NVIDIA GeForce 830M vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce 830M and NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M are nearly inseparable in overall average benchmark scores, but their performance profiles diverge sharply depending on the workload. The data shows a statistical tie in aggregate performance, with the 830M averaging 3957 and the GT 745M averaging 3953, a difference of just 0.1%. However, this surface-level parity masks two completely different architectural approaches that yield opposite results in OpenCL versus Vulkan testing.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two mobile GPUs split their two head-to-head benchmark comparisons exactly, with each claiming a decisive victory in one discipline. In Geekbench OpenCL, the NVIDIA GeForce 830M delivers a score of 4324 against the GT 745M’s 3580, producing a commanding 20.8% advantage. This is the 830M’s strongest result and reflects a substantial lead in compute-oriented workloads. The OpenCL gap is significant enough that it places the 830M firmly ahead in any application leveraging general-purpose GPU compute through that API.

The reverse is true in Geekbench Vulkan, where the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M scores 5502 compared to the 830M’s 3590, yielding a 34.8% margin in favor of the older Kepler-based part. This is a massive swing in the opposite direction, and it more than compensates for the 830M’s OpenCL lead in the overall average. The Vulkan result suggests the GT 745M has superior driver optimization or hardware characteristics for this modern graphics API, despite its older architecture.

Looking at the aggregate benchmark averages, the 830M sits at 3957 while the GT 745M is at 3953, a delta of just 0.1%. Both cards occupy nearly identical positions in the global GPU hierarchy, with the 830M at the 24th percentile of all GPUs and the GT 745M at the 23rd percentile. The nearest rival data confirms how tight this pairing is: the AMD Radeon R5 M420 scores 3956, putting it within one point of the 830M and three points of the GT 745M. The NVIDIA Quadro K2000 edges both with a 3964 score, while the AMD Radeon HD 6850 X2 leads the group at 3977.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce 830M is the clear choice for OpenCL-based compute tasks. Its 20.8% lead in Geekbench OpenCL over the GT 745M is the single largest margin in this comparison, and it dominates that specific benchmark category. The 830M’s Maxwell architecture, with its 256 shading units and 588.8 GFLOPS of FP32 performance, appears better suited to the parallel compute patterns exercised by OpenCL. For users running compute workloads, physics simulations, or OpenCL-accelerated applications, the 830M is the superior option.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M, by contrast, wins decisively in Vulkan graphics workloads. Its 34.8% advantage in Geekbench Vulkan is the biggest performance gap in either direction, and it shows that this card is better equipped for modern graphics APIs. The GT 745M also offers a Geekbench Metal score of 2777, a benchmark category in which the 830M has no recorded result, suggesting broader API compatibility on Apple platforms. For gaming or graphics applications that leverage Vulkan, the GT 745M is the stronger performer.

In terms of raw compute resources, the GT 745M has more shading units (384 versus 256), more texture mapping units (32 versus 16), and more render output units (16 versus 8). However, the 830M compensates with significantly higher clock speeds, running at 1082 MHz base and 1150 MHz boost, while the GT 745M’s clocks are not specified in the data. The 830M also achieves higher pixel and texture rates, at 9.200 GPixel/s and 18.40 GTexel/s respectively, compared to the GT 745M’s 4.392 GPixel/s and 17.57 GTexel/s.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce 830M has a marginal edge, with an average benchmark score of 3957 compared to the GT 745M’s 3953, a difference of just 0.1%.

Q: How large is the Vulkan performance gap between the two?

A: In Geekbench Vulkan, the GT 745M scores 5502 while the 830M scores 3590, giving the GT 745M a 34.8% advantage.

Q: Does the 830M win any benchmark category?

A: Yes, the 830M wins Geekbench OpenCL with a score of 4324 against the GT 745M’s 3580, a 20.8% lead.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The GT 745M has 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth with its 128-bit GDDR5 memory, while the 830M has 14.40 GB/s via a 64-bit DDR3 interface.

