GeForce3 vs GeForce GTX 260
Aggregate performance score
We've compared GeForce GTX 260 and GeForce3, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.
GTX 260 outperforms GeForce3 by a whopping 27100% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Contents
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in the ranking | 816 | 1571 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 0.13 | no data |
| Power efficiency | 1.21 | no data |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 (2007−2013) | Kelvin (2001−2003) |
| GPU code name | GT200 | NV20 A5 |
| Market segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Release date | 16 June 2008 (17 years ago) | 27 February 2001 (24 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $449 | $499 |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
The higher the ratio, the better. We use the manufacturer's recommended prices.
GTX 260 and GeForce3 have a nearly equal value for money.
Performance to price scatter graph
Detailed specifications
General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
| Pipelines / CUDA cores | 192 | no data |
| Core clock speed | 576 MHz | 200 MHz |
| Number of transistors | 1,400 million | 57 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 65 nm | 150 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 182 Watt | no data |
| Maximum GPU temperature | 105 °C | no data |
| Texture fill rate | 36.86 | 1.600 |
| Floating-point processing power | 0.4769 TFLOPS | no data |
| ROPs | 28 | 4 |
| TMUs | 64 | 8 |
| L2 Cache | 224 KB | no data |
Form factor & compatibility
Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).
| Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | AGP 4x |
| Length | 267 mm | 165 mm |
| Height | 4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm) | no data |
| Width | 2-slot | 1-slot |
| Supplementary power connectors | 2x 6-pin | None |
| SLI options | + | - |
VRAM capacity and type
Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.
| Memory type | GDDR3 | SDR |
| Maximum RAM amount | 896 MB | 64 MB |
| Memory bus width | 448 Bit | 128 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 999 MHz | 230 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 111.9 GB/s | 3.68 GB/s |
Connectivity and outputs
This section shows the types and number of video connectors on each GPU. The data applies specifically to desktop reference models (for example, NVIDIA’s Founders Edition). OEM partners often modify both the number and types of ports. On notebook GPUs, video‐output options are determined by the laptop’s design rather than the graphics chip itself.
| Display Connectors | Dual Link DVIHDTV | 1x VGA, 1x DB13W3 |
| Multi monitor support | + | no data |
| HDMI | + | - |
| Maximum VGA resolution | 2048x1536 | no data |
| Audio input for HDMI | S/PDIF | no data |
API and SDK support
List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 11.1 (10_0) | 8.0 |
| Shader Model | 4.0 | no data |
| OpenGL | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| OpenCL | 1.1 | N/A |
| Vulkan | N/A | N/A |
| CUDA | + | - |
Synthetic benchmarks
Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark score.
Passmark
This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.
Gaming performance
Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 2.72 | 0.01 |
| Recency | 16 June 2008 | 27 February 2001 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 896 MB | 64 MB |
| Chip lithography | 65 nm | 150 nm |
GTX 260 has a 27100% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 7 years, a 1300% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 130.8% more advanced lithography process.
The GeForce GTX 260 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce3 in performance tests.
Other comparisons
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
