GeForce GTX 280 vs Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U
GeForce GTX 280
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Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U
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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 280 is positioned at rank 314 and the Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U is on rank 387, so the GeForce GTX 280 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 Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U is significantly newer (2020 vs 2008). The Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce GTX 280 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.5% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce GTX 280 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.5%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) | Vega (2017−2020) (7nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100+%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $40 versus $649 for the GeForce GTX 280, it costs 94% less. While it maintains basic entry-level capabilities, this results in a 1546.5% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+1546.5%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($649) | ✅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 280 and Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U
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 8 Ryzen 5 3450U
The Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 7 2020. It features the Vega architecture. The boost clock speed is 2100 MHz. It has 512 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,304 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 280 scores 1,285 and the Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U reaches 1,304 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 280 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U uses Vega, both on 65 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 240 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 512 (Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,285 | 1,304+1% |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | Vega |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 7 nm |
| Shading Units | 240 | 512+113% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U has 0 MB. The GeForce GTX 280 offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs System.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 8 Ryzen 5 3450U's 15W — a 176.1% difference. The Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 280) vs 1W (Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin vs Integrated.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 236W | 15W-94% |
| 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 | 86.9+1509% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 280 launched at $649 MSRP and currently averages $649, while the Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U launched at $150 and now averages $40. The Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U costs 93.8% less ($609 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 2.0 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 32.6 (Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U) — the Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U offers 1530% better value. The Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2008).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon Vega 8 Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $649 | $150-77% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $649 | $40-94% |
| Performance per Dollar | 2.0 | 32.6+1530% |
| Codename | GT200 | Vega |
| Release | June 16 2008 | January 7 2020 |
| Ranking | #802 | #545 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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