Q: Which GPU has better compute throughput in FP32?

A: The 830M delivers 588.8 GFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the GT 745M delivers 421.6 GFLOPS, a difference of over 167 GFLOPS.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same DirectX version?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12 (11_0), and both also support OpenGL 4.6, though the GT 745M has a lower Vulkan version (1.2.175) compared to the 830M’s 1.4.

Specification Differences

The memory subsystems represent the starkest contrast between these two GPUs. The GT 745M uses 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The 830M also has 2 GB of memory, but it is DDR3 on a 64-bit bus, yielding just 14.40 GB/s. This is a 4.4x bandwidth advantage for the GT 745M, a massive difference that explains its Vulkan performance lead despite lower raw compute figures.

Clock speeds differ significantly, with the 830M running at 1082 MHz base and 1150 MHz boost, while the GT 745M’s clock speeds are not listed in the data. The memory clock also differs, with the 830M at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) and the GT 745M at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective). The 830M has a 33 W TDP, while the GT 745M consumes more at 45 W.

The bus interface also differentiates the two, with the 830M using PCIe 3.0 x8 and the GT 745M using PCIe 3.0 x16. The GT 745M has a larger die at 118 mm² with 1,270 million transistors, while the 830M is smaller at 77 mm² with 1,020 million transistors. The 830M has a higher transistor density of 13.2M per mm² versus 10.8M per mm² for the GT 745M. The 830M was released on March 11, 2014, while the GT 745M came earlier on March 31, 2013.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split is Maxwell versus Kepler. The 830M uses the GM108 chip built on NVIDIA’s Maxwell architecture, while the GT 745M uses the GK107 chip on the older Kepler architecture. Both are manufactured on the same 28 nm process at TSMC, but the design philosophies differ substantially.

The Maxwell-based 830M has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs, arranged in a configuration that emphasizes higher clock speeds and efficiency. Its 588.8 GFLOPS FP32 throughput is achieved through a more efficient compute pipeline. The Kepler-based GT 745M packs 384 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, but runs at lower effective clocks, resulting in just 421.6 GFLOPS of FP32 performance. The GT 745M’s higher memory bandwidth (64.00 GB/s versus 14.40 GB/s) is its key architectural advantage.

The 830M offers a newer Vulkan implementation at version 1.4, while the GT 745M supports only 1.2.175. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, and both are end-of-life products. The 830M belongs to the GeForce 800M generation and succeeds the GeForce 700M, while the GT 745M belongs to the GeForce 700M generation and succeeds the GeForce 600M. The GT 745M’s successor is the GeForce 800M, which includes the 830M. The GT 745M also has a Geekbench Metal score of 2777, while the 830M has no Metal benchmark recorded.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split decision. For users prioritizing OpenCL compute performance, the NVIDIA GeForce 830M is the definitive choice, offering a 20.8% advantage over the GT 745M in that specific benchmark. Its higher FP32 throughput, faster pixel and texture rates, and newer Maxwell architecture make it the better compute engine despite its narrower memory bus.

For users prioritizing Vulkan graphics performance, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M is the unequivocal winner, with a 34.8% lead in Geekbench Vulkan. Its dramatically higher memory bandwidth, double the ROPs, and 50% more shading units give it a decisive edge in modern graphics workloads. The GT 745M also offers Metal support, which the 830M lacks in benchmark results.

The overall averages are essentially tied, with a 0.1% difference, and both GPUs sit within one percentile of each other globally (24th versus 23rd). The choice between them should be dictated entirely by the intended workload. OpenCL-heavy applications and compute tasks favor the 830M; Vulkan-based games and graphics applications favor the GT 745M. The GT 745M’s 4.4x memory bandwidth advantage is the single most consequential specification difference, and it manifests directly in the Vulkan benchmark results. Conversely, the 830M’s 167 GFLOPS FP32 advantage and 9.200 GPixel/s pixel rate make it the compute specialist. Neither card is a dominant overall winner, but each clearly wins its respective domain.