NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 Specifications
GeForce GTS 250 GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
GTS 250 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce GTS 250's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The GeForce GTS 250 by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce GTS 250 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce GTS 250's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
GeForce GTS 250 by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the GTS 250, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
GTS 250 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
Tesla Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 is built on NVIDIA's Tesla architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the GTS 250 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GeForce GTS 250 Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the GeForce GTS 250 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce GTS 250 by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
NVIDIA API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
GeForce GTS 250 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 is manufactured by NVIDIA as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the GeForce GTS 250 by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GeForce GTS 250 Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 is a late-stage Tesla-architecture part built on TSMC’s 55 nm process, positioned in the GeForce 200 generation as a successor to the GeForce 9 series. It carries 754 million transistors on a 260 mm² die, with a transistor density of 2.9M per mm², and shipped as an end-of-life product with a launch MSRP of 199 USD. The card was released on 2009-03-03, and its benchmark percentile against all GPUs sits at 50, placing it squarely in the midrange of the historical performance spectrum. This analysis relies solely on the provided specification and performance data, with no external comparisons beyond the supplied facts.
Benchmark Performance
The GTS 250’s average benchmark score is listed as 0, which means no aggregated performance metric is available from the database. However, the percentile versus all GPUs is 50, indicating that the card lands at the exact median of the entire GPU population tracked by this database. That placement suggests it is neither a standout performer nor a laggard, but rather a balanced middle-ground solution in the context of all graphics hardware ever released. With no nearestRivals data provided, direct percentage comparisons against specific competing cards cannot be made, so the analysis must rely on the card’s own architectural capabilities to infer its standing.
The shading units total 128, paired with 64 texture mapping units and 16 raster output units. These counts yield a pixel rate of 10.80 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 43.20 GTexel/s. The FP32 compute throughput is 414.7 GFLOPS, which is modest by modern standards but was reasonable for its era. Given the 50th percentile ranking, the GTS 250 likely competes with other midrange parts from its own generation, though the absence of rival scores means the data cannot confirm exact deltas. The 55 nm process node and 754 million transistor count suggest a design that prioritized balance over peak performance, which aligns with its median percentile placement.
In the absence of benchmark scores, the clock speeds provide the only performance-related numbers. The memory clock is 1008 MHz, translating to 2 Gbps effective, which feeds a 256-bit bus. This configuration produces a memory bandwidth of 64.51 GB/s. The combination of 128 shaders and that bandwidth suggests the card is capable of handling 1080p gaming at medium settings in titles from its release period, but the lack of measured scores prevents a more definitive performance statement. The 50th percentile is the single most informative metric here, as it positions the GTS 250 as a true mainstream part, neither a high-end enthusiast choice nor an entry-level compromise.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GTS 250 does not include any dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as those fields are null in the specification. The architecture is Tesla, which predates the introduction of hardware-accelerated ray tracing by several generations. Consequently, the card offers no RT-specific acceleration, and any ray tracing workloads would rely entirely on software implementations, which would be severely limited by the 414.7 GFLOPS FP32 throughput. The absence of tensor cores also means no AI-accelerated features such as DLSS or similar upscaling technologies are available.
On the API front, the card supports DirectX 11.1 but only at the 10_0 feature level, which is a critical limitation. This means it cannot fully utilize DirectX 11 features like tessellation or compute shaders, and it is effectively a DirectX 10-class part with a partial 11.1 label. OpenGL support is limited to version 3.3, and Vulkan is not supported at all, as indicated by the null field. For modern games or applications that require Vulkan or higher-level DirectX features, the GTS 250 would be incompatible. The display outputs are limited to 2x DVI, with no HDMI or DisplayPort options listed, so connecting to modern monitors may require adapters.
The PCIe 2.0 x16 bus interface is a standard for its time, providing adequate bandwidth for the card’s memory subsystem. The power requirements include a 150 W TDP, a dual-slot cooler, and a single 6-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 450 W. These figures indicate that the card draws a moderate amount of power, and the dual-slot design likely houses a capable air cooler, though the exact cooler dimensions are not specified beyond the 229 mm length (9 inches). The feature set is clearly dated, with no modern acceleration technologies, making it unsuitable for contemporary ray-traced titles or API-dependent workloads.
