GeForce GTX 280M SLI vs GTX 460M SLI

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 460M SLI and GeForce GTX 280M SLI, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 460M SLI
2010
2x1536 MB GDDR5
4.97
+44.1%

GTX 460M SLI outperforms GTX 280M SLI by a considerable 44% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking637730
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Power efficiencyno data1.58
ArchitectureFermi (2010−2014)G9x (2007−2010)
GPU code nameN11E-GSN10E-GTX
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
Release date3 September 2010 (14 years ago)2 March 2009 (15 years ago)

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 cores384256
Core clock speed675 MHz585 MHz
Number of transistorsno data1508 Million
Manufacturing process technology40 nm55 nm
Power consumption (TDP)no data150 Watt

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).

Laptop sizelargelarge

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 typeGDDR5GDDR3
Maximum RAM amount2x1536 MB2 GB
Memory bus width192 Bit256 Bit
Memory clock speed1250 MHz950 MHz
Shared memory--

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX1110
CUDA++

Synthetic benchmark performance

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. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 460M SLI 4.97
+44.1%
GTX 280M SLI 3.45

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 460M SLI 14236
+50.9%
GTX 280M SLI 9435

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

900p52
+48.6%
35−40
−48.6%
Full HD63
+57.5%
40−45
−57.5%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−11
+42.9%
7−8
−42.9%
Elden Ring 12−14
+71.4%
7−8
−71.4%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 14−16
+66.7%
9−10
−66.7%
Counter-Strike 2 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−11
+42.9%
7−8
−42.9%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
+31.3%
16−18
−31.3%
Metro Exodus 12−14
+71.4%
7−8
−71.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2 14−16
+25%
12−14
−25%
Valorant 12−14
+200%
4−5
−200%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 14−16
+66.7%
9−10
−66.7%
Counter-Strike 2 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−11
+42.9%
7−8
−42.9%
Dota 2 16−18
+60%
10−11
−60%
Elden Ring 12−14
+71.4%
7−8
−71.4%
Far Cry 5 24−27
+26.3%
18−20
−26.3%
Fortnite 27−30
+52.6%
18−20
−52.6%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
+31.3%
16−18
−31.3%
Grand Theft Auto V 16−18
+60%
10−11
−60%
Metro Exodus 12−14
+71.4%
7−8
−71.4%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 40−45
+35.5%
30−35
−35.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2 14−16
+25%
12−14
−25%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 16−18
+33.3%
12−14
−33.3%
Valorant 12−14
+200%
4−5
−200%
World of Tanks 80−85
+35%
60−65
−35%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 14−16
+66.7%
9−10
−66.7%
Counter-Strike 2 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−11
+42.9%
7−8
−42.9%
Dota 2 16−18
+60%
10−11
−60%
Far Cry 5 24−27
+26.3%
18−20
−26.3%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
+31.3%
16−18
−31.3%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 40−45
+35.5%
30−35
−35.5%
Valorant 12−14
+200%
4−5
−200%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 4−5
+300%
1−2
−300%
Elden Ring 6−7
+100%
3−4
−100%
Grand Theft Auto V 4−5
+100%
2−3
−100%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 30−35
+37.5%
24−27
−37.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2 4−5
+100%
2−3
−100%
World of Tanks 35−40
+50%
24−27
−50%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 7−8
+75%
4−5
−75%
Counter-Strike 2 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Far Cry 5 10−12
+37.5%
8−9
−37.5%
Forza Horizon 4 7−8
+250%
2−3
−250%
Metro Exodus 4−5
+100%
2−3
−100%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 6−7
+20%
5−6
−20%
Valorant 14−16
+27.3%
10−12
−27.3%

4K
High Preset

Dota 2 16−18
+6.3%
16−18
−6.3%
Elden Ring 2−3
+100%
1−2
−100%
Grand Theft Auto V 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Metro Exodus 1−2 0−1
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 14−16
+40%
10−11
−40%
Red Dead Redemption 2 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 2−3
+100%
1−2
−100%
Dota 2 16−18
+6.3%
16−18
−6.3%
Far Cry 5 5−6
+66.7%
3−4
−66.7%
Fortnite 4−5
+100%
2−3
−100%
Forza Horizon 4 4−5
+300%
1−2
−300%
Valorant 5−6
+66.7%
3−4
−66.7%

This is how GTX 460M SLI and GTX 280M SLI compete in popular games:

  • GTX 460M SLI is 49% faster in 900p
  • GTX 460M SLI is 58% faster in 1080p

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Dota 2, with 1440p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 460M SLI is 300% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 460M SLI is ahead in 56 tests (95%)
  • there's a draw in 3 tests (5%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.97 3.45
Recency 3 September 2010 2 March 2009
Chip lithography 40 nm 55 nm

GTX 460M SLI has a 44.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, and a 37.5% more advanced lithography process.

The GeForce GTX 460M SLI is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 280M SLI in performance tests.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M SLI
GeForce GTX 460M SLI
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M SLI
GeForce GTX 280M SLI

Other comparisons

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