NVIDIA GeForce 945M vs NVIDIA Quadro P5000 Comparison

The GeForce 945M and Quadro P5000 sit at opposite ends of NVIDIA’s mobile and workstation lineups, but the benchmark data places them in an unusual position. The 945M is a Maxwell-based entry-level part from the GeForce 900M generation, while the P5000 is a Pascal-based professional card with a 16 GB frame buffer. Despite the massive gap in specifications, their aggregate benchmark scores are nearly identical, which makes this comparison less about raw performance and more about workload suitability and feature support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is not close. The Quadro P5000 scores 52,509, while the GeForce 945M scores 8,099. That is a delta of -84.6% from the P5000’s perspective, meaning the 945M delivers only about 15.4% of the P5000’s OpenCL throughput. In practical terms, the P5000 is more than six times faster in this compute-heavy workload, which reflects its 2,560 shading units versus the 945M’s 640. The P5000’s 8.873 TFLOPS FP32 throughput dwarfs the 945M’s 1,305.6 GFLOPS, and the OpenCL result is consistent with that advantage.

The aggregate benchmark picture is misleading, however. The 945M has an average benchmark score of 8,099, while the P5000’s average is 8,039. The P5000’s average is dragged down by a set of Passmark DirectX tests that score very low relative to its compute results. For example, the P5000 scores only 77 in Passmark DirectX 10, 102 in DirectX 11, and 44 in DirectX 12. Those are numbers that look like they belong to an integrated GPU, not a professional workstation card. The 945M’s single benchmark result is a pure OpenCL score, so its average is not diluted by legacy API tests.

When comparing to their nearest rivals, both cards sit in a very narrow band. The 945M is 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GRID K2 (8,080) and 0.4% ahead of the GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost (8,067), while trailing the AMD Radeon R9 M360 (8,129) and GeForce GTX 950M (8,135) by 0.4%. The P5000 is essentially tied with the GeForce GTX 880M (8,040) at 0% delta, 0.2% behind the GeForce GTX 650 Ti (8,053), and 0.3% behind the GTX 650 Ti Boost. This clustering around 8,000 points means that in aggregate terms, the 945M and P5000 are indistinguishable from a mid-range mobile GPU from several years earlier.

Where Each One Wins

The Quadro P5000 wins decisively in compute and memory-intensive workloads. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 52,509 is the standout result, and it aligns with the hardware: 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and a 256-bit memory bus paired with 16 GB of GDDR5X. The 288.5 GB/s memory bandwidth is ten times the 945M’s 28.80 GB/s, which matters for large datasets, high-resolution textures, and GPU compute. The P5000 also has a 1:64 FP16 ratio, delivering 138.6 GFLOPS, whereas the 945M has no listed FP16 capability. For professional workloads like rendering, simulation, or machine learning inference, the P5000 is the clear choice.

The GeForce 945M wins in the narrow sense that its aggregate benchmark score is higher than the P5000’s. That is a statistical artifact of the P5000’s poor Passmark DirectX results, but it does mean that if you only looked at the average score, the 945M appears to be the better card. The 945M’s 42nd percentile versus the P5000’s 41st percentile reinforces this. In practical terms, the 945M is a low-power mobile part with a 75 W TDP and no power connectors, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where the P5000’s 180 W TDP and 8-pin connector are impossible. The 945M also has a higher effective memory clock of 1,800 Mbps versus the P5000’s 9 Gbps, though the P5000’s larger bus width and GDDR5X memory make that irrelevant for bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The 945M uses the GM107 chip on TSMC’s 28 nm process, with 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die. That yields a transistor density of 12.6 million per mm². The P5000 uses the GP104 chip on TSMC’s 16 nm process, with 7,200 million transistors on a 314 mm² die, for a density of 22.9 million per mm². The architecture jump from Maxwell to Pascal brings a significant increase in transistor count and density — the P5000 has 3.85 times more transistors in roughly double the die area.

The 945M is built for DirectX 12 (11_0) while the P5000 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), which includes additional features like conservative rasterization. Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4. The 945M has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, while the P5000 has 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The P5000’s pixel rate is 110.9 GPixel/s versus the 945M’s 16.32 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 277.3 GTexel/s versus 40.80 GTexel/s. The P5000’s base clock is 1,607 MHz with a boost of 1,733 MHz, while the 945M runs at 928 MHz base and 1,020 MHz boost. Neither card has RT cores or tensor cores.

