GeForce GTX 960 vs Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS

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 960 vs Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS 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 960 vs Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS: 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 960

2015

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 30.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs Unknown).

Trade-offs

❌2015 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌233.3% higher power demand at 100W vs 30W.

Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS

2023

Why buy it

✅GeForce GTX 960 is already legacy-tier future-proofing, so Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS is the less risky modern option long term.
✅Draws 30W instead of 100W, a 70W reduction.
✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Older hardware, Unknown of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 30.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GTX 960 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 2.2% in PassMark G3D (6,133 vs 6,000), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

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

Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 4nm process instead of 28nm and a newer 2023 generation instead of 2015. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 960 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 960 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p headroom, Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 960 vs Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 960

The GeForce GTX 960 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 22 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1127 MHz to 1178 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,133 points. Launch price was $199.

Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS

The Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS is manufactured by Qualcomm. It was released in October 26 2023. The boost clock speed is 1250 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,000 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 960 scores 6,133 and the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS reaches 6,000 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce GTX 960) vs 1,536 (Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS). Boost clocks: 1178 MHz vs 1250 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS
G3D Mark Score	6,133+2%	6,000
Process Node	28 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	1024	1536+50%
Boost Clock	1178 MHz	1250 MHz+6%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 960 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS
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 960 has 4 GB of VRAM, while the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS carries 0 MB. GeForce GTX 960 gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 112 GB/s (GeForce GTX 960) vs 135 GB/s (Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS) — a 20.5% advantage for the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 960 and 128-bit on the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR5	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	112 GB/s	135 GB/s+21%
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 960 draws 100W versus the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS's 30W — a 107.7% difference. The Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 960) vs 1W (Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS). Power connectors: 6-pin vs Integrated.

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS
TDP	100W	30W-70%
Recommended PSU	400W	1W-100%
Power Connector	6-pin	Integrated
Length	241mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	75 C	—
Perf/Watt	61.3	200.0+226%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 960 came in at $199, while the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS launched at $0. On MSRP, Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS was 100+% cheaper ($199 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 30.8 (GeForce GTX 960) vs Infinity (Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS) — the Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS (2023 vs 2015).

Feature	GeForce GTX 960	Qualcomm SD X Adreno X1-85 3.8 TFLOPS
MSRP	$199	$0-100%
Performance per Dollar	30.8	Infinity
Codename	GM206	—
Release	January 22 2015	October 26 2023
Ranking	#393	#459

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