Nvidia Geforce Gt 730 Vs Amd Radeon R7 240: Which Budget Graphics Card Wins?
What To Know
- In terms of clock speeds, the GT 730 has a slight edge with a base clock of 902 MHz and a boost clock of 928 MHz, while the R7 240 operates at a base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 850 MHz.
- In practice, the memory difference between the two cards translates to a slight performance advantage for the GT 730 in memory-intensive applications and games.
- The GT 730 has a slight edge in DirectX 11 games and GDDR5 memory, while the R7 240 is slightly more affordable and has better DirectX 9 performance.
In the realm of budget graphics cards, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 and AMD Radeon R7 240 stand out as two of the most popular options. These cards offer a balance of affordability and performance, making them ideal for casual gamers, office workers, and multimedia enthusiasts. But which one should you choose? In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll pit the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 against the AMD Radeon R7 240 to determine which one reigns supreme in the budget GPU arena.
When it comes to performance, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 and AMD Radeon R7 240 are remarkably close. Both cards are based on 28nm technology and feature 384 stream processors. In terms of clock speeds, the GT 730 has a slight edge with a base clock of 902 MHz and a boost clock of 928 MHz, while the R7 240 operates at a base clock of 780 MHz and a boost clock of 850 MHz.
In real-world gaming scenarios, the performance gap between the two cards is negligible. Both the GT 730 and R7 240 can handle most modern games at low to medium settings, delivering playable frame rates. However, the GT 730 tends to perform slightly better in DirectX 11 games, while the R7 240 has a slight advantage in DirectX 9 titles.
Memory: GDDR5 vs DDR3
One key difference between the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 and AMD Radeon R7 240 lies in their memory configurations. The GT 730 comes equipped with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, while the R7 240 features 2GB of DDR3 memory. GDDR5 is a faster and more efficient type of memory compared to DDR3, offering higher bandwidth and lower latency.
In practice, the memory difference between the two cards translates to a slight performance advantage for the GT 730 in memory-intensive applications and games. However, the R7 240’s DDR3 memory is still adequate for most tasks, and the performance difference is not significant enough to be a deal-breaker.
Power Consumption and Heat Output
When it comes to power consumption and heat output, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 and AMD Radeon R7 240 are both very efficient cards. They both have a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 55W, meaning they require minimal power to operate. As a result, they generate very little heat, making them ideal for compact builds and systems with limited cooling capabilities.
Features and Software Support
In terms of features, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 and AMD Radeon R7 240 offer a similar set of capabilities. Both cards support DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.5, and OpenCL 1.2. They also come with dedicated video decoding engines that can handle various video formats, including H.264, H.265, and VP9.
When it comes to software support, both NVIDIA and AMD provide excellent driver support for their respective cards. This ensures that users can enjoy the latest performance optimizations and bug fixes. Additionally, both companies offer a range of software tools and utilities that can be used to tweak and monitor the performance of their graphics cards.
Price and Availability
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 and AMD Radeon R7 240 are both budget-friendly graphics cards, with prices typically ranging from $50 to $100. They are widely available from various retailers and e-commerce platforms, making them easy to find and purchase.
Which One Should You Choose?
Ultimately, the choice between the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 and AMD Radeon R7 240 depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you’re looking for slightly better performance, especially in DirectX 11 games, and are willing to pay a bit more, the GT 730 is the better choice. However, if you’re on a tight budget and prioritize value for money, the R7 240 is a solid option that offers comparable performance.
The Verdict: A Tie
In the battle of the budget GPUs, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 and AMD Radeon R7 240 emerge as equally matched contenders. They offer similar performance, memory configurations, power consumption, and feature sets. The GT 730 has a slight edge in DirectX 11 games and GDDR5 memory, while the R7 240 is slightly more affordable and has better DirectX 9 performance. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Questions We Hear a Lot
Q: Which card is better for gaming, the GT 730 or the R7 240?
A: Both cards offer comparable gaming performance at low to medium settings. However, the GT 730 has a slight edge in DirectX 11 games, while the R7 240 performs slightly better in DirectX 9 titles.
Q: Which card is better for video editing and content creation?
A: Both cards can handle basic video editing and content creation tasks. However, if you plan on working with more demanding applications or high-resolution video, you may want to consider a more powerful graphics card.
Q: Which card is more energy-efficient?
A: Both cards have a TDP of 55W, making them very energy-efficient. They generate very little heat and are ideal for compact builds and systems with limited cooling capabilities.
Q: Which card has better software support?
A: Both NVIDIA and AMD provide excellent driver support for their respective cards. They also offer a range of software tools and utilities that can be used to tweak and monitor the performance of their graphics cards.
Q: Which card is more affordable?
A: The R7 240 is typically more affordable than the GT 730, with prices ranging from $50 to $100. However, prices may vary depending on the specific model and retailer.
