GeForce 9800M GS vs GeForce GTS 240

NVIDIA

GeForce 9800M GS

2008Core: 500 MHz
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VS
NVIDIA

GeForce GTS 240

2010Core: 783 MHz
Similar parts
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GeForce 9800M GS vs GeForce GTS 240 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 9800M GS vs GeForce GTS 240 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 9800M GS vs GeForce GTS 240: 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 9800M GS

2008

Why buy it

  • 43.3% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 1 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2008 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 150% HIGHER MSRP
    $200 MSRPvs$80 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.6 vs 6.4 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
  • 41.5% higher power demand at 150W vs 106W.

GeForce GTS 240

2010

Why buy it

  • Costs $120 less on MSRP ($80 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
  • Delivers 149% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 6.4 vs 2.6 G3D/$ ($80 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (1 GB vs 512 MB).
  • Draws 106W instead of 150W, a 44W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce 9800M GS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • 2010 hardware with 1 GB 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 9800M GS is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 43.3% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 0.4% in PassMark G3D (517 vs 515), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce 9800M GS 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?
GeForce GTS 240 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $120 cheaper on MSRP at $80 vs $200, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 149% (6.4 vs 2.6), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce GTS 240 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce 9800M GS has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce 9800M GS vs GeForce GTS 240 Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce 9800M GS

The GeForce 9800M 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: 517 points.

NVIDIA

GeForce GTS 240

The GeForce GTS 240 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 13 2010. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 783 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 106W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 515 points. Launch price was $129.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce 9800M GS scores 517 and the GeForce GTS 240 reaches 515 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 9800M GS is built on G9x while the GeForce GTS 240 uses Fermi, both on 65 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 9800M GS) vs 192 (GeForce GTS 240).

FeatureGeForce 9800M GSGeForce GTS 240
G3D Mark Score
517
515
Architecture
G9x
Fermi
Process Node
65 nm
40 nm
Shading Units
224+17%
192

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureGeForce 9800M GSGeForce GTS 240
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce 9800M GS has 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTS 240 carries 1 GB. GeForce GTS 240 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 9800M GS and 128-bit on the GeForce GTS 240.

FeatureGeForce 9800M GSGeForce GTS 240
VRAM Capacity
0.5 GB
1 GB+100%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
Unknown
Unknown
Bus Width
64-bit
128-bit+100%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce 9800M GS) vs 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce GTS 240). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 3.2. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.

FeatureGeForce 9800M GSGeForce GTS 240
DirectX
11.1 (10_0)
11.1 (10_0)
OpenGL
3.3+3%
3.2
Max Displays
2
2
🎬

Media & Encoding

Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP3) vs PureVideo HD VP2. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce 9800M GS) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTS 240).

FeatureGeForce 9800M GSGeForce GTS 240
Encoder
PureVideo HD VP2
Decoder
PureVideo HD (VP3)
PureVideo HD VP2
Codecs
H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1
H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce 9800M GS draws 150W versus the GeForce GTS 240's 106W — a 34.4% difference. The GeForce GTS 240 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 9800M GS) vs 350W (GeForce GTS 240). Power connectors: Legacy vs 1x 6-pin. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 85°C.

FeatureGeForce 9800M GSGeForce GTS 240
TDP
150W
106W-29%
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
1x 6-pin
Length
229mm
Height
111mm
Slots
0-100%
1
Temp (Load)
85°C
85°C
Perf/Watt
3.4
4.9+44%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce 9800M GS came in at $200, while the GeForce GTS 240 launched at $80. On MSRP, GeForce GTS 240 was 60% cheaper ($120 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 2.6 (GeForce 9800M GS) vs 6.4 (GeForce GTS 240) — the GeForce GTS 240 offers 146.2% better value. The newer card here is GeForce GTS 240 (2010 vs 2008).

FeatureGeForce 9800M GSGeForce GTS 240
MSRP
$200
$80-60%
Performance per Dollar
2.6
6.4+146%
Codename
NB9E-GTX
GF106
Release
July 15 2008
September 13 2010
Ranking
#825
#791

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