NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£110
  • VRAM: 1 GB
  • Memory bus width: 128 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 106 W

NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.4

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.0

Technical Score

10.0%

7.4

User score

Poor
3.0

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

1.0

Memory

12.0%

7.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.1

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.2

Design

4.0%

4.1

Connectivity & Media

Poor
7.4

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

10

User reviews

30.0%

1.4

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
(2)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(2)
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Very good
  • 2.8
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.7
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.1
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.3
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.6
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • nvidia-geforce-gts-450
nvidia-geforce-gts-450

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 is a mid-range graphics card launched in 2010, built on the 40 nm process and featuring 192 CUDA cores, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs. It is typically equipped with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit interface, delivering a memory bandwidth of 57.7 GB/s with a reference core clock of 783 MHz and a thermal design power (TDP) of 106 W. Main pros include its affordability for budget-conscious gamers, support for DirectX 11, PhysX, and SLI for multi-GPU scaling, and significant overclocking potential. However, it is now considered outdated for modern gaming due to its limited VRAM, poor performance in recent titles at 1080p, and lack of support for newer video decoders like VP9.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

1.0

Memory

12.0%

7.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.1

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.2

Design

4.0%

4.1

Connectivity & Media

3.0
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a technical score of 3 points, which is lower than that of 97.6% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

10

User reviews

30.0%

1.4

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
(2)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(2)
Amazon_logo.png
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

7.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a user score of 7.42 points, which is lower than that of 84.6% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
1.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a popularity of 1.4 points, which is lower than 53.8% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.4

Overall score

40.0%

9.9

Price

5.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.4 points, which is lower than 92.1% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

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3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

1,531 points
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 scores 1531 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 87.7% of graphics cards.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

613 points
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 scores 613 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 91.9% of graphics cards.
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

0.601 TFLOPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 delivers 0.601 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 99.7% of graphics cards.
Show more
VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

1 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has 1 GB of VRAM, which is less than 98.5% of graphics cards and equal to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

128 bit
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 uses a 128 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 69.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 26.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

57.7 GB/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 reaches 57.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 98.1% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

2.0
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports PCIe 2.0, which is older than on 98.4% of graphics cards and equal to 1.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

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Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

?
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

2
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports up to 2 displays, which is fewer than 98.1% of graphics cards and equal to 1.9% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

2560x1600
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports a maximum digital resolution of 2560x1600, which is lower than that of 59.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.1% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

0
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 offers 0 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 98.1% of graphics cards and equal to 1.9% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

?
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

N/A
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

106 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a TDP of 106 W, which is lower than that of 89.3% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

106 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 draws 106 W under peak load, which is lower than 89.1% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

400 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 recommends a 400 W PSU, which is lower than that of 91.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.5% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

106 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a board power limit of 106 W, which is lower than that of 89.9% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

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Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

210 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is 210 mm long, which is shorter than 86.8% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

111 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is 111 mm tall, which is shorter than 89.6% of graphics cards and equal in height to 5.6% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 vs the average graphics card

