GeForce GTX 280 vs GeForce GTX 960
When comparing GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 960, we look primarily at benchmarks and game tests. But it is not only about the numbers. Often you can find third-party models with higher clock speeds, better cooling, or a customizable RGB lighting. Not all of them will have all the features you need. Another thing to consider is the port selection. Most graphics cards have at least one DisplayPort and HDMI interface, but some monitors require DVI. Before you buy, check the TDP of the graphics card - this characteristic will help you estimate the consumption of the graphics card. You may even have to upgrade your PSU to meet its requirements. An important factor when choosing between GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 960 is the price. Does the additional cost justify the performance hit? Our comparison should help you make the right decision.
GeForce GTX 280
Main Specs
GeForce GTX 280
GeForce GTX 960
Power consumption (TDP)
236 Watt
120 Watt
Interface
PCIe 2.0 x16
PCIe 3.0 x16
Supplementary power connectors
6-pin & 8-pin
1x 6-pins
Memory type
GDDR3
GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount
1 GB
4 GB
Display Connectors
2x DVI, 1x S-Video
1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort
Recommended system power (PSU)
400 Watt
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GeForce GTX 280 has 96% more power consumption, than GeForce GTX 960.
GeForce GTX 280 is connected by PCIe 2.0 x16, and GeForce GTX 960 uses PCIe 3.0 x16 interface.
GeForce GTX 960 has 3 GB more memory, than GeForce GTX 280.
Both cards are used in Desktops.
GeForce GTX 280 is build with Tesla 2.0 architecture, and GeForce GTX 960 - with Maxwell.
Core clock speed of GeForce GTX 280 is 169 MHz higher, than GeForce GTX 960.
GeForce GTX 280 is manufactured by 65 nm process technology, and GeForce GTX 960 - by 28 nm process technology.
GeForce GTX 280 is 1 mm longer, than GeForce GTX 960.
Memory clock speed of GeForce GTX 280 is 1100 MHz higher, than GeForce GTX 960.
Game benchmarks
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Battlefield 5
Call of Duty: Warzone
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Cyberpunk 2077
Dota 2
Far Cry 5
Fortnite
Forza Horizon 4
Grand Theft Auto V
Metro Exodus
Minecraft
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
World of Tanks
high / 1080p
1−2
35−40
ultra / 1080p
0−1
21−24
QHD / 1440p
0−1
16−18
4K / 2160p
−
10−11
low / 720p
12−14
60−65
medium / 1080p
3−4
40−45
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Assassin's Creed Odyssey is 683% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
high / 1080p
−
55−60
ultra / 1080p
4−5
45−50
QHD / 1440p
0−1
35−40
4K / 2160p
−
18−20
low / 720p
16−18
100−110
medium / 1080p
5−6
60−65
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Battlefield 5 is 688% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
low / 768p
45−50
50−55
high / 1080p
40−45
−
QHD / 1440p
0−1
0−1
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Call of Duty: Warzone is 10% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
low / 768p
120−130
250−260
medium / 768p
90−95
220−230
ultra / 1080p
40−45
180−190
QHD / 1440p
21−24
110−120
4K / 2160p
18−20
70−75
high / 768p
65−70
210−220
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is 190% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
low / 768p
85−90
60−65
ultra / 1080p
16−18
−
medium / 1080p
40−45
55−60
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 280 in Cyberpunk 2077 is 8% more, than GeForce GTX 960.
