Quadro K5100M vs Radeon R9 M290X

NVIDIA

Quadro K5100M

2013Core: 771 MHz
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Radeon R9 M290X

2014Core: 850 MHzBoost: 900 MHz
Similar parts
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Quadro K5100M vs Radeon R9 M290X Performance Spectrum

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.

Quadro K5100M vs Radeon R9 M290X 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.

Quadro K5100M vs Radeon R9 M290X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

Quadro K5100M

2013

Why buy it

  • 13.8% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).

Trade-offs

  • 2013 hardware with 8 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 8.0 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $400 MSRP).

Radeon R9 M290X

2014

Why buy it

  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 8.0 vs 0 G3D/$ ($400 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than Quadro K5100M across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2014 hardware with 4 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?
Quadro K5100M is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 13.8% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 1.4% in PassMark G3D (3,264 vs 3,218), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Quadro K5100M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 4 GB of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Radeon R9 M290X 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, Radeon R9 M290X is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Quadro K5100M has the stronger long-term case.

Quadro K5100M vs Radeon R9 M290X Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

Quadro K5100M

The Quadro K5100M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 23 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 771 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,264 points.

AMD

Radeon R9 M290X

The Radeon R9 M290X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 9 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,218 points.

Graphics Performance

The Quadro K5100M scores 3,264 and the Radeon R9 M290X reaches 3,218 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Quadro K5100M is built on Kepler while the Radeon R9 M290X uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,536 (Quadro K5100M) vs 1,280 (Radeon R9 M290X). Raw compute: 2.369 TFLOPS (Quadro K5100M) vs 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M290X).

FeatureQuadro K5100MRadeon R9 M290X
G3D Mark Score
3,264+1%
3,218
Architecture
Kepler
GCN 1.0
Process Node
28 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
1536+20%
1280
Compute (TFLOPS)
2.369 TFLOPS+3%
2.304 TFLOPS
ROPs
32
32
TMUs
128+60%
80
L1 Cache
128 KB
320 KB+150%
L2 Cache
512 KB
512 KB

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureQuadro K5100MRadeon R9 M290X
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
Standard
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Quadro K5100M has 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M290X carries 4 GB. Quadro K5100M gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the Quadro K5100M and 128-bit on the Radeon R9 M290X.

FeatureQuadro K5100MRadeon R9 M290X
VRAM Capacity
8 GB+100%
4 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
64-bit
128-bit+100%
L2 Cache
512 KB
512 KB
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Quadro K5100M draws 100W versus the Radeon R9 M290X's 100W — a 0% difference. The Radeon R9 M290X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro K5100M) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M290X). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Mobile.

FeatureQuadro K5100MRadeon R9 M290X
TDP
100W
100W
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
PCIe-powered
Mobile
Slots
0
Temp (Load)
85°C
Perf/Watt
32.6+1%
32.2
💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is Radeon R9 M290X (2014 vs 2013).

FeatureQuadro K5100MRadeon R9 M290X
MSRP
$400
Codename
GK104
Neptune
Release
July 23 2013
January 9 2014
Ranking
#562
#566

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