NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 is a high-end graphics card from the GeForce 200 generation, built on the Tesla 2.0 architecture and the GT200 chip. Fabricated on TSMC's 65 nm process, the die contains 1,400 million transistors across 576 mm², yielding a transistor density of 2.4 million per square millimeter. The card features 240 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, paired with 1 GB of GDDR3 memory on a 512-bit bus that delivers 141.7 GB/s of bandwidth. In the database's performance ranking, the GTX 280 sits at the 50th percentile, with no aggregate benchmark score recorded, placing it exactly in the middle of all tracked GPUs. The card was released on June 15, 2008, and is now end-of-life, with the GeForce 400 series as its successor.

Benchmark Performance

The database does not contain any submitted benchmark scores for the GTX 280, and the average benchmark score is listed as zero. Consequently, performance analysis must rely on the card's theoretical throughput figures and its percentile ranking.

The pixel rate of 19.26 GPixel/s and the texture rate of 48.16 GTexel/s are the primary indicators of fill-rate capability. These values are derived from the 32 ROPs and 80 TMUs operating at the card's core clock, which is not explicitly listed but is implied by the memory clock of 1107 MHz (2.2 Gbps effective). The high texture rate suggests that the GTX 280 can sustain complex texture-heavy scenes at 1080p without becoming a bottleneck. The pixel rate, while lower than many later cards, is sufficient for the resolutions and detail levels typical of the card's release period.

The FP32 compute throughput of 622.1 GFLOPS is a measure of the card's shader processing power. This figure is consistent with a mid-range to high-end GPU of its generation, and the 50th percentile ranking confirms that it sits at the median of all GPUs tracked in this database. That means half of the GPUs in the database are faster and half are slower, giving the GTX 280 a balanced position in the performance hierarchy.

Memory bandwidth is often a limiting factor for high-resolution gaming. The GTX 280's 141.7 GB/s bandwidth, achieved through a 512-bit memory bus and 1 GB of GDDR3 memory, is a strong asset. This bandwidth allows the card to feed its 240 shading units and 80 TMUs without stalling, particularly at 1080p where texture data is moderate. The 2.2 Gbps effective memory clock is typical of GDDR3 parts of that era, and the 512-bit interface compensates for the relatively modest clock speed.

In the absence of direct benchmark comparisons, the theoretical rates and percentile ranking provide a coherent picture: the GTX 280 is a capable mid-range performer for 1080p gaming, with enough raw throughput to handle most titles of its time at high settings. The 50th percentile also indicates that it is not an extreme performer, but it is far from being a weak option.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The GTX 280's specification lists no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores. This means the card lacks dedicated hardware for ray tracing and tensor-based workloads. As a result, any ray tracing effects must be handled via software or not at all, and AI-accelerated features such as deep learning super sampling are not available in hardware.

In terms of API support, the card is rated for DirectX 11.1 with a feature level of 10_0. This is an important distinction: while the API version is 11.1, the feature level of 10_0 means the card only supports DirectX 10-class features. Games that require DirectX 11-specific features, such as tessellation or compute shaders, will not run at full functionality. OpenGL 3.3 is supported, which provides compatibility with a wide range of titles and applications. Vulkan is not listed, so users cannot rely on this modern API.

The display outputs consist of two DVI ports and one S-Video port. This configuration is typical of high-end cards from the late 2000s, offering dual-monitor support via DVI and analog video output via S-Video. The card uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 bus interface, which is backward compatible with earlier PCIe slots but may not fully utilize the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0 or newer slots.

The lack of RT and tensor cores, combined with the DirectX 10_0 feature level, means the GTX 280 is best suited for games and applications that do not rely on modern rendering techniques. For users interested in ray tracing or machine learning workloads, this card is not a viable option.

Who Should Consider It

Given the specifications, the GTX 280 is a reasonable choice for 1080p gaming, particularly in titles that are not heavily dependent on advanced DirectX 11 features. The 1 GB frame buffer is adequate for 1080p textures, and the 512-bit memory bus ensures that bandwidth is not a constraint at that resolution. The 622.1 GFLOPS FP32 throughput and 48.16 GTexel/s texture rate are sufficient for high detail settings in most games released around the card's launch period.

The 50th percentile ranking suggests that the card is not a top-tier performer, but it is not a low-end part either. Users who are willing to play at 1080p with moderate to high settings will find the GTX 280 capable. However, the lack of ray tracing and tensor cores, along with the DirectX 10_0 feature level, means that the card is not future-proof. Games that require DirectX 11 features or hardware ray tracing will not run optimally.

The card is end-of-life, so it is not recommended for new builds. It may be of interest to collectors or those building a retro system based on the GeForce 200 generation. The 1 GB memory capacity and 141.7 GB/s bandwidth are also suitable for older 4:3 or 16:10 resolutions, where the fill rate is less demanding.

In summary, the GTX 280 is best suited for 1080p gaming in a legacy system, with the understanding that its feature set is firmly rooted in the DirectX 10 era. Users who need modern API support or ray tracing should look to the card's successor, the GeForce 400 series, which is listed as the next generation.

Power and Cooling

The GTX 280 has a thermal design power (TDP) of 236 W. This is a substantial power draw, requiring a robust cooling solution. The card occupies a dual-slot form factor, which allows for a larger heatsink and fan assembly to dissipate the heat generated under load.

For power delivery, the card requires one 6-pin and one 8-pin PCIe power connector. This combination is common for high-end GPUs of its time. The suggested power supply rating is 550 W, which should provide sufficient headroom for the card and the rest of the system. Users with lower-wattage PSUs will need to upgrade to meet this requirement.

Physically, the card measures 267 mm in length (10.5 inches) and 111 mm in height (4.4 inches). This is a standard length for a high-end card of that era, but users should check case clearance before installation. The dual-slot design also means that adjacent PCIe slots may be blocked.

The card's power consumption and cooling requirements are in line with its performance class. The 236 W TDP is not extreme, but it is high enough to warrant a quality PSU and adequate case airflow. The suggested 550 W PSU is a safe recommendation for a system with a typical CPU and other components.

FAQ

Q: Does the GTX 280 support ray tracing?

A: No. The specification lists no RT cores, and the card's feature set does not include hardware ray tracing.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the GTX 280?

A: It has 1024 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 512-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 141.7 GB/s and an effective memory clock of 2.2 Gbps.

Q: What power supply is recommended for the GTX 280?

A: The suggested PSU is 550 W, and the card requires one 6-pin and one 8-pin PCIe power connector.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the GTX 280?

A: The launch MSRP was 649 USD.

Q: What API levels does the GTX 280 support?

A: It supports DirectX 11.1 (with a 10_0 feature level) and OpenGL 3.3. Vulkan is not supported.

Q: What is the production status of the GTX 280?

A: The card is end-of-life, with a release date of June 15, 2008, and a successor in the GeForce 400 series.