GeForce GT 520MX vs GRID K120Q
GeForce GT 520MX
Popular choices:
GRID K120Q
Popular choices:
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 GT 520MX is positioned at rank 434 and the GRID K120Q is on rank 276, so the GRID K120Q offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GT 520MX
Performance Per Dollar GRID K120Q
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GRID K120Q is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.7% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce GT 520MX offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce GT 520MX | GRID K120Q |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.7%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GT 520MX offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GT 520MX holds the technical lead. Priced at $10 (vs $20), it costs 50% less, resulting in a 98.6% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GT 520MX | GRID K120Q |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+98.6%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($10) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($20) |
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 GT 520MX and GRID K120Q
GeForce GT 520MX
The GeForce GT 520MX is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 9 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 941 MHz to 967 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 291 points.
GRID K120Q
The GRID K120Q is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 28 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 745 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 293 points. Launch price was $937.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GT 520MX scores 291 and the GRID K120Q reaches 293 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GT 520MX is built on Kepler while the GRID K120Q uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 384 (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 1,536 (GRID K120Q). Raw compute: 0.7427 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 2.289 TFLOPS (GRID K120Q).
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | GRID K120Q |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 291 | 293 |
| Architecture | Kepler | Kepler |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 1536+300% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.7427 TFLOPS | 2.289 TFLOPS+208% |
| ROPs | 16 | 32+100% |
| TMUs | 32 | 128+300% |
| L1 Cache | 32 KB | 128 KB+300% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 512 KB+100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | GRID K120Q |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GT 520MX comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the GRID K120Q has 512 MB. The GeForce GT 520MX offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 256 KB (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 512 KB (GRID K120Q) — the GRID K120Q has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | GRID K120Q |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB+100% | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 512 KB+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.0 (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 12 (11_0) (GRID K120Q). Vulkan: None vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.0 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 1 vs 0.
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | GRID K120Q |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.0 | 12 (11_0)+9% |
| Vulkan | None | 1.2 |
| OpenGL | 4.0 | 4.6+15% |
| Max Displays | 1 | 0 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: No (GeForce GT 520MX) vs NVENC 1 (GRID K120Q). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs NVDEC 1. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GT 520MX) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GRID K120Q).
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | GRID K120Q |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | No | NVENC 1 |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP4 | NVDEC 1 |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GT 520MX draws 50W versus the GRID K120Q's 225W — a 127.3% difference. The GeForce GT 520MX is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 350W (GRID K120Q). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | GRID K120Q |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 50W-78% | 225W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 0mm | — |
| Height | 0mm | — |
| Slots | 0 | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | 70°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 5.8+346% | 1.3 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GT 520MX launched at $45 MSRP and currently averages $10, while the GRID K120Q launched at $125 and now averages $20. The GeForce GT 520MX costs 50% less ($10 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 29.1 (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 14.7 (GRID K120Q) — the GeForce GT 520MX offers 98% better value.
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | GRID K120Q |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $45-64% | $125 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-50% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 29.1+98% | 14.7 |
| Codename | GK107 | GK104 |
| Release | January 9 2013 | June 28 2013 |
| Ranking | #792 | #589 |
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