GeForce GT 1030 vs GeForce MX250

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 GT 1030 vs GeForce MX250 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 GT 1030 vs GeForce MX250: 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 GT 1030

2017

Why buy it

✅13.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $71 less on MSRP ($79 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Delivers 92.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 30.5 vs 15.8 G3D/$ ($79 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌2017 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌200% higher power demand at 30W vs 10W.

GeForce MX250

2019

Why buy it

✅GeForce GT 1030 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce MX250 is the less risky modern option long term.
✅Draws 10W instead of 30W, a 20W reduction.
✅More future proof: Pascal (2016−2021) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GT 1030 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2019 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌
89.9% HIGHER MSRP
$150 MSRPvs$79 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 15.8 vs 30.5 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $79 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GT 1030 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 13.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 1.3% in PassMark G3D (2,407 vs 2,375), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce MX250 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a newer 2019 generation instead of 2017. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GT 1030 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $71 cheaper on MSRP at $79 vs $150, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 92.4% (30.5 vs 15.8), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce GT 1030 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce MX250 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GT 1030 vs GeForce MX250 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GT 1030

The GeForce GT 1030 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 17 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1228 MHz to 1468 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,407 points. Launch price was $79.

GeForce MX250

The GeForce MX250 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 20 2019. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 937 MHz to 1038 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 10W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,375 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GT 1030 scores 2,407 and the GeForce MX250 reaches 2,375 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GT 1030 is built on Pascal while the GeForce MX250 uses Pascal, both on a 14 nm process. Shader units: 384 (GeForce GT 1030) vs 384 (GeForce MX250). Raw compute: 1.127 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 1030) vs 0.7972 TFLOPS (GeForce MX250). Boost clocks: 1468 MHz vs 1038 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GT 1030	GeForce MX250
G3D Mark Score	2,407+1%	2,375
Architecture	Pascal	Pascal
Process Node	14 nm	14 nm
Shading Units	384	384
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.127 TFLOPS+41%	0.7972 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1468 MHz+41%	1038 MHz
ROPs	16	16
TMUs	24	24
L1 Cache	144 KB	144 KB
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GT 1030	GeForce MX250
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)

Both cards ship with 2 GB of GDDR5. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the GeForce GT 1030 and 64-bit on the GeForce MX250.

Feature	GeForce GT 1030	GeForce MX250
VRAM Capacity	2 GB	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	48 GB/s
Bus Width	64-bit	64-bit
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GT 1030) vs 12 (12_1) (GeForce MX250). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 3.

Feature	GeForce GT 1030	GeForce MX250
DirectX	12	12 (12_1)
Vulkan	1.2	1.2
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	2	3+50%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: None (GeForce GT 1030) vs None (GeForce MX250). Decoder: NVDEC 4th gen vs NVDEC 3rd Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP9 (GeForce GT 1030) vs H.264,H.265,VP9 (GeForce MX250).

Feature	GeForce GT 1030	GeForce MX250
Encoder	None	None
Decoder	NVDEC 4th gen	NVDEC 3rd Gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP9	H.264,H.265,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GT 1030 draws 30W versus the GeForce MX250's 10W — a 100% difference. The GeForce MX250 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GT 1030) vs 350W (GeForce MX250). Power connectors: None vs Mobile. Card length: 145mm vs 0mm, occupying 1 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 75.

Feature	GeForce GT 1030	GeForce MX250
TDP	30W	10W-67%
Recommended PSU	300W-14%	350W
Power Connector	None	Mobile
Length	145mm	0mm
Height	69mm	0mm
Slots	1	0-100%
Temp (Load)	80°C	75-6%
Perf/Watt	80.2	237.5+196%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GT 1030 came in at $79, while the GeForce MX250 launched at $150. On MSRP, GeForce GT 1030 was 47.3% cheaper ($71 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 30.5 (GeForce GT 1030) vs 15.8 (GeForce MX250) — the GeForce GT 1030 offers 93% better value. The newer card here is GeForce MX250 (2019 vs 2017).

Feature	GeForce GT 1030	GeForce MX250
MSRP	$79-47%	$150
Performance per Dollar	30.5+93%	15.8
Codename	GP108	GP108B
Release	May 17 2017	February 20 2019
Ranking	#641	#643

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