GeForce FX 5950 Ultra vs Quadro FX 550

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 5950 Ultra vs Quadro FX 550 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 5950 Ultra vs Quadro FX 550: 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 5950 Ultra

2011

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (256 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Draws 116W instead of 189W, a 73W reduction.
✅More future proof: Fermi 2.0 (2010−2014) on 40nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (59 vs 64).
❌2011 hardware with 256 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 0.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $150 MSRP).

Quadro FX 550

2008

Why buy it

✅+8.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 128 MB vs 256 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2008 hardware with 128 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌62.9% higher power demand at 189W vs 116W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Quadro FX 550 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 8.5% in PassMark G3D (64 vs 59), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

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

GeForce FX 5950 Ultra is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 256 MB vs 128 MB of VRAM, a 40nm process instead of 55nm, and a newer 2011 generation instead of 2008. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Quadro FX 550 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Quadro FX 550 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce FX 5950 Ultra has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce FX 5950 Ultra vs Quadro FX 550 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce FX 5950 Ultra

The GeForce FX 5950 Ultra is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 15 2011. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock speed is 900 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 116W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 59 points. Launch price was $149.

Quadro FX 550

The Quadro FX 550 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 11 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 610 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 189W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 64 points. Launch price was $3,499.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce FX 5950 Ultra scores 59 versus the Quadro FX 550's 64 — the Quadro FX 550 leads by 8.5%. The GeForce FX 5950 Ultra is built on Rankine while the Quadro FX 550 uses Tesla 2.0, both on 40 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 192 (GeForce FX 5950 Ultra) vs 240 (Quadro FX 550). Raw compute: 0.6912 TFLOPS (GeForce FX 5950 Ultra) vs 0.6221 TFLOPS (Quadro FX 550).

Feature	GeForce FX 5950 Ultra	Quadro FX 550
G3D Mark Score	59	64+8%
Architecture	Rankine	Tesla 2.0
Process Node	40 nm	55 nm
Shading Units	192	240+25%
Compute (TFLOPS)	0.6912 TFLOPS+11%	0.6221 TFLOPS
ROPs	24	32+33%
TMUs	32	80+150%
L2 Cache	384 KB+50%	256 KB

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce FX 5950 Ultra gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Quadro FX 550 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce FX 5950 Ultra	Quadro FX 550
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce FX 5950 Ultra has 256 MB of VRAM, while the Quadro FX 550 carries 128 MB. GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 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 5950 Ultra and 64-bit on the Quadro FX 550. L2 Cache: 384 KB (GeForce FX 5950 Ultra) vs 256 KB (Quadro FX 550) — the GeForce FX 5950 Ultra has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce FX 5950 Ultra	Quadro FX 550
VRAM Capacity	0.25 GB+100%	0.125 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	128-bit+100%	64-bit
L2 Cache	384 KB+50%	256 KB

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5950 Ultra draws 116W versus the Quadro FX 550's 189W — a 47.9% difference. The GeForce FX 5950 Ultra is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5950 Ultra) vs 350W (Quadro FX 550). Power connectors: Legacy vs PCIe-powered.

Feature	GeForce FX 5950 Ultra	Quadro FX 550
TDP	116W-39%	189W
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	Legacy	PCIe-powered
Length	229mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	0.5+67%	0.3

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Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5950 Ultra came in at $0, while the Quadro FX 550 launched at $150. On MSRP, GeForce FX 5950 Ultra was 100+% cheaper ($150 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): Infinity (GeForce FX 5950 Ultra) vs 0.4 (Quadro FX 550) — the GeForce FX 5950 Ultra offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is GeForce FX 5950 Ultra (2011 vs 2008).

Feature	GeForce FX 5950 Ultra	Quadro FX 550
MSRP	$0-100%	$150
Performance per Dollar	Infinity	0.4
Codename	GF116	GT200B
Release	March 15 2011	November 11 2008
Ranking	#761	#815

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