NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M Comparison

NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M represent two very different eras of mobile and low-profile graphics. The GT 1010 is a modern entry-level Pascal part, while the GTX 580M is a legacy high-end Fermi mobile chip. The benchmark data reveals a narrow overall victory for the newer card, but the architectural chasm between them tells a more complex story than the raw score alone suggests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only common benchmark in the database is Geekbench OpenCL, where the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 scores 6698 against the GTX 580M's 6389. This gives the GT 1010 a 4.8% lead, a modest but definitive margin. In the head-to-head comparison, the GT 1010 wins the single test, with a win count of 1 versus 0 for the GTX 580M.

Contextualizing these scores against their nearest rivals shows how close these two GPUs truly are in raw compute. The GT 1010's 6698 places it just 1% behind the AMD Radeon R7 M370 (6764) and 1.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon R7 M460 (6612). Meanwhile, the GTX 580M's 6389 is a perfect tie with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 SE (6389) and trails the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 72 GB Blackwell (6407) by a negligible 0.3%. Both cards sit in the low-to-mid 30th percentile of all GPUs — the GT 1010 at the 38th percentile and the GTX 580M at the 37th.

The 4.8% delta between the two cards is smaller than the variance seen between some of their own nearest rivals. For instance, the GT 1010's gap to the AMD FirePro M5100 (6830) is 1.9%, while the GTX 580M's gap to the AMD Radeon R7 M350 (6327) is 1%. This indicates that in practical terms, the two NVIDIA parts are nearly interchangeable in raw OpenCL throughput, despite being separated by nearly a decade of manufacturing progress.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data gives the GT 1010 the sole victory, but the scoreboard does not tell the whole story. The GT 1010's win in Geekbench OpenCL likely stems from its significantly higher memory clock and architectural efficiency. Its memory runs at 1502 MHz with 6 Gbps effective throughput, compared to the GTX 580M's 750 MHz and 3 Gbps effective. Even though the GTX 580M has a far wider memory bus, the GT 1010's newer process node allows it to extract more performance per clock.

However, the GTX 580M has clear structural advantages that the single benchmark does not capture. It carries 384 shading units versus the GT 1010's 256, and 64 texture mapping units versus just 16. The GTX 580M also has 32 ROPs compared to 8 on the GT 1010. These resources translate to higher theoretical fill rates in specific workloads: the GTX 580M's texture rate is 39.68 GTexel/s versus 23.49 GTexel/s for the GT 1010.

In memory bandwidth, the GTX 580M dominates with 96.00 GB/s over a 256-bit bus, exactly double the 48.06 GB/s available to the GT 1010 on its 64-bit bus. For bandwidth-sensitive tasks such as high-resolution texture streaming or large frame buffers, the GTX 580M would be the clear choice. Conversely, the GT 1010 counters with a higher pixel rate of 11.74 GPixel/s versus 9.920 GPixel/s, suggesting it handles fill-rate-bound scenarios better.

The FP32 compute scores further split the field: the GTX 580M produces 952.3 GFLOPS against the GT 1010's 751.6 GFLOPS. This 26.7% advantage in raw floating-point arithmetic is not reflected in the OpenCL benchmark, likely because that test does not scale perfectly with shader count. Users running compute workloads that utilize dense FP32 math would favor the GTX 580M.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures, process nodes, and foundries. The GT 1010 uses the GP108 chip based on the Pascal architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process at Samsung. In contrast, the GTX 580M uses the GF114 chip based on the Fermi 2.0 architecture, built on a 40 nm process at TSMC.

The transistor counts are surprisingly close: the GT 1010 packs 1,800 million transistors into a 74 mm² die, yielding a density of 24.3M transistors per mm². The GTX 580M contains 1,950 million transistors spread across a much larger 332 mm² die, resulting in just 5.9M transistors per mm². This 4.1x difference in transistor density highlights the manufacturing leap between 2011 and 2021, allowing the GT 1010 to achieve comparable performance with far fewer physical resources.

Memory configurations reflect their respective eras. Both use 2 GB of GDDR5, but the GT 1010 runs it at 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective) over a 64-bit interface, while the GTX 580M runs at 750 MHz (3 Gbps effective) over a 256-bit interface. The GTX 580M's wider bus gives it the bandwidth advantage, but the GT 1010's faster clock speed partially compensates.

