GeForce GTX 480M vs GeForce GTX 555

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 480M vs GeForce GTX 555 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 480M vs GeForce GTX 555: 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 480M

2010

Why buy it

✅87.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs 1 GB).

Trade-offs

❌2010 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 10.7 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
❌42.9% higher power demand at 100W vs 70W.

GeForce GTX 555

2011

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 10.7 vs 0 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Draws 70W instead of 100W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 480M across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 1 GB vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2011 hardware with 1 GB 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 480M is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 87.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 3.1% in PassMark G3D (1,653 vs 1,604), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce GTX 480M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 2 GB vs 1 GB of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 555 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 555 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GTX 480M has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 480M vs GeForce GTX 555 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 480M

The GeForce GTX 480M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 25 2010. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 425 MHz. It has 352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,653 points.

GeForce GTX 555

The GeForce GTX 555 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 14 2011. It features the Fermi 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 720 MHz. It has 144 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 70W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,604 points. Launch price was $149.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 480M scores 1,653 and the GeForce GTX 555 reaches 1,604 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 480M is built on Fermi while the GeForce GTX 555 uses Fermi 2.0, both on a 40 nm process. Shader units: 352 (GeForce GTX 480M) vs 144 (GeForce GTX 555). Raw compute: 0.5984 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 480M) vs 0.4147 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 555).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480M	GeForce GTX 555
G3D Mark Score	1,653+3%	1,604
Architecture	Fermi	Fermi 2.0
Process Node	40 nm	40 nm
Shading Units	352+144%	144
Compute (TFLOPS)	0.5984 TFLOPS+44%	0.4147 TFLOPS
ROPs	32+100%	16
TMUs	44+83%	24
L1 Cache	704 KB+267%	192 KB
L2 Cache	512 KB+33%	384 KB

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 480M	GeForce GTX 555
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 480M has 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 555 carries 1 GB. GeForce GTX 480M gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 480M and 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 555. L2 Cache: 512 KB (GeForce GTX 480M) vs 384 KB (GeForce GTX 555) — the GeForce GTX 480M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480M	GeForce GTX 555
VRAM Capacity	2 GB+100%	1 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	512 KB+33%	384 KB

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 480M) vs 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 555). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.0 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480M	GeForce GTX 555
DirectX	12 (11_0)	12 (11_0)
Vulkan	1.2	1.2
OpenGL	4.0	4.6+15%
Max Displays	2	2

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Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD VP4 (GeForce GTX 480M) vs PureVideo HD VP4 (GeForce GTX 555). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs PureVideo HD VP4. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTX 480M) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTX 555).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480M	GeForce GTX 555
Encoder	PureVideo HD VP4	PureVideo HD VP4
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP4	PureVideo HD VP4
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 480M draws 100W versus the GeForce GTX 555's 70W — a 35.3% difference. The GeForce GTX 555 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 480M) vs 450W (GeForce GTX 555). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin. Typical load temperature: 95°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 480M	GeForce GTX 555
TDP	100W	70W-30%
Recommended PSU	350W-22%	450W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	1x 6-pin
Length	—	210mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	95°C	75°C-21%
Perf/Watt	16.5	22.9+39%

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GTX 555 (2011 vs 2010).

Feature	GeForce GTX 480M	GeForce GTX 555
MSRP	—	$150
Codename	GF100	GF116
Release	May 25 2010	May 14 2011
Ranking	#743	#849

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