GeForce GTX 260 vs Iris Pro Graphics 5200

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 260

2008Core: 576 MHz
VS
Intel

Iris Pro Graphics 5200

2013Core: 200 MHzBoost: 1200 MHz

GeForce GTX 260 vs Iris Pro Graphics 5200 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 GTX 260 vs Iris Pro Graphics 5200: 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 GTX 260

2008

Why buy it

  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (896 MB vs Unknown).
  • Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce GTX 260 is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

  • 2008 hardware with 896 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 199.3% HIGHER MSRP
    $449 MSRPvs$150 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.7 vs 7.8 G3D/$ ($449 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
  • 506.7% higher power demand at 182W vs 30W.

Iris Pro Graphics 5200

2013

Why buy it

  • Costs $299 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
  • Delivers 192.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 7.8 vs 2.7 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
  • Draws 30W instead of 182W, a 152W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 896 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2013 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce GTX 260 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 2.4% in PassMark G3D (1,200 vs 1,172), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce GTX 260 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 896 MB vs Unknown of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Iris Pro Graphics 5200 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $299 cheaper on MSRP at $150 vs $449, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 192.3% (7.8 vs 2.7), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p, Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GTX 260 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 260 vs Iris Pro Graphics 5200 Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 260

The GeForce GTX 260 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 16 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 576 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 182W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,200 points. Launch price was $449.

Intel

Iris Pro Graphics 5200

The Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in May 27 2013. It features the Generation 7.5 architecture. The core clock ranges from 200 MHz to 1200 MHz. It has 320 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 22 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,172 points.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 260 scores 1,200 and the Iris Pro Graphics 5200 reaches 1,172 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 260 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Iris Pro Graphics 5200 uses Generation 7.5, both on 65 nm vs 22 nm. Shader units: 192 (GeForce GTX 260) vs 320 (Iris Pro Graphics 5200). Raw compute: 0.4769 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 260) vs 0.768 TFLOPS (Iris Pro Graphics 5200).

FeatureGeForce GTX 260Iris Pro Graphics 5200
G3D Mark Score
1,200+2%
1,172
Architecture
Tesla 2.0
Generation 7.5
Process Node
65 nm
22 nm
Shading Units
192
320+67%
Compute (TFLOPS)
0.4769 TFLOPS
0.768 TFLOPS+61%
ROPs
28+600%
4
TMUs
64+60%
40

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 260 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Iris Pro Graphics 5200 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce GTX 260Iris Pro Graphics 5200
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 GTX 260 has 896 MB of VRAM, while the Iris Pro Graphics 5200 carries 0 MB. GeForce GTX 260 gives you 100+% 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 GTX 260 and System on the Iris Pro Graphics 5200.

FeatureGeForce GTX 260Iris Pro Graphics 5200
VRAM Capacity
0.875 GB
Shared System RAM
Memory Type
GDDR5
Shared
Memory Bandwidth
Unknown
System
Bus Width
128-bit
System
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 260 draws 182W versus the Iris Pro Graphics 5200's 30W — a 143.4% difference. The Iris Pro Graphics 5200 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 260) vs 1W (Iris Pro Graphics 5200). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs Integrated.

FeatureGeForce GTX 260Iris Pro Graphics 5200
TDP
182W
30W-84%
Recommended PSU
500W
1W-100%
Power Connector
2x 6-pin
Integrated
Length
267mm
Slots
2
Perf/Watt
6.6
39.1+492%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 260 came in at $449, while the Iris Pro Graphics 5200 launched at $150. On MSRP, Iris Pro Graphics 5200 was 66.6% cheaper ($299 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 2.7 (GeForce GTX 260) vs 7.8 (Iris Pro Graphics 5200) — the Iris Pro Graphics 5200 offers 188.9% better value. The newer card here is Iris Pro Graphics 5200 (2013 vs 2008).

FeatureGeForce GTX 260Iris Pro Graphics 5200
MSRP
$449
$150-67%
Performance per Dollar
2.7
7.8+189%
Codename
GT200
Haswell GT3e
Release
June 16 2008
May 27 2013
Ranking
#821
#835

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