Quadro M3000M vs Radeon R9 280

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 M3000M vs Radeon R9 280 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 M3000M vs Radeon R9 280: 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 M3000M

2015

Why buy it

✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 3 GB).
✅Draws 75W instead of 200W, a 125W reduction.
✅More future proof: Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon R9 280 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2015 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 0 vs 19.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $279 MSRP).

Radeon R9 280

2014

Why buy it

✅11.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 19.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2014 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌166.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 75W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon R9 280 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 11.4% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward Quadro M3000M instead at 5,574 vs 5,532, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.

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

Quadro M3000M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs 3 GB of VRAM and a newer 2015 generation instead of 2014. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon R9 280 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 280 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Quadro M3000M has the stronger long-term case.

Quadro M3000M vs Radeon R9 280 Technical Specifications

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

Quadro M3000M

The Quadro M3000M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 18 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 1050 MHz. It has 1,024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,574 points.

Radeon R9 280

The Radeon R9 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 4 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 933 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,532 points. Launch price was $279.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Quadro M3000M scores 5,574 and the Radeon R9 280 reaches 5,532 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Quadro M3000M is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the Radeon R9 280 uses GCN 1.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1 (Quadro M3000M) vs 1,792 (Radeon R9 280). Raw compute: 2.15 TFLOPS (Quadro M3000M) vs 3.344 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 280).

Feature	Quadro M3000M	Radeon R9 280
G3D Mark Score	5,574	5,532
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	GCN 1.0
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1,024	1792+75%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.15 TFLOPS	3.344 TFLOPS+56%
ROPs	32	32
TMUs	64	112+75%
L1 Cache	384 KB	448 KB+17%
L2 Cache	2 MB+167%	0.75 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Quadro M3000M	Radeon R9 280
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 M3000M has 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 280 carries 3 GB. Quadro M3000M gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the Quadro M3000M and 384-bit on the Radeon R9 280. L2 Cache: 2 MB (Quadro M3000M) vs 0.75 MB (Radeon R9 280) — the Quadro M3000M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	Quadro M3000M	Radeon R9 280
VRAM Capacity	4 GB+33%	3 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Bus Width	128-bit	384-bit+200%
L2 Cache	2 MB+167%	0.75 MB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Quadro M3000M draws 75W versus the Radeon R9 280's 200W — a 90.9% difference. The Quadro M3000M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro M3000M) vs 500W (Radeon R9 280). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 6-pin + 8-pin.

Feature	Quadro M3000M	Radeon R9 280
TDP	75W-63%	200W
Recommended PSU	350W-30%	500W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	6-pin + 8-pin
Slots	0	—
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	74.3+168%	27.7

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is Quadro M3000M (2015 vs 2014).

Feature	Quadro M3000M	Radeon R9 280
MSRP	—	$279
Codename	GM204	Tahiti
Release	August 18 2015	March 4 2014
Ranking	#411	#415

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