CPU
GPU
GeForce GTX 280
Popular choices:
Radeon HD 8790M
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 GTX 280 is positioned at rank 314 and the Radeon HD 8790M is on rank 207, so the Radeon HD 8790M 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 280
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 8790M
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 8790M is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.6% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (2 GB vs 1 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 280.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon HD 8790M |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.6%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the Radeon HD 8790M 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 280 and Radeon HD 8790M
GeForce GTX 280
The GeForce GTX 280 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 16 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 602 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 236W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,285 points. Launch price was $649.
Radeon HD 8790M
The Radeon HD 8790M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 1 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,306 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 280 scores 1,285 and the Radeon HD 8790M reaches 1,306 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 280 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Radeon HD 8790M uses GCN 1.0, both on 65 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 240 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 384 (Radeon HD 8790M). Raw compute: 0.6221 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 280) vs 0.6912 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8790M).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon HD 8790M |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,285 | 1,306+2% |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 240 | 384+60% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.6221 TFLOPS | 0.6912 TFLOPS+11% |
| ROPs | 32+300% | 8 |
| TMUs | 80+233% | 24 |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon HD 8790M |
|---|---|---|
| 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 280 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8790M has 2 GB. The Radeon HD 8790M offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs System.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon HD 8790M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB | 2 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | Shared |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | System |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | System |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce GTX 280) vs 11.1 (11_1) (Radeon HD 8790M). Vulkan: N/A vs 1.2. OpenGL: 3.3 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 0.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon HD 8790M |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.1 (10_0) | 11.1 (11_1) |
| Vulkan | N/A | 1.2 |
| OpenGL | 3.3 | 4.6+39% |
| Max Displays | 2 | 0 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: None (GeForce GTX 280) vs VCE 1.0 (Radeon HD 8790M). Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP2) vs UVD 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 280) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 (Radeon HD 8790M).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon HD 8790M |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | VCE 1.0 |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD (VP2) | UVD 3.0 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 280 draws 236W versus the Radeon HD 8790M's 50W — a 130.1% difference. The Radeon HD 8790M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 280) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8790M). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 85 vs 75.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon HD 8790M |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 236W | 50W-79% |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 350W-36% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 267mm | 0mm |
| Height | 111mm | 0mm |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 85 | 75-12% |
| Perf/Watt | 5.4 | 26.1+383% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 8790M is the newer GPU (2013 vs 2008).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon HD 8790M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $649 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $649 | — |
| Codename | GT200 | Mars |
| Release | June 16 2008 | April 1 2013 |
| Ranking | #802 | #797 |
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