AMD Radeon RX 570X vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 and the AMD Radeon RX 570X represent two distinct eras of graphics hardware, with the data showing a clear generational shift in compute capability. In the single head-to-head benchmark available, the Geekbench OpenCL test, the AMD Radeon RX 570X delivers a score of 38939, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 scores 15707. This results in a deltaPct of -59.7 for the GTX 770, indicating that the RX 570X is approximately 148% faster in this specific compute workload. The average benchmark scores further reinforce this divide, with the GTX 770 averaging 14747 points across its tested workloads and the RX 570X averaging 13871 points, though the latter's average is pulled down by its inclusion of Passmark G2D and G3D tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, which heavily favors the AMD Radeon RX 570X. The RX 570X's score of 38939 is more than double the GTX 770's 15707, a difference that translates to a deltaPct of -59.7 from the perspective of the NVIDIA card. This is a substantial margin, indicating that in raw compute throughput, the older Kepler architecture is thoroughly outclassed by the newer GCN 4.0 architecture. The GTX 770's best individual results come from its Vulkan and OpenCL tests, scoring 19166 and 15707 respectively, but these still fall far short of the RX 570X's single OpenCL result.

When examining the broader benchmark landscape, the GTX 770 shows competitive positioning against its nearest rivals. Its average score of 14747 places it just 0.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (14692) and 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro M2000 (14532). It also sits 2.1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (15063) and 2.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 560X (15082), though these deltas are negative, meaning the GTX 770 is actually slightly behind those two cards. The RX 570X, with its average of 13871, is 0.4% ahead of both the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile (13821) and the AMD Radeon 660M (13812), and 0.9% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (13745), while trailing the NVIDIA Tesla K10 (14029) by 1.1%. These figures show that while the RX 570X leads in the direct compute test, its average score is lower than the GTX 770's because the two cards are evaluated on different benchmark suites.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 570X wins decisively in the compute-oriented Geekbench OpenCL test, which is the sole head-to-head metric. This suggests a clear advantage in workloads that leverage general-purpose GPU computing, such as scientific simulations or data processing. The RX 570X also demonstrates strength in the Passmark G3D test with a score of 1923, though no direct comparison exists for this metric. For the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770, its wins are less pronounced in the direct comparison, but its average benchmark score of 14747 is higher than the RX 570X's 13871, indicating that across its specific set of tested applications, the GTX 770 performs more consistently. The GTX 770 also shows respectable performance in the Geekbench Vulkan test, scoring 19166, which is its highest individual result.

The data indicates that the RX 570X is the superior choice for pure compute tasks, while the GTX 770 may hold an edge in certain legacy or API-specific workloads where its driver optimizations and architecture shine. The GTX 770's performance in Geekbench Metal (9369) and OpenCL (15707) suggests it handles these APIs competently, but the RX 570X's OpenCL result dwarfs it. In terms of percentile ranking among all GPUs, the GTX 770 sits at the 57th percentile, while the RX 570X sits at the 55th, showing that despite the RX 570X's compute lead, the GTX 770 is marginally better positioned in the overall performance distribution.

Architecture Differences

The two cards are built on fundamentally different architectures from different manufacturers and process nodes. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 uses the GK104 chip based on the Kepler architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This chip contains 3,540 million transistors on a die size of 294 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 12.0M per mm². In contrast, the AMD Radeon RX 570X uses the Polaris 20 chip based on the GCN 4.0 architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Polaris 20 chip packs 5,700 million transistors into a smaller die of 232 mm², achieving a much higher transistor density of 24.6M per mm². This newer manufacturing process allows for more transistors in a smaller area, which contributes to the RX 570X's higher compute performance.