Memory Subsystem
The GTS 250 is equipped with 1024 MB of GDDR3 memory, which was a standard capacity for high-end cards at its release. The memory type is GDDR3, operating at 1008 MHz, which translates to 2 Gbps effective data rate. The bus width is 256 bit, and the resulting bandwidth is 64.51 GB/s. This bandwidth figure is modest by today’s standards, but it was sufficient for the card’s intended resolution targets at the time of its launch.
For high resolutions, the 1024 MB VRAM capacity is a notable constraint. At 1080p, the card can likely handle older titles with reduced texture settings, but at 1440p or higher, the memory capacity would quickly become a bottleneck, leading to texture thrashing or reduced detail levels. The 64.51 GB/s bandwidth further limits performance at high resolutions, as the card cannot move data fast enough to feed the 128 shading units under heavy load. The 256-bit bus does provide a reasonable balance, but the GDDR3 speed is the limiting factor compared to later GDDR5 implementations.
The pixel rate of 10.80 GPixel/s and texture rate of 43.20 GTexel/s are directly tied to the memory subsystem’s ability to supply data. With 16 ROPs, the card can output up to 10.80 billion pixels per second, but achieving that rate requires the memory to deliver the necessary bandwidth. The 64.51 GB/s figure suggests that the card is best suited for 1080p gaming at medium settings, where the memory bandwidth and capacity are adequate. At higher resolutions, the performance would degrade disproportionately due to the bandwidth ceiling, making the GTS 250 a poor choice for modern high-resolution displays.
Who Should Consider It
Given the 50th percentile ranking and the lack of benchmark scores, the GTS 250 is best suited for users running legacy applications or older games that do not require modern API features. The DirectX 11.1 (10_0) support limits it to DirectX 10-class titles, so any game that mandates DirectX 11 features would not run properly. For 1080p gaming at medium to low settings, the card’s 128 shaders and 64.51 GB/s bandwidth can handle titles from the late 2000s, but modern games would likely be unplayable due to the API and VRAM limitations.
Users with a 1080p monitor who play older, less demanding games, such as those from the GeForce 9 era or early GeForce 200 titles, would find the GTS 250 adequate. The 1024 MB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p with reduced textures, and the 256-bit bus provides enough bandwidth for that resolution. However, the card is not suitable for 1440p or higher, as the memory capacity and bandwidth would be overwhelmed. The lack of Vulkan support also disqualifies it from many modern indie games that rely on that API.
The card’s 150 W TDP and suggested 450 W PSU make it relatively easy to integrate into older systems with modest power supplies. The dual-slot design and 229 mm length require a case with adequate clearance, but the 1x 6-pin power connector is standard. For retro gaming enthusiasts building a period-correct system, the GTS 250 offers a balanced midrange experience, but for any serious modern workload, it is strictly a collector’s item. The end-of-life production status further cements its role as a legacy part rather than a daily driver.
FAQ
Q: What is the GTS 250’s memory bandwidth?
A: The memory bandwidth is 64.51 GB/s, derived from a 256-bit bus and GDDR3 memory running at 1008 MHz (2 Gbps effective).
Q: Does the GTS 250 support ray tracing?
A: No, the card has no ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as those fields are null in the specification. It relies on the Tesla architecture, which predates hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Q: What DirectX version does the GTS 250 support?
A: It supports DirectX 11.1 but only at the 10_0 feature level, meaning it effectively operates as a DirectX 10-class card. OpenGL support is limited to version 3.3, and Vulkan is not supported.
Q: How much VRAM does the GTS 250 have?
A: The card has 1024 MB of GDDR3 memory, which is adequate for 1080p gaming at medium settings but limited for higher resolutions.
Q: What is the card’s thermal design power (TDP)?
A: The TDP is 150 W, with a suggested power supply of 450 W and a single 6-pin power connector required.
Q: What is the launch MSRP of the GTS 250?
A: The launch MSRP is 199 USD, and the card was released on 2009-03-03, with a production status of end-of-life.
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