GeForce GTX 960 vs Radeon R9 M290X
When comparing GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon R9 M290X, 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 960 and Radeon R9 M290X is the price. Does the additional cost justify the performance hit? Our comparison should help you make the right decision.
Radeon R9 M290X is a Laptop Graphics Card
Note: Radeon R9 M290X 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 R9 M290X here:
Main Specs
GeForce GTX 960
Radeon R9 M290X
Power consumption (TDP)
120 Watt
100 Watt
Interface
PCIe 3.0 x16
PCIe 3.0 x16
Supplementary power connectors
1x 6-pins
None
Memory type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount
4 GB
4 GB
Display Connectors
1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort
No outputs
Recommended system power (PSU)
400 Watt
Check Price
Check Price
GeForce GTX 960 has 20% more power consumption, than Radeon R9 M290X.
Both video cards are using PCIe 3.0 x16 interface connection to a motherboard.
GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon R9 M290X have maximum RAM of 4 GB.
GeForce GTX 960 is used in Desktops, and Radeon R9 M290X - in Laptops.
GeForce GTX 960 is build with Maxwell architecture, and Radeon R9 M290X - with GCN.
Core clock speed of GeForce GTX 960 is 277 MHz higher, than Radeon R9 M290X.
GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon R9 M290X are manufactured by 28 nm process technology.
Memory clock speed of Radeon R9 M290X is 1193 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
35−40
16−18
ultra / 1080p
21−24
10−11
QHD / 1440p
16−18
4−5
4K / 2160p
10−11
4−5
low / 720p
60−65
30−35
medium / 1080p
40−45
20−22
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Assassin's Creed Odyssey is 113% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
high / 1080p
55−60
24−27
ultra / 1080p
45−50
21−24
QHD / 1440p
35−40
9−10
4K / 2160p
18−20
6−7
low / 720p
100−110
55−60
medium / 1080p
60−65
27−30
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Battlefield 5 is 116% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
low / 768p
50−55
45−50
QHD / 1440p
0−1
0−1
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Call of Duty: Warzone is 10% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
low / 768p
250−260
210−220
medium / 768p
220−230
180−190
ultra / 1080p
180−190
100−110
QHD / 1440p
110−120
55−60
4K / 2160p
70−75
30−35
high / 768p
210−220
150−160
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is 41% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
low / 768p
60−65
55−60
ultra / 1080p
−
40−45
medium / 1080p
55−60
45−50
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Cyberpunk 2077 is 15% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
low / 768p
120−130
110−120
medium / 768p
110−120
95−100
ultra / 1080p
100−110
65−70
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Dota 2 is 23% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
high / 1080p
45−50
18−20
ultra / 1080p
40−45
18−20
QHD / 1440p
27−30
16−18
4K / 2160p
14−16
6−7
low / 720p
80−85
40−45
medium / 1080p
45−50
21−24
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Far Cry 5 is 104% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
high / 1080p
60−65
27−30
ultra / 1080p
45−50
21−24
QHD / 1440p
27−30
16−18
4K / 2160p
27−30
−
low / 720p
180−190
100−110
medium / 1080p
110−120
55−60
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Fortnite is 89% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
high / 1080p
60−65
27−30
ultra / 1080p
45−50
21−24
QHD / 1440p
30−35
10−11
4K / 2160p
24−27
10−11
low / 720p
100−110
55−60
medium / 1080p
65−70
30−35
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Forza Horizon 4 is 107% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
low / 768p
140−150
90−95
medium / 768p
120−130
80−85
high / 1080p
70−75
30−35
ultra / 1080p
30−35
12−14
QHD / 1440p
21−24
4−5
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Grand Theft Auto V is 75% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
high / 1080p
24−27
10−11
ultra / 1080p
20−22
8−9
QHD / 1440p
16−18
−
4K / 2160p
8−9
3−4
low / 720p
65−70
30−35
medium / 1080p
30−35
14−16
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Metro Exodus is 121% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
low / 768p
130−140
110−120
medium / 1080p
120−130
100−110
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Minecraft is 18% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
high / 1080p
−
24−27
ultra / 1080p
14−16
18−20
low / 720p
100−110
60−65
medium / 1080p
18−20
24−27
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS is 31% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
high / 1080p
24−27
14−16
ultra / 1080p
16−18
10−11
QHD / 1440p
10−11
0−1
4K / 2160p
7−8
−
low / 720p
65−70
30−35
medium / 1080p
35−40
16−18
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in Red Dead Redemption 2 is 100% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
low / 768p
130−140
60−65
medium / 768p
85−90
35−40
high / 1080p
45−50
21−24
ultra / 1080p
24−27
12−14
4K / 2160p
16−18
8−9
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is 121% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
low / 768p
90−95
100−110
medium / 768p
60−65
60−65
ultra / 1080p
50−55
35−40
high / 768p
60−65
55−60
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960 in World of Tanks is 3% more, than Radeon R9 M290X.
Full Specs
GeForce GTX 960
Radeon R9 M290X
Architecture
Maxwell
GCN
Code name
GM206
Neptune
Type
Desktop
Laptop
Release date
22 January 2015
7 January 2014
Pipelines
1024
1280
Core clock speed
1127 MHz
850 MHz
Boost Clock
1178 MHz
900 MHz
Transistor count
2,940 million
2,800 million
Manufacturing process technology
28 nm
28 nm
Texture fill rate
72 billion/sec
72.00
Floating-point performance
2,413 gflops
2,304 gflops
Length
9.5" (24.1 cm)
Memory bus width
128 Bit
256 Bit
Memory clock speed
7.0 GB/s
1200 MHz
Memory bandwidth
112 GB/s
153.6 GB/s
Shared memory
-
-
G-SYNC support
+
DirectX
12 (12_1)
Shader Model
6.4
5.1
OpenGL
4.4
4.4
OpenCL
1.2
Not Listed
Vulkan
1.1.126
CUDA
+
Monero / XMR (CryptoNight)
0.27 kh/s
FreeSync
+
CUDA cores
1024
Bus support
PCI Express 3.0
PCIe 3.0 x16
Height
4.376" (11.1 cm)
SLI options
+
Multi monitor support
4 displays
HDCP
+
Maximum VGA resolution
2048x1536
Audio input for HDMI
Internal
Bitcoin / BTC (SHA256)
318 Mh/s
300 Mh/s
Laptop size
large
Eyefinity
+
HD3D
+
PowerTune
+
DualGraphics
+
ZeroCore
+
Switchable graphics
+
Mantle
+
Decred / DCR (Decred)
0.92 Gh/s
Ethereum / ETH (DaggerHashimoto)
8 Mh/s
Zcash / ZEC (Equihash)
141.47 Sol/s
Compute units
20
GameStream
+
GeForce ShadowPlay
+
GPU Boost
2.0
GameWorks
+
Check Price
Check Price
