GeForce GTX 280 vs Radeon RX 540
When choosing between GeForce GTX 280 and Radeon RX 540, it is worth examining the specifications of the models in detail. Do they meet the recommended requirements of modern games and software? Storage capacity, form factor, TDP, available ports, warranty and manufacturer support are all important. For example, the size of a PC case can limit the maximum thickness and length of the card. Often, instead of the factory overclocked card and RGB backlight, it is better to choose a reference model with a more efficient GPU. And make sure that your current power supply unit has the correct connection pins (using adapters is not recommended). This GPUs compare tool is meant to help you to choose the best graphics card for your build. Let's find out the difference between GeForce GTX 280 and Radeon RX 540.
GeForce GTX 280
Radeon RX 540 is a Laptop Graphics Card
Note: Radeon RX 540 is only used in laptop graphics. It has lower GPU clock speed compared to the desktop variant, which results in lower power consumption, but also 10-30% lower gaming performance. Check available laptop models with Radeon RX 540 here:
Main Specs
| GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon RX 540 | |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 236 Watt | 65 Watt |
| Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Supplementary power connectors | 6-pin & 8-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Memory type | GDDR3 | GDDR5 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 1 GB | 4 GB |
| Display Connectors | 2x DVI, 1x S-Video | |
| Check Price |
- GeForce GTX 280 has 263% more power consumption, than Radeon RX 540.
- GeForce GTX 280 is connected by PCIe 2.0 x16, and Radeon RX 540 uses PCIe 3.0 x16 interface.
- Radeon RX 540 has 3 GB more memory, than GeForce GTX 280.
- GeForce GTX 280 is used in Desktops, and Radeon RX 540 - in Laptops.
- GeForce GTX 280 is build with Tesla 2.0 architecture, and Radeon RX 540 - with Polaris.
- GeForce GTX 280 is manufactured by 65 nm process technology, and Radeon RX 540 - by 14 nm process technology.
- Memory clock speed of Radeon RX 540 is 4893 MHz higher, than GeForce GTX 280.
Game benchmarks
| high / 1080p | 1−2 | 14−16 |
| ultra / 1080p | 0−1 | 8−9 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 3−4 |
| low / 720p | 12−14 | 30−33 |
| medium / 1080p | 3−4 | 18−20 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Assassin's Creed Odyssey is 250% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | − | 21−24 |
| ultra / 1080p | 4−5 | 20−22 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 6−7 |
| 4K / 2160p | − | 5−6 |
| low / 720p | 16−18 | 45−50 |
| medium / 1080p | 5−6 | 24−27 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Battlefield 5 is 244% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 45−50 | 45−50 |
| high / 1080p | 40−45 | − |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 0−1 |
| GeForce GTX 280 and Radeon RX 540 have the same average FPS in Call of Duty: Warzone. | ||
| low / 768p | 120−130 | 200−210 |
| medium / 768p | 90−95 | 170−180 |
| ultra / 1080p | 40−45 | 90−95 |
| QHD / 1440p | 21−24 | 50−55 |
| 4K / 2160p | 18−20 | 30−33 |
| high / 768p | 65−70 | 130−140 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is 88% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 85−90 | 55−60 |
| ultra / 1080p | 16−18 | 35−40 |
| medium / 1080p | 40−45 | 45−50 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 280 in Cyberpunk 2077 is 4% more, than Radeon RX 540. | ||
| low / 768p | 75−80 | 100−110 |
| medium / 768p | 50−55 | 90−95 |
| ultra / 1080p | 24−27 | 60−65 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Dota 2 is 68% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | 2−3 | 16−18 |
| ultra / 1080p | 2−3 | 14−16 |
| 4K / 2160p | 0−1 | 6−7 |
| low / 720p | 10−12 | 35−40 |
| medium / 1080p | 3−4 | 18−20 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Far Cry 5 is 450% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | 10−11 | 24−27 |
| ultra / 1080p | 5−6 | 18−20 |
| QHD / 1440p | 2−3 | 16−18 |
| low / 720p | 50−55 | 95−100 |
| medium / 1080p | 10−12 | 50−55 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Fortnite is 162% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | 4−5 | 24−27 |
| ultra / 1080p | − | 18−20 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 8−9 |
| low / 720p | 16−18 | 50−55 |
| medium / 1080p | 7−8 | 27−30 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Forza Horizon 4 is 288% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 40−45 | 80−85 |
| medium / 768p | − | 70−75 |
| high / 1080p | 5−6 | 27−30 |
| ultra / 1080p | 2−3 | 12−14 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 2−3 |
| medium / 720p | 35−40 | − |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Grand Theft Auto V is 156% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | 1−2 | 9−10 |
| ultra / 1080p | 0−1 | 7−8 |
| 4K / 2160p | 0−1 | 2−3 |
| low / 720p | 5−6 | 27−30 |
| medium / 1080p | 3−4 | 12−14 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Metro Exodus is 466% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 90−95 | 110−120 |
| high / 1080p | 85−90 | − |
| ultra / 1080p | 70−75 | 100−110 |
| medium / 1080p | 90−95 | 100−110 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Minecraft is 27% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | − | 21−24 |
| ultra / 1080p | 12−14 | 16−18 |
| low / 720p | 27−30 | 55−60 |
| medium / 1080p | 14−16 | 24−27 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS is 83% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | − | 14−16 |
| ultra / 1080p | 4−5 | 9−10 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 0−1 |
| low / 720p | 6−7 | 27−30 |
| medium / 1080p | − | 16−18 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in Red Dead Redemption 2 is 280% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 12−14 | 50−55 |
| medium / 768p | 8−9 | 30−35 |
| high / 1080p | 4−5 | 18−20 |
| ultra / 1080p | 3−4 | 10−11 |
| 4K / 2160p | 0−1 | 8−9 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is 300% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 75−80 | 100−105 |
| medium / 768p | 35−40 | 60−65 |
| ultra / 1080p | 16−18 | 30−35 |
| high / 768p | 30−35 | 50−55 |
| The average gaming FPS of Radeon RX 540 in World of Tanks is 51% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
Full Specs
| GeForce GTX 280 | Radeon RX 540 | |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | Polaris |
| Code name | GT200 | Polaris 12 |
| Type | Desktop | Laptop |
| Release date | 16 June 2008 | 21 March 2017 |
| Pipelines | 240 | 512 |
| Core clock speed | 1296 MHz | |
| Boost Clock | 1219 MHz | |
| Transistor count | 1,400 million | 1,500 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 65 nm | 14 nm |
| Texture fill rate | 48.2 billion/sec | 39.01 |
| Floating-point performance | 622.1 gflops | 1,248 gflops |
| Length | 10.5" (267 mm) (26.7 cm) | |
| Memory bus width | 512 Bit | 128 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 1107 MHz | 6000 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 141.7 GB/s | 96 GB/s |
| Shared memory | - | |
| DirectX | 11.1 (10_0) | 12.0 |
| Shader Model | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| OpenGL | 2.1 | 4.6 |
| OpenCL | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Vulkan | N/A | |
| CUDA | + | |
| FreeSync | + | |
| CUDA cores | 240 | |
| Height | 4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm) | |
| SLI options | + | |
| Multi monitor support | + | |
| Maximum VGA resolution | 2048x1536 | |
| Audio input for HDMI | S/PDIF | |
| Laptop size | large | |
| Check Price |