GeForce GTS 250 512MB vs GeForce GTX 650

Intro

Compare all that to the GeForce GTX 650, which features GPU clock speed of 1058 MHz, and 1024 MB of GDDR5 RAM set to run at 1250 MHz through a 128-bit bus. It also is made up of 384 SPUs, 32 TAUs, and 16 Raster Operation Units.

Display Graphs

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Power Usage and Theoretical Benchmarks

Power Consumption (Max TDP)

GeForce GTX 650		64 Watts
GeForce GTS 250 512MB		145 Watts
	Difference: 81 Watts (127%)

Memory Bandwidth

Theoretically speaking, the GeForce GTX 650 is 14% faster than the GeForce GTS 250 512MB overall, due to its higher data rate. (explain)

GeForce GTX 650		80000 MB/sec
GeForce GTS 250 512MB		70400 MB/sec
	Difference: 9600 (14%)

Texel Rate

The GeForce GTS 250 512MB is a lot (about 40%) better at texture filtering than the GeForce GTX 650. (explain)

GeForce GTS 250 512MB		47232 Mtexels/sec
GeForce GTX 650		33856 Mtexels/sec
	Difference: 13376 (40%)

Pixel Rate

If using a high screen resolution is important to you, then the GeForce GTX 650 is the winner, by far. (explain)

GeForce GTX 650		16928 Mpixels/sec
GeForce GTS 250 512MB		11808 Mpixels/sec
	Difference: 5120 (43%)

Please note that the above 'benchmarks' are all just theoretical - the results were calculated based on the card's specifications, and real-world performance may (and probably will) vary at least a bit.

Price Comparison

Specifications

Memory Bandwidth: Bandwidth is the max amount of information (counted in MB per second) that can be transported across the external memory interface in a second. The number is worked out by multiplying the card's bus width by its memory clock speed. In the case of DDR type memory, the result should be multiplied by 2 again. If it uses DDR5, multiply by 4 instead. The better the memory bandwidth, the better the card will be in general. It especially helps with anti-aliasing, High Dynamic Range and higher screen resolutions.

Texel Rate: Texel rate is the maximum texture map elements (texels) that can be processed in one second. This is worked out by multiplying the total texture units of the card by the core speed of the chip. The better the texel rate, the better the video card will be at texture filtering (anisotropic filtering - AF). It is measured in millions of texels applied in a second.

Pixel Rate: Pixel rate is the maximum number of pixels the video card could possibly write to its local memory in one second - measured in millions of pixels per second. The figure is calculated by multiplying the amount of ROPs by the the card's clock speed. ROPs (Raster Operations Pipelines - also called Render Output Units) are responsible for filling the screen with pixels (the image). The actual pixel output rate is also dependant on lots of other factors, most notably the memory bandwidth - the lower the bandwidth is, the lower the ability to get to the max fill rate.