CPU
GPU
GeForce GT 520MX
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 2900 GT
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 Radeon HD 2900 GT is on rank 661, so the GeForce GT 520MX 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 Radeon HD 2900 GT
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 2900 GT is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.3% 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 | Radeon HD 2900 GT |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.3%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 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 $15), it costs 33% less, resulting in a 49.5% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GT 520MX | Radeon HD 2900 GT |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+49.5%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($10) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($15) |
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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GT 520MX and Radeon HD 2900 GT
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.
Radeon HD 2900 GT
The Radeon HD 2900 GT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 7 2013. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 480 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 292 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GT 520MX scores 291 and the Radeon HD 2900 GT reaches 292 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GT 520MX is built on Kepler while the Radeon HD 2900 GT uses TeraScale 2, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 480 (Radeon HD 2900 GT). Raw compute: 0.7427 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 0.696 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 2900 GT).
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | Radeon HD 2900 GT |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 291 | 292 |
| Architecture | Kepler | TeraScale 2 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 480+25% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.7427 TFLOPS+7% | 0.696 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 16+100% | 8 |
| TMUs | 32+33% | 24 |
| L1 Cache | 32 KB | 48 KB+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | Radeon HD 2900 GT |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GT 520MX comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 2900 GT has 512 MB. The GeForce GT 520MX offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | Radeon HD 2900 GT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB+100% | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.0 (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 10 (Radeon HD 2900 GT). Maximum simultaneous displays: 1 vs 2.
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | Radeon HD 2900 GT |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.0+10% | 10 |
| Max Displays | 1 | 2+100% |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: No (GeForce GT 520MX) vs UVD (Radeon HD 2900 GT). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs UVD.
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | Radeon HD 2900 GT |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | No | UVD |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP4 | UVD |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP | — |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GT 520MX draws 50W versus the Radeon HD 2900 GT's 25W — a 66.7% difference. The Radeon HD 2900 GT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 350W (Radeon HD 2900 GT). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 241mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | Radeon HD 2900 GT |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 50W | 25W-50% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 0mm | 241mm |
| Height | 0mm | — |
| Slots | 0-100% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 70°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 5.8 | 11.7+102% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GT 520MX launched at $45 MSRP and currently averages $10, while the Radeon HD 2900 GT launched at $170 and now averages $15. The GeForce GT 520MX costs 33.3% less ($5 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 29.1 (GeForce GT 520MX) vs 19.5 (Radeon HD 2900 GT) — the GeForce GT 520MX offers 49.2% better value.
| Feature | GeForce GT 520MX | Radeon HD 2900 GT |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $45-74% | $170 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 29.1+49% | 19.5 |
| Codename | GK107 | Thames |
| Release | January 9 2013 | January 7 2013 |
| Ranking | #792 | #883 |
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