NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 vs NVIDIA T600 Comparison

The NVIDIA T600 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 represent two very different approaches to the low-profile GPU segment, separated by architecture, memory configuration, and intended workload. While both are end-of-life products from NVIDIA, the data reveals a stark performance hierarchy, with the T600 delivering roughly four times the compute throughput of the GT 1010 in the single shared benchmark. The GT 1010, despite its higher clock speeds, is fundamentally limited by its smaller chip, narrower memory bus, and reduced shader count, positioning it as a basic display adapter rather than a compute-capable workstation part.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA T600 has a significantly higher average benchmark score of 7035, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010's 6698. This represents a 316.2% advantage for the T600 in the Geekbench OpenCL test, the only benchmark where both cards have recorded scores.

Q: How do the two cards compare in terms of memory bandwidth?

A: The T600 offers 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth via a 128-bit GDDR6 interface, which is over three times the 48.06 GB/s available on the GT 1010, which uses a 64-bit GDDR5 bus. This substantial difference directly impacts performance in memory-intensive workloads.

Q: Are both cards capable of running modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes, both the T600 and the GT 1010 support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Despite the T600's newer Turing architecture and the GT 1010's older Pascal design, their API support is functionally identical.

Q: What is the difference in their manufacturing processes?

A: The T600 is built on a 12 nm process at TSMC, while the GT 1010 uses a 14 nm process at Samsung. The T600 also has a larger die size of 200 mm² compared to the GT 1010's 74 mm², though the GT 1010 has a slightly higher transistor density at 24.3M / mm² versus 23.5M / mm².

Q: Which card has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 has a higher boost clock of 1468 MHz, compared to the T600's 1335 MHz. However, this clock advantage does not translate into better performance, as the T600's superior architecture and wider execution resources dominate in benchmark results.

Q: What are the physical display output configurations?

A: The T600 provides four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, making it suitable for multi-monitor professional setups. The GT 1010, in contrast, offers a single DVI and one mini-HDMI 2.0 output, indicating a more basic, single-display orientation.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split between these two GPUs is defined by their respective generations: Turing for the T600 and Pascal for the GT 1010. The T600 is based on the TU117 chip, fabricated on a 12 nm process at TSMC, while the GT 1010 utilizes the GP108 chip on a 14 nm process from Samsung. This generational gap manifests in several key specifications. The T600 packs 4,700 million transistors into a 200 mm² die, whereas the GT 1010 houses only 1,800 million transistors on a much smaller 74 mm² die. Despite the size difference, the transistor density is comparable, with the GT 1010 slightly ahead at 24.3M / mm² versus 23.5M / mm² for the T600.

Core configuration is where the performance divide becomes apparent. The T600 features 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. In contrast, the GT 1010 is significantly cut down, with only 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This means the T600 has 2.5 times the shader count and double the texture and pixel processing capabilities. Consequently, the T600's theoretical pixel rate is 42.72 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 53.40 GTexel/s, while the GT 1010 manages only 11.74 GPixel/s and 23.49 GTexel/s, respectively. Neither card features dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores, but the T600 supports FP16 compute at a 2:1 ratio, offering 3.418 TFLOPS, whereas the GT 1010 has no listed FP16 capability.

Memory architecture reinforces the T600's dominance. It employs 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GT 1010 is limited to 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, resulting in just 48.06 GB/s. Clock speeds tell a different story: the GT 1010 runs at a base of 1228 MHz and boosts to 1468 MHz, while the T600 operates at a lower 735 MHz base and 1335 MHz boost. However, the T600's higher memory clock of 1250 MHz (10 Gbps effective) far exceeds the GT 1010's 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective), further widening the bandwidth gap. The T600 also supports a wider PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, compared to the GT 1010's PCIe 3.0 x4 connection.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable performance metric between these two GPUs is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the results are emphatic. The NVIDIA T600 scores 27875, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 scores 6698. This yields a delta of 316.2% in favor of the T600, making it more than four times faster in this compute-oriented workload. This outcome aligns with the hardware disparity: the T600's 640 shading units and 160 GB/s bandwidth are overwhelming advantages over the GT 1010's 256 shaders and 48.06 GB/s bandwidth.

