AMD Radeon HD 6770 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 Comparison

The AMD Radeon HD 6770 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 are two older-generation graphics cards that often appear in budget builds and office PCs from the early 2010s. While the HD 6770 launched earlier with a higher MSRP, the GT 740 came later with a more efficient design. Benchmark data shows they are remarkably close in overall compute performance, with the GT 740 holding a slim edge in the single available head-to-head test, though the HD 6770 counters with a superior raw specification sheet in several key areas.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this test, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 scores 3,847 points, while the AMD Radeon HD 6770 scores 3,649 points. This gives the GT 740 a 5.1% performance advantage, marking its only win in the head-to-head comparison column (1 win for the GT 740, 0 for the HD 6770). This is a modest but measurable lead, suggesting that in compute workloads using OpenCL, the Kepler-based NVIDIA card is the more capable of the two.

When looking at the broader benchmark context, the GT 740’s average benchmark score across all tests (including Metal and Vulkan) is 3,431, which is actually lower than its OpenCL score. The HD 6770’s average benchmark score is 3,649, identical to its OpenCL score. This discrepancy means that while the GT 740 wins the OpenCL head-to-head, its overall average score of 3,431 is lower than the HD 6770’s 3,649. The GT 740’s performance is more variable across different API tests, with its Vulkan score reaching 4,083 and its Metal score dropping to 2,363.

Interpreting relative positioning, the HD 6770 sits in the 22nd percentile of all GPUs, while the GT 740 sits in the 21st percentile. This is a marginal difference in overall standing, with the HD 6770 edging out the GT 740 by just one percentile point. The nearest rival data reinforces this closeness. The HD 6770’s closest competitors include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (score 3,629, delta 0.6%), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 735M (score 3,616, delta 0.9%), and the NVIDIA GeForce 825M (score 3,694, delta -1.2%). The GT 740’s nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro 2000M (score 3,434, delta -0.1%), the Intel HD Graphics P4600 (score 3,389, delta 1.2%), and the NVIDIA GeForce 920MX (score 3,528, delta -2.7%). These figures show both cards competing in the same performance tier, surrounded by entry-level mobile and desktop parts.

FAQ

Q: Which card has a higher raw compute throughput (FP32)?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 6770 has a significantly higher FP32 rating at 1,360.0 GFLOPS, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740’s 762.6 GFLOPS. This nearly doubles the theoretical floating-point performance of the AMD card.

Q: Does the GT 740 support modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes. The GT 740 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The HD 6770 only supports DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4, with no Vulkan support listed.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two cards?

A: The GT 740 has a slightly higher memory bandwidth at 80.19 GB/s, while the HD 6770 is close behind at 76.80 GB/s. Both use 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, but the GT 740’s memory clock is rated at 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective) versus the HD 6770’s 1200 MHz (4.8 Gbps effective).

Q: Which card is more power-efficient according to TDP ratings?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 has a much lower TDP of 64 W, whereas the AMD Radeon HD 6770 is rated at 108 W. The GT 740 also requires a lower suggested PSU of 250 W, compared to the HD 6770’s 300 W suggestion.

Q: How do their physical sizes differ?

A: The GT 740 is a shorter single-slot card at 145 mm (5.7 inches), while the HD 6770 is a longer dual-slot card at 198 mm (7.8 inches). This makes the GT 740 significantly easier to fit in compact cases.

Q: Which card has more shading units and TMUs?

A: The HD 6770 has 800 shading units and 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), while the GT 740 has only 384 shading units and 32 TMUs. The HD 6770 also has a higher pixel rate of 13.60 GPixel/s and texture rate of 34.00 GTexel/s, versus the GT 740’s 7.944 GPixel/s and 31.78 GTexel/s.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from different architectural generations. The AMD Radeon HD 6770 is built on the Juniper chip using the TeraScale 2 architecture, part of the Northern Islands (HD 6700) generation. It is manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740, in contrast, uses the GK107 chip with the Kepler architecture, belonging to the GeForce 700 generation, and is built on a more advanced 28 nm process at TSMC. This node shrink gives the GT 740 a higher transistor density of 10.8M / mm², compared to the HD 6770’s 6.3M / mm², despite the HD 6770 having a larger die size of 166 mm² versus the GT 740’s 118 mm².

The HD 6770 has a higher transistor count of 1,040 million, but the GT 740 surpasses it with 1,270 million transistors. The architectural philosophies differ substantially. TeraScale 2 relies on a massive array of 800 shading units to achieve its high FP32 output, while Kepler uses fewer but more efficient cores, with the GT 740 featuring 384 shading units. The HD 6770 also has more TMUs (40 vs 32) and a higher pixel rate (13.60 GPixel/s vs 7.944 GPixel/s), indicating a stronger fill-rate capability. However, the GT 740’s Kepler architecture brings modern API support, including Vulkan 1.2.175, which the older TeraScale 2 architecture cannot offer.

