GeForce GTS 450 vs Radeon R7 240

Speed and memory

The GeForce GTS 450 and the Radeon R7 240 are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

The GeForce GTS 450 has 1 GB of video memory and the Radeon R7 240 has 2 GB. That difference matters at 1440p and in new games at High textures, and it can outweigh a small speed advantage as the card ages.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Grand Theft Auto V Legacy (14 against 19 fps), and the smallest is in Grand Theft Auto V Legacy (14 against 19 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 450 is rated at 106 W and the Radeon R7 240 at 30 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 450 W for the second. A gap of 76 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce GTS 450 cost $129 and the Radeon R7 240 $69. Per dollar, the Radeon R7 240 gave more performance (1.4 points per $100 against 0.8). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce GTS 450 if you want the faster card, and you can accept 1 GB of memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the Radeon R7 240 if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference, and you value the extra video memory. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.