The memory subsystems are completely different. The 945M has 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, while the P5000 has 16 GB of GDDR5X on a 256-bit bus. The P5000’s memory bandwidth of 288.5 GB/s is an order of magnitude higher. The 945M uses an MXM-B (3.0) interface and is listed as an MXM Module, while the P5000 uses PCIe 3.0 x16 and is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm by 111 mm. The 945M has no power connectors, while the P5000 requires a single 8-pin connector and a suggested 450 W power supply.

FAQ

Q: Which card has better compute performance?

A: The Quadro P5000 is far ahead. Its Geekbench OpenCL score is 52,509 compared to the 945M’s 8,099, a difference of -84.6% from the P5000’s perspective. The P5000 also has 2,560 shading units versus 640, and 8.873 TFLOPS FP32 versus 1,305.6 GFLOPS.

Q: Why do the average benchmark scores look so similar?

A: The 945M’s average is 8,099, based on a single OpenCL score. The P5000’s average is 8,039, but it includes several very low Passmark DirectX scores (77 in DX10, 102 in DX11, 44 in DX12) that pull the average down despite its strong OpenCL and Vulkan results.

Q: How much memory does each card have?

A: The 945M has 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth. The P5000 has 16 GB of GDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 288.5 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Can the 945M be used in a desktop workstation?

A: The 945M is an MXM Module with an MXM-B (3.0) interface and no power connectors. It is designed for portable devices and its display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," so it is not intended for desktop use. The P5000 is a dual-slot PCIe 3.0 x16 card with DVI and four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

Q: What is the power requirement difference?

A: The 945M has a 75 W TDP and requires no power connectors. The P5000 has a 180 W TDP and requires a single 8-pin power connector, with a suggested 450 W power supply.

Q: Which card supports newer DirectX features?

A: The P5000 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the 945M supports DirectX 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4.

Specification Differences

| Specification | GeForce 945M | Quadro P5000 |

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

| Chip | GM107 | GP104 |

| Architecture | Maxwell | Pascal |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 16 nm |

| Transistors | 1,870 million | 7,200 million |

| Die Size | 148 mm² | 314 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.6M / mm² | 22.9M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 928 MHz | 1607 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1020 MHz | 1733 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1800 Mbps effective | 9 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 16 GB |

| Memory Type | DDR3 | GDDR5X |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 28.80 GB/s | 288.5 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 640 | 2560 |

| TMUs | 40 | 160 |

| ROPs | 16 | 64 |

| Pixel Rate | 16.32 GPixel/s | 110.9 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 40.80 GTexel/s | 277.3 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1,305.6 GFLOPS | 8.873 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | — | 138.6 GFLOPS (1:64) |

| TDP | 75 W | 180 W |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None | 1x 8-pin |

| Suggested PSU | — | 450 W |

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

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | 1x DVI, 4x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 (12_1) |

| Length | — | 267 mm (10.5 inches) |

| Height | — | 111 mm (4.4 inches) |

| Release Date | 2015-10-26 | 2016-09-30 |

| Launch MSRP | — | 2,499 USD |

The Verdict

If the workload is compute-heavy, the Quadro P5000 is the only rational choice. Its OpenCL score is over six times higher than the 945M’s, and its 16 GB of GDDR5X memory with 288.5 GB/s bandwidth is essential for large datasets. The P5000 also has a 256-bit memory bus, 2,560 shading units, and support for DirectX 12 (12_1), all of which make it a viable workstation card for professional applications. The 945M cannot compete on any of these fronts.

If the use case is a low-power mobile device, the 945M is the only feasible option. Its 75 W TDP, lack of power connectors, and MXM form factor mean it can be integrated into laptops where the P5000’s 180 W TDP, 8-pin connector, and dual-slot size are physically impossible. The 945M’s higher aggregate benchmark score (8,099 vs 8,039) is a quirk of the P5000’s weak Passmark DirectX results, but it does indicate that for legacy DirectX 9/10/11 workloads, the 945M is not embarrassingly behind the P5000 in the overall average.

The data clearly separates these cards by use case. The P5000 is a compute and professional rendering powerhouse, while the 945M is a modest mobile GPU that happens to have a comparable average score due to benchmark composition. The P5000’s launch MSRP of 2,499 USD reflects its workstation positioning, while the 945M has no listed MSRP and is an end-of-life mobile part. Builders should choose based on the workload: the P5000 for serious compute and memory-intensive tasks, the 945M for basic mobile graphics where power and space are constrained.