Radeon R9 285
VS
GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2

Radeon R9 285 vs GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2

AMD

Radeon R9 285

2014Core: 918 MHz
VS
NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2

2013Core: 863 MHzBoost: 902 MHz

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

The Radeon R9 285 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.8% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2.

InsightRadeon R9 285GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2
Performance
Leading raw performance (+2.8%)
Lower raw frame rates (-2.8%)
Longevity
🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019))
🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / Kepler (2012−2018))
Ecosystem
Supports FSR Upscaling
Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM
❌ Less VRAM capacity
✅ More VRAM (+0%)
Efficiency
💡 Excellent Perf/Watt
⚡ Higher Power Consumption
Case Fit
📏 Compact / SFF Friendly

💎 Value Proposition

The Radeon R9 285 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 285 holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $60), it costs 33% less, resulting in a 54.2% higher cost efficiency score.

InsightRadeon R9 285GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2
Cost Efficiency
Better overall value (+54.2%)
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 R9 285 and GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2

AMD

Radeon R9 285

The Radeon R9 285 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 2 2014. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 918 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,680 points. Launch price was $249.

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2

The GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 10 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 863 MHz to 902 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,500 points. Launch price was $649.

Graphics Performance

The Radeon R9 285 scores 6,680 and the GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2 reaches 6,500 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 285 is built on GCN 3.0 while the GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2 uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,792 (Radeon R9 285) vs 2,304 (GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2). Raw compute: 3.29 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 285) vs 4.156 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2).

FeatureRadeon R9 285GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2
G3D Mark Score
6,680+3%
6,500
Architecture
GCN 3.0
Kepler
Process Node
28 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
1792
2304+29%
Compute (TFLOPS)
3.29 TFLOPS
4.156 TFLOPS+26%
ROPs
32
48+50%
TMUs
112
192+71%
L1 Cache
448 KB+133%
192 KB
L2 Cache
0.5 MB
1.5 MB+200%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureRadeon R9 285GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2
Upscaling Tech
FSR 1.0 (Software)
FSR 2.1 (Compatible)
Frame Generation
Not Supported
FSR 3 (Compatible)
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
AMD Anti-Lag
Standard
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

Both cards feature 4 GB of GDDR5. Memory bandwidth: 176 GB/s (Radeon R9 285) vs 288 GB/s (GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2) — a 63.6% advantage for the GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2. Bus width: 256-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (Radeon R9 285) vs 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2) — the GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureRadeon R9 285GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2
VRAM Capacity
4 GB
4 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
176 GB/s
288 GB/s+64%
Bus Width
256-bit
384-bit+50%
L2 Cache
0.5 MB
1.5 MB+200%
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon R9 285 draws 190W versus the GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2's 250W — a 27.3% difference. The Radeon R9 285 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon R9 285) vs 600W (GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 6-pin + 8-pin.

FeatureRadeon R9 285GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2
TDP
190W-24%
250W
Recommended PSU
500W-17%
600W
Power Connector
2x 6-pin
6-pin + 8-pin
Length
221mm
Height
109mm
Slots
2
Temp (Load)
65°C
Perf/Watt
35.2+35%
26.0
💰

Value Analysis

The Radeon R9 285 launched at $249 MSRP and currently averages $40, while the GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2 launched at $649 and now averages $60. The Radeon R9 285 costs 33.3% less ($20 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 167.0 (Radeon R9 285) vs 108.3 (GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2) — the Radeon R9 285 offers 54.2% better value. The Radeon R9 285 is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2013).

FeatureRadeon R9 285GeForce GTX 780 Rev. 2
MSRP
$249-62%
$649
Avg Price (30d)
$40-33%
$60
Performance per Dollar
167.0+54%
108.3
Codename
Tonga
GK110B
Release
September 2 2014
September 10 2013
Ranking
#365
#487