FirePro V3900 vs GeForce GTX 280M SLI
FirePro V3900
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GeForce GTX 280M SLI
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The FirePro V3900 is positioned at rank 206 and the GeForce GTX 280M SLI is on rank 440, so the FirePro V3900 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FirePro V3900
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 280M SLI
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The FirePro V3900 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.6% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (1 GB vs 512 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 280M SLI.
| Insight | FirePro V3900 | GeForce GTX 280M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.6%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 3 (2010−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / G9x (2007−2010)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the FirePro V3900 remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of FirePro V3900 and GeForce GTX 280M SLI
FirePro V3900
The FirePro V3900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 24 2011. It features the TeraScale 3 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 631 points.
GeForce GTX 280M SLI
The GeForce GTX 280M SLI is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 2 2009. It features the G9x architecture. The core clock speed is 585 MHz. It has 256 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 621 points.
Graphics Performance
The FirePro V3900 scores 631 and the GeForce GTX 280M SLI reaches 621 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FirePro V3900 is built on TeraScale 3 while the GeForce GTX 280M SLI uses G9x, both on 40 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (FirePro V3900) vs 256 (GeForce GTX 280M SLI).
| Feature | FirePro V3900 | GeForce GTX 280M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 631+2% | 621 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 3 | G9x |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 55 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280+400% | 256 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | FirePro V3900 | GeForce GTX 280M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The FirePro V3900 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 280M SLI has 512 MB. The FirePro V3900 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | FirePro V3900 | GeForce GTX 280M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB+100% | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.0 (FirePro V3900) vs 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce GTX 280M SLI). OpenGL: 4.4 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.
| Feature | FirePro V3900 | GeForce GTX 280M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.0 | 11.1 (10_0) |
| OpenGL | 4.4+33% | 3.3 |
| Max Displays | 2 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: None (FirePro V3900) vs PureVideo HD VP2 (GeForce GTX 280M SLI). Decoder: UVD 3.0 vs PureVideo HD VP2. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC (FirePro V3900) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 280M SLI).
| Feature | FirePro V3900 | GeForce GTX 280M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | PureVideo HD VP2 |
| Decoder | UVD 3.0 | PureVideo HD VP2 |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,VC-1,H.264,MPEG-4,MVC | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The FirePro V3900 draws 150W versus the GeForce GTX 280M SLI's 150W — a 0% difference. The GeForce GTX 280M SLI is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FirePro V3900) vs 350W (GeForce GTX 280M SLI). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 80 vs 95°C.
| Feature | FirePro V3900 | GeForce GTX 280M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 150W | 150W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 168mm | — |
| Height | 69mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 80-16% | 95°C |
| Perf/Watt | 4.2+2% | 4.1 |
Value Analysis
The FirePro V3900 is the newer GPU (2011 vs 2009).
| Feature | FirePro V3900 | GeForce GTX 280M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $119 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | — |
| Codename | Cayman | N10E-GTX |
| Release | May 24 2011 | March 2 2009 |
| Ranking | #656 | #793 |
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