Quadro P2000 Max-Q vs Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X

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 P2000 Max-Q vs Radeon HD 7970 / 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 P2000 Max-Q vs Radeon HD 7970 / 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 P2000 Max-Q

2017

Why buy it

✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 3 GB).
✅Draws 80W instead of 200W, a 120W reduction.
✅More future proof: Pascal (2016−2021) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2017 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 17.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X

2013

Why buy it

✅24.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 17.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2013 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌150% higher power demand at 200W vs 80W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 24.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward Quadro P2000 Max-Q instead at 5,353 vs 5,248, 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 P2000 Max-Q is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs 3 GB of VRAM, a 14nm process instead of 28nm, and a newer 2017 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 HD 7970 / R9 280X 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 HD 7970 / R9 280X is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Quadro P2000 Max-Q has the stronger long-term case.

Quadro P2000 Max-Q vs Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X Technical Specifications

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

Quadro P2000 Max-Q

The Quadro P2000 Max-Q is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 5 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1215 MHz to 1468 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 80W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,353 points.

Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X

The Radeon HD 7970 / 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: 5,248 points. Launch price was $299.

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Graphics Performance

The Quadro P2000 Max-Q scores 5,353 and the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X reaches 5,248 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Quadro P2000 Max-Q is built on Pascal while the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X uses GCN 1.0, both on 14 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 768 (Quadro P2000 Max-Q) vs 2,048 (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X). Boost clocks: 1468 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

Feature	Quadro P2000 Max-Q	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X
G3D Mark Score	5,353+2%	5,248
Architecture	Pascal	GCN 1.0
Process Node	14 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	768	2048+167%
Boost Clock	1468 MHz+47%	1000 MHz

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Quadro P2000 Max-Q	Radeon HD 7970 / 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

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The Quadro P2000 Max-Q has 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X carries 3 GB. Quadro P2000 Max-Q 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 P2000 Max-Q and 384-bit on the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X.

Feature	Quadro P2000 Max-Q	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X
VRAM Capacity	4 GB+33%	3 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Bus Width	128-bit	384-bit+200%

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Power & Dimensions

The Quadro P2000 Max-Q draws 80W versus the Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X's 200W — a 85.7% difference. The Quadro P2000 Max-Q is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Quadro P2000 Max-Q) vs 500W (Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 6-pin + 8-pin.

Feature	Quadro P2000 Max-Q	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X
TDP	80W-60%	200W
Recommended PSU	350W-30%	500W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	6-pin + 8-pin
Length	—	275mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	—	2
Temp (Load)	—	80 C
Perf/Watt	66.9+155%	26.2

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is Quadro P2000 Max-Q (2017 vs 2013).

Feature	Quadro P2000 Max-Q	Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X
MSRP	—	$299
Codename	GP107GL	Tahiti
Release	July 5 2017	October 8 2013
Ranking	#426	#404

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