GeForce 8600M GS vs Mobility Radeon HD 4200
GeForce 8600M GS
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Mobility Radeon HD 4200
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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 8600M GS is positioned at rank 702 and the Mobility Radeon HD 4200 is on rank 654, so the Mobility Radeon HD 4200 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 8600M GS
Performance Per Dollar Mobility Radeon HD 4200
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Mobility Radeon HD 4200 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.2% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (512 MB vs 256 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce 8600M GS.
| Insight | GeForce 8600M GS | Mobility Radeon HD 4200 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / G9x (2007−2010)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / TeraScale (2005−2013)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce 8600M GS offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce 8600M GS holds the technical lead. Priced at $20 (vs $45), it costs 56% less, resulting in a 120.1% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce 8600M GS | Mobility Radeon HD 4200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+120.1%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($20) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($45) |
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 8600M GS and Mobility Radeon HD 4200
GeForce 8600M GS
The GeForce 8600M 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: 89 points.
Mobility Radeon HD 4200
The Mobility Radeon HD 4200 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 9 2009. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 550 MHz. It has 800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 91 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce 8600M GS scores 89 and the Mobility Radeon HD 4200 reaches 91 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 8600M GS is built on G9x while the Mobility Radeon HD 4200 uses TeraScale, both on 65 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 8600M GS) vs 800 (Mobility Radeon HD 4200).
| Feature | GeForce 8600M GS | Mobility Radeon HD 4200 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 89 | 91+2% |
| Architecture | G9x | TeraScale |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 55 nm |
| Shading Units | 224 | 800+257% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce 8600M GS | Mobility Radeon HD 4200 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 8600M GS comes with 256 MB of VRAM, while the Mobility Radeon HD 4200 has 512 MB. The Mobility Radeon HD 4200 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | GeForce 8600M GS | Mobility Radeon HD 4200 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.25 GB | 0.5 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce 8600M GS) vs 10.1 (Mobility Radeon HD 4200). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 0 vs 2.
| Feature | GeForce 8600M GS | Mobility Radeon HD 4200 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.1 (10_0)+10% | 10.1 |
| OpenGL | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| Max Displays | 0 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: None (GeForce 8600M GS) vs Avivo HD (Mobility Radeon HD 4200). Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP2) vs UVD 2. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce 8600M GS) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,DivX (Mobility Radeon HD 4200).
| Feature | GeForce 8600M GS | Mobility Radeon HD 4200 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | Avivo HD |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD (VP2) | UVD 2 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,DivX |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 8600M GS draws 150W versus the Mobility Radeon HD 4200's 30W — a 133.3% difference. The Mobility Radeon HD 4200 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 8600M GS) vs 350W (Mobility Radeon HD 4200). Power connectors: Legacy vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 80 vs 80°C.
| Feature | GeForce 8600M GS | Mobility Radeon HD 4200 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 150W | 30W-80% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 0mm | — |
| Height | 0mm | — |
| Slots | 0 | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | 80 | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 0.6 | 3.0+400% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce 8600M GS launched at $100 MSRP and currently averages $20, while the Mobility Radeon HD 4200 launched at $49 and now averages $45. The GeForce 8600M GS costs 55.6% less ($25 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 4.5 (GeForce 8600M GS) vs 2.0 (Mobility Radeon HD 4200) — the GeForce 8600M GS offers 125% better value. The Mobility Radeon HD 4200 is the newer GPU (2009 vs 2008).
| Feature | GeForce 8600M GS | Mobility Radeon HD 4200 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100 | $49-51% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-56% | $45 |
| Performance per Dollar | 4.5+125% | 2.0 |
| Codename | NB9E-GTX | M98 |
| Release | July 15 2008 | January 9 2009 |
| Ranking | #825 | #927 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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