GeForce FX 5900XT vs RADEON X300SE

NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5900XT

2011Core: 607 MHz
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

RADEON X300SE

2020Core: 1327 MHzBoost: 1645 MHz
Similar parts
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GeForce FX 5900XT vs RADEON X300SE 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 5900XT vs RADEON X300SE 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 5900XT vs RADEON X300SE: 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 5900XT

2011

Why buy it

  • Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

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.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 0.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
  • 265% higher power demand at 365W vs 100W.

RADEON X300SE

2020

Why buy it

  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($60 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • 300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs 128 MB).
  • GeForce FX 5900XT is already obsolete for modern gaming, so RADEON X300SE is the less risky modern option long term.
  • Draws 100W instead of 365W, a 265W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Older hardware, 512 MB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce FX 5900XT is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 5.3% in PassMark G3D (40 vs 38), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
RADEON X300SE is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 512 MB vs 128 MB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 7nm process instead of 40nm, and a newer 2020 generation instead of 2011. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
RADEON X300SE makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. GeForce FX 5900XT still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

GeForce FX 5900XT vs RADEON X300SE Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5900XT

The GeForce FX 5900XT 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: 40 points. Launch price was $699.

AMD

RADEON X300SE

The RADEON X300SE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 28 2020. It features the RDNA 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1327 MHz to 1645 MHz. It has 1408 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 38 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce FX 5900XT scores 40 versus the RADEON X300SE's 38 — the GeForce FX 5900XT leads by 5.3%. The GeForce FX 5900XT is built on Rankine while the RADEON X300SE uses RDNA 1.0, both on 40 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 1,408 (RADEON X300SE). Raw compute: 1.244 TFLOPS ×2 (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 4.632 TFLOPS (RADEON X300SE).

FeatureGeForce FX 5900XTRADEON X300SE
G3D Mark Score
40+5%
38
Architecture
Rankine
RDNA 1.0
Process Node
40 nm
7 nm
Shading Units
1024 ×2
1408+38%
Compute (TFLOPS)
1.244 TFLOPS ×2
4.632 TFLOPS+272%
ROPs
48 ×2+50%
32
TMUs
64 ×2
88+38%
L2 Cache
0.75 MB
1.5 MB+100%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce FX 5900XT gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The RADEON X300SE leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce FX 5900XTRADEON X300SE
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce FX 5900XT has 128 MB of VRAM, while the RADEON X300SE carries 512 MB. RADEON X300SE 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 5900XT and 64-bit on the RADEON X300SE. L2 Cache: 0.75 MB (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 1.5 MB (RADEON X300SE) — the RADEON X300SE has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce FX 5900XTRADEON X300SE
VRAM Capacity
0.125 GB
0.5 GB+300%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
128-bit+100%
64-bit
L2 Cache
0.75 MB
1.5 MB+100%
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5900XT draws 365W versus the RADEON X300SE's 100W — a 114% difference. The RADEON X300SE is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 350W (RADEON X300SE). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy.

FeatureGeForce FX 5900XTRADEON X300SE
TDP
365W
100W-73%
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
Legacy
Length
218mm
Slots
1
Perf/Watt
0.1
0.4+300%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5900XT came in at $0, while the RADEON X300SE launched at $60. On MSRP, GeForce FX 5900XT was 100+% cheaper ($60 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): Infinity (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 0.6 (RADEON X300SE) — the GeForce FX 5900XT offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is RADEON X300SE (2020 vs 2011).

FeatureGeForce FX 5900XTRADEON X300SE
MSRP
$0-100%
$60
Performance per Dollar
Infinity
0.6
Codename
GF110
Navi 14
Release
March 24 2011
May 28 2020
Ranking
#555
#336

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