GeForce GTS 250 vs Radeon R7 250

Speed and memory

The GeForce GTS 250 and the Radeon R7 250 are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

Both cards have 1 GB of video memory, so memory will not separate them.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Fortnite (24 against 24 fps), and the smallest is in ELDEN RING (5 against 5 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce GTS 250 is rated at 150 W and the Radeon R7 250 at 65 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 550 W for the first and 450 W for the second. A gap of 85 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce GTS 250 cost $129 and the Radeon R7 250 $89. Per dollar, the Radeon R7 250 gave more performance (2.0 points per $100 against 1.4). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce GTS 250 if you want the faster card, and it also has at least as much memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the Radeon R7 250 if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference, or if you want lower power draw and a quieter PC. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.