AMD Radeon HD 6770 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 and AMD Radeon HD 6770 are both end-of-life graphics cards that occupy the same 22nd percentile of all GPUs, yet they achieve this status through fundamentally different designs. In the single head-to-head benchmark available, the GTX 650 outperforms the HD 6770 by 24.6% in Geekbench OpenCL, scoring 4545 against 3649. However, the HD 6770 counters with a significantly higher theoretical compute throughput, suggesting a more complex story than a single benchmark can tell.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 has an average benchmark score of 3823, while the AMD Radeon HD 6770 scores 3649. This puts the GTX 650 ahead by roughly 4.8%, though both cards land in the 22nd percentile of all GPUs.

Q: How do the two cards compare in raw floating-point performance?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 6770 is substantially ahead in FP32 throughput, delivering 1,360.0 GFLOPS compared to the GTX 650's 812.5 GFLOPS. This represents a 67.4% advantage for the AMD card, which also has more than double the shading units.

Q: What are the memory specifications of each card?

A: Both cards use 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus. The GTX 650 has a slight edge in memory bandwidth at 80.00 GB/s versus 76.80 GB/s for the HD 6770, and its memory runs at 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) compared to 1200 MHz (4.8 Gbps effective).

Q: Which card is more power-efficient?

A: The GTX 650 has a significantly lower TDP of 65 W compared to 108 W for the HD 6770. The GTX 650 also requires a smaller suggested PSU of 250 W versus 300 W, and it uses a single-slot cooler while the HD 6770 needs dual-slot spacing.

Q: What API support differences exist between the two?

A: The GTX 650 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The HD 6770 supports DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4 but has no Vulkan support listed.

Q: How does the GTX 650 compare to its nearest rival, the MX110?

A: The GTX 650 scores 3823 on average, which is 0.3% below the NVIDIA GeForce MX110's 3834. The GTX 650 is also 1.5% behind the AMD Radeon R5 Graphics (3883) and 1.9% behind the NVIDIA Quadro 2000 (3898).

Architecture Differences

The GTX 650 is built on NVIDIA's Kepler architecture using the GK106 chip, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This newer node allows for a transistor density of 11.5M per mm², packing 2,540 million transistors onto a 221 mm² die. The HD 6770 uses AMD's older TeraScale 2 architecture with the Juniper chip, manufactured on a 40 nm process. It has just 1,040 million transistors on a 166 mm² die, yielding a much lower density of 6.3M per mm².

The architectural divide is stark in compute resources. The HD 6770 features 800 shading units and 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), while the GTX 650 has only 384 shading units and 32 TMUs. Both cards have 16 raster operations pipelines (ROPs), but the AMD card achieves a higher pixel rate of 13.60 GPixel/s compared to 8.464 GPixel/s for the NVIDIA card. Texture rates are nearly identical, with the HD 6770 at 34.00 GTexel/s and the GTX 650 at 33.86 GTexel/s.

The GTX 650 uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, while the HD 6770 is limited to PCIe 2.0 x16. In terms of display outputs, the GTX 650 offers 1x DVI and 2x DisplayPort 1.2, whereas the HD 6770 provides 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, and 2x mini-DisplayPort 1.1. The HD 6770's longer 198 mm (7.8 inches) board contrasts with the more compact 147 mm (5.8 inches) GTX 650.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The GTX 650 scores 4545, while the HD 6770 manages 3649, giving the NVIDIA card a 24.6% victory. This margin is substantial, especially considering the HD 6770's theoretical FP32 advantage of 67.4%. The benchmark data suggests that the Kepler architecture extracts real-world compute efficiency that the older TeraScale 2 design cannot match, despite the AMD card's raw shader count.

When placed against their respective nearest rivals, the two cards show different competitive landscapes. The GTX 650's 4545 OpenCL score is well above its average benchmark score of 3823, indicating that this workload plays to its strengths. The HD 6770's OpenCL score of 3649 matches its average exactly, as this is its only listed benchmark. In the broader field, the GTX 650 trails the MX110 by 0.3% and the Radeon R5 Graphics by 1.5% in average scores, while the HD 6770 sits 0.6% ahead of the GTX 1050 and 0.9% ahead of the GT 735M.

