Radeon R9 M290X vs Tesla C2050
Radeon R9 M290X
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Tesla C2050
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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. The Radeon R9 M290X is positioned at rank 399 and the Tesla C2050 is on rank 334, so the Tesla C2050 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M290X
Performance Per Dollar Tesla C2050
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon R9 M290X is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.3% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (4 GB vs 2 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Tesla C2050.
| Insight | Radeon R9 M290X | Tesla C2050 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.3%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / Fermi (2010−2014)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon R9 M290X offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon R9 M290X holds the technical lead. Priced at $60 (vs $95), it costs 37% less, resulting in a 60.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 M290X | Tesla C2050 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+60.4%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($60) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($95) |
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 M290X and Tesla C2050
Radeon R9 M290X
The Radeon R9 M290X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 9 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,218 points.
Tesla C2050
The Tesla C2050 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 25 2011. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 574 MHz. It has 448 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 238W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,176 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon R9 M290X scores 3,218 and the Tesla C2050 reaches 3,176 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 M290X is built on GCN 1.0 while the Tesla C2050 uses Fermi, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 448 (Tesla C2050). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 1.028 TFLOPS (Tesla C2050).
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Tesla C2050 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,218+1% | 3,176 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | Fermi |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 1280+186% | 448 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.304 TFLOPS+124% | 1.028 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 | 48+50% |
| TMUs | 80+43% | 56 |
| L1 Cache | 320 KB | 896 KB+180% |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 768 KB+50% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Tesla C2050 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 R9 M290X comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the Tesla C2050 has 2 GB. The Radeon R9 M290X offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 512 KB (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 768 KB (Tesla C2050) — the Tesla C2050 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Tesla C2050 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB+100% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 768 KB+50% |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 M290X draws 100W versus the Tesla C2050's 238W — a 81.7% difference. The Radeon R9 M290X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 350W (Tesla C2050). Power connectors: Mobile vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Tesla C2050 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W-58% | 238W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Mobile | PCIe-powered |
| Perf/Watt | 32.2+142% | 13.3 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 M290X launched at $400 MSRP and currently averages $60, while the Tesla C2050 launched at $2499 and now averages $95. The Radeon R9 M290X costs 36.8% less ($35 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 53.6 (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 33.4 (Tesla C2050) — the Radeon R9 M290X offers 60.5% better value. The Radeon R9 M290X is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2011).
| Feature | Radeon R9 M290X | Tesla C2050 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $400-84% | $2499 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60-37% | $95 |
| Performance per Dollar | 53.6+60% | 33.4 |
| Codename | Neptune | GF100 |
| Release | January 9 2014 | July 25 2011 |
| Ranking | #566 | #569 |
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