NVIDIA GeForce 945M vs NVIDIA Tesla M10 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a single head-to-head benchmark between these two GPUs, and the result is decisive. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the NVIDIA Tesla M10 scores 10,318 points against the NVIDIA GeForce 945M's 8,099 points. That is a 27.4% advantage for the Tesla M10, a substantial gap that places these cards in different performance tiers despite their shared architecture.

Context from the database's nearest rival comparisons reinforces this separation. The Tesla M10's average benchmark score of 9,724 places it in the 47th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest competitors include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 with an average score of 9,780 (only 0.6% higher) and the NVIDIA Tesla C2070 at 9,716 (0.1% lower). The Tesla M10 is effectively trading blows with the GTX 1070 in these aggregated measurements, which is remarkable for a card built on the smaller GM107 chip. The Quadro P4000 sits 0.6% behind at 9,665, and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 trails by 0.7% at 9,653. The Tesla M10 is not merely ahead of its mobile counterpart; it is operating in the company of desktop-class workstation and gaming hardware.

The GeForce 945M, by contrast, holds a 42nd percentile ranking with an average benchmark score of 8,099. Its nearest rivals cluster tightly around it: the NVIDIA GRID K2 scores 8,080 (0.2% lower), the AMD Radeon R9 M360 scores 8,129 (0.4% higher), the GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost scores 8,067 (0.4% lower), and the GeForce GTX 950M scores 8,135 (0.4% higher). The 945M is firmly embedded in a mid-range mobile and older desktop segment, with no rival in its list exceeding it by more than 0.4%. The delta between the two reviewed cards, 27.4%, dwarfs any of these intra-tier differences.

The OpenCL result tells a straightforward story. The Tesla M10's higher clocks, significantly faster memory subsystem, and larger frame buffer translate into a measurable compute advantage. The 945M's single recorded benchmark score is its OpenCL result, and it is the only data point available for that card. The Tesla M10 also has a Vulkan score of 9,130, but no comparable Vulkan figure exists for the 945M in the database, so cross-card comparison is limited to OpenCL.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the NVIDIA Tesla M10 is the stronger GPU in raw compute performance. Its 27.4% lead in OpenCL is not a marginal edge; it is a decisive margin that reflects fundamental differences in clock speeds, memory bandwidth, and power envelope. For any workload that relies on OpenCL compute, the Tesla M10 is the obvious choice based on measured results.

The GeForce 945M, however, is not without its own logic. It consumes 75 W against the Tesla M10's 225 W, making it far more suitable for portable or power-constrained systems. It comes in an MXM module form factor with no power connectors required, whereas the Tesla M10 is a dual-slot card needing a 1x 8-pin connector and a 550 W power supply. The 945M also features display outputs, described as "Portable Device Dependent," while the Tesla M10 has no outputs at all. The Tesla M10 is a compute accelerator for servers, not a display adapter.

Users who need maximum compute throughput and are building or populating a system that can accommodate a 225 W dual-slot card should choose the Tesla M10. Users who need a mobile or modular GPU with display capability and modest power requirements should choose the GeForce 945M, accepting the 27.4% compute deficit. The database does not include gaming frame rates, productivity scores, or efficiency metrics, so the verdict rests strictly on compute benchmarks, power, and form factor.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the same fundamental architecture. Both use the GM107 chip, built on the Maxwell architecture, manufactured by TSMC on a 28 nm process. Both have 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.6 million transistors per square millimeter. Both implement DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Neither has ray tracing cores nor tensor cores, and neither supports fp16 compute with recorded data.

The architectural differences are not in the chip itself but in how it is configured and clocked. The Tesla M10 runs at a base clock of 1033 MHz with a boost of 1306 MHz. The GeForce 945M runs at 928 MHz base and 1020 MHz boost. The Tesla M10's higher clocks directly contribute to its higher pixel rate and texture rate. The Tesla M10 achieves 20.90 GPixel/s and 52.24 GTexel/s, while the 945M manages 16.32 GPixel/s and 40.80 GTexel/s.

The memory architecture differs substantially. The Tesla M10 uses 8 GB of GDDR5 with a 128-bit bus and bandwidth of 83.20 GB/s. The GeForce 945M uses 2 GB of DDR3 on the same 128-bit bus, but bandwidth drops to 28.80 GB/s. The Tesla M10's memory clock is 1300 MHz with 5.2 Gbps effective data rate, while the 945M's memory runs at 900 MHz with 1800 Mbps effective. This is a threefold difference in bandwidth, which heavily influences compute-heavy workloads.