Memory-wise, both cards feature 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus. The GT 740 has a slight edge in bandwidth at 80.19 GB/s versus 76.80 GB/s, driven by its faster effective memory speed of 5 Gbps compared to the HD 6770’s 4.8 Gbps. The interconnect also differs, with the HD 6770 using PCIe 2.0 x16 and the GT 740 using the newer PCIe 3.0 x16. Display outputs also vary, with the HD 6770 offering 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, and 2x mini-DisplayPort 1.1, while the GT 740 provides 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.4a.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every key specification except memory size, type, and bus width. The process node is a major difference: the HD 6770 uses a 40 nm process, while the GT 740 uses 28 nm. The HD 6770 has a larger die size of 166 mm² and a lower transistor density of 6.3M / mm², whereas the GT 740 has a smaller die at 118 mm² and a higher density of 10.8M / mm². The HD 6770 has a higher transistor count of 1,040 million, but the GT 740 has more at 1,270 million.

Computational resources differ sharply. The HD 6770 has 800 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, with rates of 13.60 GPixel/s and 34.00 GTexel/s. The GT 740 has 384 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, with rates of 7.944 GPixel/s and 31.78 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 1,360.0 GFLOPS for the HD 6770 versus 762.6 GFLOPS for the GT 740. Memory clocks are 1200 MHz (4.8 Gbps effective) for the HD 6770 and 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective) for the GT 740, yielding bandwidth of 76.80 GB/s and 80.19 GB/s, respectively.

Power and physical characteristics also diverge. The HD 6770 has a TDP of 108 W and requires a dual-slot cooler with a 1x 6-pin power connector and a suggested PSU of 300 W. The GT 740 has a TDP of 64 W, a single-slot design, a 1x 6-pin power connector, and a suggested PSU of 250 W. The HD 6770 is longer at 198 mm (7.8 inches), while the GT 740 is 145 mm (5.7 inches). API support differs as well: the HD 6770 supports DirectX 11.2 and OpenGL 4.4, while the GT 740 supports DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. Release dates are 2011-01-20 for the HD 6770 and 2014-05-28 for the GT 740. The HD 6770 has a launch MSRP of 129 USD, while the GT 740 has a launch MSRP of 89 USD.

The Verdict

Based strictly on benchmark data, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 is the faster card in the one direct comparison available. Its OpenCL score of 3,847 beats the HD 6770’s 3,649 by 5.1%. The GT 740 also holds advantages in memory bandwidth (80.19 GB/s vs 76.80 GB/s), API support (including Vulkan), power efficiency (64 W TDP vs 108 W), and physical size (single-slot, 145 mm vs dual-slot, 198 mm). It also launched at a lower MSRP of 89 USD versus 129 USD.

However, the HD 6770 is not without merit. It has a higher average benchmark score of 3,649 compared to the GT 740’s 3,431, and it sits in the 22nd percentile versus the GT 740’s 21st. Its raw compute specifications are significantly higher, with 1,360 GFLOPS FP32 and 800 shading units, which may be relevant for certain compute tasks that are not captured in the OpenCL benchmark. The HD 6770 also has a higher pixel rate and texture rate, indicating better fill-rate performance for older games that rely on those metrics.

The data suggests the GT 740 is the more balanced and modern choice for general use, offering better efficiency and compatibility. The HD 6770 is a raw compute beast on paper but falls slightly behind in the actual OpenCL test. For a user prioritizing API support and lower power draw, the GT 740 is the clear pick. For a user who values theoretical FP32 throughput and fill rates, the HD 6770 has a case, but the benchmark evidence favors the GT 740.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 wins in the only head-to-head benchmark (OpenCL), making it the default choice for compute workloads measured by that tool. It also wins on power efficiency, with a 64 W TDP versus 108 W, and a lower suggested PSU of 250 W versus 300 W. This makes it the better option for small form factor builds or systems with weak power supplies. The GT 740’s single-slot, 145 mm length also makes it far easier to install in tight spaces. Its support for DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175 means it can run newer software titles that require these APIs, whereas the HD 6770 is limited to DirectX 11.2 and OpenGL 4.4. The GT 740 also has a higher memory bandwidth (80.19 GB/s vs 76.80 GB/s), which can help in bandwidth-sensitive workloads.

The AMD Radeon HD 6770 wins in raw computational specifications, with more than double the FP32 GFLOPS (1,360 vs 762.6), more shading units (800 vs 384), more TMUs (40 vs 32), and a higher pixel rate (13.60 GPixel/s vs 7.944 GPixel/s). This suggests it has a theoretical advantage in tasks that heavily utilize shader throughput or texture fill, such as certain older games or GPGPU applications that are not covered by the OpenCL benchmark. The HD 6770 also has a higher average benchmark score (3,649 vs 3,431) and a better percentile rank (22nd vs 21st), indicating that across a broader set of tests, it might be slightly more consistent. It also offers more display outputs, with 2x DVI, 1x HDMI, and 2x mini-DisplayPort, versus the GT 740’s 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI, which could be beneficial for multi-monitor setups.