GeForce GTX 485M SLI vs GeForce GTX 590

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 485M SLI vs GeForce GTX 590 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 485M SLI vs GeForce GTX 590: 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 485M SLI

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 100W instead of 365W, a 265W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 590 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 3 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2011 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 4.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $699 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 590

2011

Why buy it

✅23.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 4.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (3 GB vs 2 GB).

Trade-offs

❌2011 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌265% higher power demand at 365W vs 100W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GTX 590 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 23.4% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward GeForce GTX 485M SLI instead at 3,360 vs 3,341, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.

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

GeForce GTX 485M SLI 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 590 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 590 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GTX 485M SLI has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 485M SLI vs GeForce GTX 590 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 485M SLI

The GeForce GTX 485M SLI is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 6 2011. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 575 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,360 points.

GeForce GTX 590

The GeForce GTX 590 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 24 2011. It features the Fermi 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 607 MHz. It has 1024 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 365W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,341 points. Launch price was $699.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 485M SLI scores 3,360 and the GeForce GTX 590 reaches 3,341 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 485M SLI is built on Fermi while the GeForce GTX 590 uses Fermi 2.0, both on a 40 nm process. Shader units: 768 (GeForce GTX 485M SLI) vs 1,024 (GeForce GTX 590).

Feature	GeForce GTX 485M SLI	GeForce GTX 590
G3D Mark Score	3,360	3,341
Architecture	Fermi	Fermi 2.0
Process Node	40 nm	40 nm
Shading Units	768	1024 ×2+33%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 485M SLI	GeForce GTX 590
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 485M SLI has 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 590 carries 3 GB. GeForce GTX 590 gives you 50% 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 485M SLI and 256-bit on the GeForce GTX 590.

Feature	GeForce GTX 485M SLI	GeForce GTX 590
VRAM Capacity	2 GB	3 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	128-bit	256-bit+100%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 485M SLI) vs 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 590). OpenGL: 4.0 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 485M SLI	GeForce GTX 590
DirectX	12 (11_0)	12 (11_0)
OpenGL	4.0	4.6+15%
Max Displays	2	4+100%

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Media & Encoding

Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs PureVideo HD (VP5). Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTX 485M SLI) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 590).

Feature	GeForce GTX 485M SLI	GeForce GTX 590
Encoder	PureVideo HD VP4	—
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP4	PureVideo HD (VP5)
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 485M SLI draws 100W versus the GeForce GTX 590's 365W — a 114% difference. The GeForce GTX 485M SLI is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 485M SLI) vs 700W (GeForce GTX 590). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Typical load temperature: 92°C vs 90°C.