The architectural differences extend to the compute units. The GTX 770 has 1536 shading units, 128 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 raster operations pipelines (ROPs). The RX 570X has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The RX 570X's higher shading unit count directly translates to its 5.095 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, compared to the GTX 770's 3.333 TFLOPS. The RX 570X also supports FP16 compute at a 1:1 ratio (5.095 TFLOPS), while the GTX 770 has no listed FP16 capability. The RX 570X also features a higher pixel rate of 39.81 GPixel/s and texture rate of 159.2 GTexel/s, versus the GTX 770's 34.72 GPixel/s and 138.9 GTexel/s, reflecting its higher clock speeds and improved efficiency.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification difference lies in memory capacity. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 comes with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the AMD Radeon RX 570X offers 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, a fourfold increase. Both cards use a 256-bit memory bus, and their memory bandwidth is nearly identical: 224.4 GB/s for the GTX 770 and 224.0 GB/s for the RX 570X. Clock speeds differ as well, with the GTX 770 running at a base of 1046 MHz and a boost of 1085 MHz, while the RX 570X operates at a base of 1168 MHz and a boost of 1244 MHz. Memory clock speeds are effectively the same at 1753 MHz (7 Gbps effective) for the GTX 770 and 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective) for the RX 570X.

Power consumption is another major differentiator. The GTX 770 has a TDP of 230 W and requires both a 6-pin and an 8-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 550 W. The RX 570X is more power-efficient, with a TDP of 150 W and a single 6-pin connector, requiring a suggested PSU of 450 W. Physically, the GTX 770 is longer at 267 mm (10.5 inches) compared to the RX 570X's 241 mm (9.5 inches), and the GTX 770 has specific height and width dimensions of 111 mm (4.4 inches) and 38 mm (1.5 inches), while the RX 570X's height and width are not listed. Display outputs differ, with the GTX 770 offering 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2, while the RX 570X offers 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. The RX 570X also supports newer API versions, including DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3, compared to the GTX 770's DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. The RX 570X also supports FP16 compute with a 1:1 ratio, a feature absent from the GTX 770.

FAQ

Q: Which card has higher raw compute performance in the head-to-head benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 570X wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 38939, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770's 15707, a deltaPct of -59.7 for the GTX 770.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 has an average benchmark score of 14747, while the AMD Radeon RX 570X has an average of 13871. The GTX 770's average is higher because the two cards are evaluated on different benchmark suites.

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

A: The AMD Radeon RX 570X has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory. Both use a 256-bit memory bus, with bandwidths of 224.0 GB/s and 224.4 GB/s, respectively.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor density and what process node is it built on?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 570X is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries with a transistor density of 24.6M per mm², while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 uses a 28 nm process at TSMC with a density of 12.0M per mm².

Q: How does the power consumption differ between the two cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 has a TDP of 230 W and requires both a 6-pin and 8-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 550 W. The AMD Radeon RX 570X has a TDP of 150 W, uses a single 6-pin connector, and suggests a 450 W PSU.

Q: What are the DirectX and Vulkan API support levels for each card?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175, while the AMD Radeon RX 570X supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that the AMD Radeon RX 570X is the superior card for compute-intensive workloads, as evidenced by its dominant performance in the Geekbench OpenCL test. Its 5.095 TFLOPS FP32 performance, 2048 shading units, and 8 GB of memory make it a more capable and future-proof option for users running GPU-accelerated applications. The RX 570X also consumes less power (150 W TDP) and is physically smaller, making it easier to integrate into a variety of systems. For users prioritizing raw compute power and modern API support, the RX 570X is the clear choice.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770, while older and less powerful in compute, still holds a higher average benchmark score of 14747 and sits at a slightly better percentile ranking (57th vs. 55th). This indicates that in its specific set of tested workloads, it performs competitively against its direct peers like the RX 5500 XT and Quadro M2000. However, its 2 GB memory capacity, higher power draw, and lack of FP16 support make it less suitable for modern compute tasks. For users with legacy software optimized for NVIDIA's Kepler architecture, or those who prioritize the specific benchmark results where the GTX 770 excels, it remains a viable option. Ultimately, the RX 570X is the better all-around performer based on the available data, while the GTX 770 is a niche choice for specific compatibility needs.