GeForce 9600M GS vs MOBILITY RADEON X1800

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 9600M GS vs MOBILITY RADEON X1800 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 9600M GS vs MOBILITY RADEON X1800: 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 9600M GS

2008

Why buy it

✅Costs $329 less on MSRP ($70 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Delivers 474.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 1.9 vs 0.3 G3D/$ ($70 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (1 GB vs 256 MB).

Trade-offs

❌2008 hardware with 1 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌200% higher power demand at 150W vs 50W.

MOBILITY RADEON X1800

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 50W instead of 150W, a 100W reduction.
✅More future proof: TeraScale 2 (2009−2015) on 40nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 256 MB vs 1 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2010 hardware with 256 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
470% HIGHER MSRP
$399 MSRPvs$70 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.3 vs 1.9 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $70 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce 9600M GS is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 0.8% in PassMark G3D (131 vs 130), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce 9600M GS is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 1 GB vs 256 MB of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce 9600M GS makes the most sense to buy today. It is $329 cheaper on MSRP at $70 vs $399, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 474.4% (1.9 vs 0.3), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce 9600M GS vs MOBILITY RADEON X1800 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce 9600M GS

The GeForce 9600M 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: 131 points.

MOBILITY RADEON X1800

The MOBILITY RADEON X1800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 7 2010. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 700 MHz. It has 800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 130 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce 9600M GS scores 131 and the MOBILITY RADEON X1800 reaches 130 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 9600M GS is built on G9x while the MOBILITY RADEON X1800 uses TeraScale 2, both on 65 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 9600M GS) vs 800 (MOBILITY RADEON X1800).

Feature	GeForce 9600M GS	MOBILITY RADEON X1800
G3D Mark Score	131	130
Architecture	G9x	TeraScale 2
Process Node	65 nm	40 nm
Shading Units	224	800+257%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce 9600M GS gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The MOBILITY RADEON X1800 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce 9600M GS	MOBILITY RADEON X1800
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 9600M GS has 1 GB of VRAM, while the MOBILITY RADEON X1800 carries 256 MB. GeForce 9600M GS gives you 300% 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 9600M GS and 128-bit on the MOBILITY RADEON X1800.

Feature	GeForce 9600M GS	MOBILITY RADEON X1800
VRAM Capacity	1 GB+300%	0.25 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	64-bit	128-bit+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 10.0 (GeForce 9600M GS) vs 9.0c (MOBILITY RADEON X1800). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 2.0. Maximum simultaneous displays: 1 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce 9600M GS	MOBILITY RADEON X1800
DirectX	10.0+11%	9.0c
OpenGL	3.3+65%	2.0
Max Displays	1	2+100%

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce 9600M GS draws 150W versus the MOBILITY RADEON X1800's 50W — a 100% difference. The MOBILITY RADEON X1800 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 9600M GS) vs 350W (MOBILITY RADEON X1800). Power connectors: Legacy vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce 9600M GS	MOBILITY RADEON X1800
TDP	150W	50W-67%
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	Legacy	PCIe-powered
Length	0mm	—
Height	0mm	—
Slots	0	—
Temp (Load)	85°C	85°C
Perf/Watt	0.9	2.6+189%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce 9600M GS came in at $70, while the MOBILITY RADEON X1800 launched at $399. On MSRP, GeForce 9600M GS was 82.5% cheaper ($329 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 1.9 (GeForce 9600M GS) vs 0.3 (MOBILITY RADEON X1800) — the GeForce 9600M GS offers 533.3% better value. The newer card here is MOBILITY RADEON X1800 (2010 vs 2008).

Feature	GeForce 9600M GS	MOBILITY RADEON X1800
MSRP	$70-82%	$399
Performance per Dollar	1.9+533%	0.3
Codename	NB9E-GTX	Broadway
Release	July 15 2008	January 7 2010
Ranking	#825	#846

Search GeForce 9600M GS on Amazon

Search MOBILITY RADEON X1800 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.