Radeon R9 M280X vs GeForce GTX 950

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 950 with Radeon R9 M280X, including specs and performance data.

GTX 950
2015
2 GB GDDR5, 90 Watt
13.85
+556%

GTX 950 outperforms R9 M280X by a whopping 556% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking375872
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation8.75no data
Power efficiency10.55no data
ArchitectureMaxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)GCN 2.0 (2013−2017)
GPU code nameGM206Saturn
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date20 August 2015 (9 years ago)5 February 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$159 no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

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 cores768896
Core clock speed1024 MHz1000 MHz
Boost clock speed1188 MHzno data
Number of transistors2,940 million2,080 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)90 Wattno data
Texture fill rate57.0261.60
Floating-point processing power1.825 TFLOPS1.971 TFLOPS
ROPs3216
TMUs4856

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 sizeno datalarge
Bus supportPCI Express 3.0Not Listed
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
Length202 mmno data
Height4.376" (11.1 cm)no data
Width2-slotno data
Recommended system power (PSU)350 Wattno data
Supplementary power connectors1x 6-pinno data
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 typeGDDR5Not Listed
Maximum RAM amount2 GB0 MB
Memory bus width128 BitNot Listed
Memory clock speed6.6 GB/sno data
Memory bandwidth105.6 GB/s96 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display ConnectorsDual Link DVI-I, HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.2No outputs
Multi monitor support4 displaysno data
HDMI+-
HDCP+-
Maximum VGA resolution2048x1536no data
G-SYNC support+-
Audio input for HDMIInternalno data

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

FreeSync-+
HD3D-+
PowerTune-+
DualGraphics-+
ZeroCore-+
Switchable graphics-+
GameStream+-
GeForce ShadowPlay+-
GPU Boost2.0no data
GameWorks+-

API compatibility

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

DirectX12 (12_1)DirectX® 11
Shader Model6.46.3
OpenGL4.54.4
OpenCL1.2Not Listed
Vulkan1.1.126-
Mantle-+
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 950 13.85
+556%
R9 M280X 2.11

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.

GTX 950 5337
+556%
R9 M280X 813

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 950 8351
+77.8%
R9 M280X 4698

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 950 6208
+77.5%
R9 M280X 3498

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 950 37454
+61.4%
R9 M280X 23201

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:

Full HD50
+78.6%
28
−78.6%
4K21
+5%
20
−5%

Cost per frame, $

1080p3.18no data
4K7.57no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 21−24
+320%
5−6
−320%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 30−35
+357%
7−8
−357%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 21−24
+633%
3−4
−633%
Battlefield 5 45−50
+246%
13
−246%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 27−30
+367%
6−7
−367%
Cyberpunk 2077 21−24
+320%
5−6
−320%
Far Cry 5 30−35
+967%
3−4
−967%
Far Cry New Dawn 35−40
+660%
5−6
−660%
Forza Horizon 4 90−95
+900%
9−10
−900%
Hitman 3 24−27
+271%
7−8
−271%
Horizon Zero Dawn 70−75
+294%
18−20
−294%
Metro Exodus 45−50
+557%
7−8
−557%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
+660%
5−6
−660%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 45−50
+50%
30
−50%
Watch Dogs: Legion 75−80
+108%
35−40
−108%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 30−35
+357%
7−8
−357%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 21−24
+633%
3−4
−633%
Battlefield 5 45−50
+2150%
2−3
−2150%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 27−30
+367%
6−7
−367%
Cyberpunk 2077 21−24
+320%
5−6
−320%
Far Cry 5 30−35
+967%
3−4
−967%
Far Cry New Dawn 35−40
+660%
5−6
−660%
Forza Horizon 4 90−95
+900%
9−10
−900%
Hitman 3 24−27
+271%
7−8
−271%
Horizon Zero Dawn 70−75
+294%
18−20
−294%
Metro Exodus 45−50
+557%
7−8
−557%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
+660%
5−6
−660%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 45−50
+350%
10−11
−350%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 108
+177%
39
−177%
Watch Dogs: Legion 75−80
+108%
35−40
−108%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 30−35
+357%
7−8
−357%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 21−24
+633%
3−4
−633%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 27−30
+367%
6−7
−367%
Cyberpunk 2077 21−24
+320%
5−6
−320%
Far Cry 5 30−35
+967%
3−4
−967%
Forza Horizon 4 90−95
+900%
9−10
−900%
Hitman 3 24−27
+271%
7−8
−271%
Horizon Zero Dawn 70−75
+294%
18−20
−294%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 45−50
+350%
10−11
−350%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21
+133%
9
−133%
Watch Dogs: Legion 75−80
+108%
35−40
−108%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
+660%
5−6
−660%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 27−30
+800%
3−4
−800%
Far Cry New Dawn 21−24
+600%
3−4
−600%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 14−16
+600%
2−3
−600%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10−12
+1000%
1−2
−1000%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 14−16
+1400%
1−2
−1400%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
+600%
1−2
−600%
Far Cry 5 16−18
+700%
2−3
−700%
Forza Horizon 4 70−75
+600%
10−11
−600%
Hitman 3 16−18
+143%
7−8
−143%
Horizon Zero Dawn 27−30
+367%
6−7
−367%
Metro Exodus 24−27
+700%
3−4
−700%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 24−27
+700%
3−4
−700%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 14−16
+1300%
1−2
−1300%
Watch Dogs: Legion 85−90
+617%
12−14
−617%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+360%
5−6
−360%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 12−14 0−1
Far Cry New Dawn 10−11
+900%
1−2
−900%
Hitman 3 10−11
+900%
1−2
−900%
Horizon Zero Dawn 65−70
+580%
10−11
−580%
Metro Exodus 12−14
+1200%
1−2
−1200%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 13
+1200%
1−2
−1200%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 8−9
+300%
2−3
−300%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 6−7
+500%
1−2
−500%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 7−8
+600%
1−2
−600%
Cyberpunk 2077 2−3 0−1
Far Cry 5 7−8
+600%
1−2
−600%
Forza Horizon 4 18−20
+800%
2−3
−800%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 12−14
+1200%
1−2
−1200%
Watch Dogs: Legion 5−6 0−1

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 12−14
+333%
3−4
−333%

This is how GTX 950 and R9 M280X compete in popular games:

  • GTX 950 is 79% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 950 is 5% faster in 4K

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

  • in Battlefield 5, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 950 is 2150% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Without exception, GTX 950 surpassed R9 M280X in all 54 of our tests.

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 13.85 2.11
Recency 20 August 2015 5 February 2015

GTX 950 has a 556.4% higher aggregate performance score, and an age advantage of 6 months.

The GeForce GTX 950 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon R9 M280X in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 950 is a desktop card while Radeon R9 M280X is a notebook one.


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

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.


NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950
GeForce GTX 950
AMD Radeon R9 M280X
Radeon R9 M280X

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions & comments

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