CPU
GPU
Quadro FX 3800
Popular choices:
Radeon R9 M280X
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - GPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Quadro FX 3800 is positioned at rank 347 and the Radeon R9 M280X is on rank 285, so the Radeon R9 M280X offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Quadro FX 3800
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M280X
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Quadro FX 3800 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.2% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon R9 M280X offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon R9 M280X |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.2%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+300%) |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Quadro FX 3800 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Quadro FX 3800 holds the technical lead. Priced at $20 (vs $50), it costs 60% less, resulting in a 153.1% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon R9 M280X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+153.1%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($20) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Quadro FX 3800 and Radeon R9 M280X
Quadro FX 3800
The Quadro FX 3800 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 11 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 610 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 189W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 824 points. Launch price was $3,499.
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
The Quadro FX 3800 scores 824 and the Radeon R9 M280X reaches 814 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Quadro FX 3800 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the Radeon R9 M280X uses GCN 1.0, both on 55 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 240 (Quadro FX 3800) vs 2,048 (Radeon R9 M280X). Raw compute: 0.6221 TFLOPS (Quadro FX 3800) vs 4.096 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M280X).
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon R9 M280X |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 824+1% | 814 |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 55 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 240 | 2048+753% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.6221 TFLOPS | 4.096 TFLOPS+558% |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 80 | 128+60% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 768 KB+200% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon R9 M280X |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Quadro FX 3800 comes with 1 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M280X has 4 GB. The Radeon R9 M280X offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 256 KB (Quadro FX 3800) vs 768 KB (Radeon R9 M280X) — the Radeon R9 M280X has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon R9 M280X |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 1 GB | 4 GB+300% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 768 KB+200% |
Power & Dimensions
The Quadro FX 3800 draws 189W versus the Radeon R9 M280X's 200W — a 5.7% difference. The Quadro FX 3800 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro FX 3800) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M280X). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Mobile.
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon R9 M280X |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 189W-6% | 200W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | Mobile |
| Length | 1mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | — |
| Perf/Watt | 4.4+7% | 4.1 |
Value Analysis
The Quadro FX 3800 launched at $799 MSRP and currently averages $20, while the Radeon R9 M280X launched at $250 and now averages $50. The Quadro FX 3800 costs 60% less ($30 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 41.2 (Quadro FX 3800) vs 16.3 (Radeon R9 M280X) — the Quadro FX 3800 offers 152.8% better value. The Radeon R9 M280X is the newer GPU (2013 vs 2008).
| Feature | Quadro FX 3800 | Radeon R9 M280X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $799 | $250-69% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-60% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.2+153% | 16.3 |
| Codename | GT200B | Tahiti |
| Release | November 11 2008 | October 8 2013 |
| Ranking | #815 | #404 |
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