GeForce GTX 480
NVIDIA
G3D Mark
4,075
MSRP
$499
AVG Price
$100
Performance Spectrum - GPU
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.
Overview
The GeForce GTX 480 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 26 2010. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 700 MHz. It has 480 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,075 points. Launch price was $499.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 480
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for GeForce GTX 480 across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
ARC Raiders
Counter-Strike 2
Cyberpunk 2077
Destiny 2
League of Legends
Path of Exile 2
Rust
Team Fortress 2
The Sims 4
Valorant
Technical Analysis
Detailed breakdown of GeForce GTX 480 specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 480 scores 4,075 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Budget tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the Fermi (2010−2014) architecture (codename: GF100), manufactured on a 40 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 480 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 60 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 48 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 1.345 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 480 |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 4,075 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | Fermi (2010−2014) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | GF100 |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 40 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 480 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 60 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 48 |
| Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency | 700 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 1.345 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 42.06 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 2.0 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 3,100 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #488 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 480 is equipped with 1.5 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 384-bit memory bus, delivering 177.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 480 |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 1.5 GB |
| VRAM TypeMemory technology generation | GDDR5 |
| Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth | 384-bit |
| Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate | 8 Gbps |
| BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM | 177.4 GB/s |
| L1 Cache | 960 kB |
| L2 Cache | 768 kB |
Advanced Features & APIs
Graphics API support: DirectX 12 (11_0), Vulkan 1.2, OpenGL 4.6— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 480 |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA Reflex | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Super Resolution | ❌ Not Supported |
| DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version | 12 (11_0) |
| VulkanCross-platform graphics API | 1.2 |
| OpenGLLegacy graphics API | 4.6 |
| Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL) | CUDA |
| Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink support | 3-way SLI |
Display & Media
Display outputs: 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI — supports up to 2 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD VP4, decoder: PureVideo HD VP4— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 480 |
|---|---|
| DVI PortsNumber of DVI display connectors | 2x |
| mini-HDMI PortsNumber of mini-HDMI display connectors | 1x |
| Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors | 2 |
| Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version | PureVideo HD VP4 |
| Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version | PureVideo HD VP4 |
| CodecsSupported video compression formats | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 480 draws 250 Watt under load (TDP) — a 600W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 6-pin + 8-pin. Physical size: 267mm long, 111mm tall, occupying 2 expansion slots, weighing 950g— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 45°C at idle, 90°C under load.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 480 |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | 250 Watt |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 600W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | 6-pin + 8-pin |
| Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance | 267mm |
| Card Height | 111mm |
| Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied | 2-slot |
| Weight | 950g |
| Idle TemperatureTypical temperature at desktop idle | 45°C |
| Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load | 90°C |
Value Analysis
At an average price of $100 (MSRP: $499), the GeForce GTX 480 delivers 41 G3D Mark points per dollar. Overall performance ranking position: #488 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 480 |
|---|---|
| MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price | $499 |
| Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days | $100 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #488 |
| Release Date | March 26 2010 |
| Release Year | 2010 |
Similar Performance
Graphics cards with benchmark scores closest to the current hardware, grouped by manufacturer.
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AMD (12)
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Our Recommendation for GeForce GTX 480
Suggested pairings based on performance balance
Minimum (Avoid Bottleneck) (12)
Recommended (Balanced) (12)
High-End (Max Performance) (12)
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