GeForce 9650M GS vs Radeon R5 235X
GeForce 9650M GS
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Radeon R5 235X
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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 9650M GS is positioned at rank 680 and the Radeon R5 235X is on rank 209, so the Radeon R5 235X offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 9650M GS
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R5 235X
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R5 235X is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.6% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (1 GB vs 512 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce 9650M GS.
| Insight | GeForce 9650M GS | Radeon R5 235X |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.6%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R5 235X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R5 235X holds the technical lead. Priced at $15 (vs $20), it costs 25% less, resulting in a 36.8% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce 9650M GS | Radeon R5 235X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+36.8%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($20) | ✅More affordable ($15) |
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 9650M GS and Radeon R5 235X
GeForce 9650M GS
The GeForce 9650M GS is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 22 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 790 MHz to 835 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 270 points.
Radeon R5 235X
The Radeon R5 235X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in February 13 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 80W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 277 points. Launch price was $99.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce 9650M GS scores 270 and the Radeon R5 235X reaches 277 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 9650M GS is built on Kepler while the Radeon R5 235X uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 768 (GeForce 9650M GS) vs 640 (Radeon R5 235X). Boost clocks: 835 MHz vs 1000 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce 9650M GS | Radeon R5 235X |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 270 | 277+3% |
| Architecture | Kepler | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 768+20% | 640 |
| Boost Clock | 835 MHz | 1000 MHz+20% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce 9650M GS | Radeon R5 235X |
|---|---|---|
| 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 9650M GS comes with 512 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon R5 235X has 1 GB. The Radeon R5 235X offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | GeForce 9650M GS | Radeon R5 235X |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB | 1 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce 9650M GS) vs 11.2 (Radeon R5 235X). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.
| Feature | GeForce 9650M GS | Radeon R5 235X |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.1 (10_0) | 11.2 |
| Max Displays | 2 | 2 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: No NVENC (G84) (GeForce 9650M GS) vs VCE 1.0 (Radeon R5 235X). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP2 vs UVD 3.1.
| Feature | GeForce 9650M GS | Radeon R5 235X |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | No NVENC (G84) | VCE 1.0 |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP2 | UVD 3.1 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,WMV9 | — |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 9650M GS draws 30W versus the Radeon R5 235X's 80W — a 90.9% difference. The GeForce 9650M GS is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 9650M GS) vs 350W (Radeon R5 235X). Power connectors: Legacy vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | GeForce 9650M GS | Radeon R5 235X |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 30W-63% | 80W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | PCIe-powered |
| Length | — | 168mm |
| Slots | 0-100% | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | 85°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 9.0+157% | 3.5 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce 9650M GS launched at $199 MSRP and currently averages $20, while the Radeon R5 235X launched at $49 and now averages $15. The Radeon R5 235X costs 25% less ($5 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 13.5 (GeForce 9650M GS) vs 18.5 (Radeon R5 235X) — the Radeon R5 235X offers 37% better value. The Radeon R5 235X is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2012).
| Feature | GeForce 9650M GS | Radeon R5 235X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199 | $49-75% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $15-25% |
| Performance per Dollar | 13.5 | 18.5+37% |
| Codename | N13E-GE | Cape Verde |
| Release | March 22 2012 | February 13 2014 |
| Ranking | #690 | #655 |
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