Quadro K5200 vs Radeon R9 280X

NVIDIA

Quadro K5200

2014Core: 667 MHzBoost: 771 MHz
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VS
AMD

Radeon R9 280X

2013Boost: 1000 MHz
Similar parts
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Quadro K5200 vs Radeon R9 280X 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 K5200 vs Radeon R9 280X 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 K5200 vs Radeon R9 280X: 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 K5200

2014

Why buy it

  • 7.8% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • 166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 3 GB).
  • Draws 150W instead of 200W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • 2014 hardware with 8 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
  • 652.5% HIGHER MSRP
    $2,250 MSRPvs$299 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.7 vs 20.4 G3D/$ ($2,250 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Radeon R9 280X

2013

Why buy it

  • Costs $1,951 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $2,250 MSRP).
  • Delivers 646.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 20.4 vs 2.7 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $2,250 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than Quadro K5200 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2013 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
  • 33.3% higher power demand at 200W vs 150W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Quadro K5200 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 7.8% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 0.8% in PassMark G3D (6,149 vs 6,100), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Quadro K5200 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 3 GB of VRAM and a newer 2014 generation instead of 2013. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Radeon R9 280X makes the most sense to buy today. It is $1,951 cheaper on MSRP at $299 vs $2,250, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 646.5% (20.4 vs 2.7), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Radeon R9 280X is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Quadro K5200 has the stronger long-term case.

Quadro K5200 vs Radeon R9 280X Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

Quadro K5200

The Quadro K5200 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 22 2014. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 667 MHz to 771 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,149 points. Launch price was $1,699.74.

AMD

Radeon R9 280X

The Radeon R9 280X 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: 6,100 points. Launch price was $299.

Graphics Performance

The Quadro K5200 scores 6,149 and the Radeon R9 280X reaches 6,100 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Quadro K5200 is built on Kepler while the Radeon R9 280X uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,304 (Quadro K5200) vs 2,048 (Radeon R9 280X). Raw compute: 3.553 TFLOPS (Quadro K5200) vs 4.096 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 280X). Boost clocks: 771 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

FeatureQuadro K5200Radeon R9 280X
G3D Mark Score
6,149
6,100
Architecture
Kepler
GCN 1.0
Process Node
28 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
2304+13%
2048
Compute (TFLOPS)
3.553 TFLOPS
4.096 TFLOPS+15%
Boost Clock
771 MHz
1000 MHz+30%
ROPs
48+50%
32
TMUs
192+50%
128

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureQuadro K5200Radeon R9 280X
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 K5200 has 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 280X carries 3 GB. Quadro K5200 gives you 166.7% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 211 GB/s (Quadro K5200) vs 288 GB/s (Radeon R9 280X) — a 36.5% advantage for the Radeon R9 280X. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the Quadro K5200 and 384-bit on the Radeon R9 280X.

FeatureQuadro K5200Radeon R9 280X
VRAM Capacity
8 GB+167%
3 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
211 GB/s
288 GB/s+36%
Bus Width
256-bit
384-bit+50%
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Quadro K5200 draws 150W versus the Radeon R9 280X's 200W — a 28.6% difference. The Quadro K5200 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro K5200) vs 500W (Radeon R9 280X). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 6-pin + 8-pin.

FeatureQuadro K5200Radeon R9 280X
TDP
150W-25%
200W
Recommended PSU
350W-30%
500W
Power Connector
PCIe-powered
6-pin + 8-pin
Slots
2
Temp (Load)
75°C
Perf/Watt
41.0+34%
30.5
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Quadro K5200 came in at $2250, while the Radeon R9 280X launched at $299. On MSRP, Radeon R9 280X was 86.7% cheaper ($1951 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 2.7 (Quadro K5200) vs 20.4 (Radeon R9 280X) — the Radeon R9 280X offers 655.6% better value. The newer card here is Quadro K5200 (2014 vs 2013).

FeatureQuadro K5200Radeon R9 280X
MSRP
$2250
$299-87%
Performance per Dollar
2.7
20.4+656%
Codename
GK110B
Tahiti
Release
July 22 2014
October 8 2013
Ranking
#391
#404

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