NVIDIA GeForce 945M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a single decisive benchmark between the NVIDIA GeForce 945M and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE: the Geekbench OpenCL test. The 945M scores 8099, while the GTX 560 SE scores 7171. That is a 12.9% advantage for the 945M, a meaningful margin in compute workloads. The 945M wins the only head-to-head comparison available, and the win count reflects that: 1 win for the 945M, 0 for the GTX 560 SE.

Context from the nearest rivals table reinforces the gap. The 945M sits just 0.4% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M (score 8135) and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon R9 M360 (score 8129). It also edges out the NVIDIA GRID K2 (8080) by 0.2% and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost (8067) by 0.4%. In other words, the 945M is clustered among midrange mobile and workstation-class GPUs, with its score landing within a narrow band around 8100.

The GTX 560 SE, by contrast, lands at 7171, a figure that places it alongside integrated and entry-level parts. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 at 7170, which is a 0% delta, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 at 7157, which is 0.2% behind the 560 SE. The AMD Radeon Vega 8 Mobile sits 0.4% ahead at 7203, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 is 0.7% ahead at 7222. The 560 SE's score is therefore not just lower than the 945M's; it is in an entirely different competitive tier, rubbing shoulders with integrated graphics rather than discrete midrange parts.

The 12.9% delta between the two compared GPUs is substantial, and it is importantly the gap would likely be wider in memory-bound scenarios given the bandwidth differences, but the database records only the OpenCL result. The 945M's percentile rank of 42 versus the GTX 560 SE's percentile rank of 39 further confirms the ordering: the 945M outperforms roughly 42% of all GPUs in the database, while the GTX 560 SE outperforms roughly 39%. Neither card is a top-tier performer, but the 945M is clearly the stronger of the two in raw compute throughput.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is wide, and it explains much of the benchmark delta. The 945M uses the GM107 chip built on the Maxwell architecture, while the GTX 560 SE uses the GF114 chip based on Fermi 2.0. Maxwell is a newer design than Fermi, and the process node reflects that: the 945M is fabricated on a 28 nm process, while the GTX 560 SE uses a 40 nm process. Both are TSMC foundry parts, but the newer node gives the 945M a significant efficiency advantage.

Transistor counts are surprisingly close. The 945M packs 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die, while the GTX 560 SE packs 1,950 million transistors on a much larger 332 mm² die. The transistor density numbers make the difference stark: the 945M achieves 12.6 million transistors per mm², while the GTX 560 SE manages only 5.9 million per mm². The Maxwell part is more than twice as dense, which is exactly what the newer process node enables.

The compute configurations diverge sharply. The 945M has 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs. The GTX 560 SE has 288 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. So the 945M has more than double the shader count, while the GTX 560 SE has more TMUs and ROPs. The rate calculations reflect this split. The 945M delivers 16.32 GPixel/s of pixel rate and 40.80 GTexel/s of texture rate. The GTX 560 SE manages 8.832 GPixel/s and 35.33 GTexel/s. The 945M leads in both, but the pixel rate advantage is particularly large: 16.32 versus 8.832, nearly double.

Floating-point throughput tells a similar story. The 945M reaches 1,305.6 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the GTX 560 SE reaches 847.9 GFLOPS. That is a 54% advantage for the 945M, which aligns with its much higher shader count. Neither card lists FP16 support in the database.

The memory subsystems are fundamentally different. The 945M uses 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 560 SE uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, yielding 91.87 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 560 SE has more than three times the memory bandwidth, a major advantage for texture-heavy and high-resolution workloads. However, the 945M has twice the capacity, which matters for modern games and larger datasets. The memory clock difference is notable as well: the 945M's memory runs at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective), while the GTX 560 SE's memory runs at 957 MHz (3.8 Gbps effective). The GDDR5 nature of the 560 SE's memory is the key factor in its bandwidth lead.

Power and physical design differ dramatically. The 945M is a 75 W MXM module with no power connectors and a bus interface of MXM-B (3.0). The GTX 560 SE is a 150 W dual-slot card with two 6-pin power connectors, a suggested PSU of 450 W, and a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface. The 560 SE is also a long card at 210 mm (8.3 inches), while the 945M's dimensions are portable-device dependent. The 945M draws half the power of the GTX 560 SE while delivering higher compute throughput, a clear demonstration of Maxwell's efficiency over Fermi.

Where Each One Wins

The 945M wins in compute-heavy scenarios. Its 640 shading units and 1,305.6 GFLOPS FP32 throughput make it the stronger choice for OpenCL workloads, general-purpose compute, and any task that scales with shader count. The 12.9% benchmark lead in Geekbench OpenCL confirms this. It also wins on memory capacity with 2 GB versus 1 GB, which matters for modern game textures and larger working sets. The 945M's 28 nm process and 75 W power draw make it suitable for thin-and-light gaming laptops and MXM-based systems where power and thermals are constrained.

The GTX 560 SE wins in memory bandwidth. Its 91.87 GB/s is more than three times the 945M's 28.80 GB/s, and that advantage shows up in fill-rate-bound scenarios, high-resolution texture streaming, and older games that are not shader-limited. The 560 SE also has more ROPs (24 versus 16) and more TMUs (48 versus 40), which helps with pixel throughput at high resolutions. However, the recorded pixel rate and texture rate numbers still favor the 945M because of its much higher clocks and newer architecture. The 560 SE's 8.832 GPixel/s versus the 945M's 16.32 GPixel/s means the ROP advantage does not translate into a real-world win.

