NVIDIA GeForce 940MX vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive performance gap between the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. Across the two shared benchmark tests, the GTX 1050 Ti wins both, and by substantial margins. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the 940MX scores 4,939 points, while the GTX 1050 Ti reaches 18,129 points. That translates to a 72.8% advantage for the GTX 1050 Ti, meaning the 940MX delivers roughly one-third of the compute performance in this workload. The delta is stark and consistent with the internal specifications of both parts.

The Geekbench Vulkan test tells a similar story, though the gap narrows slightly in percentage terms. The 940MX posts 4,749 points, while the GTX 1050 Ti scores 10,001 points. Here, the GTX 1050 Ti leads by 52.5%. While the OpenCL result shows the larger absolute performance difference, the Vulkan result still leaves no ambiguity about which GPU is faster. The 940MX manages just under half the Vulkan score of its rival, a clear indication that the newer architecture and higher resource counts of the GTX 1050 Ti pay off in real API-level workloads.

Looking at the database average benchmark scores, the picture is more nuanced. The 940MX has an average benchmark score of 4,844, while the GTX 1050 Ti averages 4,193. This is an interesting inversion. The 940MX actually holds a higher average score in the database, despite losing both head-to-head tests. This discrepancy likely stems from the composition of the benchmark suite: the GTX 1050 Ti has a wider set of recorded tests, including several Passmark entries with lower scores that pull its average down. The GTX 1050 Ti also carries a Passmark G3D score of 6,340, which is strong, but its Passmark DirectX 9, 10, 11, and 12 scores are low (104, 31, 45, and 26 respectively), which drags the aggregate. The 940MX, by contrast, only has two recorded benchmarks, both of which are mid-range, so its average stays closer to its peak.

When compared to their respective nearest rivals in the database, both GPUs sit in similar percentile positions. The 940MX falls in the 28th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 1050 Ti is at the 25th percentile. The 940MX's nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M, which scores 4,855, a delta of -0.2% relative to the 940MX. The GTX 1050 Ti's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon R5 M330, scoring 4,170, a delta of 0.6% in favor of the GTX 1050 Ti. These percentile rankings suggest that, despite the GTX 1050 Ti's dominance in the head-to-head tests, both GPUs occupy a similar tier in the broader database landscape, likely because the database includes many high-end desktop parts that neither mobile chip can approach.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations. The 940MX is built on the Maxwell architecture, using the GM107 chip, while the GTX 1050 Ti uses the Pascal architecture with the GP107 chip. This is a fundamental generational leap. Maxwell was designed for efficient mobile computing, while Pascal brought substantial improvements in throughput and feature support. The process node also differs: the 940MX is fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, while the GTX 1050 Ti uses a 14 nm process at Samsung. This smaller process node allows the GTX 1050 Ti to pack more transistors into a smaller die. The 940MX has 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.6M per mm². The GTX 1050 Ti has 3,300 million transistors on a 132 mm² die, yielding a density of 25.0M per mm². That is roughly double the transistor density, which explains the GTX 1050 Ti's superior compute resources.

The core counts reflect this architectural advantage. The 940MX has 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 8 raster output units. The GTX 1050 Ti has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The ROP count is especially significant: 32 versus 8 is a 4x difference, which heavily impacts pixel fill rate. The recorded pixel rate for the 940MX is 6.888 GPixel/s, while the GTX 1050 Ti achieves 44.54 GPixel/s. That is a massive difference in rasterization throughput. Texture rate also favors the GTX 1050 Ti: 66.82 GTexel/s versus 27.55 GTexel/s for the 940MX. The FP32 compute is 881.7 GFLOPS for the 940MX versus 2.138 TFLOPS for the GTX 1050 Ti, a difference of roughly 2.4x in favor of the newer card.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The 940MX has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, delivering 40.10 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 1050 Ti has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 112.1 GB/s. The memory clock also differs: the 940MX runs at 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective), while the GTX 1050 Ti runs at 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective). This combination of wider bus and faster memory gives the GTX 1050 Ti nearly 3x the bandwidth, which is critical for modern game assets and compute workloads. The GTX 1050 Ti also supports FP16 at 33.41 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio), while the 940MX has no recorded FP16 capability.

Clock speeds are higher on the GTX 1050 Ti as well, with a base of 1291 MHz and boost of 1392 MHz, compared to 795 MHz base and 861 MHz boost on the 940MX. The power envelope differs substantially: the 940MX has a TDP of 23 W, while the GTX 1050 Ti is rated at 75 W. This explains the slot width difference: the 940MX is an MXM module, while the GTX 1050 Ti is a dual-slot card. The GTX 1050 Ti also lists a suggested PSU of 250 W, while the 940MX has no such requirement. The bus interface also differs: the 940MX uses PCIe 3.0 x8, while the GTX 1050 Ti uses PCIe 3.0 x16.

