[36 Gaming tests + videos] NVIDIA GeForce MX250 (25W) – a budget GPU that is still very capable

    The NVIDIA GeForce MX 250 (25W) was the most powerful entry-level NVIDIA GPU until the debut of the GeForce MX350 (which is a cut-down version of GTX 1050). The GeForce MX250 is the successor of the MX150 but since it just features slightly higher clocks, we can call it a pure rebrand (ok, almost).

    Just like the MX150, the GeForce MX250 has two TDP variants – a 10W (1D25) and a 25W (1D13) version. The latter is still a decent GPU especially if your budget is tight. The 10W version is suitable for thin and light laptops but the bigger one definitely brings more performance to the table.

    For this article, we’ve picked the 25W version that is fitted in an HP Elitebook 850 G7 which has a good cooling solution. Yes, even a low-power GPU like the GeForce MX250 needs good cooling because with some really cheap MX250-based laptops you can experience big throttling which is caused by the ineffective cooling solution. More info about this phenomenon in our dedicated article here.

    Meanwhile, you can check out all available laptops with GeForce MX250 (25W) here:

    Contents


    Specs overview

    The GeForce MX250 (25W) is a Pascal video card that uses a GP108 chip just like the MX150. Nothing spectacular in terms of raw power here – just 16 ROPs, 384 shaders, up to 4GB GDDR5 memory with a 64-bit bus. Frequency-wise, we have 1518 MHz and 1582 MHz base and boost core clock and the memory is set to 7000 Mhz.

    GPU comparison table

     GeForce MX250 (25W)
    ArchitecturePascal
    GPU chipGP108 (1D13)
    Shader units384
    ROPs16
    Base Clock (MHz)1518
    Boost clock (MHz)1582
    Memory clock (MHz)7000
    Memory size (MB)up to 4GB
    Memory typeGDDR5
    Memory bus width (bit)64
    TGP (Total Graphics Power)25W (TDP)
    DirectX version12.1
    Technology14nm
    RTX capabilitiesNo
    Release date02.2019
    Detailed specsLink

    Gaming tests and gameplay videos (ext. monitor)

    cs-go-benchmarks

    CS:GOFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, MAX (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)117 fps95 fps77 fps

     

    DOTA 2Full HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)104 fps71 fps61 fps44 fps

    GTA-V-benchmarks

     

    Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5)Full HD, Normal (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Very High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)84 fps37 fps20 fps

    For HonorFull HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Extreme (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)32 fps30 fps23 fps

    Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six SiegeFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Very High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)70 fps49 fps37 fps30 fps

    rise-of-the-tomb-raider

    Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016)Full HD, Lowest (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, Very High (Check settings)Full HD, MAX (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)49 fps32 fps14 fps

    Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon WildlandsFull HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Very High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)23 fps

    Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)Full HD, Lowest (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Highest (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)33 fps17 fps

    Doom (2016)Full HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)45 fps29 fps23 fps

    Doom EternalFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, U.Nightmare (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)22 fps

    Metro ExodusFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Extreme (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)10 fps

    Gears 5Full HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)40 fps25 fps22 fps

    Assassin’s Creed OdysseyFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra High (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)29 fps19 fps

    HearthstoneFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)195 fps193 fps60 fps

     

    MinecraftFull HD, Minimum (Check settings)Full HD, Maximum (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)210 fps49 fps

    League Of LegendsFull HD, V.Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, V.High (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)230 fps195 fps187 fps

    Rocket LeagueFull HD, H.Performance (Check settings)Full HD, H.Quality (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)178 fps74 fps

    OverwatchFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Epic (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)85 fps51 fps32 fps

     

    PUBGFull HD, V.Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)45 fps33 fps32 fps23 fps

    Darksiders GenesisFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Mid (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)64 fps38 fps32 fps29 fps

    Halo ReachFull HD, Performance (Check settings)Full HD, Original (Check settings)Full HD, Enhanced (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)89 fps66 fps65 fps

    Borderlands 3Full HD, V.Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Badass (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)32 fps22 fps

    Team Fortress 2Full HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, MAX (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)115 fps83 fps

    eFootball PES 2020Full HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)54 fps34 fps

    FIFA 20Full HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)93 fps62 fps

    The Witcher 3Full HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)36 fps25 fps

    Need For Speed HeatFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)29 fps20 fps

    Apex LegendsFull HD, Min. (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, MAX (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)43 fps31 fps20 fps

    Battlefield VFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)40 fps29 fps23 fps

    Call Of Duty Modern WarfareFull HD, V.Low (Check settings)Full HD, Normal (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)24 fps21 fps

    ARK: Survival EvolvedFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Epic (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)35 fps14 fps

    Total War Three KingdomsFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)43 fps24 fps

     

    WarframeFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)105 fps53 fps

     

    World Of Tanks EncoreFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)259 fps66 fps31 fps

     

    Resident Evil 2Full HD, Performance (Check settings)Full HD, Balanced (Check settings)Full HD, Graphics P. (Check settings)Full HD, Max (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)37 fps30 fps

     

    Far Cry New DawnFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    GeForce MX250 (25W)29 fps23 fps


    Verdict

    At the end of this article, we can say that the NVIDIA GeForce MX250 (25W) is still a decent entry-level GPU. It’s faster than any other MX GPU except for the GeForce MX350. Most of the iGPUs like Intel Iris G5/7, UHD 630, and UHD 620 doesn’t stand a chance against the MX250. Yep, it’s not a powerhouse but there are MX250-based laptops that are decently priced and they can bring a good price / performance ratio without breaking the bank.

    The GeForce MX250 is suitable for Low setting and pretty often for Medium as well, but when it comes to popular and light games it can do the job even better. Titles like League Of Legends, CS:GO, Team Fortress 2, Warframe, and Hearthstone can run with very decent FPS even when the visual quality is maxed-out. Sure, if you want to play the newest titles with bumped eye-candy visuals, the MX250 isn’t your GPU and you have to pay more for something like GTX 1050 Ti or maybe GTX 1650.

    However, we were very satisfied with the performance of the GeForce MX250 (25W) which is still one of the best low-end GPUs on the market.

    All laptops equipped with the GeForce MX250 (25W)

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