The GTX 560 SE is also the only one of the two with a desktop-oriented form factor. It is a dual-slot, 210 mm card with two 6-pin connectors and a 450 W suggested PSU, meaning it can be installed in a conventional desktop tower. The 945M is an MXM module, which limits it to laptops and proprietary systems. For a desktop builder with a spare PCIe slot, the 560 SE is the only option that physically fits.

In terms of API support, the 945M lists Vulkan 1.4 support, while the GTX 560 SE lists no Vulkan support. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. That gives the 945M a forward-looking advantage for modern titles that rely on Vulkan. The 560 SE is limited to older API paths for cross-platform rendering.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner: the NVIDIA GeForce 945M. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark by 12.9%, has a higher percentile rank (42 versus 39), delivers more than 50% higher FP32 throughput, and does so at half the power draw. The Maxwell architecture, 28 nm process, and 640 shading units give it a decisive edge in compute performance. The 945M is the better GPU for anyone who prioritizes raw performance, modern API support, and energy efficiency.

The GTX 560 SE retains one meaningful advantage: memory bandwidth. Its 91.87 GB/s GDDR5 setup dwarfs the 945M's 28.80 GB/s DDR3, and its 192-bit bus is wider. In bandwidth-sensitive workloads, the 560 SE could close the gap or even overtake the 945M, but the recorded benchmark does not reflect that. The single Geekbench OpenCL result favors the 945M, and no other recorded tests exist to give the 560 SE a win.

The 945M is the pick for laptop users and anyone needing compute performance in a mobile or MXM form factor. Its 75 W power envelope means it can fit in systems where a 150 W card would never work. The GTX 560 SE is the pick for a desktop user who already has a 450 W PSU, two 6-pin connectors, and a need for high memory bandwidth in older games. It is also the only one with a fixed physical footprint: 210 mm long, dual-slot.

Neither GPU is current; both are marked end-of-life in the database. The 945M's successor is GeForce 10 Mobile, while the GTX 560 SE's successor is GeForce 600. The 945M was released on 2015-10-26, and the GTX 560 SE on 2012-02-19, a gap of over three years. That release gap explains the architectural and performance differences. The 945M is simply a much newer design.

For a benchmark database reader, the verdict is straightforward: the 945M is the faster GPU in compute terms, and the 12.9% OpenCL delta is the headline number. The GTX 560 SE is not without merit, but its strengths are narrow and bandwidth-specific. Buyers should choose based on form factor and workload. If the system accepts an MXM module, the 945M is the obvious choice. If a desktop slot is available and bandwidth matters more than compute, the 560 SE remains a functional option, but it is the weaker part in the recorded data.

FAQ

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

A: The NVIDIA GeForce 945M scores 8099, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE scores 7171, a 12.9% advantage for the 945M.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does each GPU have?

A: The 945M has 28.80 GB/s from 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus. The GTX 560 SE has 91.87 GB/s from 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The 945M is a 75 W MXM module with no power connectors. The GTX 560 SE is a 150 W dual-slot card with two 6-pin connectors and a 450 W suggested PSU.

Q: Does either GPU support Vulkan?

A: The 945M lists Vulkan 1.4 support. The GTX 560 SE lists no Vulkan support. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What are the shading unit counts?

A: The 945M has 640 shading units, while the GTX 560 SE has 288 shading units. The 945M also has 40 TMUs and 16 ROPs, while the 560 SE has 48 TMUs and 24 ROPs.

Q: Which GPU has a higher percentile rank in the database?

A: The 945M ranks in the 42nd percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 560 SE ranks in the 39th percentile.

Q: When was each GPU released?

A: The 945M was released on 2015-10-26. The GTX 560 SE was released on 2012-02-19.

Specification Differences

| Field | NVIDIA GeForce 945M | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE |

|---|---|---|

| Chip | GM107 | GF114 |

| Architecture | Maxwell | Fermi 2.0 |

| Generation | GeForce 900M | GeForce 500 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |

| Transistors | 1,870 million | 1,950 million |

| Die Size | 148 mm² | 332 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.6M / mm² | 5.9M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 928 MHz | Not specified |

| Boost Clock | 1020 MHz | Not specified |

| Memory Clock | 900 MHz, 1800 Mbps effective | 957 MHz, 3.8 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 1024 MB |

| Memory Type | DDR3 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 192 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 28.80 GB/s | 91.87 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 640 | 288 |

| TMUs | 40 | 48 |

| ROPs | 16 | 24 |

| Pixel Rate | 16.32 GPixel/s | 8.832 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 40.80 GTexel/s | 35.33 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1,305.6 GFLOPS | 847.9 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 75 W | 150 W |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None | 2x 6-pin |

| Suggested PSU | Not specified | 450 W |

| Bus Interface | MXM-B (3.0) | PCIe 2.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a |

| Vulkan | 1.4 | Not specified |

| Length | Not specified | 210 mm (8.3 inches) |

| Release Date | 2015-10-26 | 2012-02-19 |

| Predecessor | GeForce 800M | GeForce 400 |

| Successor | GeForce 10 Mobile | GeForce 600 |