DirectX feature level support is higher on the GTX 1050 Ti. The 940MX supports DirectX 12 (11_0), while the GTX 1050 Ti supports DirectX 12 (12_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4. The GTX 1050 Ti also has defined display outputs (1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a), while the 940MX's outputs are listed as portable device dependent.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear verdict: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is the superior GPU for any workload that stresses raw compute, pixel throughput, or memory bandwidth. In the two directly comparable benchmark tests, it wins by 72.8% in OpenCL and 52.5% in Vulkan. Its 4x ROP count, 2.4x FP32 throughput, and nearly 3x memory bandwidth make it objectively faster in every measured rendering metric. The 940MX, by contrast, is a low-power mobile part designed for efficiency, with a TDP of 23 W versus 75 W for the GTX 1050 Ti. If the priority is maximum performance in a desktop or larger mobile chassis, the GTX 1050 Ti is the only rational choice based on the recorded data.

However, the average benchmark score data complicates a blanket recommendation. The 940MX holds a higher average score (4,844 versus 4,193) and a slightly higher percentile rank (28th versus 25th). This suggests that in the database's broader test suite, the 940MX is not universally slower. The GTX 1050 Ti's low Passmark DirectX scores (9, 10, 11, 12 ranging from 26 to 104) indicate that in legacy or specific API workloads, it does not dominate. For users whose workloads align with those tests, the 940MX may be more consistent. But for modern gaming, compute, and Vulkan-based applications, the GTX 1050 Ti's head-to-head results are decisive.

Who should pick the 940MX? Users who require a compact MXM module with no external power connectors and a very low thermal footprint. The 940MX is end-of-life, but its 23 W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light notebooks. Who should pick the GTX 1050 Ti? Anyone who needs a dual-slot card with a 250 W PSU recommendation, 4 GB of VRAM, and the ability to handle higher resolutions or texture loads. The GTX 1050 Ti also supports a higher DirectX feature level (12_1 versus 11_0), which matters for newer games. Both GPUs are end-of-life, but the GTX 1050 Ti offers a longer useful lifespan for gaming.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two GPUs in the database:

• Chip: GM107 (940MX) versus GP107 (GTX 1050 Ti)
• Architecture: Maxwell versus Pascal
• Generation: GeForce 900M versus GeForce 10
• Process Node: 28 nm versus 14 nm
• Foundry: TSMC versus Samsung
• Transistors: 1,870 million versus 3,300 million
• Die Size: 148 mm² versus 132 mm²
• Transistor Density: 12.6M / mm² versus 25.0M / mm²
• Base Clock: 795 MHz versus 1291 MHz
• Boost Clock: 861 MHz versus 1392 MHz
• Memory Clock: 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective) versus 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective)
• Memory Size: 2 GB versus 4 GB
• Memory Bus Width: 64 bit versus 128 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 40.10 GB/s versus 112.1 GB/s
• Shading Units: 512 versus 768
• TMUs: 32 versus 48
• ROPs: 8 versus 32
• Pixel Rate: 6.888 GPixel/s versus 44.54 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 27.55 GTexel/s versus 66.82 GTexel/s
• FP32: 881.7 GFLOPS versus 2.138 TFLOPS
• FP16: null versus 33.41 GFLOPS (1:64)
• TDP: 23 W versus 75 W
• Slot Width: MXM Module versus Dual-slot
• Power Connectors: None versus None
• Suggested PSU: null versus 250 W
• Bus Interface: PCIe 3.0 x8 versus PCIe 3.0 x16
• Display Outputs: Portable Device Dependent versus 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a
• DirectX: 12 (11_0) versus 12 (12_1)
• Dimensions: null versus 145 mm (5.7 inches) length, 111 mm (4.4 inches) height
• Release Date: 2016-06-27 versus 2016-10-24
• Predecessor: GeForce 800M versus GeForce 900
• Successor: GeForce 10 Mobile versus GeForce 20
• Launch MSRP: null versus 139 USD

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti scores 18,129 points, which is 72.8% higher than the 940MX's score of 4,939 points.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The 940MX has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, while the GTX 1050 Ti has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two cards?

A: The 940MX has a TDP of 23 W, while the GTX 1050 Ti is rated at 75 W. The GTX 1050 Ti also suggests a 250 W PSU, while the 940MX has no such recommendation.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same DirectX version?

A: No. The 940MX supports DirectX 12 (11_0), while the GTX 1050 Ti supports DirectX 12 (12_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score in the database?

A: The 940MX has an average benchmark score of 4,844, while the GTX 1050 Ti averages 4,193. The 940MX also holds a higher percentile rank (28th versus 25th).

Q: What is the transistor count difference?

A: The 940MX has 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die, while the GTX 1050 Ti has 3,300 million transistors on a 132 mm² die. The GTX 1050 Ti's transistor density is 25.0M per mm² versus 12.6M per mm² for the 940MX.