low / 768p
75−80
120−130
medium / 768p
50−55
110−120
ultra / 1080p
24−27
100−110
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Dota 2 is 125% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
high / 1080p
2−3
45−50
ultra / 1080p
2−3
40−45
QHD / 1440p
−
27−30
4K / 2160p
0−1
14−16
low / 720p
10−12
80−85
medium / 1080p
3−4
45−50
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Far Cry 5 is 1275% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
high / 1080p
10−11
60−65
ultra / 1080p
5−6
45−50
QHD / 1440p
2−3
27−30
4K / 2160p
−
27−30
low / 720p
50−55
180−190
medium / 1080p
10−12
110−120
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Fortnite is 443% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
high / 1080p
4−5
60−65
ultra / 1080p
−
45−50
QHD / 1440p
0−1
30−35
4K / 2160p
−
24−27
low / 720p
16−18
100−110
medium / 1080p
7−8
65−70
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Forza Horizon 4 is 766% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
low / 768p
40−45
140−150
medium / 768p
−
120−130
high / 1080p
5−6
70−75
ultra / 1080p
2−3
30−35
QHD / 1440p
0−1
21−24
medium / 720p
35−40
−
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Grand Theft Auto V is 418% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
high / 1080p
1−2
24−27
ultra / 1080p
0−1
20−22
QHD / 1440p
−
16−18
4K / 2160p
0−1
8−9
low / 720p
5−6
65−70
medium / 1080p
3−4
30−35
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Metro Exodus is 1266% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
low / 768p
90−95
130−140
high / 1080p
85−90
−
ultra / 1080p
70−75
−
medium / 1080p
90−95
120−130
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Minecraft is 41% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
ultra / 1080p
12−14
14−16
low / 720p
27−30
100−110
medium / 1080p
14−16
18−20
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS is 155% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
high / 1080p
−
24−27
ultra / 1080p
4−5
16−18
QHD / 1440p
0−1
10−11
4K / 2160p
−
7−8
low / 720p
6−7
65−70
medium / 1080p
−
35−40
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Red Dead Redemption 2 is 740% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
low / 768p
12−14
130−140
medium / 768p
8−9
85−90
high / 1080p
4−5
45−50
ultra / 1080p
3−4
24−27
4K / 2160p
0−1
16−18
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is 942% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
low / 768p
75−80
90−95
medium / 768p
35−40
60−65
ultra / 1080p
16−18
50−55
high / 768p
30−35
60−65
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in World of Tanks is 63% more, than GeForce GTX 280.
Full Specs
GeForce GTX 280
GeForce GTX 960
Architecture
Tesla 2.0
Maxwell
Code name
GT200
GM206
Type
Desktop
Desktop
Release date
16 June 2008
22 January 2015
Pipelines
240
1024
Core clock speed
1296 MHz
1127 MHz
Boost Clock
1178 MHz
Transistor count
1,400 million
2,940 million
Manufacturing process technology
65 nm
28 nm
Texture fill rate
48.2 billion/sec
72 billion/sec
Floating-point performance
622.1 gflops
2,413 gflops
Length
10.5" (267 mm) (26.7 cm)
9.5" (24.1 cm)
Memory bus width
512 Bit
128 Bit
Memory clock speed
1107 MHz
7.0 GB/s
Memory bandwidth
141.7 GB/s
112 GB/s
Shared memory
-
G-SYNC support
+
DirectX
11.1 (10_0)
12 (12_1)
Shader Model
4.0
6.4
OpenGL
2.1
4.4
OpenCL
1.1
1.2
Vulkan
N/A
1.1.126
CUDA
+
+
Monero / XMR (CryptoNight)
0.27 kh/s
CUDA cores
240
1024
Bus support
PCI Express 3.0
Height
4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm)
4.376" (11.1 cm)
SLI options
+
+
Multi monitor support
+
4 displays
HDCP
+
Maximum VGA resolution
2048x1536
2048x1536
Audio input for HDMI
S/PDIF
Internal
Bitcoin / BTC (SHA256)
318 Mh/s
Decred / DCR (Decred)
0.92 Gh/s
Ethereum / ETH (DaggerHashimoto)
8 Mh/s
Zcash / ZEC (Equihash)
141.47 Sol/s
GameStream
+
GeForce ShadowPlay
+
GPU Boost
2.0
GameWorks
+
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