
Radeon R7 450 vs Quadro M520

Radeon R7 450
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Quadro M520
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar Quadro M520
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Quadro M520 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.4% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R7 450.
| Insight | Radeon R7 450 | Quadro M520 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.4%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.4%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2017 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R7 450 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R7 450 holds the technical lead. Priced at $35 (vs $50), it costs 30% less, resulting in a 40.9% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R7 450 | Quadro M520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+40.9%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($35) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50) |
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 R7 450 and Quadro M520

Radeon R7 450
The Radeon R7 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in July 6 2016. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 800 MHz. It has 512 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 55W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,887 points.

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.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R7 450 scores 1,887 and the Quadro M520 reaches 1,913 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R7 450 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Quadro M520 uses Maxwell, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 512 (Radeon R7 450) vs 384 (Quadro M520). Raw compute: 0.8192 TFLOPS (Radeon R7 450) vs 0.7995 TFLOPS (Quadro M520).
| Feature | Radeon R7 450 | Quadro M520 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 1,887 | 1,913+1% |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Maxwell |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 512+33% | 384 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.8192 TFLOPS+2% | 0.7995 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 16+100% | 8 |
| TMUs | 32+100% | 16 |
| L1 Cache | 128 KB | 128 KB |
| L2 Cache | 0.25 MB | 1 MB+300% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R7 450 | Quadro M520 |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
Both cards feature 2 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 0.25 MB (Radeon R7 450) vs 1 MB (Quadro M520) — the Quadro M520 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon R7 450 | Quadro M520 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 0.25 MB | 1 MB+300% |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R7 450 draws 55W versus the Quadro M520's 25W — a 75% difference. The Quadro M520 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 250W (Radeon R7 450) vs 350W (Quadro M520). Power connectors: None vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | Radeon R7 450 | Quadro M520 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 55W | 25W-55% |
| Recommended PSU | 250W-29% | 350W |
| Power Connector | None | PCIe-powered |
| Perf/Watt | 34.3 | 76.5+123% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R7 450 launched at $219 MSRP and currently averages $35, while the Quadro M520 launched at $200 and now averages $50. The Radeon R7 450 costs 30% less ($15 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 53.9 (Radeon R7 450) vs 38.3 (Quadro M520) — the Radeon R7 450 offers 40.7% better value. The Quadro M520 is the newer GPU (2017 vs 2016).
| Feature | Radeon R7 450 | Quadro M520 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $219 | $200-9% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $35-30% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 53.9+41% | 38.3 |
| Codename | Cape Verde | GM108 |
| Release | July 6 2016 | January 11 2017 |
| Ranking | #667 | #695 |
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