In late January, ATI unveiled several new entry level GPU's manufactured using the 55nm process that was first employed with the more powerful RV670 GPU. Not only did the new process help ATI deliver more competitive graphics cards at attractive price points, it also improved on such things as power consumption, which is of growing interest to energy conscious users. For these newer entry level cards, the RV635 and RV620 GPU's were crafted with many of the same features as the RV670, yet condensed into a smaller, more affordable product line. The Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 aims to win the attention of those looking for an affordable graphics card, that doesn't skimp on features. - HotHardware

Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 512MB Video Card Review

The Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 512MB's accessory bundle included a host of components that help the end-user get the most out of their new purchase. There was a complete installation manual as well as a drivers CD to help with basic installation and setup. The card itself is rather straight forward, sporting a RV635 GPU and 512MB of GDDR3 memory. The card has the standard dual DVI output configuration with TV-out nestled between the two. The card is PCI Express 2.0 compliant while also offering DirectX 10.1 and Shader Model 4.1 support as well. Another plus is ATI's Unified Video Decoder which supports full Blu-Ray.

The GPU is clocked at a default speed of 800MHz, which is 75MHz higher than the reference model we checked at launch while the GDDR3 memory runs at 1800MHz providing 28.8GB/s of bandwidth. Overdrive is not currently supported in drivers with this model, so overclocking is out of the question without third party tools. Sapphire backs the card with a standard cooling package that was extremely quiet in normal operation, but also during load. Considering its low price, the Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 competed well in the benchmarks and different game titles. The gaming performance was about right for the money.

For those looking for a good entry level video card for casual gaming that offers excellent video output options, the Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 512MB graphics card is a good option. With support for HMDI, HDTV and Blu-Ray, the card is a great candidate for those looking to build a multimedia PC. The card is a low power solution that is virtually silent under normal operation and is relatively quiet under heavy load. It's size will also be attractive with its short PCB. Built with a 55nm process, the RV635 is a low power solution that proved to reduce power consumption nicely during periods of load, which is an excellent feature.

The biggest consideration is price versus performance. The Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 512MB weighs in at an extremely reasonable price of $80 while the Radeon HD 2600 XT will set you back $140. The next best offering is the GeForce 8600 GTS which retails for $95. This is a very well rounded product that comes in with a low price tag yet can compete well in terms of features with other mid-range offerings. If you are looking for an economical graphics solution for casual gaming that offers support for all current high definition video technologies, the Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 is tough to ignore and might just be what you wanted.

It's the perfect candidate for a home theatre PC where low power and low noise is strongly desired. For light gamers, one card will do the trick, but at the price, you could get two and easily top the performance of a Radeon HD 2600 XT for a mere $20 more. No matter how you look at it, the Sapphire Radeon HD 3650 is an attractive option if you are shopping for a decent entry level graphics card.