The half-height PCB also allows the option of a low profile bracket for use in small, low profile HTPC-style cases. This is usually an indicator of subpar 3D performance, but given the advances in GPU technology over the years, such cards have the potential of matching middle to high-end models from 3~4 years ago. The HD 65 pack significantly more horse power than entry level cards like the HD 5450/6450, but they are built on similarly small circuit boards. These are graphics cards for people who may not play games often enough to justify the cost of a “serious graphics card” or for users willing to sacrifice resolution and eye candy for the reduced cost.

Sub-US$100 cards like the 65 have their place, but won’t be accorded as much fanfare, being in that odd space between the discrete cards used for video playback and little else, and the more powerful models that can actually deliver a smooth high definition gaming experience with the latest PC titles. These new cards offered better performance per dollar than predecessors, with improved video decoding capabilities and support for stereoscopic 3D playback, along with substantial energy savings. As with the previous HD 5000 generation, AMD introduced the mid-range and high-end cards first to garner interest, and it worked, with the HD 6850, 6870, 6950, and 6970 racking up accolades left and right. The recent release of the Radeon HD 6450, 65 graphics cards brings the much lauded AMD’s HD 6000 series to the entry and budget segments.

Amd radeon hd 6670