GeForce GTX 280
VS
Tesla M2070-Q

GeForce GTX 280 vs Tesla M2070-Q

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 280

2008Core: 602 MHz
VS
NVIDIA

Tesla M2070-Q

2011Core: 574 MHz

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 Tesla M2070-Q is on rank 398, so the GeForce GTX 280 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 280

#1
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
MSRP: $399|Avg: $280
3664%
#2
GeForce RTX 5060
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
3520%
#3
Radeon RX 5600 XT
MSRP: $279|Avg: $180
3479%
#4
Radeon RX 9060
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
3473%
#5
GeForce RTX 5050
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
3466%
#6
GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
MSRP: $249|Avg: $150
3446%
#7
Arc A580
MSRP: $179|Avg: $179
3403%
#8
Radeon RX 9060 XT
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
3390%
#9
Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
3359%
#10
Radeon RX 7600
MSRP: $269|Avg: $250
3349%
#11
Radeon RX 6600
MSRP: $329|Avg: $180
3309%
#12
GeForce RTX 4060
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
3302%
#13
Arc B570
MSRP: $219|Avg: $219
3242%
#14
Arc B580
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
3240%
#299
Radeon R5 430 OEM
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $13
4040%
#314
GeForce GTX 280
MSRP: $649|Avg: $649
100%
#315
Radeon HD 3470
MSRP: $60|Avg: $15
98%
#316
Radeon HD 3000
MSRP: $50|Avg: $10
97%
#317
GeForce GT 120
MSRP: $100|Avg: $40
95%
#318
Radeon HD 6250
MSRP: $50|Avg: $50
95%
#319
GeForce 6600 LE
MSRP: $30|Avg: $30
86%
#320
Radeon HD 3670
MSRP: $100|Avg: $15
85%
#321
Radeon HD 3200
MSRP: $50|Avg: $10
83%
#322
Radeon HD 2350
MSRP: $50|Avg: $48
78%
#323
Radeon HD 2400
MSRP: $79|Avg: $10
77%
#324
Radeon HD 2400 XT
MSRP: $79|Avg: $10
76%
#326
GeForce 7300 GT
MSRP: $89|Avg: $20
70%
#327
Radeon HD 3870 X2
MSRP: $449|Avg: $40
66%
#329
GeForce 7950 GT
MSRP: $299|Avg: $50
59%
Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar Tesla M2070-Q

#381
Tesla K20m
MSRP: $3199|Avg: $55
61554%
#396
Quadro FX 1500
MSRP: $699|Avg: $30
100%
#397
Quadro 7000
MSRP: $14499|Avg: $300
100%
#398
Tesla M2070-Q
MSRP: $5489|Avg: $50
100%
#399
Quadro FX 3700
MSRP: $1599|Avg: $500
96%
#400
Quadro FX 4700 X2
MSRP: $2999|Avg: $15
96%
#401
GRID M10-0B
MSRP: $4000|Avg: $1000
92%
#402
GRID K340
MSRP: $3299|Avg: $57
83%
#404
Quadro FX 4600
MSRP: $1999|Avg: $50
83%
#405
Quadro FX 5600
MSRP: $2999|Avg: $50
75%
#407
Quadro FX 3500
MSRP: $1599|Avg: $1599
71%
#408
Quadro FX 1400
MSRP: $799|Avg: $30
67%
#409
GRID K1
MSRP: $4140|Avg: $120
67%
#411
GRID P4-1Q
MSRP: $5890|Avg: $185
50%
Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

The Tesla M2070-Q is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.6% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce GTX 280 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.

InsightGeForce GTX 280Tesla M2070-Q
Performance
Lower raw frame rates (-1.6%)
Leading raw performance (+1.6%)
Longevity
🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013))
🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / Fermi (2010−2014))
Ecosystem
Supports FSR Upscaling
Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM
✅ More VRAM (+100%)
❌ Less VRAM capacity
Efficiency
Normal Efficiency
Normal Efficiency
Case Fit
Standard Size (267mm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Tesla M2070-Q offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Tesla M2070-Q holds the technical lead. Priced at $50 (vs $649), it costs 92% less, resulting in a 1219.2% higher cost efficiency score.

InsightGeForce GTX 280Tesla M2070-Q
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Better overall value (+1219.2%)
Upfront Cost
⚠️Higher upfront cost ($649)
More affordable ($50)

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 Tesla M2070-Q

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

Tesla M2070-Q

The Tesla M2070-Q is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 25 2011. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 574 MHz. It has 448 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,306 points. Launch price was $5,489.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 280 scores 1,285 and the Tesla M2070-Q 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 Tesla M2070-Q uses Fermi, both on 65 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 240 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 448 (Tesla M2070-Q). Raw compute: 0.6221 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 280) vs 1.028 TFLOPS (Tesla M2070-Q).

FeatureGeForce GTX 280Tesla M2070-Q
G3D Mark Score
1,285
1,306+2%
Architecture
Tesla 2.0
Fermi
Process Node
65 nm
40 nm
Shading Units
240
448+87%
Compute (TFLOPS)
0.6221 TFLOPS
1.028 TFLOPS+65%
ROPs
32
48+50%
TMUs
80+43%
56
L2 Cache
256 KB
768 KB+200%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureGeForce GTX 280Tesla M2070-Q
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 280 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Tesla M2070-Q has 512 MB. The GeForce GTX 280 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 256 KB (GeForce GTX 280) vs 768 KB (Tesla M2070-Q) — the Tesla M2070-Q has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce GTX 280Tesla M2070-Q
VRAM Capacity
1 GB+100%
0.5 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
128-bit+100%
64-bit
L2 Cache
256 KB
768 KB+200%
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 280 draws 236W versus the Tesla M2070-Q's 225W — a 4.8% difference. The Tesla M2070-Q is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 280) vs 350W (Tesla M2070-Q). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin vs PCIe-powered.

FeatureGeForce GTX 280Tesla M2070-Q
TDP
236W
225W-5%
Recommended PSU
550W
350W-36%
Power Connector
1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
PCIe-powered
Length
267mm
Height
111mm
Slots
2
Temp (Load)
85
Perf/Watt
5.4
5.8+7%
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 280 launched at $649 MSRP and currently averages $649, while the Tesla M2070-Q launched at $5489 and now averages $50. The Tesla M2070-Q costs 92.3% less ($599 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 2.0 (GeForce GTX 280) vs 26.1 (Tesla M2070-Q) — the Tesla M2070-Q offers 1205% better value. The Tesla M2070-Q is the newer GPU (2011 vs 2008).

FeatureGeForce GTX 280Tesla M2070-Q
MSRP
$649-88%
$5489
Avg Price (30d)
$649
$50-92%
Performance per Dollar
2.0
26.1+1205%
Codename
GT200
GF100
Release
June 16 2008
July 25 2011
Ranking
#802
#798