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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£95
  • VRAM: 1 GB
  • Memory bus width: 128 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 65 W

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.5

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%

3.1

Technical Score

10.0%

7.2

User score

Poor
3.1

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%

6.7

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.9

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.1

Design

4.0%

6.3

Connectivity & Media

Poor
7.2

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%

7.9

User reviews

30.0%

5.7

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
(75)
amazon
4.4
(11)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Very good
  • 3.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.1
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • nvidia-geforce-gtx-650
nvidia-geforce-gtx-650

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 GTX 650 is an entry-level graphics card launched in September 2012, built on the 28 nm Kepler architecture using the GK107 graphics processor. It features 384 CUDA cores, a base clock of 1058 MHz, and typically 1 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit interface, delivering a memory bandwidth of 80 GB/s. Main characteristics include support for DirectX 12 (feature level 11_0), NVIDIA PhysX, and CUDA technology, while its low 64 W thermal design power (TDP) makes it highly energy-efficient and suitable for compact builds with a 400 W power supply. Key pros are its silent operation, low power consumption, and capability to handle mainstream 1080p gaming of its era at modest settings. However, notable cons include its limited 1 GB VRAM buffer, which causes stuttering in more demanding modern titles, a lack of GPU Boost technology, and the requirement of a 6-pin power connector despite its low overall power draw.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650

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%

6.7

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.9

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.1

Design

4.0%

6.3

Connectivity & Media

3.1
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a technical score of 3.06 points, which is lower than that of 97% 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%

7.9

User reviews

30.0%

5.7

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
(75)
amazon
4.4
(11)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

7.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a user score of 7.25 points, which is lower than that of 88.9% 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.
5.7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a popularity of 5.7 points, which is higher than 64.3% 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%

3.5

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

5.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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

1,760 points
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 scores 1760 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 86.2% 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

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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

0.8125 TFLOPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 delivers 0.8125 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 99.1% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% 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 GTX 650 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 GTX 650 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 GTX 650 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

80 GB/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 reaches 80 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 97.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.3% 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

3.0
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% 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 GTX 650 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

?
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

1.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports Vulkan 1.2, which is older than on 96% of graphics cards and equal to 2.5% of graphics cards.
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 GTX 650 supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
Show more
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

4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 7.8% of graphics cards and equal to 89.2% 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

?
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 GTX 650 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

1.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to 4.8% of graphics cards.
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

5.4 Gbps
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports DisplayPort link rates up to 5.4 Gbps, which is slower than on 90.9% of graphics cards and equal to 8% of graphics cards.
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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

65 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a TDP of 65 W, which is lower than that of 95.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.5% 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

64 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 draws 64 W under peak load, which is lower than 95.7% of graphics cards and equal to 0.1% 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 GTX 650 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

65 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a board power limit of 65 W, which is lower than that of 96.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% 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

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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 GTX 650 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

1 slot/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 occupies 1 slot/s, which is slimmer than 96.6% of graphics cards and equal in width to 3.4% 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 GTX 650 vs the average graphics card

  • 69.8% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (65 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 GTX 650 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (65 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.65 W vs 215 W
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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 GTX 650 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
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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 GTX 650 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
  • 70.5% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (65 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 GTX 650 has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (65 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.65 W vs 220 W
  • 1 slot/s slimmer design
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (1 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.
    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

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (1 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.1 slot/s vs 2 slot/s
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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 GTX 650 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • 5.58x cheaper
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£95 vs £530).
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£95 vs £530).£95 vs £530
  • 61.2% smaller GPU die
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower GPU die size than the average graphics card (118 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
    What it is: Total die area of the GPU chip
    When it matters: When you are comparing how physically large different GPU chips are across generations and tiers.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower GPU die size than the average graphics card (118 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².118 mm² vs 304.25 mm²
  • Better FP64 ratio
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:24 vs 1:64).
  • 61.2% smaller GPU die
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower GPU die size than the average graphics card (118 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 69.8% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (65 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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.
  • 70.5% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (65 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
  • 70.9% lower peak power draw
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower peak power draw than the average graphics card (64 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a peak power draw of 220 W.
  • 54.5% lower idle power draw
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower idle power draw than the average graphics card (5 W vs 11 W). The average graphics card has an idle power draw of 11 W.
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 1 slot/s slimmer design
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (1 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.

