GeForce GTX 280
NVIDIA
G3D Mark
1,285
MSRP
$649
AVG Price
$649
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 GTX 280 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 16 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 602 MHz. It has 240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 236W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,285 points. Launch price was $649.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The GeForce GTX 280 is positioned at rank #314 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 GTX 280
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for GeForce GTX 280 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 GTX 280 specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 280 scores 1,285 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 Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013) architecture (codename: GT200), manufactured on a 65 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 240 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 80 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 32 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 0.6221 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 1,285 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | GT200 |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 65 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 240 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 80 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 32 |
| Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency | 602 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 0.6221 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 48.16 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 1.1 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 1,400 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #802 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 280 is equipped with 1 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 GTX 280 |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 1 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 |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB |
Advanced Features & APIs
Graphics API support: DirectX 11.1 (10_0), Vulkan N/A, OpenGL 3.3— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA Reflex | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Super Resolution | ❌ Not Supported |
| DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version | 11.1 (10_0) |
| OpenGLLegacy graphics API | 3.3 |
| Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL) | CUDA 1.3 |
| Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink support | SLI |
Display & Media
Display outputs: DVIx 0, S-Videox 1 — supports up to 2 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: None, decoder: PureVideo HD (VP2)— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|
| 0 PortsNumber of 0 display connectors | DVIx |
| 1 PortsNumber of 1 display connectors | S-Videox |
| Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors | 2 |
| Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version | None |
| Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version | PureVideo HD (VP2) |
| CodecsSupported video compression formats | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 280 draws 236 Watt under load (TDP) — a 550W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin. Physical size: 267mm long, 111mm tall, occupying 2 expansion slots, weighing 907g— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 55 at idle, 85 under load.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | 236 Watt |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 550W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance | 267mm |
| Card Height | 111mm |
| Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied | 2-slot |
| Weight | 907g |
| Idle TemperatureTypical temperature at desktop idle | 55 |
| Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load | 85 |
Value Analysis
At an average price of $649, the GeForce GTX 280 delivers 2 G3D Mark points per dollar. It holds Rank #314 in the cost-benefit ranking — a comprehensive score that weighs raw performance against current market pricing. Overall performance ranking position: #802 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 280 |
|---|---|
| MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price | $649 |
| Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days | $649 |
| Cost-Benefit RankOverall value ranking position | #314 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #802 |
| Release Date | June 16 2008 |
| Release Year | 2008 |
Similar Performance
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Our Recommendation for GeForce GTX 280
Suggested pairings based on performance balance
Minimum (Avoid Bottleneck) (12)
Recommended (Balanced) (12)
High-End (Max Performance) (12)
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