The Reference GTS 250
Meet the 'reference' GeForce GTS 250
As you guys all know by now, the GeForce GTS 250 is based off the GeForce 9800 GTX+ series of GPUs. In fact it is the exact same graphics processor, the G92b. Which by itself was a respin of the 65nm GeForce 8800 (G92) series using the same silicon footprint. The difference... a smaller die-size of the graphics chipset and some internal efficiency features.
Let's have a peek at the primary features.
| Fabrication Process | 55 nm |
| Graphics Clock (texture and ROP units) | 738 MHz |
| Processor Clock (Shader units) | 1836 MHz |
| Memory Clock (Clock rate / Data rate) | 1100 MHz / 2200 MHz |
| Total Video Memory | 512 or 1024 MB |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit |
| Total Memory Bandwidth | 70.4 GB/s |
| Processor Cores | 128 |
| ROP Units | 16 |
| Texture Filtering Units | 64 |
| Texture Filtering Rate | 47.2 GigaTexels/sec |
| Connectors | 2 x Dual-Link DVI-I |
| Form Factor | Dual Slot |
| Power Connectors | 1 x 6-pin |
| Max Board Power (TDP) | 150 watts |
| GPU Thermal Threshold1 | 105° C - 221 ° F |
A lower die-size often equals lower core voltages, better energy efficiency and typically better clock speeds. When you understand that the G92B is based off the same chip that the 8800 GTS 512MB had, you'll also know that the GPU on the GTS 250 also has 128 shader processors to rock your games hard.
How many transistors does the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 have you ask? No precise data has been given, but it's safe to assume roughly 754 million transistors. The stock core frequency of the GeForce GTS 250 will run at at 738 MHz, the shader processors at 1836 MHz and the memory at 2200 MHz (2x1100) effectively. Another advantage for the GTS 250 is that you can go three-way SLI with it.
Reference design GeForce GTS 250
| GeForce 9800 GTX | GeForce 9800 GTX+ | GeForce GTS 250 | |
| Stream (Shader) Processors | 128 | 128 | 128 |
| Core Clock (MHz) | 675 | 738 | 738 |
| Shader Clock (MHz) | 1675 | 1836 | 1836 |
| Memory Clock (MHz) x2 | 1100 | 1100 | 1100 |
| Memory amount | 512 MB | 512 MB | 512/1024 MB |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| HDCP | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Two Dual link DVI | Yes | Yes | Yes |
As far as the GTS 250 goes... the differences need not be found in the GPU, but rather PCB design and power requirements. Well that and price of course, as GeForce GTS 250 was launched in March 2009, with 512MB and 1GB models, at $129 and $149 respectively. They'll get you excellent performance for the money you pay, there's just no doubt about that. But compared to the GeForce 9800 GTX+... well just look at the table above this paragraph.
