GeForce 8600M GS vs RADEON X800 GT

NVIDIA

GeForce 8600M GS

2008Core: 500 MHz
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

RADEON X800 GT

2020Core: 1825 MHzBoost: 2250 MHz
Similar parts
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GeForce 8600M GS vs RADEON X800 GT 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 8600M GS vs RADEON X800 GT 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 8600M GS vs RADEON X800 GT: 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 8600M GS

2008

Why buy it

  • Costs $149 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
  • Delivers 163.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.9 vs 0.3 G3D/$ ($100 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
  • Draws 150W instead of 300W, a 150W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • 2008 hardware with 256 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

RADEON X800 GT

2020

Why buy it

  • GeForce 8600M GS is already obsolete for modern gaming, so RADEON X800 GT is the less risky modern option long term.
  • More future proof: RDNA 2.0 (2020−2025) on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Older hardware, 256 MB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.
  • 149% HIGHER MSRP
    $249 MSRPvs$100 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.3 vs 0.9 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • 100% higher power demand at 300W vs 150W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce 8600M GS is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 6% in PassMark G3D (89 vs 84), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
RADEON X800 GT is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 7nm process instead of 65nm, 72 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2020 generation instead of 2008. That gives it the more rounded hardware package for newer games.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce 8600M GS makes the most sense to buy today. It is $149 cheaper on MSRP at $100 vs $249, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 163.8% (0.9 vs 0.3), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce 8600M GS is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, RADEON X800 GT has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce 8600M GS vs RADEON X800 GT Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

AMD

RADEON X800 GT

The RADEON X800 GT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 28 2020. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1825 MHz to 2250 MHz. It has 4608 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. It features 72 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 84 points. Launch price was $649.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce 8600M GS scores 89 versus the RADEON X800 GT's 84 — the GeForce 8600M GS leads by 6%. The GeForce 8600M GS is built on G9x while the RADEON X800 GT uses RDNA 2.0, both on 65 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 8600M GS) vs 4,608 (RADEON X800 GT).

FeatureGeForce 8600M GSRADEON X800 GT
G3D Mark Score
89+6%
84
Architecture
G9x
RDNA 2.0
Process Node
65 nm
7 nm
Shading Units
224
4608+1957%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce 8600M GS gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The RADEON X800 GT leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce 8600M GSRADEON X800 GT
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)

Both cards ship with 256 MB of GDDR5. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the GeForce 8600M GS and 64-bit on the RADEON X800 GT.

FeatureGeForce 8600M GSRADEON X800 GT
VRAM Capacity
0.25 GB
0.25 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
64-bit
64-bit
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce 8600M GS draws 150W versus the RADEON X800 GT's 300W — a 66.7% difference. The GeForce 8600M GS is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 8600M GS) vs 350W (RADEON X800 GT). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy.

FeatureGeForce 8600M GSRADEON X800 GT
TDP
150W-50%
300W
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
Legacy
Length
0mm
Height
0mm
Slots
0
Temp (Load)
80
Perf/Watt
0.6+100%
0.3
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce 8600M GS came in at $100, while the RADEON X800 GT launched at $249. On MSRP, GeForce 8600M GS was 59.8% cheaper ($149 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.9 (GeForce 8600M GS) vs 0.3 (RADEON X800 GT) — the GeForce 8600M GS offers 200% better value. The newer card here is RADEON X800 GT (2020 vs 2008).

FeatureGeForce 8600M GSRADEON X800 GT
MSRP
$100-60%
$249
Performance per Dollar
0.9+200%
0.3
Codename
NB9E-GTX
Navi 21
Release
July 15 2008
October 28 2020
Ranking
#825
#42

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