G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 780

2013

Why buy it

✅3.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 15.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2013-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌150% higher power demand at 250W vs 100W.

Quadro P4200 Max-Q

2018

Why buy it

✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 780: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 780 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.
✅Draws 100W instead of 250W, a 150W reduction.
✅More future proof: Pascal (2016−2021) on 16nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 780 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 4 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 15.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 780

2013

Quadro P4200 Max-Q

2018

Why buy it

✅3.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 15.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).

Why buy it

✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 780: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 780 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.
✅Draws 100W instead of 250W, a 150W reduction.
✅More future proof: Pascal (2016−2021) on 16nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2013-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌150% higher power demand at 250W vs 100W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 780 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 4 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 15.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 780 better than Quadro P4200 Max-Q?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. GeForce GTX 780 averages 3.0% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 7,957 vs 7,800 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce GTX 780 is the overall package: you are getting no meaningful modern upscaling stack.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Quadro P4200 Max-Q is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2018 generation instead of 2013 and a 16nm process instead of 28nm. That makes it the safer long-run choice for modern games.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce GTX 780 can still make sense if you find it at the right price, especially around $499 MSRP. GeForce GTX 780 is still the smarter buy for most people, though, because the raw performance is close while the overall package is cleaner. GeForce GTX 780 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $499 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 3.0% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 2.0% higher G3D Mark. Quadro P4200 Max-Q is the newer 2018 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture, lower power draw (100W vs 250W), and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does Quadro P4200 Max-Q make more sense than GeForce GTX 780?

Yes. Quadro P4200 Max-Q is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (100W vs 250W), future-proofing, and staying closer to an unclear MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 780. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 780 currently gives you 2.0% higher G3D Mark and 3.0% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 780 Benchmark Check

Quadro P4200 Max-Q Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
1080p
low	78 FPS	93 FPS
medium	67 FPS	81 FPS
high	54 FPS	69 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	46 FPS
1440p
low	68 FPS	78 FPS
medium	60 FPS	69 FPS
high	43 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	35 FPS
4K
low	25 FPS	28 FPS
medium	24 FPS	26 FPS
high	16 FPS	18 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	15 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 780 Open Quadro P4200 Max-Q

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
1080p
low	181 FPS	221 FPS
medium	152 FPS	187 FPS
high	115 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	117 FPS
1440p
low	123 FPS	161 FPS
medium	92 FPS	135 FPS
high	68 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	48 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	53 FPS	94 FPS
medium	42 FPS	78 FPS
high	36 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	50 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 780 Open Quadro P4200 Max-Q

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
1080p
low	358 FPS	351 FPS
medium	286 FPS	281 FPS
high	239 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	263 FPS
medium	215 FPS	211 FPS
high	179 FPS	176 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	132 FPS
4K
low	179 FPS	176 FPS
medium	143 FPS	140 FPS
high	119 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	88 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 780 Open Quadro P4200 Max-Q

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
1080p
low	214 FPS	178 FPS
medium	179 FPS	145 FPS
high	143 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	118 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	166 FPS	127 FPS
medium	141 FPS	104 FPS
high	109 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	94 FPS	71 FPS
medium	73 FPS	58 FPS
high	58 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	36 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 780 Open Quadro P4200 Max-Q

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 780 and Quadro P4200 Max-Q

GeForce GTX 780

The GeForce GTX 780 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 23 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 863 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,957 points. Launch price was $649.

Quadro P4200 Max-Q

The Quadro P4200 Max-Q is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 21 2018. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1215 MHz to 1480 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,800 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 780 scores 7,957 and the Quadro P4200 Max-Q reaches 7,800 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 780 is built on Kepler while the Quadro P4200 Max-Q uses Pascal, both on 28 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce GTX 780) vs 2,304 (Quadro P4200 Max-Q). Raw compute: 4.156 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 780) vs 6.82 TFLOPS (Quadro P4200 Max-Q). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 1480 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
G3D Mark Score	7,957+2%	7,800
Architecture	Kepler	Pascal
Process Node	28 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	2304	2304
Compute (TFLOPS)	4.156 TFLOPS	6.82 TFLOPS+64%
Boost Clock	900 MHz	1480 MHz+64%
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	192+33%	144
L1 Cache	192 KB	864 KB+350%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 780 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Quadro P4200 Max-Q relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 780 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Quadro P4200 Max-Q has 4 GB. The GeForce GTX 780 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 384-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 780) vs 2 MB (Quadro P4200 Max-Q) — the Quadro P4200 Max-Q has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+50%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Bus Width	384-bit+50%	256-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 780) vs 12.1 (Quadro P4200 Max-Q). Vulkan: 1.0 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
DirectX	12 (11_0)	12.1
Vulkan	1.0	1.3+30%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 1st Gen (GeForce GTX 780) vs NVENC 6.0 (Quadro P4200 Max-Q). Decoder: NVDEC 1st Gen vs PureVideo HD VP8. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce GTX 780) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Quadro P4200 Max-Q).

Feature	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
Encoder	NVENC 1st Gen	NVENC 6.0
Decoder	NVDEC 1st Gen	PureVideo HD VP8
Codecs	H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 780 draws 250W versus the Quadro P4200 Max-Q's 100W — a 85.7% difference. The Quadro P4200 Max-Q is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce GTX 780) vs 350W (Quadro P4200 Max-Q). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 267mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 780	Quadro P4200 Max-Q
TDP	250W	100W-60%
Recommended PSU	600W	350W-42%
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	267mm	0mm
Height	111mm	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	80	—
Perf/Watt	31.8	78.0+145%