GeForce GTS 250M vs Quadro FX 5600

NVIDIA

GeForce GTS 250M

2010Core: 783 MHz
Similar parts
·······
VS
NVIDIA

Quadro FX 5600

2008Core: 610 MHz
Similar parts
·······

GeForce GTS 250M vs Quadro FX 5600 Performance Spectrum

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.

GeForce GTS 250M vs Quadro FX 5600 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 GTS 250M vs Quadro FX 5600: 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 GTS 250M

2010

Why buy it

  • Draws 106W instead of 189W, a 83W reduction.
  • More future proof: Fermi (2010−2014) on 40nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than Quadro FX 5600 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 1 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2010 hardware with 1 GB 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 0.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $2,999 MSRP).

Quadro FX 5600

2008

Why buy it

  • 29.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($2,999 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • 300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 1 GB).

Trade-offs

  • 2008 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 78.3% higher power demand at 189W vs 106W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Quadro FX 5600 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 29.5% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 1% in PassMark G3D (525 vs 520), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce GTS 250M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 40nm process instead of 55nm and a newer 2010 generation instead of 2008. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Quadro FX 5600 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 5600 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GTS 250M has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTS 250M vs Quadro FX 5600 Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce GTS 250M

The GeForce GTS 250M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 13 2010. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 783 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 106W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 520 points. Launch price was $129.

NVIDIA

Quadro FX 5600

The Quadro FX 5600 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: 525 points. Launch price was $3,499.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTS 250M scores 520 and the Quadro FX 5600 reaches 525 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTS 250M is built on Fermi while the Quadro FX 5600 uses Tesla 2.0, both on 40 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 192 (GeForce GTS 250M) vs 240 (Quadro FX 5600). Raw compute: 0.6013 TFLOPS (GeForce GTS 250M) vs 0.6221 TFLOPS (Quadro FX 5600).

FeatureGeForce GTS 250MQuadro FX 5600
G3D Mark Score
520
525
Architecture
Fermi
Tesla 2.0
Process Node
40 nm
55 nm
Shading Units
192
240+25%
Compute (TFLOPS)
0.6013 TFLOPS
0.6221 TFLOPS+3%
ROPs
16
32+100%
TMUs
32
80+150%
L2 Cache
256 KB
256 KB

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTS 250M gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Quadro FX 5600 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce GTS 250MQuadro FX 5600
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
Standard
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTS 250M has 1 GB of VRAM, while the Quadro FX 5600 carries 4 GB. Quadro FX 5600 gives you 300% 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 GTS 250M and 64-bit on the Quadro FX 5600.

FeatureGeForce GTS 250MQuadro FX 5600
VRAM Capacity
1 GB
4 GB+300%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
128-bit+100%
64-bit
L2 Cache
256 KB
256 KB
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTS 250M draws 106W versus the Quadro FX 5600's 189W — a 56.3% difference. The GeForce GTS 250M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GTS 250M) vs 350W (Quadro FX 5600). Power connectors: Legacy vs PCIe-powered.

FeatureGeForce GTS 250MQuadro FX 5600
TDP
106W-44%
189W
Recommended PSU
300W-14%
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
PCIe-powered
Slots
0
Temp (Load)
85°C
Perf/Watt
4.9+75%
2.8
💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GTS 250M (2010 vs 2008).

FeatureGeForce GTS 250MQuadro FX 5600
MSRP
$2999
Codename
GF106
GT200B
Release
September 13 2010
November 11 2008
Ranking
#791
#815

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.