GeForce FX 5100 vs GeForce FX 5600 Ultra

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 FX 5100 vs GeForce FX 5600 Ultra 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 FX 5100 vs GeForce FX 5600 Ultra: 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 FX 5100

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $99 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Better long-term bet: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 190mm, a 30mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (8 vs 17).
❌259.4% higher power demand at 575W vs 160W.

GeForce FX 5600 Ultra

2011

Why buy it

✅+112.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Draws 160W instead of 575W, a 415W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 128 MB vs 512 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2011 hardware with 128 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌18.8% longer card at 190mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce FX 5600 Ultra is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 112.5% in PassMark G3D (17 vs 8), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

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

GeForce FX 5100 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 512 MB vs 128 MB of VRAM, a 5nm process instead of 40nm, 170 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2025 generation instead of 2011. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce FX 5600 Ultra makes the most sense to buy today. It is $99 more expensive on MSRP at $199 vs $100, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 6.8% (0.1 vs 0.1), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce FX 5600 Ultra is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce FX 5100 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce FX 5100 vs GeForce FX 5600 Ultra Technical Specifications

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

GeForce FX 5100

The GeForce FX 5100 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 30 2025. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock ranges from 2017 MHz to 2407 MHz. It has 21760 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 575W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 170 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8 points. Launch price was $1,999.

GeForce FX 5600 Ultra

The GeForce FX 5600 Ultra is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 25 2011. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock speed is 823 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17 points. Launch price was $249.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce FX 5100 scores 8 versus the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra's 17 — the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra leads by 112.5%. The GeForce FX 5100 is built on Rankine while the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra uses Rankine, both on 5 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 21,760 (GeForce FX 5100) vs 384 (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra). Raw compute: 104.8 TFLOPS (GeForce FX 5100) vs 1.263 TFLOPS (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra).

Feature	GeForce FX 5100	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra
G3D Mark Score	8	17+113%
Architecture	Rankine	Rankine
Process Node	5 nm	40 nm
Shading Units	21760+5567%	384
Compute (TFLOPS)	104.8 TFLOPS+8198%	1.263 TFLOPS
ROPs	176+450%	32
TMUs	680+963%	64
L1 Cache	21.3 MB+4160%	0.5 MB
L2 Cache	96 MB+19100%	0.5 MB

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce FX 5100	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra
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 FX 5100 has 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra carries 128 MB. GeForce FX 5100 gives you 300% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce FX 5100 and 128-bit on the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra. L2 Cache: 96 MB (GeForce FX 5100) vs 0.5 MB (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra) — the GeForce FX 5100 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce FX 5100	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB+300%	0.125 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	96 MB+19100%	0.5 MB

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 9.0a (GeForce FX 5100) vs 9.0a (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce FX 5100	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra
DirectX	9.0a	9.0a
Max Displays	2	2

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5100 draws 575W versus the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra's 160W — a 112.9% difference. The GeForce FX 5600 Ultra is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5100) vs 350W (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy. Card length: 160mm vs 190mm, occupying 1 vs 1 slots.

Feature	GeForce FX 5100	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra
TDP	575W	160W-72%
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	Legacy	Legacy
Length	160mm	190mm
Height	100mm	—
Slots	1	1
Temp (Load)	65	—
Perf/Watt	0.0	0.1

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Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5100 came in at $100, while the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra launched at $199. On MSRP, GeForce FX 5100 was 49.7% cheaper ($99 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.1 (GeForce FX 5100) vs 0.1 (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra) — the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra offers 0% better value. The newer card here is GeForce FX 5100 (2025 vs 2011).

Feature	GeForce FX 5100	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra
MSRP	$100-50%	$199
Performance per Dollar	0.1	0.1
Codename	GB202	GF114
Release	January 30 2025	January 25 2011
Ranking	#3	#580

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