for shortcoming in high-end video cards, we'll have to look for advantages in cheap video cards because their shortcomings are predetermined. However strange that may seem, there are more advantages than in high-end video cards. Admit it - it is nice to see that you've got much with little money spent. Now, let's move on to more specific issues. AMD Radeon HD3650 video cards have come to replace AMD Radeon HD2600Pro and AMD Radeon HD2600XT and at the same time retained the old price level. The major distinctions from the predecessors are about the finer process technology, support for DirectX 10.1, Display Port, and the PCI-express 2.0. Of separate mention is support for the renewed ATI CrossFire X technology by AMD Radeon 3650, which allows merging more than two video cards into a combination. Here are the major specifications of the video cards in question:
| Name Specifications |
MSI Radeon R3650-T2D512 |
Radeon HD2600Pro |
Radeon HD2600XT |
| GPU |
RV635 |
RV630 |
RV630 |
| Video memory capacity, MB |
512 |
256/512 |
256/512 |
| Memory bus width, bit |
128 |
128 |
128 |
| Video memory |
DDR3 |
DDR2/DDR3 |
DDR3/DDR4 |
| GPU clock speed, MHz |
750 (recommended – 725) |
600 |
800 |
| Effective frequency of the video memory, MHz |
1600 |
800 for DDR2
1400 for DDR3 |
2200 for DDR4
1400-1600 for DDR3 |
| Streaming processors |
120 |
120 |
120 |
| Texture units |
8 |
8 |
8 |
| ROP units |
8 |
8 |
8 |
| Video and audio handling capabilities of the GPU |
H.264 / AVC, VC-1, MPEG1, MPEG2, DivX. Support for Full HD
Integrated audio controller to transfer audio over the HDMI interface |
| Technology for merging several video cards |
ATI CrossFire X |
ATI CrossFire |
| Power-saving technologies |
ATI PowerPlay |
| Interfaces |
PCI-Express 2.0 x16 / 2xDVI / HDMI / S-Video / Display Port |
PCI-Express x16 / 2xDVI / HDMI / S-Video |
Note that new video cards, like more expensive Radeon HD38x0, offer a full support for ATI AVIVO HD. Note that it includes the UVD (Unified Video Decoder) technology which substantially facilitates handling high-definition video, like Blue-Ray and HD-DVD. Therefore, such video card will be a perfect base for a home digital cinema. Now that we have listed all the new features, let's move on to examining the specific video card - MSI R3650-T2D512.
MSI R3650-T2D512 is shipped in a small cardboard box. Despite the small size, the front side of the box contains quite a lot of information, including the key specifications of the video card. This is typical for the MSI products.
On the reverse side of the box, there is also a lot of information, including the mention of support for the ATI CrossFire X. Recall that this technology allows merging more than two video cards into a combination.
The package bundle includes all the necessary items:
- S-video > S-video adapter + composite out (RCA);
- S-Video > Component out adapter;
- S-Video cable with two "male" connectors;
- DVI -> D-Sub adapter;
- drivers CD;
- installation manual.
MSI R3650-T2D512 has been released in a small size, which will be highly appraised by owners of tightly packed housings. Anyway, the PCB design is very similar to the reference. By the way, the video card has been factory-overclocked by 25 MHz for the graphic processor. Amusingly, but that has allowed MSI to add the “OC” label at the end of the video card's marking.
The reverse side of the video card contains four memory chips which make up half the video memory installed on the video card. The other part of the memory is located on the front side of the video card. Also, note the crossbar which is part of fastening of the cooling system, whose advantage here is questionable. The thing is, on the one hand, such crossbars should provide rigidity to the board and ideally press on the board opposite the point where the GPU chip is located, thus providing its reliable contact with the cooling system thus preventing its warp. On the other hand, the rigidity of the PCB is quite enough for holding such a light cooling system, and the crossbar does not contact the point opposite the place where the graphic processor chip is positioned. Therefore, you should treat this "bonus" more like a decoration rather than a necessity.
The cooling system of the video card is small in size. That was more than enough due to the low heat emission of the new graphic processor RV635.
A similar PCB like that was already used by MSI in its previous products. Near the GPU there are four video memory chips which make up 256 MB. The remaining 256 MB are positioned on the reverse side of the video card.
The memory chips are made by Qimonda and offer 1.0 ns access time, which is equivalent to the frequency 2000 MHz. The real operating speed of the video memory is lower – 1600 MHz.
The radiator of the cooling system is fully pained golden and contacts the graphic chip via viscous heat-conductive mass that resembles chewing gum.
Cooling system efficiency
We'll be testing the efficiency of the cooling system in the same way as before with the game Oblivion at the maximum settings, and Riva Tuner.
While measuring the temperatures, the values varied in leaps and bounds and finally achieved the point 57 C. That's really not bad at all for such a "cold" chip. However, we should note that the cooling system was far not noiseless, albeit not loud as well, so that is a shortcoming of the new product. We also note the perfect operation of the ATI PowerPlay technology which, at the time of low load upon the video card, reduces its frequencies to 110 / 800 MHz for the graphic processor and video memory, respectively. That's about all, so let's move on to the most interesting part – discussion of the methodology and the tests themselves.
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