Radeon R5 M230 vs GeForce GT 420
Radeon R5 M230
Popular choices:
GeForce GT 420
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 R5 M230 is positioned at rank 468 and the GeForce GT 420 is on rank 214, so the GeForce GT 420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R5 M230
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GT 420
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GT 420 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.6% higher G3D Mark score. However, the Radeon R5 M230 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | Radeon R5 M230 | GeForce GT 420 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.6%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / GCN (2012−2015)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+300%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R5 M230 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R5 M230 holds the technical lead. Priced at $25 (vs $79), it costs 68% less, resulting in a 210.9% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R5 M230 | GeForce GT 420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+210.9%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($25) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($79) |
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 R5 M230 and GeForce GT 420
Radeon R5 M230
The Radeon R5 M230 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 9 2015. It features the GCN architecture. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 425 points.
GeForce GT 420
The GeForce GT 420 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 29 2014. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 64W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 432 points. Launch price was $89.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R5 M230 scores 425 and the GeForce GT 420 reaches 432 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R5 M230 is built on GCN while the GeForce GT 420 uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,024 (Radeon R5 M230) vs 384 (GeForce GT 420).
| Feature | Radeon R5 M230 | GeForce GT 420 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 425 | 432+2% |
| Architecture | GCN | Kepler |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1024+167% | 384 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R5 M230 | GeForce GT 420 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 R5 M230 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GT 420 has 1 GB. The Radeon R5 M230 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | Radeon R5 M230 | GeForce GT 420 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB+300% | 1 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R5 M230 draws 75W versus the GeForce GT 420's 64W — a 15.8% difference. The GeForce GT 420 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon R5 M230) vs 250W (GeForce GT 420). Power connectors: Mobile vs None.
| Feature | Radeon R5 M230 | GeForce GT 420 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 75W | 64W-15% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 250W-29% |
| Power Connector | Mobile | None |
| Length | — | 145mm |
| Height | — | 69mm |
| Slots | — | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 80 |
| Perf/Watt | 5.7 | 6.8+19% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R5 M230 launched at $80 MSRP and currently averages $25, while the GeForce GT 420 launched at $79 and now averages $79. The Radeon R5 M230 costs 68.4% less ($54 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 17.0 (Radeon R5 M230) vs 5.5 (GeForce GT 420) — the Radeon R5 M230 offers 209.1% better value. The Radeon R5 M230 is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2014).
| Feature | Radeon R5 M230 | GeForce GT 420 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $80 | $79-1% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-68% | $79 |
| Performance per Dollar | 17.0+209% | 5.5 |
| Codename | Pitcairn | GK107 |
| Release | June 9 2015 | May 29 2014 |
| Ranking | #522 | #777 |
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