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The XFX R7-250A-ZLF4 was a compact, low-profile Radeon R7 250 with 1 GiB of GDDR5, no auxiliary power connector and enough performance to replace weak integrated graphics in 2014. It remains useful only for narrowly defined jobs—retro gaming, older OEM upgrades, VGA output or an exceptionally cheap replacement. AMD now lists the R7 250 as a legacy product, and its 1 GiB memory, dated features and final 2022 Windows driver make it a poor choice for a new gaming PC or modern AAA games.
XFX R7 250 Core Edition at a glance
This review covers the exact XFX model R7-250A-ZLF4, not every card sold under the R7 250 name. Hardware Secrets published its review on April 24, 2014 (shown as updated February 24, 2023), using a board that cost about $100 at Newegg at the time. That historical price is not a current used-market value.
| Specification | Reviewed XFX board |
|---|---|
| GPU | AMD Radeon R7 250 |
| Stream processors | 384 |
| Core clock | 1,050 MHz |
| Memory | 1 GiB GDDR5 |
| Memory bus | 128-bit |
| Effective memory clock | 4.6 GHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 73.6 GB/s |
| Interface | PCI Express 3.0 x8 electrical configuration, according to the review |
| Form factor | Low-profile, dual-slot; approximately 178 mm (7 inches) long |
| Outputs | VGA, HDMI and DVI-D |
| Active displays | Two simultaneously, according to the reviewed board |
| Power connector | None |
| Power context | About 65 W for the reviewed implementation; AMD listings for R7 250 boards can be around 75 W |
“Core Edition” is simply XFX product branding here. It does not indicate an enthusiast tier or a special factory-overclocked class; the tested clock was 1,050 MHz with 4.6 GHz effective memory.
The critical distinction: GDDR5 versus DDR3
AMD launched the R7 250 family in both 1 GB GDDR5 and 2 GB DDR3 forms (AMD’s launch announcement). Board partners also sold 4 GB DDR3 versions, different clocks, full-height boards and varied connector layouts. GDDR5 gives this reviewed card far more bandwidth than DDR3; a larger-capacity DDR3 listing is not automatically faster.
#1 Best Overall
- Graphics Engine: RADEON R7 250
- Video Memory: 1GB GDDR5
- Memory Interface: 128bit
- DirectX Support: 11.2
- Bus Standard: PCI Express 3.0
Before buying, verify the complete model number, memory type and capacity from the label, clear photographs, GPU-Z or the manufacturer’s specification sheet. Do not generalize this review’s results to an unspecified “XFX R7 250.”
Design, cooling and installation
The approximately 178 mm board fits many small-form-factor systems, but “low-profile” describes bracket height, not thickness. The cooler occupies two expansion slots. The reviewed package included low-profile brackets; a used card without the correct bracket may be unusable in an SFF case.
There is no six-pin or other PCIe power cable, which helps older OEM systems with modest power supplies. The physical outputs—VGA, HDMI and DVI-D—are useful for legacy monitors, but the board supports only two active displays despite having three connectors. DisplayPort is absent.
XFX used a simple 50 mm fan that does not directly contact the memory chips (board and cooler details). No temperature or decibel measurement from the review establishes how loud a particular sample is. On a used card, however, that small fan is an obvious inspection point: listen for grinding, confirm that it starts reliably and check for dust or wobble.
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How Hardware Secrets tested it in 2014
The original review used period drivers, games and benchmark tools. Game runs were generally repeated three times and reported as arithmetic-average frame rates. The results below are historical measurements, not current 2026 testing.
Historical benchmark results
| Test | Settings | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme | 1920×1080, high-quality textures | 66,900 |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate | 1280×720 | 11,179 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike | 1920×1080 | 2,014 |
| Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag | 1920×1080, High, FXAA, VSync off | 22 FPS |
| Battlefield 4 | 1920×1080, Medium | 45 FPS |
| Splinter Cell Blacklist | 1920×1080, High | 26 FPS |
Benchmark procedures and 3DMark results are documented in the original 3DMark section; the game results appear in the Assassin’s Creed IV, Battlefield 4 and Splinter Cell Blacklist sections.
Rank #3
- 6 HDMI MULTI-MONITOR GRAPHICS CARD: Features 6 native HDMI outputs and supports up to six monitors simultaneously, making it ideal for multi-screen office, trading, monitoring and digital signage setups.
