GeForce GTX 260M vs GeForce GT 420M
GeForce GTX 260M
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GeForce GT 420M
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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 260M is positioned at rank 134 and the GeForce GT 420M is on rank 113, so the GeForce GT 420M 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 260M
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GT 420M
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GT 420M is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.6% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce GTX 260M offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 260M | GeForce GT 420M |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.6%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce GT 420M remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
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 260M and GeForce GT 420M
GeForce GTX 260M
The GeForce GTX 260M 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: 382 points. Launch price was $449.
GeForce GT 420M
The GeForce GT 420M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 22 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from Up to 625 MHz to 645 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 32W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 392 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 260M scores 382 and the GeForce GT 420M reaches 392 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 260M is built on Tesla 2.0 while the GeForce GT 420M uses Kepler, both on 65 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 192 (GeForce GTX 260M) vs 384 (GeForce GT 420M). Raw compute: 0.4769 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 260M) vs 0.48 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 420M).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260M | GeForce GT 420M |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 382 | 392+3% |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | Kepler |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 192 | 384+100% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.4769 TFLOPS | 0.48 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 28+75% | 16 |
| TMUs | 64+100% | 32 |
| L2 Cache | 224 KB | 256 KB+14% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260M | GeForce GT 420M |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 260M comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GT 420M has 512 MB. The GeForce GTX 260M offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 224 KB (GeForce GTX 260M) vs 256 KB (GeForce GT 420M) — the GeForce GT 420M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260M | GeForce GT 420M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB+100% | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 224 KB | 256 KB+14% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce GTX 260M) vs 11.0 (GeForce GT 420M). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 4.0. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 1.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260M | GeForce GT 420M |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.1 (10_0) | 11.0 |
| OpenGL | 3.3 | 4.0+21% |
| Max Displays | 2+100% | 1 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD VP2 (GeForce GTX 260M) vs No (GeForce GT 420M). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP2 vs PureVideo HD VP4. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 260M) vs MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GT 420M).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260M | GeForce GT 420M |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | PureVideo HD VP2 | No |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP2 | PureVideo HD VP4 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1,MPEG-4 ASP |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 260M draws 182W versus the GeForce GT 420M's 32W — a 140.2% difference. The GeForce GT 420M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 260M) vs 350W (GeForce GT 420M). Power connectors: None vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 75°C.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 260M | GeForce GT 420M |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 182W | 32W-82% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | None | PCIe-powered |
| Length | — | 0mm |
| Height | — | 0mm |
| Slots | 0 | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | 85°C | 75°C-12% |
| Perf/Watt | 2.1 | 12.3+486% |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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