Quadro M520 vs Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU

NVIDIA

Quadro M520

2017Core: 1041 MHzBoost: 1019 MHz
VS

Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU

2018
Similar parts
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Quadro M520 vs Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU 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 M520 vs Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU: 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 $699 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
  • Delivers 355.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 9.6 vs 2.1 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).
  • Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU 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 X1-45 GPU

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.
  • 349.5% HIGHER MSRP
    $899 MSRPvs$200 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.1 vs 9.6 G3D/$ ($899 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Quadro M520 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1.4% in PassMark G3D (1,913 vs 1,886), 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 $699 cheaper on MSRP at $200 vs $899, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 355.9% (9.6 vs 2.1), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

Quadro M520 vs Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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 X1-45 GPU

The Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU 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: 1,886 points.

Graphics Performance

The Quadro M520 scores 1,913 and the Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU reaches 1,886 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance.

FeatureQuadro M520Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU
G3D Mark Score
1,913+1%
1,886
Process Node
28 nm
7 nm

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureQuadro M520Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU
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 X1-45 GPU 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 128-bit on the Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU.

FeatureQuadro M520Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU
VRAM Capacity
2 GB
Shared System RAM
Memory Type
GDDR5
Shared
Bus Width
64-bit
128-bit+100%
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Quadro M520 draws 25W versus the Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU's 7W — a 112.5% difference. The Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro M520) vs 1W (Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Integrated.

FeatureQuadro M520Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU
TDP
25W
7W-72%
Recommended PSU
350W
1W-100%
Power Connector
PCIe-powered
Integrated
Perf/Watt
76.5
269.4+252%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Quadro M520 came in at $200, while the Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU launched at $899. On MSRP, Quadro M520 was 77.8% cheaper ($699 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 9.6 (Quadro M520) vs 2.1 (Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU) — the Quadro M520 offers 357.1% better value. The newer card here is Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU (2018 vs 2017).

FeatureQuadro M520Qualcomm Adreno X1-45 GPU
MSRP
$200-78%
$899
Performance per Dollar
9.6+357%
2.1
Codename
GM108
Release
January 11 2017
December 6 2018
Ranking
#695
#916

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