Radeon HD 2600 XT vs GeForce GT 520M
Radeon HD 2600 XT
Popular choices:
GeForce GT 520M
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - GPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Radeon HD 2600 XT is positioned at rank 677 and the GeForce GT 520M is on rank 253, so the GeForce GT 520M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 2600 XT
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GT 520M
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GT 520M is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.4% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (1 GB vs 512 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon HD 2600 XT.
| Insight | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce GT 520M |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.4%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon HD 2600 XT offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon HD 2600 XT holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $60), it costs 33% less, resulting in a 49.5% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce GT 520M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+49.5%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($40) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($60) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Radeon HD 2600 XT and GeForce GT 520M
Radeon HD 2600 XT
The Radeon HD 2600 XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 7 2013. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 480 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 283 points.
GeForce GT 520M
The GeForce GT 520M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 9 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 941 MHz to 967 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 284 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 2600 XT scores 283 and the GeForce GT 520M reaches 284 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 2600 XT is built on TeraScale 2 while the GeForce GT 520M uses Kepler, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 480 (Radeon HD 2600 XT) vs 384 (GeForce GT 520M). Raw compute: 0.696 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 2600 XT) vs 0.7427 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 520M).
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce GT 520M |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 283 | 284 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 2 | Kepler |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 480+25% | 384 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.696 TFLOPS | 0.7427 TFLOPS+7% |
| ROPs | 8 | 16+100% |
| TMUs | 24 | 32+33% |
| L1 Cache | 48 KB+50% | 32 KB |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce GT 520M |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon HD 2600 XT comes with 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce GT 520M has 1 GB. The GeForce GT 520M offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce GT 520M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB | 1 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 2600 XT draws 25W versus the GeForce GT 520M's 50W — a 66.7% difference. The Radeon HD 2600 XT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 2600 XT) vs 350W (GeForce GT 520M). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce GT 520M |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 25W-50% | 50W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | — | 0mm |
| Height | — | 0mm |
| Slots | — | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 70°C |
| Perf/Watt | 11.3+98% | 5.7 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 2600 XT launched at $199 MSRP and currently averages $40, while the GeForce GT 520M launched at $60.
| Feature | Radeon HD 2600 XT | GeForce GT 520M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199 | $60-70% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | — |
| Codename | Thames | GK107 |
| Release | January 7 2013 | January 9 2013 |
| Ranking | #883 | #792 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on Radeon HD 2600 XT and GeForce GT 520M
