GeForce GT 330 vs GeForce GT 420M

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 330 vs GeForce GT 420M 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 330 vs GeForce GT 420M: 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 330

2017

Why buy it

✅36.3% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 4.0 vs 0 G3D/$ ($99 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅More future proof: Pascal (2016−2021) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌2017 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

GeForce GT 420M

2012

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GT 330 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2012 hardware with 512 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 4.0 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $99 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GT 330 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 36.3% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 0.3% in PassMark G3D (393 vs 392), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce GT 330 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 14nm process instead of 28nm and a newer 2017 generation instead of 2012. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GT 330 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce GT 330 vs GeForce GT 420M Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GT 330

The GeForce GT 330 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: 393 points. Launch price was $79.

GeForce GT 420M

The GeForce GT 420M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 22 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from Up to 625 MHz to 645 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 32W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 392 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GT 330 scores 393 and the GeForce GT 420M reaches 392 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GT 330 is built on Pascal while the GeForce GT 420M uses Kepler, both on 14 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce GT 330) vs 384 (GeForce GT 420M). Raw compute: 1.127 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 330) vs 0.48 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 420M). Boost clocks: 1468 MHz vs 645 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GT 330	GeForce GT 420M
G3D Mark Score	393	392
Architecture	Pascal	Kepler
Process Node	14 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	384	384
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.127 TFLOPS+135%	0.48 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1468 MHz+128%	645 MHz
ROPs	16	16
TMUs	24	32+33%
L1 Cache	144 KB+350%	32 KB
L2 Cache	512 KB+100%	256 KB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GT 330	GeForce GT 420M
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 512 MB of GDDR5. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the GeForce GT 330 and 128-bit on the GeForce GT 420M. L2 Cache: 512 KB (GeForce GT 330) vs 256 KB (GeForce GT 420M) — the GeForce GT 330 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GT 330	GeForce GT 420M
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	64-bit	128-bit+100%
L2 Cache	512 KB+100%	256 KB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 11.1 (10_1) (GeForce GT 330) vs 11.0 (GeForce GT 420M). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 4.0. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 1.

Feature	GeForce GT 330	GeForce GT 420M
DirectX	11.1 (10_1)	11.0
OpenGL	3.3	4.0+21%
Max Displays	2+100%	1

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD (GeForce GT 330) vs No (GeForce GT 420M). Decoder: PureVideo HD vs PureVideo HD VP4. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce GT 330) vs MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GT 420M).

Feature	GeForce GT 330	GeForce GT 420M
Encoder	PureVideo HD	No
Decoder	PureVideo HD	PureVideo HD VP4
Codecs	H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1	MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GT 330 draws 30W versus the GeForce GT 420M's 32W — a 6.5% difference. The GeForce GT 330 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GT 330) vs 350W (GeForce GT 420M). Power connectors: None vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 175mm vs 0mm, occupying 1 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 80 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce GT 330	GeForce GT 420M
TDP	30W-6%	32W
Recommended PSU	300W-14%	350W
Power Connector	None	PCIe-powered
Length	175mm	0mm
Height	111mm	0mm
Slots	1	0-100%
Temp (Load)	80	75°C-6%
Perf/Watt	13.1+7%	12.3

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GT 330 (2017 vs 2012).

Feature	GeForce GT 330	GeForce GT 420M
MSRP	$99	—
Codename	GP108	GK107
Release	May 17 2017	March 22 2012
Ranking	#641	#909

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