  • 50.7% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (106 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (106 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.106 W vs 215 W
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.400 W vs 650 W
  • 75.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is shorter than the average graphics card (210 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is shorter than the average graphics card (210 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.210 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
    When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.111 mm vs 127 mm
  • 51.8% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (106 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
    What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
    When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (106 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.106 W vs 220 W
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • 4.82x cheaper
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£110 vs £530).
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£110 vs £530).£110 vs £530
  • Better FP64 ratio
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:12 vs 1:64).
    Corrected from vendor/prompt-tail contamination using adjacent ratio evidence.
    What it is: Ratio of double-precision (FP64) to single-precision (FP32) performance
    When it matters: When you need to know whether FP64 is merely present or genuinely useful.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:12 vs 1:64).1:12 vs 1:64
  • Better FP64 ratio
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:12 vs 1:64).
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 50.7% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (106 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 51.8% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (106 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
  • 51.8% lower peak power draw
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower peak power draw than the average graphics card (106 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a peak power draw of 220 W.
  • 75.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is shorter than the average graphics card (210 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 36 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (4 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 59.2% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (783 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 152 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 93.3% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (25.1 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 48 fewer ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (16 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 86.6% lower PassMark score
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (1,531 points vs 11,411 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 11,411 points.
  • 97.4% lower compute throughput
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (0.6 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 87.1% lower compute score
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower compute score than the average graphics card (613 points vs 4,745 points). The average graphics card has a compute score of 4,745 points.
  • 4,160 fewer FP32 units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (192 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 87.1% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (57.7 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 81% slower memory speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (3,608 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 48.5% slower VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (902 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 50% smaller L1 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (64 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Older PCIe version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (2 vs 4.0).
  • 13 older
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,010 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older OpenCL version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.1 vs 3.0).
  • Older shader model
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (5.1 vs 6.8).
  • 94.7% fewer transistors
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (1,170 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • 3 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (0 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 encoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 2 fewer displays supported
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • No AV1 decoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • 2 fewer monitors per output type
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Not VR ready
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • Lower display resolution
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (2560x1600 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • Older NVDEC generation
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower NVDEC generation than the average graphics card (2 vs 6). The average graphics card offers NVDEC generation 6.
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 12 °C lower thermal ceiling
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (105 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • 37 dB noisier at idle
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a higher idle noise level than the average graphics card (37 dB vs 0 dB). The average graphics card has an idle noise level of 0 dB.
  • 4.9 dB noisier under load
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (39.9 dB vs 35 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35 dB.
  • No RGB lighting
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.128 bit vs 256 bit
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.40 nm vs 5 nm
  • 36 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (4 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (4 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.4 vs 40
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.1 GB vs 12 GB
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 59.2% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (783 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (783 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.783 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 152 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.32 vs 184
  • 93.3% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (25.1 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (25.1 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.25.1 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s

Graphic comparison of NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450?

  • Reliable for older or indie titles from the 2010–2015 era.
  • Very quiet operation, especially with custom partner cooling solutions.
  • Small form factor makes it suitable for Home Theatre PCs (HTPCs) and office upgrades.
  • Supports CUDA, PhysX, and 3D Vision technologies.
  • Consistent performance under varying real-world conditions.
  • Budget-friendly entry point for basic gaming and DirectX 11 support.

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450?

  • Poor performance in modern AAA games, often struggling to hit 20 FPS at 1080p.
  • Limited 128-bit memory bus significantly restricts bandwidth compared to competitors.
  • High power consumption relative to its performance level.
  • Historically outclassed in value and speed by the AMD Radeon HD 5770.
  • 1GB VRAM is insufficient for contemporary high-resolution textures.
  • Considered obsolete for any gaming beyond legacy titles or extremely low settings.

Expert reviews

B
bit-tech.net
13/09/2010

The Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 is a budget-oriented graphics card launched at a stock price of £110, designed to compete directly against ATI’s HD 5770. In terms of pros, the GTS 450 manages playable frame rates at resolutions up to 1,920 x 1,200 with 4x anti-aliasing (AA) in lighter titles like Dirt 2, and it serves as a viable option for specific scenarios such as Battlefield: Bad...Read more

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techpowerup.com
12/09/2010

The TechPowerUp review of the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 in SLI shows that pairing two cards offers high scalability, nearly doubling performance in modern games at high-definition resolutions. The configuration boasts efficient power usage, compatible with a 500W power supply, alongside low noise levels from custom coolers. Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks,...Read more

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guru3d.com
13/09/2010

The Guru3D GeForce GTS 450 SLI review provides a comprehensive evaluation of pairing two mainstream, DirectX 11 compatible graphics cards in a multi-GPU configuration. Originally released in September 2010, a dual-card setup combined the hardware power of 384 shader processors and two 1024MB memory partitions to transform a budget 1600x1200 graphics card into a capable performer at...Read more

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techpowerup.com
12/09/2010

The ZOTAC GeForce GTS 450 AMP! Edition is a lower-midrange card featuring a significant factory overclock (873 MHz core, 1000 MHz memory) and a quiet, efficient cooler derived from the GTS 250. Pros include low power consumption, a compact design with full-sized native HDMI and DisplayPort, and solid performance for gaming at 1680x1050. However, the card faces cons in its high price...Read more

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techpowerup.com
12/09/2010

The Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic Platinum is a factory-overclocked (930 MHz core) 40 nm card that provides solid performance for lower-midrange gaming and HTPC use thanks to very low noise levels and native HDMI support. It delivers full DirectX 11 capability alongside PhysX and CUDA support, offering decent manual overclocking headroom. However, the card faces stiff competition in...Read more

