GeForce GTX 280 vs GeForce GTX 960M
When choosing between GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 960M, 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 GeForce GTX 960M.
GeForce GTX 280
GeForce GTX 960M is a Laptop Graphics Card
Note: GeForce GTX 960M 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 GeForce GTX 960M here:
Main Specs
| GeForce GTX 280 | GeForce GTX 960M | |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 236 Watt | 75 Watt |
| Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | MXM-B (3.0) |
| Supplementary power connectors | 6-pin & 8-pin | |
| Memory type | GDDR3 | GDDR5 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 1 GB | 4 GB |
| Display Connectors | 2x DVI, 1x S-Video | No outputs |
| Check Price |
- GeForce GTX 280 has 214% more power consumption, than GeForce GTX 960M.
- GeForce GTX 280 is connected by PCIe 2.0 x16, and GeForce GTX 960M uses MXM-B (3.0) interface.
- GeForce GTX 960M has 3 GB more memory, than GeForce GTX 280.
- GeForce GTX 280 is used in Desktops, and GeForce GTX 960M - in Laptops.
- GeForce GTX 280 is build with Tesla 2.0 architecture, and GeForce GTX 960M - with Maxwell.
- Core clock speed of GeForce GTX 280 is 200 MHz higher, than GeForce GTX 960M.
- GeForce GTX 280 is manufactured by 65 nm process technology, and GeForce GTX 960M - by 28 nm process technology.
- Memory clock speed of GeForce GTX 960M is 1393 MHz higher, than GeForce GTX 280.
Game benchmarks
| high / 1080p | 1−2 | 18−20 |
| ultra / 1080p | 0−1 | 10−11 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 4−5 |
| 4K / 2160p | − | 4−5 |
| low / 720p | 12−14 | 35−40 |
| medium / 1080p | 3−4 | 21−24 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Assassin's Creed Odyssey is 333% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | − | 27−30 |
| ultra / 1080p | 4−5 | 24−27 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 8−9 |
| 4K / 2160p | − | 6−7 |
| low / 720p | 16−18 | 60−65 |
| medium / 1080p | 5−6 | 30−35 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Battlefield 5 is 344% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 45−50 | 50−55 |
| high / 1080p | 40−45 | 50−55 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 0−1 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Call of Duty: Warzone is 15% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 120−130 | 220−230 |
| medium / 768p | 90−95 | 190−200 |
| ultra / 1080p | 40−45 | 100−110 |
| QHD / 1440p | 21−24 | 70−75 |
| 4K / 2160p | 18−20 | 35−40 |
| high / 768p | 65−70 | 150−160 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is 114% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 85−90 | 60−65 |
| ultra / 1080p | 16−18 | 45−50 |
| medium / 1080p | 40−45 | 55−60 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Cyberpunk 2077 is 12% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 75−80 | 110−120 |
| medium / 768p | 50−55 | 100−110 |
| ultra / 1080p | 24−27 | 70−75 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Dota 2 is 90% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | 2−3 | 21−24 |
| ultra / 1080p | 2−3 | 20−22 |
| QHD / 1440p | − | 18−20 |
| 4K / 2160p | 0−1 | 6−7 |
| low / 720p | 10−12 | 45−50 |
| medium / 1080p | 3−4 | 21−24 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Far Cry 5 is 600% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | 10−11 | 27−30 |
| ultra / 1080p | 5−6 | 21−24 |
| QHD / 1440p | 2−3 | 14−16 |
| low / 720p | 50−55 | 110−120 |
| medium / 1080p | 10−12 | 60−65 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Fortnite is 200% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | 4−5 | 30−33 |
| ultra / 1080p | − | 21−24 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 10−12 |
| low / 720p | 16−18 | 60−65 |
| medium / 1080p | 7−8 | 30−35 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Forza Horizon 4 is 366% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 40−45 | 95−100 |
| medium / 768p | − | 85−90 |
| high / 1080p | 5−6 | 35−40 |
| ultra / 1080p | 2−3 | 14−16 |
| QHD / 1440p | 0−1 | 4−5 |
| medium / 720p | 35−40 | − |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Grand Theft Auto V is 212% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| high / 1080p | 1−2 | 10−12 |
| ultra / 1080p | 0−1 | 9−10 |
| 4K / 2160p | 0−1 | 2−3 |
| low / 720p | 5−6 | 35−40 |
| medium / 1080p | 3−4 | 14−16 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Metro Exodus is 600% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 90−95 | 110−120 |
| high / 1080p | 85−90 | − |
| ultra / 1080p | 70−75 | − |
| medium / 1080p | 90−95 | 110−120 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Minecraft is 25% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| ultra / 1080p | 12−14 | 14−16 |
| low / 720p | 27−30 | 65−70 |
| medium / 1080p | 14−16 | 18−20 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M 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 | 30−35 |
| medium / 1080p | − | 18−20 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in Red Dead Redemption 2 is 320% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 12−14 | 65−70 |
| medium / 768p | 8−9 | 40−45 |
| high / 1080p | 4−5 | 21−24 |
| ultra / 1080p | 3−4 | 12−14 |
| 4K / 2160p | 0−1 | 7−8 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is 414% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
| low / 768p | 75−80 | 90−95 |
| medium / 768p | 35−40 | 60−65 |
| ultra / 1080p | 16−18 | 35−40 |
| high / 768p | 30−35 | 55−60 |
| The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 960M in World of Tanks is 51% more, than GeForce GTX 280. | ||
Full Specs
| GeForce GTX 280 | GeForce GTX 960M | |
| Architecture | Tesla 2.0 | Maxwell |
| Code name | GT200 | N16P-GX |
| Type | Desktop | Laptop |
| Release date | 16 June 2008 | 12 March 2015 |
| Pipelines | 240 | 640 |
| Core clock speed | 1296 MHz | 1096 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1202 MHz | |
| Transistor count | 1,400 million | 1,870 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 65 nm | 28 nm |
| Texture fill rate | 48.2 billion/sec | 47.04 |
| Floating-point performance | 622.1 gflops | 1,505 gflops |
| Length | 10.5" (267 mm) (26.7 cm) | |
| Memory bus width | 512 Bit | 128 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 1107 MHz | 2500 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 141.7 GB/s | 80 GB/s |
| Shared memory | - | |
| DirectX | 11.1 (10_0) | 12 (11_0) |
| Shader Model | 4.0 | 5.1 |
| OpenGL | 2.1 | 4.5 |
| OpenCL | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Vulkan | N/A | 1.1.126 |
| CUDA | + | + |
| CUDA cores | 240 | 640 |
| Bus support | PCI Express 3.0 | |
| Height | 4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm) | |
| SLI options | + | + |
| Multi monitor support | + | |
| HDMI | + | |
| Maximum VGA resolution | 2048x1536 | |
| Audio input for HDMI | S/PDIF | |
| Bitcoin / BTC (SHA256) | 175 Mh/s | |
| Laptop size | medium sized | |
| DisplayPort Multimode (DP++) support | + | |
| H.264, VC1, MPEG2 1080p video decoder | + | |
| Optimus | + | |
| GameStream | + | |
| GeForce ShadowPlay | + | |
| GPU Boost | 2.0 | |
| GameWorks | + | |
| BatteryBoost | + | |
| Check Price |