CPU
GPU
Tesla C2050
Popular choices:
Radeon R9 M290X
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 Tesla C2050 is positioned at rank 334 and the Radeon R9 M290X is on rank 399, 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 Tesla C2050
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M290X
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 | Tesla C2050 | Radeon R9 M290X |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.3%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.3%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / Fermi (2010−2014)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| 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 | Tesla C2050 | Radeon R9 M290X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+60.4%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($95) | ✅More affordable ($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 Tesla C2050 and Radeon R9 M290X
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.
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.
Graphics Performance
The Tesla C2050 scores 3,176 and the Radeon R9 M290X reaches 3,218 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Tesla C2050 is built on Fermi while the Radeon R9 M290X uses GCN 1.0, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 448 (Tesla C2050) vs 1,280 (Radeon R9 M290X). Raw compute: 1.028 TFLOPS (Tesla C2050) vs 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M290X).
| Feature | Tesla C2050 | Radeon R9 M290X |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,176 | 3,218+1% |
| Architecture | Fermi | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 448 | 1280+186% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.028 TFLOPS | 2.304 TFLOPS+124% |
| ROPs | 48+50% | 32 |
| TMUs | 56 | 80+43% |
| L1 Cache | 896 KB+180% | 320 KB |
| L2 Cache | 768 KB+50% | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Tesla C2050 | Radeon R9 M290X |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Tesla C2050 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M290X has 4 GB. The Radeon R9 M290X offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 768 KB (Tesla C2050) vs 512 KB (Radeon R9 M290X) — the Tesla C2050 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Tesla C2050 | Radeon R9 M290X |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 768 KB+50% | 512 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The Tesla C2050 draws 238W versus the Radeon R9 M290X's 100W — a 81.7% difference. The Radeon R9 M290X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Tesla C2050) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M290X). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Mobile.
| Feature | Tesla C2050 | Radeon R9 M290X |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 238W | 100W-58% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | Mobile |
| Perf/Watt | 13.3 | 32.2+142% |
Value Analysis
The Tesla C2050 launched at $2499 MSRP and currently averages $95, while the Radeon R9 M290X launched at $400 and now averages $60. The Radeon R9 M290X costs 36.8% less ($35 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 33.4 (Tesla C2050) vs 53.6 (Radeon R9 M290X) — the Radeon R9 M290X offers 60.5% better value. The Radeon R9 M290X is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2011).
| Feature | Tesla C2050 | Radeon R9 M290X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2499 | $400-84% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $95 | $60-37% |
| Performance per Dollar | 33.4 | 53.6+60% |
| Codename | GF100 | Neptune |
| Release | July 25 2011 | January 9 2014 |
| Ranking | #569 | #566 |
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