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 480 vs GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design 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 480 vs GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design: 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 480

2010

Why buy it

✅28.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 8.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2010 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌233.3% higher power demand at 250W vs 75W.

GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design

2018

Why buy it

✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 2 GB).
✅GeForce GTX 480 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design is the less risky modern option long term.
✅Draws 75W instead of 250W, a 175W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 480 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2018 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 8.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GTX 480 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 28.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 3.8% in PassMark G3D (4,075 vs 3,925), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs 2 GB of VRAM, a 14nm process instead of 40nm, and a newer 2018 generation instead of 2010. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 480 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 480 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 480 vs GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 480

The GeForce GTX 480 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 26 2010. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 700 MHz. It has 480 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,075 points. Launch price was $499.

GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design

The GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 3 2018. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1152 MHz to 1417 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,925 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 480 scores 4,075 and the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design reaches 3,925 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 480 is built on Fermi while the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design uses Pascal, both on 40 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 480 (GeForce GTX 480) vs 768 (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design). Raw compute: 1.345 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 480) vs 2.177 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
G3D Mark Score	4,075+4%	3,925
Architecture	Fermi	Pascal
Process Node	40 nm	14 nm
Shading Units	480	768+60%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.345 TFLOPS	2.177 TFLOPS+62%
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	60+25%	48
L1 Cache	960 KB+233%	288 KB
L2 Cache	0.75 MB	1 MB+33%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 480 has 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design carries 4 GB. GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design gives you 166.7% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 177.4 GB/s (GeForce GTX 480) vs 80 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design) — a 121.8% advantage for the GeForce GTX 480. Memory bus width is 384-bit on the GeForce GTX 480 and 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design. L2 Cache: 0.75 MB (GeForce GTX 480) vs 1 MB (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design) — the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
VRAM Capacity	1.5 GB	4 GB+167%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	177.4 GB/s+122%	80 GB/s
Bus Width	384-bit+200%	128-bit
L2 Cache	0.75 MB	1 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 480) vs 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
DirectX	12 (11_0)	12 (12_1)
Vulkan	1.2	1.3+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD VP4 (GeForce GTX 480) vs NVENC (6th Gen) (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs NVDEC (3rd Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTX 480) vs H.264,H.265 (HEVC),VP9 (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
Encoder	PureVideo HD VP4	NVENC (6th Gen)
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP4	NVDEC (3rd Gen)
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP	H.264,H.265 (HEVC),VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 480 draws 250W versus the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design's 75W — a 107.7% difference. The GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce GTX 480) vs 350W (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 70°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
TDP	250W	75W-70%
Recommended PSU	600W	350W-42%
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	267mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	90°C	70°C-22%
Perf/Watt	16.3	52.3+221%

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design (2018 vs 2010).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
MSRP	$499	—
Codename	GF100	GP107
Release	March 26 2010	January 3 2018
Ranking	#488	#429

Search GeForce GTX 480 on Amazon

Search GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.