GeForce 8600M GT vs Radeon HD 7310M

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 GT vs Radeon HD 7310M 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 GT vs Radeon HD 7310M: 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 GT

2008

Why buy it

✅15.9% more average FPS across 46 tracked games in our benchmark data.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 256 MB vs 512 MB 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.
❌219.1% higher power demand at 150W vs 47W.

Radeon HD 7310M

2013

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs 256 MB).
✅Draws 47W instead of 150W, a 103W reduction.
✅More future proof: GCN 1.0 (2012−2020) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce 8600M GT across 46 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2013 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce 8600M GT is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 15.9% in average FPS across 46 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward Radeon HD 7310M instead at 166 vs 164, 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?

GeForce 8600M GT is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond because it comes out ahead on the available hardware-headroom signals for this matchup.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon HD 7310M 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, Radeon HD 7310M is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce 8600M GT has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce 8600M GT vs Radeon HD 7310M Technical Specifications

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

GeForce 8600M GT

The GeForce 8600M 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: 164 points.

Radeon HD 7310M

The Radeon HD 7310M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 1 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 47W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 166 points. Launch price was $59.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce 8600M GT scores 164 and the Radeon HD 7310M reaches 166 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 8600M GT is built on G9x while the Radeon HD 7310M uses GCN 1.0, both on 65 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 8600M GT) vs 384 (Radeon HD 7310M).

Feature	GeForce 8600M GT	Radeon HD 7310M
G3D Mark Score	164	166+1%
Architecture	G9x	GCN 1.0
Process Node	65 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	224	384+71%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce 8600M GT gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon HD 7310M leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce 8600M GT	Radeon HD 7310M
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 8600M GT has 256 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7310M carries 512 MB. Radeon HD 7310M gives you 100% 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 8600M GT and System on the Radeon HD 7310M.

Feature	GeForce 8600M GT	Radeon HD 7310M
VRAM Capacity	0.25 GB	0.5 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	System
Bus Width	64-bit	System

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce 8600M GT draws 150W versus the Radeon HD 7310M's 47W — a 104.6% difference. The Radeon HD 7310M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 8600M GT) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7310M). Power connectors: Legacy vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	GeForce 8600M GT	Radeon HD 7310M
TDP	150W	47W-69%
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	Legacy	1x 6-pin
Slots	0	—
Temp (Load)	85°C	—
Perf/Watt	1.1	3.5+218%

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is Radeon HD 7310M (2013 vs 2008).

Feature	GeForce 8600M GT	Radeon HD 7310M
MSRP	$0	—
Codename	NB9E-GTX	Cape Verde
Release	July 15 2008	May 1 2013
Ranking	#825	#841

Search GeForce 8600M GT on Amazon

Search Radeon HD 7310M on Amazon

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.