Shading units, texture mapping units, and render output units are identical in count: 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The Tesla M10's fp32 throughput is 1.672 TFLOPS, while the 945M delivers 1,305.6 GFLOPS. Both are Maxwell-generation parts with no architectural feature separation; the performance gap comes entirely from clocks, memory type, and power delivery.

Specification Differences

The two cards diverge on nearly every measurable specification except for the chip itself.

Clock speeds: the Tesla M10 has a 1033 MHz base clock and 1306 MHz boost, while the 945M has a 928 MHz base and 1020 MHz boost.

Memory: the Tesla M10 has 8 GB of GDDR5 with 83.20 GB/s bandwidth. The 945M has 2 GB of DDR3 with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth. Both use a 128-bit bus.

Pixel and texture rates: the Tesla M10 reaches 20.90 GPixel/s and 52.24 GTexel/s. The 945M reaches 16.32 GPixel/s and 40.80 GTexel/s.

FP32 performance: the Tesla M10 outputs 1.672 TFLOPS. The 945M outputs 1,305.6 GFLOPS.

Power and cooling: the Tesla M10 has a 225 W TDP, is dual-slot, uses a 1x 8-pin power connector, and requires a 550 W suggested power supply. The 945M has a 75 W TDP, is an MXM module, requires no power connectors, and has no suggested PSU listed.

Physical and interface: the Tesla M10 is 267 mm (10.5 inches) long, uses PCIe 3.0 x16, and has no display outputs. The 945M uses an MXM-B (3.0) interface and has display outputs described as portable device dependent. Its length is not recorded.

Release and lifecycle: the Tesla M10 was released on 2016-05-17, while the 945M was released on 2015-10-26. Both are end-of-life. The Tesla M10's generation is listed as Tesla Maxwell (Mxx), while the 945M is in the GeForce 900M generation. The Tesla M10's predecessor is Tesla Kepler and its successor is Tesla Pascal. The 945M's predecessor is GeForce 800M and its successor is GeForce 10 Mobile.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla M10 scores 10,318 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 27.4% higher than the GeForce 945M's 8,099.

Q: Do both GPUs use the same chip?

A: Yes, both use the GM107 chip built on the Maxwell architecture with 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die.

Q: How much memory does each card have?

A: The Tesla M10 has 8 GB of GDDR5 with 83.20 GB/s bandwidth. The GeForce 945M has 2 GB of DDR3 with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card requires more power?

A: The Tesla M10 has a 225 W TDP and requires a 550 W suggested power supply with a 1x 8-pin connector. The GeForce 945M has a 75 W TDP and needs no power connectors.

Q: Can the Tesla M10 output video to a display?

A: No, the Tesla M10 has no display outputs. The GeForce 945M has display outputs described as portable device dependent.

Q: How do these cards compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Tesla M10's average score of 9,724 is within 0.6% of the GeForce GTX 1070 and 0.1% of the Tesla C2070. The 945M's average score of 8,099 is within 0.4% of the GeForce GTX 950M and within 0.2% of the GRID K2.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Tesla M10 wins in raw compute performance. Its OpenCL score is 27.4% higher, its fp32 throughput is 1.672 TFLOPS versus 1,305.6 GFLOPS, and its memory bandwidth is 83.20 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s. It also has four times the memory capacity at 8 GB versus 2 GB. The higher clocks, 1033 MHz base and 1306 MHz boost, drive faster pixel and texture rates. For compute workloads that fit within the database's measured tests, the Tesla M10 is the clear winner.

The Tesla M10 also wins in the context of its peer group. Its 47th percentile ranking and average score of 9,724 place it alongside the GeForce GTX 1070 and Quadro P4000, cards from different segments entirely. The 945M's 42nd percentile and 8,099 average place it with older desktop cards and other mobile parts. The Tesla M10 is competing up, while the 945M is competing sideways.

The GeForce 945M wins in power efficiency and form factor practicality. Its 75 W TDP is one third of the Tesla M10's 225 W. It requires no power connectors and comes as an MXM module, making it suitable for laptops or modular systems. The Tesla M10 demands a dual-slot chassis, a 1x 8-pin connector, and a 550 W power supply. The 945M also provides display outputs, while the Tesla M10 has none.

The 945M wins for users who need a GPU in a portable device or a compact modular chassis. The Tesla M10 wins for users who need maximum compute throughput in a server or workstation with adequate power delivery. Neither card supports fp16 or ray tracing, and both are end-of-life products. The choice between them, based strictly on the recorded data, comes down to whether the 27.4% compute advantage justifies the power, space, and lack of display outputs.