XFX Radeon HD 5750 1GB GDDR5 Review

Conclusion

From the high end to the performance mainstream, ATI really wants get into every corner of the market before NVIDIA plants their DX11 flag in the soil. We have seen incredible performance with the HD 5870 and a new price / performance leader in the sub-$300 price bracket in the form of the HD 5850 but now the focus has turned full circle with the HD 5700-series. These cards are firmly aimed at budget minded gamers at a time when most of the industry is still reeling from one of the worst market downturns in decades. In particular, the HD 5750’s $130 price tag may be just what the doctor ordered for those of you looking for an inexpensive DX11 fix.

Out of the four DX11 cards that ATI has so far released, the HD 5750 is at the bottom of the proverbial totem pole but that doesn’t mean it’s a slouch either. It is obvious this card’s mission is to offer GTS 250-like performance for a cut-rate price and it does live up to that expectation and then some. Considering the majority of 1GB GTS 250 cards retail for in the neighborhood of $150, this lower-end 5000-series product is well poised to ruin NVIDIA’s longstanding G92 love-in. We even saw a few flashes of brilliance where the HD 5750 1GB brushed shoulders with the GTX 260 216. This performance coupled with a $130 asking price for the 1GB version and the $110 512MB model means the HD 5750 will have the lead for some time in its price bracket.

Truly, the HD 5750’s performance is extremely good for its price but it is that price of $130 which may be its undoing. With a dual slot cooler due to a misguided insistence by ATI to include Eyefinity compatibility on a card that is underpowered for the task, finding a reason to recommend this card is a bit tough. If the HD 5750 had a single slot heatsink (which it is more than capable of supporting due to its cool-running 40nm core) and backplate, it would have represented the perfect HTPC card for a ton of potential customers. Instead, the mere the $30 price difference between it and its bigger brother the HD 5770 1GB means there are very few reasons to recommend the HD 5750 unless you are on a shoestring budget. The performance difference between the two cards in relation to their price difference really is that profound.

Unfortunately, in their rush to bring DX11 cards into the hands of customers, ATI may be missing a critical piece of the overall puzzle: the performance of those selfsame cards in the one application they are supposedly designed for. Other than BattleForge getting the bare minimum of features added to justify its “DX11” moniker, there isn’t a single DX11 game on the market. At this time, we simply don’t have any idea if the HD 5750 will pack enough firepower to effectively render next-gen games. As such, we can say that you may want to hold off on getting this card if future-proofing is your only goal since the transition to DX11 may be a bumpy one, especially for lower-end products.

Not all is doom and gloom though since XFX brings once again brings with their name a lifetime warranty and excellent customer support. Even though the accessory package on this particular card is anemic, the inclusion of one of the best warranties in the business means piece of mind above all else.

As we move further to the bottom of the market, price differentiation between the cards gets pretty murky and it is because of this fact that the HD 5750 1GB suffers in our eyes. Its price is just too close to the HD 5770; a card that runs circles around it. If anything this makes us all the more anxious to see what the 512MB version can bring to the table for about $110. The main issue is that the HD 5750 performs very well against the GTS 250 1GB but with the HD 5770 also out there, recommending this $130 card becomes a bit hard. However, if you are looking for an immediate upgrade from a 9600 GT or HD 4670 that packs a ton of efficiency into a small package, then this may be the card for you. In the end, it is up to you to decide if this card is worth your money.



Pros:
- Good performance versus the competition
- Efficient
- Very quiet
- Lifetime warranty


Cons:
- Price / performance loss to the HD 5770
- Double slot heatsink and backplate
- Unknown performance in DX11 apps.