GeForce 6500
NVIDIA
G3D Mark
38
MSRP
$100
AVG Price
$5
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.
Overview
The GeForce 6500 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 6 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 1058 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 65W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 38 points. Launch price was $109.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The GeForce 6500 is positioned at rank #359 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 GeForce 6500
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for GeForce 6500 across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Technical Analysis
Detailed breakdown of GeForce 6500 specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce 6500 scores 38 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Entry Level tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the Kepler (2012−2018) architecture (codename: GK107), manufactured on a 28 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 384 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 32 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 16 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 0.8125 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.
| Specification | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 38 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | Kepler (2012−2018) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | GK107 |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 28 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 384 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 32 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 16 |
| Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency | 1058 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 0.8125 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 33.86 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 1,270 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #719 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce 6500 is equipped with 0.25 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 128-bit memory bus, delivering Unknown of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.
| Specification | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 0.25 GB |
| VRAM TypeMemory technology generation | GDDR5 |
| Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth | 128-bit |
| Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate | 8 Gbps |
| BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM | Unknown |
| L1 Cache | 32 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB |
Advanced Features & APIs
Graphics API support: DirectX 9.0c, Vulkan None, OpenGL 2.1— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
| Specification | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA Reflex | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Super Resolution | ❌ Not Supported |
| DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version | 9.0c |
| VulkanCross-platform graphics API | None |
| OpenGLLegacy graphics API | 2.1 |
| Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL) | None |
Display & Media
Display outputs: 1x DVI, 1x VGA — supports up to 2 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: No, decoder: PureVideo— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: MPEG-2.
| Specification | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|
| DVI PortsNumber of DVI display connectors | 1x |
| VGA PortsNumber of VGA display connectors | 1x |
| Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors | 2 |
| Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version | No |
| Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version | PureVideo |
| CodecsSupported video compression formats | MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 6500 draws 64 Watt under load (TDP) — a 350W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: Legacy. Physical size: 168mm long, 100mm tall, occupying 1 expansion slots— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 40°C at idle, 65°C under load.
| Specification | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | 64 Watt |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 350W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | Legacy |
| Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance | 168mm |
| Card Height | 100mm |
| Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied | 1-slot |
| Idle TemperatureTypical temperature at desktop idle | 40°C |
| Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load | 65°C |
Value Analysis
At an average price of $5 (MSRP: $100), the GeForce 6500 delivers 8 G3D Mark points per dollar. It holds Rank #359 in the cost-benefit ranking — a comprehensive score that weighs raw performance against current market pricing. Overall performance ranking position: #719 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | GeForce 6500 |
|---|---|
| MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price | $100 |
| Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days | $5 |
| Cost-Benefit RankOverall value ranking position | #359 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #719 |
| Release Date | September 6 2012 |
| Release Year | 2012 |
Similar Performance
Graphics cards with benchmark scores closest to the current hardware, grouped by manufacturer.
NVIDIA (12)
AMD (12)
Our Recommendation for GeForce 6500
Suggested pairings based on performance balance
Minimum (Avoid Bottleneck) (12)
Recommended (Balanced) (12)
High-End (Max Performance) (12)
Popular Comparisons
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Compare GeForce 6500
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