GeForce 6800 GT vs Quadro NVS 420

NVIDIA

GeForce 6800 GT

2008Core: 500 MHz
VS
NVIDIA

Quadro NVS 420

2018Core: 1227 MHzBoost: 1647 MHz

GeForce 6800 GT vs Quadro NVS 420 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 6800 GT vs Quadro NVS 420 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 6800 GT vs Quadro NVS 420: 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 6800 GT

2008

Why buy it

  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than Quadro NVS 420 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 256 MB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2008 hardware with 256 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 50% higher power demand at 150W vs 100W.
  • 35% longer card at 216mm vs 160mm.

Quadro NVS 420

2018

Why buy it

  • 0.7% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • 1500% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 256 MB).
  • GeForce 6800 GT is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Quadro NVS 420 is the less risky modern option long term.
  • Draws 100W instead of 150W, a 50W reduction.
  • Measures 160mm instead of 216mm, a 56mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

  • 2018 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 0.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Quadro NVS 420 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 0.7% in average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward GeForce 6800 GT instead at 142 vs 137, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Quadro NVS 420 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs 256 MB of VRAM, a 16nm process instead of 65nm, and a newer 2018 generation instead of 2008. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce 6800 GT makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce 6800 GT is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Quadro NVS 420 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce 6800 GT vs Quadro NVS 420 Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce 6800 GT

The GeForce 6800 GT is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 15 2008. It features the G9x architecture. The core clock speed is 500 MHz. It has 224 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 142 points.

NVIDIA

Quadro NVS 420

The Quadro NVS 420 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 21 2018. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1227 MHz to 1647 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 137 points.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce 6800 GT scores 142 and the Quadro NVS 420 reaches 137 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 6800 GT is built on G9x while the Quadro NVS 420 uses Pascal, both on 65 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 6800 GT) vs 2,304 (Quadro NVS 420).

FeatureGeForce 6800 GTQuadro NVS 420
G3D Mark Score
142+4%
137
Architecture
G9x
Pascal
Process Node
65 nm
16 nm
Shading Units
224
2304+929%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce 6800 GT gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Quadro NVS 420 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce 6800 GTQuadro NVS 420
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
Standard
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce 6800 GT has 256 MB of VRAM, while the Quadro NVS 420 carries 4 GB. Quadro NVS 420 gives you 1500% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the GeForce 6800 GT and 64-bit on the Quadro NVS 420.

FeatureGeForce 6800 GTQuadro NVS 420
VRAM Capacity
0.25 GB
4 GB+1500%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
64-bit
64-bit
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 9.0c (GeForce 6800 GT) vs 10_0 (Quadro NVS 420). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce 6800 GTQuadro NVS 420
DirectX
9.0c
10_0+11%
Max Displays
2
4+100%
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: No (GeForce 6800 GT) vs PureVideo HD (Quadro NVS 420). Decoder: PureVideo vs PureVideo HD.

FeatureGeForce 6800 GTQuadro NVS 420
Encoder
No
PureVideo HD
Decoder
PureVideo
PureVideo HD
Codecs
MPEG-2
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce 6800 GT draws 150W versus the Quadro NVS 420's 100W — a 40% difference. The Quadro NVS 420 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 6800 GT) vs 350W (Quadro NVS 420). Power connectors: Legacy vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 216mm vs 160mm, occupying 1 vs 1 slots.

FeatureGeForce 6800 GTQuadro NVS 420
TDP
150W
100W-33%
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
PCIe-powered
Length
216mm
160mm
Height
111mm
Slots
1
1
Temp (Load)
85°C
Perf/Watt
0.9
1.4+56%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce 6800 GT came in at $399, while the Quadro NVS 420 launched at $0. On MSRP, Quadro NVS 420 was 100+% cheaper ($399 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.4 (GeForce 6800 GT) vs Infinity (Quadro NVS 420) — the Quadro NVS 420 offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is Quadro NVS 420 (2018 vs 2008).

FeatureGeForce 6800 GTQuadro NVS 420
MSRP
$399
$0-100%
Performance per Dollar
0.4
Infinity
Codename
NB9E-GTX
GP104
Release
July 15 2008
February 21 2018
Ranking
#825
#266

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.