GeForce 9800M GS vs GeForce GTS 250M

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 250M 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 250M: 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.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 2.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

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.
❌41.5% higher power demand at 150W vs 106W.

GeForce GTS 250M

2010

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (1 GB vs 512 MB).
✅Draws 106W instead of 150W, a 44W reduction.
✅More future proof: Fermi (2010−2014) on 40nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

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.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 2.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $200 MSRP).

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. PassMark G3D leans toward GeForce GTS 250M instead at 520 vs 517, 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 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 9800M GS makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce 9800M GS vs GeForce GTS 250M Technical Specifications

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

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.

GeForce GTS 250M

The GeForce GTS 250M 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: 520 points. Launch price was $129.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce 9800M GS scores 517 and the GeForce GTS 250M reaches 520 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 9800M GS is built on G9x while the GeForce GTS 250M uses Fermi, both on 65 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 9800M GS) vs 192 (GeForce GTS 250M).

Feature	GeForce 9800M GS	GeForce GTS 250M
G3D Mark Score	517	520
Architecture	G9x	Fermi
Process Node	65 nm	40 nm
Shading Units	224+17%	192

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce 9800M GS	GeForce GTS 250M
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce 9800M GS has 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTS 250M carries 1 GB. GeForce GTS 250M 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 250M.

Feature	GeForce 9800M GS	GeForce GTS 250M
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB	1 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	64-bit	128-bit+100%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce 9800M GS) vs 11.1 (10_1) (GeForce GTS 250M). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 2.1. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce 9800M GS	GeForce GTS 250M
DirectX	11.1 (10_0)	11.1 (10_1)
OpenGL	3.3+57%	2.1
Max Displays	2	2

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Media & Encoding

Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP3) vs PureVideo HD VP4. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce 9800M GS) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTS 250M).

Feature	GeForce 9800M GS	GeForce GTS 250M
Encoder	—	PureVideo HD VP4
Decoder	PureVideo HD (VP3)	PureVideo HD VP4
Codecs	H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce 9800M GS draws 150W versus the GeForce GTS 250M's 106W — a 34.4% difference. The GeForce GTS 250M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 9800M GS) vs 300W (GeForce GTS 250M). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce 9800M GS	GeForce GTS 250M
TDP	150W	106W-29%
Recommended PSU	350W	300W-14%
Power Connector	Legacy	Legacy
Slots	0	0
Temp (Load)	85°C	85°C
Perf/Watt	3.4	4.9+44%

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GTS 250M (2010 vs 2008).

Feature	GeForce 9800M GS	GeForce GTS 250M
MSRP	$200	—
Codename	NB9E-GTX	GF106
Release	July 15 2008	September 13 2010
Ranking	#825	#791

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