The GT 1010 supports PCIe 3.0 x4 and features display outputs of 1x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 2.0. The GTX 580M uses an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface and has display outputs that are "Portable Device Dependent," meaning it is designed for laptops with custom wiring. Neither card supports ray tracing or tensor cores, as both predate those technologies.

Power and physical dimensions also diverge sharply. The GT 1010 draws just 30 W TDP with no power connectors and a suggested PSU of 200 W, fitting into a single-slot 147 mm (5.8 inches) form factor. The GTX 580M consumes 100 W TDP, also without power connectors, but comes as an MXM Module for mobile workstations. The GT 1010 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the GTX 580M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no Vulkan support listed. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

The release dates underscore the generational gap: the GTX 580M launched on 2011-06-27, while the GT 1010 arrived on 2021-01-12, nearly a decade later. The GTX 580M's predecessor is GeForce 400M and its successor is GeForce 600M, whereas the GT 1010 follows GeForce 900 and precedes GeForce 20. Both are officially end-of-life.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 wins the head-to-head benchmark with a 4.8% advantage in Geekbench OpenCL. For users seeking a modern, low-power card with current API support, the GT 1010 is the defensible choice. Its 30 W TDP, PCIe 3.0 x4 interface, and standard display outputs make it suitable for basic desktop tasks, legacy system upgrades, or media centers where power efficiency is paramount.

The GTX 580M, despite losing the single benchmark, retains clear superiority in compute-heavy and bandwidth-intensive workloads. Its 952.3 GFLOPS FP32 output and 96.00 GB/s memory bandwidth are substantial advantages that would manifest in gaming at high resolutions, GPU compute tasks, or any scenario where texture throughput matters. The 64 TMUs and 32 ROPs give it a 2.7x and 4x advantage over the GT 1010 in those respective units.

However, the GTX 580M's age shows in its 40 nm process, 100 W power draw, and lack of Vulkan support. Its MXM form factor limits it to specific mobile platforms, whereas the GT 1010's standard single-slot design offers broader compatibility. The GTX 580M's nearest rival is a perfect tie with the GTX 460 SE, indicating it is firmly a product of its time.

For practical purposes, the data suggests that neither card is a clear winner outside specific use cases. The GT 1010 wins the headline benchmark and offers modern features, but the GTX 580M provides double the memory bandwidth and higher raw compute. A user prioritizing OpenCL performance and API compatibility should choose the GT 1010, while a user with a compatible MXM laptop needing maximum bandwidth and texture throughput should consider the GTX 580M.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 scores 6698, which is 4.8% higher than the GTX 580M's 6389.

Q: How do the two cards compare on memory bandwidth?

A: The GTX 580M offers 96.00 GB/s over a 256-bit bus, exactly double the GT 1010's 48.06 GB/s over a 64-bit bus.

Q: What are the transistor densities of each GPU?

A: The GT 1010 has a density of 24.3M transistors per mm² on its 74 mm² die, while the GTX 580M has 5.9M per mm² on a 332 mm² die.

Q: Which card supports Vulkan?

A: The GT 1010 supports Vulkan 1.4, while the GTX 580M has no Vulkan support listed in the data.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The GT 1010 draws 30 W, while the GTX 580M draws 100 W, a difference of 70 W.

Q: How do their FP32 compute performances compare?

A: The GTX 580M produces 952.3 GFLOPS, which is 26.7% higher than the GT 1010's 751.6 GFLOPS.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M |

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

| Chip | GP108 | GF114 |

| Architecture | Pascal | Fermi 2.0 |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 40 nm |

| Foundry | Samsung | TSMC |

| Transistors | 1,800 million | 1,950 million |

| Die Size | 74 mm² | 332 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 24.3M / mm² | 5.9M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1228 MHz | N/A |

| Boost Clock | 1468 MHz | N/A |

| Memory Clock | 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective) | 750 MHz (3 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Bus Width | 64 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 48.06 GB/s | 96.00 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 256 | 384 |

| TMUs | 16 | 64 |

| ROPs | 8 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 11.74 GPixel/s | 9.920 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 23.49 GTexel/s | 39.68 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 751.6 GFLOPS | 952.3 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 30 W | 100 W |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | MXM Module |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 | MXM-B (3.0) |

| Display Outputs | 1x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 2.0 | Portable Device Dependent |

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

| Vulkan | 1.4 | N/A |

| Dimensions | 147 mm (5.8 inches) | N/A |

| Release Date | 2021-01-12 | 2011-06-27 |

| Predecessor | GeForce 900 | GeForce 400M |

| Successor | GeForce 20 | GeForce 600M |