GeForce GT 730 vs Radeon HD 4850

Speed and memory

The GeForce GT 730 and the Radeon HD 4850 are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

The GeForce GT 730 has 2 GB of video memory and the Radeon HD 4850 has 1 GB. That difference matters at 1440p and in new games at High textures, and it can outweigh a small speed advantage as the card ages.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Grand Theft Auto V Legacy (28 against 20 fps), and the smallest is in Grand Theft Auto V Legacy (28 against 20 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce GT 730 is rated at 38 W and the Radeon HD 4850 at 110 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 450 W for the second. A gap of 72 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce GT 730 cost $69 and the Radeon HD 4850 $199. Per dollar, the GeForce GT 730 gave more performance (2.2 points per $100 against 0.8). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce GT 730 if you want the faster card, and it also has at least as much memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the Radeon HD 4850 if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.