GeForce 256 vs RADEON 9200

NVIDIA

GeForce 256

2019Core: 937 MHzBoost: 1038 MHz
Similar parts
·······
VS
AMD

RADEON 9200

2019Core: 730 MHzBoost: 1024 MHz
Similar parts
·······

GeForce 256 vs RADEON 9200 Performance Spectrum

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.

GeForce 256 vs RADEON 9200 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce 256 vs RADEON 9200: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce 256

2019

Why buy it

  • +25% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs 256 MB).
  • Draws 10W instead of 50W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • 2019 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
  • 101% HIGHER MSRP
    $199 MSRPvs$99 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.0 vs 0.0 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

RADEON 9200

2019

Why buy it

  • Costs $100 less on MSRP ($99 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
  • Delivers 60.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.0 vs 0.0 G3D/$ ($99 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (4 vs 5).
  • Less VRAM, with 256 MB vs 512 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2019 hardware with 256 MB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
  • 400% higher power demand at 50W vs 10W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce 256 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 25% in PassMark G3D (5 vs 4), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce 256 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 512 MB vs 256 MB of VRAM and a 14nm process instead of 28nm. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
RADEON 9200 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $100 cheaper on MSRP at $99 vs $199, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 60.8% (0.0 vs 0.0), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, RADEON 9200 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce 256 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce 256 vs RADEON 9200 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

NVIDIA

GeForce 256

The GeForce 256 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 20 2019. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 937 MHz to 1038 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 10W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5 points.

AMD

RADEON 9200

The RADEON 9200 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 13 2019. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 730 MHz to 1024 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce 256 scores 5 versus the RADEON 9200's 4 — the GeForce 256 leads by 25%. The GeForce 256 is built on Pascal while the RADEON 9200 uses GCN 3.0, both on 14 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce 256) vs 384 (RADEON 9200). Raw compute: 0.7972 TFLOPS (GeForce 256) vs 0.7864 TFLOPS (RADEON 9200). Boost clocks: 1038 MHz vs 1024 MHz.

FeatureGeForce 256RADEON 9200
G3D Mark Score
5+25%
4
Architecture
Pascal
GCN 3.0
Process Node
14 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
384
384
Compute (TFLOPS)
0.7972 TFLOPS+1%
0.7864 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1038 MHz+1%
1024 MHz
ROPs
16+100%
8
TMUs
24
24
L1 Cache
144 KB+50%
96 KB
L2 Cache
512 KB+300%
128 KB

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce 256 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The RADEON 9200 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce 256RADEON 9200
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce 256 has 512 MB of VRAM, while the RADEON 9200 carries 256 MB. GeForce 256 gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce 256 and 64-bit on the RADEON 9200. L2 Cache: 512 KB (GeForce 256) vs 128 KB (RADEON 9200) — the GeForce 256 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce 256RADEON 9200
VRAM Capacity
0.5 GB+100%
0.25 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
128-bit+100%
64-bit
L2 Cache
512 KB+300%
128 KB
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce 256 draws 10W versus the RADEON 9200's 50W — a 133.3% difference. The GeForce 256 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 256) vs 350W (RADEON 9200). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy.

FeatureGeForce 256RADEON 9200
TDP
10W-80%
50W
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
Legacy
Length
165mm
Height
100mm
Slots
1
Temp (Load)
60°C
Perf/Watt
0.5+400%
0.1
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce 256 came in at $199, while the RADEON 9200 launched at $99. On MSRP, RADEON 9200 was 50.3% cheaper ($100 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.0 (GeForce 256) vs 0.0 (RADEON 9200) — the RADEON 9200 offers 0% better value.

FeatureGeForce 256RADEON 9200
MSRP
$199
$99-50%
Performance per Dollar
0.0
0.0
Codename
GP108B
Polaris 24
Release
February 20 2019
May 13 2019
Ranking
#643
#898

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.