Quadro M520 vs Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3

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 M520 vs Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 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 M520 vs Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3: 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 M520

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $399 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 194.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 9.6 vs 3.3 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).
✅Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Quadro M520 is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

❌2017 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌257.1% higher power demand at 25W vs 7W.

Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 7W instead of 25W, a 18W reduction.
✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2018 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
199.5% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$200 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 3.3 vs 9.6 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1.8% in PassMark G3D (1,947 vs 1,913), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

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

Quadro M520 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 2 GB vs Unknown of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Quadro M520 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $399 cheaper on MSRP at $200 vs $599, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 194.3% (9.6 vs 3.3), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

Quadro M520 vs Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 Technical Specifications

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

Quadro M520

The Quadro M520 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2017. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1041 MHz to 1019 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,913 points.

Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3

The Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 is manufactured by Qualcomm. It was released in December 6 2018. The thermal design power (TDP) is 7W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,947 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Quadro M520 scores 1,913 and the Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 reaches 1,947 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance.

Feature	Quadro M520	Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3
G3D Mark Score	1,913	1,947+2%
Process Node	28 nm	7 nm

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Quadro M520	Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Quadro M520 has 2 GB of VRAM, while the Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 carries 0 MB. Quadro M520 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 M520 and System on the Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3.

Feature	Quadro M520	Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3
VRAM Capacity	2 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR5	Shared
Bus Width	64-bit	System

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Quadro M520 draws 25W versus the Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3's 7W — a 112.5% difference. The Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro M520) vs 1W (Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Integrated.

Feature	Quadro M520	Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3
TDP	25W	7W-72%
Recommended PSU	350W	1W-100%
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	Integrated
Perf/Watt	76.5	278.1+264%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Quadro M520 came in at $200, while the Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 launched at $599. On MSRP, Quadro M520 was 66.6% cheaper ($399 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 9.6 (Quadro M520) vs 3.3 (Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3) — the Quadro M520 offers 190.9% better value. The newer card here is Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3 (2018 vs 2017).

Feature	Quadro M520	Qualcomm Adreno 8cx Gen 3
MSRP	$200-67%	$599
Performance per Dollar	9.6+191%	3.3
Codename	GM108	—
Release	January 11 2017	December 6 2018
Ranking	#695	#915

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