GeForce 7900 GS vs Radeon HD 8280E
GeForce 7900 GS
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 8280E
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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 GeForce 7900 GS is positioned at rank 692 and the Radeon HD 8280E is on rank 662, so the Radeon HD 8280E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 7900 GS
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 8280E
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce 7900 GS is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.3% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon HD 8280E offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8280E |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.3%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / G9x (2007−2010)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce 7900 GS offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce 7900 GS holds the technical lead. Priced at $50 (vs $110), it costs 55% less, resulting in a 125.2% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8280E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+125.2%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($50) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($110) |
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 GeForce 7900 GS and Radeon HD 8280E
GeForce 7900 GS
The GeForce 7900 GS 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: 262 points.
Radeon HD 8280E
The Radeon HD 8280E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 1 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 725 MHz to 775 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 256 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce 7900 GS scores 262 and the Radeon HD 8280E reaches 256 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 7900 GS is built on G9x while the Radeon HD 8280E uses GCN 1.0, both on 65 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 7900 GS) vs 640 (Radeon HD 8280E).
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8280E |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 262+2% | 256 |
| Architecture | G9x | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 224 | 640+186% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8280E |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce 7900 GS comes with 256 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8280E has 512 MB. The Radeon HD 8280E offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8280E |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.25 GB | 0.5 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 9.0c (GeForce 7900 GS) vs 11_1 (Radeon HD 8280E). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8280E |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 9.0c | 11_1+22% |
| Max Displays | 2 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: None (GeForce 7900 GS) vs VCE 2.0 (Radeon HD 8280E). Decoder: PureVideo vs UVD 4.2.
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8280E |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | VCE 2.0 |
| Decoder | PureVideo | UVD 4.2 |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,WMV9 | — |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 7900 GS draws 150W versus the Radeon HD 8280E's 50W — a 100% difference. The Radeon HD 8280E is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 7900 GS) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8280E). Power connectors: Legacy vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 198mm vs 1mm, occupying 1 vs 0 slots.
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8280E |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 150W | 50W-67% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 198mm | 1mm |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 80 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 1.7 | 5.1+200% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce 7900 GS launched at $259 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the Radeon HD 8280E launched at $150 and now averages $110. The GeForce 7900 GS costs 54.5% less ($60 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 5.2 (GeForce 7900 GS) vs 2.3 (Radeon HD 8280E) — the GeForce 7900 GS offers 126.1% better value. The Radeon HD 8280E is the newer GPU (2013 vs 2008).
| Feature | GeForce 7900 GS | Radeon HD 8280E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $259 | $150-42% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-55% | $110 |
| Performance per Dollar | 5.2+126% | 2.3 |
| Codename | NB9E-GTX | Venus |
| Release | July 15 2008 | April 1 2013 |
| Ranking | #825 | #745 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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