VR-Zone

The reference specifications for the GeForce GTS 250 and several other models closest to it in terms of performance are listed here. The prices shown below reflect the latest reported price changes by Nvidia and AMD at the time of publishing of this article.

   

	Nvidia GeForce 8800GT/ 9800GT	Nvidia GeForce 9800GTX+/ GTS 250		Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 Core 216	ATI Radeon HD4850		ATI Radeon HD4870
Core	G92	G92		GT200	RV770 PRO		RV770 XT
Process	65nm/ 55nm	55nm		65nm/ 55nm	55nm		55nm
Core Clock	600	738		576	625		750
Shader Clock	1500	1836		1242	-		-
Memory Clock	900	1100		999	993		900
Unified Shaders/ Stream Processors	112	128		216	800		800
Texture Mapping Units	56	64		74	40		40
Render Output Units	16	16		28	16		16
Memory Size	256MB/ 512MB	512MB/ 1GB		896MB	512MB/ 1GB		512MB/ 1GB
Memory Type	GDDR3	GDDR3		GDDR3	GDDR3		GDDR5
Memory Interface	256-bit	256-bit		448-bit	256-bit		256-bit
Outputs	2x Dual-Link DVI, TV-Out	2x Dual-Link DVI, TV-Out*		2x Dual-Link DVI, TV-Out	2x Dual-Link DVI, TV-Out		2x Dual-Link DVI, TV-Out
Power Connectors	1x 6-pin	2x 6-pin (9800GTX+)		2x 6-pin	1x 6-pin		2x 6-pin
		1x 6-pin (GTS 250)
Retail Price	USD119 (512MB)	USD129 (512MB)	USD149 (1GB)	USD199	USD129 (512MB)	USD179 (1GB)	USD149 (512MB)	USD199 (1GB)

*The reference GTS 250 lacks TV-Out.

The only change to the reference design, apart from the new PCB and heatsink, is the omission of a TV-Out connector. Support for triple-SLI remains.


Note that, while 1GB versions of the GTS 250 will at release already be using the new reference design or manufacturers' own custom designs, a 512MB card might be a 9800GTX+ with a BIOS flash, at least until old stocks are cleared out.

So if you must have a shorter card to fit into your small form factor PC or something like that, go for the 1GB version of the GTS 250 or wait some time for the old design to be cleared out of existing stocks.


The cards from Galaxy and Twintech that we have here today are not reference cards though. No doubt as part of Nvidia's grand scheme to create the illusion that the GTS 250 is a new card entirely, many partners are releasing self-designed GTS 250s utilizing custom PCBs and heatsinks.


Both cards are 1GB versions of the GTS 250, and utilise custom heatsinks and PCB designs.

	Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 Reference	Galaxy GeForce GTS 250 1GB	Twintech GeForce GTS 250 XT OC Edition 1GB
Core Clock	738	738	750
Shader Clock	1836	1836	1836
Memory Clock	1100	1100	1125
Outputs	2x Dual-Link DVI	1x Dual-Link DVI, 1x HDMI, TV-Out	2x Dual-Link DVI, 1x HDMI*

*Up to two of the outputs can be used at any one time.

Somewhat strangely, Galaxy's GTS 250 lacks a factory overclock. Twintech isn't that much better off either - its factory overclock is downright meagre.

While the triple outputs on Twintech's card may look tantalising, the truth is that the two-display limitation of the G92 still applies. That additional HDMI port just saves you the trouble of using an adapter, nothing more. On the outputs front Galaxy has simply replaced one of the DVI ports with a HDMI output, and also retained the TV Out port.

So without further ado, let's start off by looking at Galaxy's GTS 250.