GeForce GTX 280 vs Radeon Vega 6

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 280 vs Radeon Vega 6 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 GTX 280 vs Radeon Vega 6: 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 280

2008

Why buy it

✅14.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 2.0 vs 0 G3D/$ ($649 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (1 GB vs Unknown).

Trade-offs

❌2008 hardware with 1 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌424.4% higher power demand at 236W vs 45W.

Radeon Vega 6

2021

Why buy it

✅GeForce GTX 280 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon Vega 6 is the less risky modern option long term.
✅Draws 45W instead of 236W, a 191W reduction.
✅More future proof: GCN 5.1 (2018−2022) on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 280 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 1 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2021 hardware with Unknown 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 2.0 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $649 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GTX 280 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 14.4% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward Radeon Vega 6 instead at 1,309 vs 1,285, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

Radeon Vega 6 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 7nm process instead of 65nm, and a newer 2021 generation instead of 2008. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 280 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, GeForce GTX 280 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p headroom, Radeon Vega 6 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 280 vs Radeon Vega 6 Technical Specifications

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

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 Vega 6

The Radeon Vega 6 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 13 2021. It features the GCN 5.1 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1900 MHz. It has 448 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 45W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,309 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 280 scores 1,285 and the Radeon Vega 6 reaches 1,309 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 280 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Radeon Vega 6 uses GCN 5.1, both on 65 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 240 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 448 (Radeon Vega 6). Raw compute: 0.6221 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 280) vs 1.702 TFLOPS (Radeon Vega 6).

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	Radeon Vega 6
G3D Mark Score	1,285	1,309+2%
Architecture	Tesla 2.0	GCN 5.1
Process Node	65 nm	7 nm
Shading Units	240	448+87%
Compute (TFLOPS)	0.6221 TFLOPS	1.702 TFLOPS+174%
ROPs	32+300%	8
TMUs	80+186%	28

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 280 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon Vega 6 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	Radeon Vega 6
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 280 has 1 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon Vega 6 carries 0 MB. GeForce GTX 280 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 280 and System on the Radeon Vega 6.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	Radeon Vega 6
VRAM Capacity	1 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR5	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	System
Bus Width	128-bit	System

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 280 draws 236W versus the Radeon Vega 6's 45W — a 135.9% difference. The Radeon Vega 6 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 280) vs 1W (Radeon Vega 6). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin vs Integrated.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	Radeon Vega 6
TDP	236W	45W-81%
Recommended PSU	550W	1W-100%
Power Connector	1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin	Integrated
Length	267mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	85	—
Perf/Watt	5.4	29.1+439%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 280 came in at $649, while the Radeon Vega 6 launched at $0. On MSRP, Radeon Vega 6 was 100+% cheaper ($649 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 2.0 (GeForce GTX 280) vs Infinity (Radeon Vega 6) — the Radeon Vega 6 offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is Radeon Vega 6 (2021 vs 2008).

Feature	GeForce GTX 280	Radeon Vega 6
MSRP	$649	$0-100%
Performance per Dollar	2.0	Infinity
Codename	GT200	Cezanne
Release	June 16 2008	April 13 2021
Ranking	#802	#601

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