GeForce RTX 4060 vs Radeon R9 280

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 RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅+253.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 229.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 19.8 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Radeon R9 280

2014

Why buy it

✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,532 vs 19,548).
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 19.8 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Radeon R9 280

2014

Why buy it

✅+253.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 229.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 19.8 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($279 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,532 vs 19,548).
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 19.8 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than Radeon R9 280?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 19,548 vs 5,532 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while Radeon R9 280 is a 2014 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2014, 253.4% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 3 GB, and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of FSR upscaling. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 4060 is about 7.2% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $279 MSRP, and you are getting 253.4% higher G3D Mark. Radeon R9 280 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Radeon R9 280 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Radeon R9 280 is 2014 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM, 5,532 in G3D Mark, and FSR upscaling. 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.

GeForce RTX 4060 Benchmark Check

Radeon R9 280 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 280
1080p
low	167 FPS	77 FPS
medium	152 FPS	63 FPS
high	134 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	115 FPS	33 FPS
1440p
low	137 FPS	65 FPS
medium	114 FPS	54 FPS
high	99 FPS	38 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	24 FPS
4K
low	86 FPS	24 FPS
medium	74 FPS	23 FPS
high	62 FPS	14 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	12 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4060 Open Radeon R9 280

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 280
1080p
low	392 FPS	129 FPS
medium	334 FPS	100 FPS
high	268 FPS	79 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	53 FPS
1440p
low	240 FPS	73 FPS
medium	209 FPS	53 FPS
high	169 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	28 FPS
4K
low	119 FPS	28 FPS
medium	98 FPS	20 FPS
high	82 FPS	16 FPS
ultra	63 FPS	11 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4060 Open Radeon R9 280

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 280
1080p
low	812 FPS	249 FPS
medium	642 FPS	199 FPS
high	551 FPS	166 FPS
ultra	440 FPS	124 FPS
1440p
low	535 FPS	187 FPS
medium	443 FPS	149 FPS
high	379 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	93 FPS
4K
low	365 FPS	124 FPS
medium	297 FPS	100 FPS
high	234 FPS	83 FPS
ultra	186 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4060 Open Radeon R9 280

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 280
1080p
low	746 FPS	140 FPS
medium	613 FPS	116 FPS
high	536 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	440 FPS	85 FPS
1440p
low	594 FPS	103 FPS
medium	486 FPS	85 FPS
high	421 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	59 FPS
4K
low	358 FPS	62 FPS
medium	308 FPS	48 FPS
high	285 FPS	38 FPS
ultra	220 FPS	27 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 4060 Open Radeon R9 280

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 4060 and Radeon R9 280

GeForce RTX 4060

The GeForce RTX 4060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1830 MHz to 2460 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 24 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,548 points. Launch price was $299.

Radeon R9 280

The Radeon R9 280 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 4 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 933 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,532 points. Launch price was $279.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 4060 scores 19,548 versus the Radeon R9 280's 5,532 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 253.4%. The GeForce RTX 4060 is built on Ada Lovelace while the Radeon R9 280 uses GCN 1.0, both on 5 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 1,792 (Radeon R9 280). Raw compute: 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 3.344 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 280). Boost clocks: 2460 MHz vs 933 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 280
G3D Mark Score	19,548+253%	5,532
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	GCN 1.0
Process Node	5 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	3072+71%	1792
Compute (TFLOPS)	15.11 TFLOPS+352%	3.344 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	2460 MHz+164%	933 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	96	112+17%
L1 Cache	3 MB+582%	0.44 MB
L2 Cache	24 MB+3100%	0.75 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The Radeon R9 280 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon R9 280 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 280
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4060 comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 280 has 3 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 offers 166.7% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 240 GB/s (Radeon R9 280) — a 13.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Bus width: 128-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 0.75 MB (Radeon R9 280) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 280
VRAM Capacity	8 GB+167%	3 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	272 GB/s+13%	240 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit	384-bit+200%
L2 Cache	24 MB+3100%	0.75 MB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4060 draws 115W versus the Radeon R9 280's 200W — a 54% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 500W (Radeon R9 280). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 6-pin + 8-pin.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4060	Radeon R9 280
TDP	115W-43%	200W
Recommended PSU	550W	500W-9%
Power Connector	8-pin	6-pin + 8-pin
Length	240mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	73°C	—
Perf/Watt	170.0+514%	27.7

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4060 launched at $299 MSRP, while the Radeon R9 280 launched at $279. The Radeon R9 280 costs 6.7% less ($20 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 65.4 (GeForce RTX 4060) vs 19.8 (Radeon R9 280) — the GeForce RTX 4060 offers 230.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 4060 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2014).