GeForce GTX 470 vs Radeon R9 M290X

GeForce GTX 470

2010Core: 607 MHz

Radeon R9 M290X

2014Core: 850 MHzBoost: 900 MHz

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce GTX 470

215

3,145

0.0%

GeForce GTX 650

GeForce GTX 670MX SLI

GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation

Radeon R9 M290X

100

3,218

+2.3%

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.

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

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M290X

#388

Radeon RX 550X (móvel)

MSRP: $35|Avg: $35

1349%

#390

GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $150

1223%

#391

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $100

1219%

#395

GeForce GTX 1050 (Mobile)

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $50

1109%

#396

Radeon RX 6300

MSRP: $60|Avg: $40

1101%

#399

Radeon R9 M290X

MSRP: $400|Avg: $60

100%

#400

Radeon HD 7670

MSRP: $100|Avg: $25

100%

#401

Radeon HD 8550G + 8750M Dual

MSRP: $100|Avg: $100

99%

#402

Mobility Radeon HD 5000

MSRP: $99|Avg: $20

97%

#403

Iris Pro Graphics 5200

MSRP: $150|Avg: $40

97%

#405

Radeon RX Vega 10 Ryzen 7 3700C

MSRP: $150|Avg: $50

97%

#406

Radeon HD 8650G + 7700M Dual

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

93%

#407

Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire

MSRP: $800|Avg: $200

93%

#408

GeForce GTX 285M SLI

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $40

91%

#409

Radeon R7 M260X

MSRP: $139|Avg: $35

91%

#410

Radeon HD 8570D + HD 6570 Dual

MSRP: $120|Avg: $25

90%

#411

Intel UHD Graphics 615

MSRP: $100|Avg: $50

89%

#412

Radeon R7 A365

MSRP: $109|Avg: $55

89%

#413

Radeon 3015e

MSRP: $49|Avg: $49

89%

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

The Radeon R9 M290X is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.3% higher G3D Mark score and 220% more VRAM (4 GB vs 1 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 470.

Insight	GeForce GTX 470	Radeon R9 M290X
Performance	❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.3%)	✅Leading raw performance (+2.3%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2010 / Fermi (2010−2014))	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020))
Ecosystem	Supports FSR Upscaling	Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM	❌ Less VRAM capacity	✅ More VRAM (+220%)
Efficiency	⚡ Higher Power Consumption	💡 Excellent Perf/Watt
Case Fit	📏 Compact / SFF Friendly	—

💎 Value Proposition

The Radeon R9 M290X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 M290X holds the technical lead. Priced at $60 (vs $349), it costs 83% less, resulting in a 495.2% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	GeForce GTX 470	Radeon R9 M290X
Cost Efficiency	❌Lower cost efficiency	✅Better overall value (+495.2%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️Higher upfront cost ($349)	✅More affordable ($60)

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.

GeForce GTX 470 Benchmark Check

Radeon R9 M290X Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 470 and Radeon R9 M290X

GeForce GTX 470

The GeForce GTX 470 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 26 2010. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 607 MHz. It has 448 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 215W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,145 points. Launch price was $349.

Radeon R9 M290X

The Radeon R9 M290X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 9 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,218 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 470 scores 3,145 and the Radeon R9 M290X reaches 3,218 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 470 is built on Fermi while the Radeon R9 M290X uses GCN 1.0, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 448 (GeForce GTX 470) vs 1,280 (Radeon R9 M290X). Raw compute: 1.089 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 470) vs 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M290X).

Feature	GeForce GTX 470	Radeon R9 M290X
G3D Mark Score	3,145	3,218+2%
Architecture	Fermi	GCN 1.0
Process Node	40 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	448	1280+186%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.089 TFLOPS	2.304 TFLOPS+112%
ROPs	40+25%	32
TMUs	56	80+43%
L1 Cache	896 KB+180%	320 KB
L2 Cache	640 KB+25%	512 KB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 470	Radeon R9 M290X
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 470 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M290X has 4 GB. The Radeon R9 M290X offers 220% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 640 KB (GeForce GTX 470) vs 512 KB (Radeon R9 M290X) — the GeForce GTX 470 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 470	Radeon R9 M290X
VRAM Capacity	1.25 GB	4 GB+220%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	640 KB+25%	512 KB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 470 draws 215W versus the Radeon R9 M290X's 100W — a 73% difference. The Radeon R9 M290X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 470) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M290X). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs Mobile.

Feature	GeForce GTX 470	Radeon R9 M290X
TDP	215W	100W-53%
Recommended PSU	550W	350W-36%
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	Mobile
Length	241mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	93	—
Perf/Watt	14.6	32.2+121%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 470 launched at $349 MSRP and currently averages $349, while the Radeon R9 M290X launched at $400 and now averages $60. The Radeon R9 M290X costs 82.8% less ($289 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 9.0 (GeForce GTX 470) vs 53.6 (Radeon R9 M290X) — the Radeon R9 M290X offers 495.6% better value. The Radeon R9 M290X is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2010).