GeForce GTX 280M SLI vs Radeon R6

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 280M SLI vs Radeon R6 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 280M SLI vs Radeon R6: 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 280M SLI

2009

Why buy it

✅25.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs Unknown).
✅Radeon R6 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce GTX 280M SLI is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

❌2009 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌200% higher power demand at 150W vs 50W.

Radeon R6

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 50W instead of 150W, a 100W reduction.
✅More future proof: GCN 4.0 (2016−2020) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 280M SLI across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 512 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2019 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GTX 280M SLI is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 25.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 1.5% in PassMark G3D (621 vs 612), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce GTX 280M SLI is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 512 MB vs Unknown of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 280M SLI makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce GTX 280M SLI vs Radeon R6 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 280M SLI

The GeForce GTX 280M SLI is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 2 2009. It features the G9x architecture. The core clock speed is 585 MHz. It has 256 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 621 points.

Radeon R6

The Radeon R6 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 13 2019. It features the GCN 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1082 MHz to 1218 MHz. It has 512 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 612 points.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 280M SLI scores 621 and the Radeon R6 reaches 612 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 280M SLI is built on G9x while the Radeon R6 uses GCN 4.0, both on 55 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 256 (GeForce GTX 280M SLI) vs 512 (Radeon R6).

Feature	GeForce GTX 280M SLI	Radeon R6
G3D Mark Score	621+1%	612
Architecture	G9x	GCN 4.0
Process Node	55 nm	14 nm
Shading Units	256	512+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 280M SLI gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon R6 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280M SLI	Radeon R6
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

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 280M SLI has 512 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon R6 carries 0 MB. GeForce GTX 280M SLI gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the GeForce GTX 280M SLI and 64-bit on the Radeon R6.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280M SLI	Radeon R6
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB	0 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	64-bit	64-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 11.1 (10_0) (GeForce GTX 280M SLI) vs 12 (12_0) (Radeon R6). OpenGL: 3.3 vs 4.4. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280M SLI	Radeon R6
DirectX	11.1 (10_0)	12 (12_0)+8%
OpenGL	3.3	4.4+33%
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD VP2 (GeForce GTX 280M SLI) vs VCE 2.0 (Radeon R6). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP2 vs UVD 4.2. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 280M SLI) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,DivX (Radeon R6).

Feature	GeForce GTX 280M SLI	Radeon R6
Encoder	PureVideo HD VP2	VCE 2.0
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP2	UVD 4.2
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,DivX

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 280M SLI draws 150W versus the Radeon R6's 50W — a 100% difference. The Radeon R6 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 280M SLI) vs 350W (Radeon R6). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 95°C vs 65°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 280M SLI	Radeon R6
TDP	150W	50W-67%
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	PCIe-powered
Slots	0	0
Temp (Load)	95°C	65°C-32%
Perf/Watt	4.1	12.2+198%

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is Radeon R6 (2019 vs 2009).

Feature	GeForce GTX 280M SLI	Radeon R6
MSRP	—	$0
Codename	N10E-GTX	Polaris 23
Release	March 2 2009	May 13 2019
Ranking	#793	#757

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