Total
Overall
Performance
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 38 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (2 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 44.9% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,058 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 152 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 91% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (33.9 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 GTX 650 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (16 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 96.4% lower FP32 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (0.8 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 84.6% lower PassMark score
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (1,760 points vs 11,411 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 11,411 points.
  • 96.5% lower compute throughput
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (0.8 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 3,968 fewer FP32 units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (384 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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 GTX 650 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 82.1% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (80 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 73.7% slower memory speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (5,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 28.6% slower VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,250 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 5.6x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • No ray tracing
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.
  • 11 older
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,012 vs 2,023).
  • Older PCIe version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No XeSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4).
  • No DirectStorage support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • Older encoder generation
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (1 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • Older OpenCL version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 3.0).
  • Older shader model
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (5.1 vs 6.8).
  • No sampler feedback
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 100% fewer transistors
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (1 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • 3 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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 GTX 650 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Older DisplayPort version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • No VRR support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDCP version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 2.3).
  • Not VR ready
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • Older NVDEC generation
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower NVDEC generation than the average graphics card (1 vs 6). The average graphics card offers NVDEC generation 6.
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • 8.5 dB noisier under load
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (43.5 dB vs 35 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35 dB.
  • 5 °C lower thermal ceiling
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (98 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • No backplate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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 GTX 650 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
  • 38 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (2 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 GTX 650 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (2 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.2 vs 40
  • 5.6x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 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 GTX 650 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.28 nm vs 5 nm
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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 GTX 650 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 GTX 650 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 GTX 650 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 44.9% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,058 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 GTX 650 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,058 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1058 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 152 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 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 GTX 650 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.32 vs 184
  • 91% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (33.9 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 GTX 650 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (33.9 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.33.9 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
75 Reviews
amazon
4.4
11 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650?

  • High power efficiency with a low Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 65W
  • Compact form factor suitable for small-profile PC builds
  • Excellent value for budget-conscious gamers at launch
  • Quiet operation even under load
  • Strong manual overclocking headroom due to the lack of GPU Boost
  • Reliable for older or less demanding games like CS:GO or TF2

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650?

  • Struggles with high settings in modern AAA titles
  • Lacks 'GPU Boost' technology found in higher 600-series models
  • Does not support SLI for multi-GPU configurations
  • Memory bandwidth is limited compared to previous generations or competitors
  • Limited feature level support (11_0) for DirectX 12, causing compatibility issues
  • Performance is significantly lower than the GTX 650 Ti or GTX 660

Expert reviews

G
guru3d.com
14/09/2012
GeForce GTX 650 MSI Power edition review

The Guru3D review covers the MSI GeForce GTX 650 Power Edition, an entry-level graphics card launched in September 2012 built on the 28nm GK107 Kepler GPU architecture. Targetted at budget-minded gamers and HTPC users, the card positions itself in the 100 to 125 EUR price segment to compete directly with AMD's Radeon HD 7750 and 7770. It comes loaded with 384 shader cores running at...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
16/09/2012
MSI GeForce GTX 650 Power Edition OC 1 GB Review

The MSI GeForce GTX 650 Power Edition OC, featured on TechPowerUp, is a custom, entry-level card based on NVIDIA's Kepler architecture that boasts exceptional power efficiency and a very quiet, cool-running TransThermal modular fan system. Factory-overclocked with a 4% performance boost, it supports voltage tweaking in MSI Afterburner and provides three display outputs, catering to...Read more

H
hwupgrade.it
30/04/2021
Da Fermi ad Ampere, 10 anni di GPU Nvidia GeForce: 44 modelli alla prova

This retrospective review by Hardware Upgrade chronicles a decade of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs from the 2010 Fermi architecture (GTX 400 series) to the 2020 Ampere architecture (RTX 3000 series), benchmarking 44 distinct models across real-world games like Metro Exodus and Borderlands 3. The test results reveal a staggering 1400% to 1500% raw performance increase at 1080p over ten years,...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
tomshw.it
12/09/2012
GeForce GTX 650 e GTX 660 sfidano Radeon HD 7750 e HD 7850

The Tom's Hardware review analyzes the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 (GK106 Kepler), a 241mm, 960-core, 2GB GDDR5 card priced at $229 that serves as an excellent 1080p gaming solution with GPU Boost. It provides a 20–30% performance boost over the Radeon HD 7850, though it can run warm at 76°C under load with the reference cooler. Limitations include an asymmetrical memory configuration...Read more

(Translated)Show original

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