In the broader context of the T600's nearest rivals, its average benchmark score of 7035 places it 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M (6946) and 0.9% ahead of the AMD Radeon R5 M240 (6975). It sits 0.2% above the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M (7023) but trails the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (7157) by 1.7%. The GT 1010, with its average score of 6698, is 1% below the AMD Radeon R7 M370 (6764) and 1.9% below the AMD FirePro M5100 (6830). It outperforms the AMD Radeon R7 M460 (6612) by 1.3% and the AMD Radeon HD 7730M (6581) by 1.8%. These figures show that while the T600 competes in a slightly higher performance tier, the GT 1010 sits at the very bottom of the modern GPU spectrum, with its nearest rivals being older mobile and entry-level parts.

The T600 also demonstrates its lead across other benchmark categories, though no direct GT 1010 scores are available for comparison. The T600 achieves a Passmark G3D score of 6479 and a Passmark GPU Compute score of 2402, alongside DirectX-specific scores of 114 for DX9, 32 for DX10, 49 for DX11, and 25 for DX12. Its Passmark G2D score is 756. These numbers, combined with its 39th percentile ranking among all GPUs, suggest a card that can handle light to moderate professional workloads. The GT 1010, holding the 38th percentile, is only marginally lower in overall ranking, but its single recorded benchmark reveals a massive gulf in raw compute capability.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally favors the NVIDIA T600 for any task requiring compute performance. Its 316.2% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, combined with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 128-bit bus, positions it as a viable entry-level workstation card for CAD, light rendering, or multi-display productivity. The T600's four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and PCIe 3.0 x16 interface further support professional use cases. Its 40 W TDP and single-slot design make it a drop-in solution for compact systems, though the suggested 200 W PSU requirement remains identical to the GT 1010.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 is a different class of product entirely. With 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus and only 256 shading units, it exists primarily to provide display output rather than meaningful acceleration. Its single DVI and mini-HDMI 2.0 outputs restrict it to basic single-monitor setups, and its PCIe 3.0 x4 interface limits data transfer. While its 30 W TDP and 147 mm length make it physically small and power-efficient, the benchmark data shows it is not competitive for anything beyond 2D desktop workloads or as a troubleshooting spare. The GT 1010's higher base and boost clocks (1228 MHz and 1468 MHz versus 735 MHz and 1335 MHz) cannot compensate for its drastically reduced execution resources.

For users choosing between these two, the decision is straightforward. The T600 is the only one that offers viable 3D acceleration, with its performance rivaling the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 within a 1.7% margin. The GT 1010, conversely, is outperformed by the AMD Radeon R7 M370 by 1% and only manages to beat a handful of older mobile Radeon parts, making it a poor choice for anything beyond basic display duties. The T600's end-of-life status and lack of a launch MSRP mean it should be evaluated on its benchmark merits, which clearly establish it as the superior GPU in this comparison.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA T600 | NVIDIA GeForce GT 1010 |

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

| Chip | TU117 | GP108 |

| Architecture | Turing | Pascal |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Samsung |

| Transistors | 4,700 million | 1,800 million |

| Die Size | 200 mm² | 74 mm² |

| Base Clock | 735 MHz | 1228 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1335 MHz | 1468 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1250 MHz (10 Gbps effective) | 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 64 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 160.0 GB/s | 48.06 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 640 | 256 |

| TMUs | 40 | 16 |

| ROPs | 32 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 42.72 GPixel/s | 11.74 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 53.40 GTexel/s | 23.49 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1.709 TFLOPS | 751.6 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | 3.418 TFLOPS (2:1) | — |

| TDP | 40 W | 30 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x4 |

| Display Outputs | 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 2.0 |

| Length | — | 147 mm (5.8 inches) |

| Release Date | 2021-04-11 | 2021-01-12 |

| Predecessor | Quadro Volta | GeForce 900 |

| Successor | Workstation Ampere | GeForce 20 |