GeForce RTX 4060 vs Radeon R9 M280X

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 RTX 4060 vs Radeon R9 M280X 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 RTX 4060 vs Radeon R9 M280X: 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 RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅741.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 1907.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 3.3 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Radeon R9 M280X

2013

Why buy it

✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌2013 hardware with 4 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 3.3 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($250 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 741.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 2301.5% in PassMark G3D (19,548 vs 814), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 4 GB of VRAM, native frame generation with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while Radeon R9 M280X has no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 28nm, and 24 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 4060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $49 more expensive on MSRP at $299 vs $250, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 1907.9% (65.4 vs 3.3), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 4060 vs Radeon R9 M280X Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 4060

The GeForce RTX 4060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1830 MHz to 2460 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 24 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,548 points. Launch price was $299.

Radeon R9 M280X

The Radeon R9 M280X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 8 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 814 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4060 scores 19,548 versus the Radeon R9 M280X's 814 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 2301.5%. The GeForce RTX 4060 is built on Ada Lovelace while the Radeon R9 M280X uses GCN 1.0, both on 5 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 2,048 (Radeon R9 M280X). Raw compute: 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 4.096 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M280X). Boost clocks: 2460 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 M280X
G3D Mark Score	19,548+2301%	814
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	GCN 1.0
Process Node	5 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	3072+50%	2048
Compute (TFLOPS)	15.11 TFLOPS+269%	4.096 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2460 MHz+146%	1000 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	96	128+33%
L1 Cache	3 MB+500%	0.5 MB
L2 Cache	24 MB+3100%	0.75 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4060 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The Radeon R9 M280X does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon R9 M280X leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 M280X
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4060 has 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M280X carries 4 GB. GeForce RTX 4060 gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 80 GB/s (Radeon R9 M280X) — a 240% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 4060 and 128-bit on the Radeon R9 M280X. L2 Cache: 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 0.75 MB (Radeon R9 M280X) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 M280X
VRAM Capacity	8 GB+100%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	272 GB/s+240%	80 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	24 MB+3100%	0.75 MB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4060 draws 115W versus the Radeon R9 M280X's 200W — a 54% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M280X). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 M280X
TDP	115W-43%	200W
Recommended PSU	550W	350W-36%
Power Connector	8-pin	Mobile
Length	240mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	73°C	—
Perf/Watt	170.0+4046%	4.1

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 4060 came in at $299, while the Radeon R9 M280X launched at $250. On MSRP, Radeon R9 M280X was 16.4% cheaper ($49 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 65.4 (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 3.3 (Radeon R9 M280X) — the GeForce RTX 4060 offers 1881.8% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4060 (2023 vs 2013).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 M280X
MSRP	$299	$250-16%
Performance per Dollar	65.4+1882%	3.3
Codename	AD107	Tahiti
Release	May 18 2023	October 8 2013
Ranking	#84	#404

Search GeForce RTX 4060 on Amazon

Search Radeon R9 M280X 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.