The deltaPct values in the nearest rivals data reveal tight competition. The GTX 650's closest rival, the MX110, is nearly identical in performance at just 0.3% higher. The HD 6770's rivals also cluster within 1.5%, with the RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation surprisingly only 1.5% behind, despite being a much newer product. This suggests both cards occupy a narrow performance band where small architectural differences translate into meaningful benchmark deltas.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification gap is in process technology. The GTX 650 uses a 28 nm node versus 40 nm for the HD 6770, which explains the GTX 650's superior transistor density of 11.5M per mm² against 6.3M per mm². The GTX 650 also has more transistors overall (2,540 million versus 1,040 million) but a smaller die (221 mm² versus 166 mm²).

Compute specifications diverge significantly. The HD 6770 has 800 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 1,360.0 GFLOPS FP32 performance. The GTX 650 counters with 384 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 812.5 GFLOPS. Pixel rate favors the AMD card at 13.60 GPixel/s versus 8.464 GPixel/s, while texture rates are nearly even at 34.00 GTexel/s versus 33.86 GTexel/s.

Memory is largely similar, with both cards offering 1024 MB GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus. The GTX 650's bandwidth of 80.00 GB/s edges out the HD 6770's 76.80 GB/s, and its memory clock of 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) is slightly higher than the 1200 MHz (4.8 Gbps effective) of the AMD card.

Power and physical characteristics show the GTX 650's efficiency advantage. The GTX 650 has a 65 W TDP, is single-slot, and requires a 250 W PSU. The HD 6770 has a 108 W TDP, is dual-slot, and requires a 300 W PSU. Both use a single 6-pin power connector. The GTX 650 supports PCIe 3.0 x16, while the HD 6770 is limited to PCIe 2.0 x16. API support also differs, with the GTX 650 offering Vulkan 1.2.175 and OpenGL 4.6, while the HD 6770 lacks Vulkan and tops out at OpenGL 4.4.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 650 wins decisively in the OpenCL benchmark, posting 4545 against 3649 for a 24.6% margin. This makes it the clear choice for compute workloads that leverage OpenCL, particularly given its modern Kepler architecture and Vulkan support. The GTX 650 also wins on power efficiency, with a 65 W TDP that is 39.8% lower than the HD 6770's 108 W, and it requires a smaller 250 W PSU. Its single-slot design and shorter 147 mm length make it more flexible for compact builds, and its PCIe 3.0 interface provides better platform compatibility with modern motherboards.

The HD 6770 wins on raw theoretical compute. Its 1,360.0 GFLOPS FP32 performance is 67.4% higher than the GTX 650's 812.5 GFLOPS, and its 800 shading units suggest potential for workloads that scale with shader count rather than architecture efficiency. The HD 6770 also has a higher pixel rate of 13.60 GPixel/s versus 8.464 GPixel/s, which could benefit fill-rate-bound tasks. Its broader display output selection, including 2x DVI, 1x HDMI, and 2x mini-DisplayPort, offers more connectivity options than the GTX 650's single DVI and dual DisplayPort setup.

In the context of their nearest rivals, the GTX 650's average score of 3823 places it just 0.3% below the MX110, while the HD 6770's 3649 sits 0.6% above the GTX 1050. This suggests the GTX 650 competes in a slightly higher performance tier than the HD 6770, despite both cards sharing the same 22nd percentile ranking.

The Verdict

The data points to the GTX 650 as the stronger overall choice. Its 24.6% OpenCL benchmark victory over the HD 6770 is the most direct performance comparison available, and it aligns with the GTX 650's higher average benchmark score of 3823 versus 3649. The GTX 650 also delivers this performance at a 65 W TDP, which is 39.8% lower than the HD 6770's 108 W, making it the more efficient card in both performance and power consumption.

However, the HD 6770 retains relevance for specific use cases. Its 1,360.0 GFLOPS FP32 throughput and 800 shading units indicate that it could outperform the GTX 650 in compute scenarios that are highly parallel but not well-optimized for Kepler's execution model. The HD 6770's higher pixel rate and more extensive display outputs also give it an edge in multi-monitor or fill-rate-sensitive applications. Its 129 USD launch MSRP reflects its position as the more affordable option at introduction.

For most users, the GTX 650's benchmark superiority, modern architecture features like Vulkan and PCIe 3.0, and power efficiency make it the recommended pick. The HD 6770 is best suited for those who prioritize raw shader count and theoretical compute over real-world benchmark results, or who need the additional display outputs. Both cards are end-of-life products, but the GTX 650's 28 nm process and Kepler architecture provide a more future-proof foundation. Ultimately, the benchmark data shows a clear winner in the GTX 650, while the HD 6770 remains a viable alternative only for specialized workloads that favor its architectural strengths.