GeForce FX 5900 vs RADEON 9500
GeForce FX 5900
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RADEON 9500
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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 FX 5900 is positioned at rank 377 and the RADEON 9500 is on rank 737, so the GeForce FX 5900 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce FX 5900
Performance Per Dollar RADEON 9500
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The RADEON 9500 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.9% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce FX 5900.
| Insight | GeForce FX 5900 | RADEON 9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.9%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.9%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / Fermi 2.0 (2010−2014)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce FX 5900 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce FX 5900 holds the technical lead. Priced at $20 (vs $30), it costs 33% less, resulting in a 45.8% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce FX 5900 | RADEON 9500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+45.8%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($20) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($30) |
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 FX 5900 and RADEON 9500
GeForce FX 5900
The GeForce FX 5900 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: 35 points. Launch price was $699.
RADEON 9500
The RADEON 9500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 29 2015. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 735 MHz to 1000 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 95W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 36 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce FX 5900 scores 35 and the RADEON 9500 reaches 36 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce FX 5900 is built on Rankine while the RADEON 9500 uses GCN 3.0, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce FX 5900) vs 2,048 (RADEON 9500). Raw compute: 1.244 TFLOPS ×2 (GeForce FX 5900) vs 4.096 TFLOPS (RADEON 9500).
| Feature | GeForce FX 5900 | RADEON 9500 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 35 | 36+3% |
| Architecture | Rankine | GCN 3.0 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1024 ×2 | 2048+100% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.244 TFLOPS ×2 | 4.096 TFLOPS+229% |
| ROPs | 48 ×2+50% | 32 |
| TMUs | 64 ×2 | 128+100% |
| L1 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 0.5 MB |
| L2 Cache | 768 KB+50% | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce FX 5900 | RADEON 9500 |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
Both cards feature 128 MB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 768 KB (GeForce FX 5900) vs 512 KB (RADEON 9500) — the GeForce FX 5900 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce FX 5900 | RADEON 9500 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.125 GB | 0.125 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 768 KB+50% | 512 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce FX 5900 draws 365W versus the RADEON 9500's 95W — a 117.4% difference. The RADEON 9500 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5900) vs 350W (RADEON 9500). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy.
| Feature | GeForce FX 5900 | RADEON 9500 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 365W | 95W-74% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | Legacy |
| Length | 218mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 0.1 | 0.4+300% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce FX 5900 launched at $399 MSRP and currently averages $20, while the RADEON 9500 launched at $179 and now averages $30. The GeForce FX 5900 costs 33.3% less ($10 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 1.8 (GeForce FX 5900) vs 1.2 (RADEON 9500) — the GeForce FX 5900 offers 50% better value. The RADEON 9500 is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2011).
| Feature | GeForce FX 5900 | RADEON 9500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $399 | $179-55% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-33% | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 1.8+50% | 1.2 |
| Codename | GF110 | Amethyst |
| Release | March 24 2011 | September 29 2015 |
| Ranking | #555 | #420 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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