- RADEON R7 350 WITH 2GB GDDR5: Powered by the Radeon R7 350 GPU with 2GB GDDR5 memory, providing reliable display performance for everyday productivity, multi-window applications and multi-monitor workstations.
- SUPPORTS UP TO 6 DISPLAYS: Connect up to six HDMI monitors directly without additional HDMI adapters. Supports up to 1920 × 1080 at 60Hz per display on compatible systems and monitors.
- PCIe x16 SLOT POWERED: Installs into a compatible PCI Express x16 slot and does not require an additional external power connector. Maximum graphics card power consumption is approximately 60W.
- BUILT FOR MULTI-SCREEN APPLICATIONS: A practical solution for office workstations, stock trading setups, monitoring systems, digital signage, presentation displays and other applications that require multiple independent screens.
What those frame rates meant
In 2014, the card was a sensible step up from very weak integrated graphics. Battlefield 4 at 45 FPS on Medium showed that a demanding game could be playable at 1080p with compromises, while 22 FPS in Assassin’s Creed IV and 26 FPS in Splinter Cell at their listed settings showed why reduced resolution or image quality was often necessary. Hardware Secrets found it ahead of the compared GeForce GT 640 in its test suite, but that comparison applies only to those specific cards and configurations.
The 1 GiB frame buffer was already restrictive for newer games then. Today it is a major constraint, and the old results cannot be treated as promises for current titles. Modern games may suffer from missing driver support, insufficient memory or unsupported features before frame rate is the only problem.
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AMD’s support page identifies the R7 250 as a legacy product with no further driver releases planned. The latest listed Windows 10 64-bit package is Adrenalin 22.6.1 Recommended (WHQL), released June 21, 2022 (AMD driver listing). A driver’s DirectX 12 API listing does not make this a practical modern DirectX 12 gaming card, and Windows 11 compatibility should not be assumed for every system.
Rank #4
- Dell ATI Radeon R7 250 Graphics Card (PCI-E, 2GB, Low Profile, Console Half Height Version for SFF (Small Form Factor PCS)
- DVI and DisplayPort
- Dell P/N: fdt1 K
- Card comes in anti-static packaging only
- Drivers can be downloaded from ATI website
On a used sample, test every output, run a short load test while watching for artifacts, and confirm that the fan remains running. A card can display a desktop while still having a failing fan or unstable memory.
Used-buying checklist
- Confirm the exact model, ideally R7-250A-ZLF4 for this review’s 1 GiB GDDR5 configuration.
- Verify GDDR5 memory rather than DDR3; use GPU-Z when possible.
- Check that the low-profile bracket is included if your case needs one.
- Confirm the board’s dual-slot clearance and approximately 178 mm length.
- Test VGA, HDMI and DVI-D outputs, cables and adapters.
- Listen for fan grinding, failure to start or intermittent stopping.
- Check for artifacting under load and verify the PCIe link is not unexpectedly restricted.
- Ensure the host BIOS can initialize a discrete GPU and that the power supply is healthy, even though no auxiliary cable is required.
- Reject listings that confuse this card with an R7 250E, a DDR3 model or an unrelated rebadge.
Who should consider it?
Reasonable use cases
- Replacing weak integrated graphics in an older low-profile OEM desktop.
- Retro games and older PC titles.
- Basic desktop acceleration or adding a legacy VGA-capable display output.
- A very inexpensive, tested spare card when compactness and low power matter most.
Reasons to pass
- Building a new gaming PC or targeting modern AAA games.
- Expecting high-refresh-rate gaming or current driver optimization.
- Paying a premium because a listing says “4 GB” without identifying DDR3 memory.
- Needing contemporary display standards, video features or dependable long-term software support.
- Buying a card with no bracket, no test evidence or a suspect fan.
Verdict
Historically, the XFX R7-250A-ZLF4 was a competent entry-level upgrade: compact, genuinely low power, free of auxiliary power requirements and faster than the weakest integrated graphics of its era. In 2026, its value is defined by compatibility rather than speed. Buy one only when the low-profile dual-slot format, VGA output, legacy workload or very low tested used price solves a specific problem—and verify that you are getting the 1 GiB GDDR5 model, not a slower DDR3 variant.
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