GeForce GTX 260 vs Radeon R9 M270X
GeForce GTX 260
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Radeon R9 M270X
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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 GTX 260 is positioned at rank 293 and the Radeon R9 M270X is on rank 484, so the GeForce GTX 260 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 260
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M270X
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Radeon R9 M270X is significantly newer (2014 vs 2008). The Radeon R9 M270X likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce GTX 260 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R9 M270X is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.3% higher G3D Mark score and 357.1% more VRAM (4 GB vs 896 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 260.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 260 | Radeon R9 M270X |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.3%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+357.1%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R9 M270X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 M270X holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $449), it costs 91% less, resulting in a 1026.2% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 260 | Radeon R9 M270X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+1026.2%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($449) | ✅More affordable ($40) |
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 GTX 260 and Radeon R9 M270X
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.
Radeon R9 M270X
The Radeon R9 M270X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 21 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 725 MHz to 775 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,204 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 260 scores 1,200 and the Radeon R9 M270X reaches 1,204 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 260 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Radeon R9 M270X uses GCN 1.0, both on 65 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 192 (GeForce GTX 260) vs 640 (Radeon R9 M270X). Raw compute: 0.4769 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 260) vs 0.992 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M270X).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260 | Radeon R9 M270X |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,200 | 1,204 |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 192 | 640+233% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.4769 TFLOPS | 0.992 TFLOPS+108% |
| ROPs | 28+75% | 16 |
| TMUs | 64+60% | 40 |
| L2 Cache | 224 KB | 256 KB+14% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260 | Radeon R9 M270X |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 260 comes with 896 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M270X has 4 GB. The Radeon R9 M270X offers 357.1% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 224 KB (GeForce GTX 260) vs 256 KB (Radeon R9 M270X) — the Radeon R9 M270X has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260 | Radeon R9 M270X |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.875 GB | 4 GB+357% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 224 KB | 256 KB+14% |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 260 draws 182W versus the Radeon R9 M270X's 75W — a 83.3% difference. The Radeon R9 M270X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 260) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M270X). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs Mobile.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260 | Radeon R9 M270X |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 182W | 75W-59% |
| Recommended PSU | 500W | 350W-30% |
| Power Connector | 2x 6-pin | Mobile |
| Length | 267mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 6.6 | 16.1+144% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 260 launched at $449 MSRP and currently averages $449, while the Radeon R9 M270X launched at $250 and now averages $40. The Radeon R9 M270X costs 91.1% less ($409 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 2.7 (GeForce GTX 260) vs 30.1 (Radeon R9 M270X) — the Radeon R9 M270X offers 1014.8% better value. The Radeon R9 M270X is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2008).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260 | Radeon R9 M270X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $449 | $250-44% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $449 | $40-91% |
| Performance per Dollar | 2.7 | 30.1+1015% |
| Codename | GT200 | Venus |
| Release | June 16 2008 | March 21 2014 |
| Ranking | #821 | #819 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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