GeForce FX 5700LE vs GeForce FX 5900ZT

NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5700LE

2010Core: 732 MHz
Similar parts
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VS
NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5900ZT

2011Core: 607 MHz
Similar parts
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GeForce FX 5700LE vs GeForce FX 5900ZT 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 FX 5700LE vs GeForce FX 5900ZT 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 5700LE vs GeForce FX 5900ZT: 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 5700LE

2010

Why buy it

  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($100 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (256 MB vs 128 MB).
  • Draws 219W instead of 365W, a 146W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (25 vs 33).
  • 2010 hardware with 256 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

GeForce FX 5900ZT

2011

Why buy it

  • +32% higher PassMark G3D performance.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 128 MB vs 256 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.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 0.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • 66.7% higher power demand at 365W vs 219W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce FX 5900ZT is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 32% in PassMark G3D (33 vs 25), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce FX 5700LE is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 256 MB vs 128 MB of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce FX 5700LE makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. GeForce FX 5900ZT still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

GeForce FX 5700LE vs GeForce FX 5900ZT Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5700LE

The GeForce FX 5700LE is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 7 2010. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock speed is 732 MHz. It has 480 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 219W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 25 points. Launch price was $349.

NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5900ZT

The GeForce FX 5900ZT is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 24 2011. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock speed is 607 MHz. It has 1024 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 365W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 33 points. Launch price was $699.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce FX 5700LE scores 25 versus the GeForce FX 5900ZT's 33 — the GeForce FX 5900ZT leads by 32%. The GeForce FX 5700LE is built on Rankine while the GeForce FX 5900ZT uses Rankine, both on a 40 nm process. Shader units: 480 (GeForce FX 5700LE) vs 1,024 (GeForce FX 5900ZT). Raw compute: 1.405 TFLOPS (GeForce FX 5700LE) vs 1.244 TFLOPS ×2 (GeForce FX 5900ZT).

FeatureGeForce FX 5700LEGeForce FX 5900ZT
G3D Mark Score
25
33+32%
Architecture
Rankine
Rankine
Process Node
40 nm
40 nm
Shading Units
480
1024 ×2+113%
Compute (TFLOPS)
1.405 TFLOPS+13%
1.244 TFLOPS ×2
ROPs
40
48 ×2+20%
TMUs
60
64 ×2+7%
L1 Cache
0.94 MB
1 MB+6%
L2 Cache
640 KB
768 KB+20%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureGeForce FX 5700LEGeForce FX 5900ZT
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 FX 5700LE has 256 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce FX 5900ZT carries 128 MB. GeForce FX 5700LE gives you 100% 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 5700LE and 128-bit on the GeForce FX 5900ZT. L2 Cache: 640 KB (GeForce FX 5700LE) vs 768 KB (GeForce FX 5900ZT) — the GeForce FX 5900ZT has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce FX 5700LEGeForce FX 5900ZT
VRAM Capacity
0.25 GB+100%
0.125 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
Unknown
Unknown
Bus Width
128-bit
128-bit
L2 Cache
640 KB
768 KB+20%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 9.0a (GeForce FX 5700LE) vs 9.0a (GeForce FX 5900ZT). OpenGL: 1.5 vs 2.1. Maximum simultaneous displays: 1 vs 2.

FeatureGeForce FX 5700LEGeForce FX 5900ZT
DirectX
9.0a
9.0a
OpenGL
1.5
2.1+40%
Max Displays
1
2+100%
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5700LE draws 219W versus the GeForce FX 5900ZT's 365W — a 50% difference. The GeForce FX 5700LE is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5700LE) vs 350W (GeForce FX 5900ZT). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy.

FeatureGeForce FX 5700LEGeForce FX 5900ZT
TDP
219W-40%
365W
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
Legacy
Length
218mm
Height
111mm
Slots
1
1
Temp (Load)
70
Perf/Watt
0.1
0.1
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5700LE came in at $100, while the GeForce FX 5900ZT launched at $0. On MSRP, GeForce FX 5900ZT was 100+% cheaper ($100 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.3 (GeForce FX 5700LE) vs Infinity (GeForce FX 5900ZT) — the GeForce FX 5900ZT offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is GeForce FX 5900ZT (2011 vs 2010).

FeatureGeForce FX 5700LEGeForce FX 5900ZT
MSRP
$100
$0-100%
Performance per Dollar
0.3
Infinity
Codename
GF110
GF110
Release
December 7 2010
March 24 2011
Ranking
#497
#555

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