Arc Graphics 130T vs GeForce GTX 960

CPU

GPU

Arc Graphics 130T

2025

Popular choices:

•••••••••

GeForce GTX 960

2015Core: 1127 MHzBoost: 1178 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

Arc Graphics 130T

Shared 15

6,208

+1.2%

Arc 8-Core iGPU

Arc Graphics 130V

Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)

6,133

0.0%

GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST

GeForce GTX 880M SLI

GeForce GTX 580

GeForce GTX 670

GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER

GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile

GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB

About G3D Mark

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.

Arc Graphics 130T

2025

Why buy it

✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 960: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 960 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.
✅Draws 15W instead of 100W, a 85W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, Unknown of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
50.8% HIGHER MSRP
$300 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 20.7 vs 30.8 G3D/$ ($300 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 960

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $101 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Delivers 48.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 30.8 vs 20.7 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs Unknown).

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌566.7% higher power demand at 100W vs 15W.

Arc Graphics 130T

2025

GeForce GTX 960

2015

Why buy it

✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 960: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 960 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.
✅Draws 15W instead of 100W, a 85W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Costs $101 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Delivers 48.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 30.8 vs 20.7 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs Unknown).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, Unknown of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
50.8% HIGHER MSRP
$300 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 20.7 vs 30.8 G3D/$ ($300 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌566.7% higher power demand at 100W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is Arc Graphics 130T better than GeForce GTX 960?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 6,208 vs 6,133 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer Arc Graphics 130T is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, no meaningful modern upscaling stack, plus much lower power draw (15W vs 100W).

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

Arc Graphics 130T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2025 generation instead of 2015. That makes it the safer long-run choice for modern games.

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

Arc Graphics 130T is the smarter buy by a wide margin. Arc Graphics 130T is about 50.8% more expensive on MSRP at $300 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and you are getting 1.2% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 960 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is GeForce GTX 960 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 960 is 2015 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM, 6,133 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

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.

Arc Graphics 130T Benchmark Check

GeForce GTX 960 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
1080p
low	80 FPS	103 FPS
medium	70 FPS	87 FPS
high	50 FPS	72 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	42 FPS
1440p
low	66 FPS	90 FPS
medium	58 FPS	77 FPS
high	37 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	23 FPS	32 FPS
4K
low	24 FPS	28 FPS
medium	23 FPS	26 FPS
high	14 FPS	18 FPS
ultra	12 FPS	15 FPS

Open Arc Graphics 130T Open GeForce GTX 960

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
1080p
low	121 FPS	139 FPS
medium	85 FPS	109 FPS
high	58 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	53 FPS
1440p
low	80 FPS	77 FPS
medium	48 FPS	57 FPS
high	35 FPS	42 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	28 FPS
4K
low	38 FPS	27 FPS
medium	25 FPS	19 FPS
high	20 FPS	16 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	11 FPS

Open Arc Graphics 130T Open GeForce GTX 960

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
1080p
low	279 FPS	276 FPS
medium	223 FPS	221 FPS
high	176 FPS	184 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	138 FPS
1440p
low	210 FPS	207 FPS
medium	168 FPS	166 FPS
high	140 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	103 FPS
4K
low	140 FPS	138 FPS
medium	112 FPS	110 FPS
high	78 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	57 FPS	69 FPS

Open Arc Graphics 130T Open GeForce GTX 960

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
1080p
low	139 FPS	168 FPS
medium	109 FPS	139 FPS
high	88 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	101 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	117 FPS
medium	81 FPS	99 FPS
high	64 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	51 FPS	70 FPS
4K
low	63 FPS	68 FPS
medium	49 FPS	55 FPS
high	39 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	30 FPS	32 FPS

Open Arc Graphics 130T Open GeForce GTX 960

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Arc Graphics 130T and GeForce GTX 960

Arc Graphics 130T

The Arc Graphics 130T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in January 6 2025. It features the Xe+ architecture. It has 7 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,208 points.

GeForce GTX 960

The GeForce GTX 960 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 22 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1127 MHz to 1178 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,133 points. Launch price was $199.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The Arc Graphics 130T scores 6,208 and the GeForce GTX 960 reaches 6,133 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Arc Graphics 130T is built on Xe+ while the GeForce GTX 960 uses Maxwell 2.0. Shader units: 7 (Arc Graphics 130T) vs 1,024 (GeForce GTX 960).

Feature	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
G3D Mark Score	6,208+1%	6,133
Architecture	Xe+	Maxwell 2.0
Shading Units	7	1024+14529%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 960 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Arc Graphics 130T relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Arc Graphics 130T comes with 0 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 960 has 4 GB. The GeForce GTX 960 offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: System vs 128-bit.

Feature	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
VRAM Capacity	Shared	4 GB
Memory Type	Shared	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	System	112 GB/s
Bus Width	System	128-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (Arc Graphics 130T) vs 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 960). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 4.

Feature	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
DirectX	12.2+2%	12 (12_1)
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	3	4+33%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: Xe Media Engine (Arc Graphics 130T) vs NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce GTX 960). Decoder: Xe Media Engine vs NVDEC (2nd Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1,H.266 (Arc Graphics 130T) vs HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8 (GeForce GTX 960).

Feature	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
Encoder	Xe Media Engine	NVENC (5th Gen)
Decoder	Xe Media Engine	NVDEC (2nd Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1,H.266	HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Arc Graphics 130T draws 15W versus the GeForce GTX 960's 100W — a 147.8% difference. The Arc Graphics 130T is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Arc Graphics 130T) vs 400W (GeForce GTX 960). Power connectors: Integrated vs 6-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 241mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 75 C.

Feature	Arc Graphics 130T	GeForce GTX 960
TDP	15W-85%	100W
Recommended PSU	350W-13%	400W
Power Connector	Integrated	6-pin
Length	0mm	241mm
Height	0mm	111mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	85°C	75 C-12%
Perf/Watt	413.9+575%	61.3

💰

Value Analysis

The Arc Graphics 130T launched at $300 MSRP, while the GeForce GTX 960 launched at $199. The GeForce GTX 960 costs 33.7% less ($101 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 20.7 (Arc Graphics 130T) vs 30.8 (GeForce GTX 960) — the GeForce GTX 960 offers 48.8% better value. The Arc Graphics 130T is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2015).