GeForce GTX 480 vs Quadro K5000

CPU

GPU

GeForce GTX 480

2010Core: 700 MHz

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Quadro K5000

2012Core: 706 MHzBoost: 706 MHz

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GeForce GTX 480 vs Quadro K5000 Performance Spectrum

GeForce GTX 480

1.5 GB 250

4,075

+2.2%

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q Design

3,989

0.0%

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q Design

GeForce GTX TITAN X

TITAN V CEO Edition

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

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.

GeForce GTX 480 vs Quadro K5000 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 Quadro K5000: 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

✅17.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $2,000 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 411.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 8.2 vs 1.6 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $2,499 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.
❌104.9% higher power demand at 250W vs 122W.

Quadro K5000

2012

Why buy it

✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Draws 122W instead of 250W, a 128W reduction.
✅More future proof: Kepler (2012−2018) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 480 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2012 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
400.8% HIGHER MSRP
$2,499 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.6 vs 8.2 G3D/$ ($2,499 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 17.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 2.2% in PassMark G3D (4,075 vs 3,989), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce GTX 480 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond because it comes out ahead on the available hardware-headroom signals for this matchup.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 480 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $2,000 cheaper on MSRP at $499 vs $2,499, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 411.6% (8.2 vs 1.6), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 480 vs Quadro K5000 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.

Quadro K5000

The Quadro K5000 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 17 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 706 MHz to 706 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 122W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,989 points. Launch price was $2,499.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 480 scores 4,075 and the Quadro K5000 reaches 3,989 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 480 is built on Fermi while the Quadro K5000 uses Kepler, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 480 (GeForce GTX 480) vs 1,536 (Quadro K5000). Raw compute: 1.345 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 480) vs 2.169 TFLOPS (Quadro K5000).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	Quadro K5000
G3D Mark Score	4,075+2%	3,989
Architecture	Fermi	Kepler
Process Node	40 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	480	1536+220%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.345 TFLOPS	2.169 TFLOPS+61%
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	60	128+113%
L1 Cache	960 KB+650%	128 KB
L2 Cache	768 KB+50%	512 KB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 480 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Quadro K5000 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	Quadro K5000
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 480 has 2 GB of VRAM, while the Quadro K5000 carries 4 GB. Quadro K5000 gives you 166.7% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 384-bit on the GeForce GTX 480 and 64-bit on the Quadro K5000. L2 Cache: 768 KB (GeForce GTX 480) vs 512 KB (Quadro K5000) — the GeForce GTX 480 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	Quadro K5000
VRAM Capacity	1.5 GB	4 GB+167%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	384-bit+500%	64-bit
L2 Cache	768 KB+50%	512 KB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 480) vs 12_0 (Quadro K5000). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	Quadro K5000
DirectX	12 (11_0)	12_0
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD VP4 (GeForce GTX 480) vs NVENC 2nd Gen (Quadro K5000). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs NVDEC 1st Gen.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	Quadro K5000
Encoder	PureVideo HD VP4	NVENC 2nd Gen
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP4	NVDEC 1st Gen
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP	—

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 480 draws 250W versus the Quadro K5000's 122W — a 68.8% difference. The Quadro K5000 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce GTX 480) vs 350W (Quadro K5000). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 267mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	Quadro K5000
TDP	250W	122W-51%
Recommended PSU	600W	350W-42%
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	267mm	267mm
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	90°C	—
Perf/Watt	16.3	32.7+101%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 480 came in at $499, while the Quadro K5000 launched at $2499. On MSRP, GeForce GTX 480 was 80% cheaper ($2000 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 8.2 (GeForce GTX 480) vs 1.6 (Quadro K5000) — the GeForce GTX 480 offers 412.5% better value. The newer card here is Quadro K5000 (2012 vs 2010).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480	Quadro K5000
MSRP	$499-80%	$2499
Performance per Dollar	8.2+412%	1.6
Codename	GF100	GK104
Release	March 26 2010	August 17 2012
Ranking	#488	#492

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