E
expertreviews.co.uk
12/10/2010

The Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 (GV-N450-1GI) is a decent mid-range graphics card priced at £100 including VAT. Based on Nvidia's 450 chipset, this card features a GPU clock speed of 810MHz and 1GB of RAM running at 902MHz across a 128-bit bus, which yields a memory bandwidth of 57.7GB/s. In benchmark tests, the card shows respectable performance by pushing 52.2fps in Call of...Read more

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techspot.com
13/09/2010

TechSpot's review of the $129 Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 highlights it as a power-efficient, budget-focused DirectX 11 card designed for resolutions between 1280x1024 and 1680x1050. The Palit Sonic Platinum variant demonstrated excellent, quiet cooling, while 2-way SLI performance scaled impressively, offering up to an 88% boost in certain titles. However, the card is restricted by a...Read more

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guru3d.com
12/09/2010

The Guru3D GeForce GTS 450 Review Roundup evaluates NVIDIA's budget-oriented, DirectX 11 mid-range graphics card, which launched at approximately 120 EUR. Powered by the GF106 GPU, the reference card features 192 shader processors, 1 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit interface, and clocks in at 783 MHz core / 1566 MHz shader / 900 MHz memory. It is explicitly targeted at...Read more

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tomshardware.com
12/09/2010

The Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 marks the official transition of Nvidia's mainstream lineup from the aging three-year-old G92 architecture to the newer, Fermi-based GF106 graphics processor. Built as essentially half of a GF104 chip (the GPU behind the well-received GTX 460), the GF106 architecture on this card features 192 shader cores, 4 Polymorph engines, and 32 texture units....Read more

H
hardwareluxx.de
16/12/2011

summary of the ZOTAC GeForce GTS 450 Zone Edition review: Review Summary The ZOTAC GeForce GTS 450 Zone Edition is a completely silent, passively cooled graphics card based on NVIDIA's older 40-nm GF106 architecture with 192 CUDA cores, 32 texture units, and 16 ROPs. To successfully run the card without a fan, ZOTAC significantly reduced the stock clock speeds from the standard...Read more

H
hardwareluxx.de
14/09/2010

The EVGA GeForce GTS 450 FTW is a mid-range, DirectX 11 graphics card based on NVIDIA's 40 nm GF106 architecture, packing 1.17 billion transistors, 192 CUDA cores, 32 texture units, and 16 ROPs. Positioned as a budget-friendly option for gamers around the €130 price point, EVGA's "For The Win" (FTW) edition separates itself from the crowd by aggressively pushing performance out of...Read more

G
gamestar.de
13/09/2010

Based on the GameStar review, the Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 is evaluated as a budget-friendly, entry-level DirectX 11 graphics card tailored specifically for casual and value-conscious gamers. Equipped with 1.0 GB of GDDR5 video memory, a 783 MHz core clock, and a 128-bit memory interface, the card's primary strengths lie in its very quiet operational noise and its efficiently low...Read more

H
hardware.fr
13/09/2010

The HardWare.fr review of the Sparkle GeForce GTS 450s highlights a mid-range graphics card designed to replace the aging GTS 250, offering a competitive performance-to-price balance for its era. Tested at a resolution of 1680x1050, the standard reference GTS 450 delivers a 7% performance gain over both the Radeon HD 5750 and the GTS 250. However, a major downside of the card is its...Read more

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noticias3d.com
13/09/2010

The Noticias3D review covers the launch of the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450, a mainstream, budget-friendly graphics card built on the GF106 Fermi architecture. Positioned as the direct successor to the GTS 250, this card features 1GB of GDDR5 memory, a 128-bit interface, and baseline clock speeds of 783 / 1,566 / 3,608 MHz. NVIDIA specifically targets mainstream gamers who do not want to...Read more

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hwupgrade.it
16/09/2010

This 2010 review evaluates three factory-overclocked, custom-cooled NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 graphics cards from MSI, Asus, and Gigabyte based on the GF106 GPU architecture. The benchmarks reveal a highly linear performance drop at higher resolutions, confirming that the onboard 1 GB video memory standard is not a system bottleneck«!contextual(citationKey="0.1.1", source="""1 Gbyte di...Read more

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tomshw.it
13/09/2010

The Tom's Hardware review introduces the $129 Nvidia GeForce GTS 450, a Fermi-based GF106 GPU designed to replace the G92-based 9800 GT and GTS 250 for mainstream gaming. Key advantages include excellent 2-way SLI scaling, quiet and cool operation, strong overclocking potential, and modern DX11/bitstreaming capabilities. However, the card suffers from inconsistent performance, often...Read more

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