NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M represent two distinct approaches to mobile and small-form-factor graphics from different generations of NVIDIA’s lineup. The GT 545 is a desktop-oriented Fermi 2.0 part from the GeForce 500 series, while the GT 730M is a Kepler-based mobile chip from the GeForce 700M series. The data shows a clear split: the older desktop card wins the only shared benchmark, but the newer mobile chip counters with architectural advantages and a lower power footprint.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 has an average benchmark score of 3594, placing it in the 21st percentile of all GPUs. The GT 730M averages 3316, placing it in the 20th percentile. In the head-to-head Geekbench OpenCL test, the GT 545 scores 3594 against the GT 730M’s 3107, a delta of 15.7% in favor of the GT 545.

Q: How do the two compare in terms of power consumption?

A: The GT 545 has a TDP of 70 W, while the GT 730M is rated at just 33 W. That is a substantial difference, making the GT 730M far more power-efficient on paper. The GT 545 also requires a suggested PSU of 250 W, whereas the GT 730M has no suggested PSU listed, reflecting its mobile, MXM-module design.

Q: What are the key memory differences?

A: The GT 545 comes with 1536 MB of DDR3 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 38.40 GB/s of bandwidth. The GT 730M offers 2 GB of DDR3 on a narrower 128-bit bus, resulting in 28.80 GB/s. Despite having less total memory, the GT 545 has a significantly higher memory bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU supports newer APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. However, the GT 730M adds Vulkan 1.2.175 support, which the GT 545 lacks entirely (its Vulkan field is null). This gives the GT 730M an edge for modern cross-platform titles that leverage Vulkan.

Q: What are the physical form factor differences?

A: The GT 545 is a single-slot card measuring 145 mm (5.7 inches) in length, with display outputs of 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, and 1x VGA. The GT 730M is an MXM module, meaning its display outputs are portable-device dependent, and no dimensions are provided.

Q: How do their nearest rivals compare?

A: The GT 545’s closest rival is the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation, which scores 3596, a -0.1% delta. The GT 730M’s nearest rival is the Intel HD Graphics 530 at 3332, a -0.5% delta. Notably, the GT 545 sits just 1% below the GeForce GTX 1050 (3629), while the GT 730M is 3.3% ahead of the GeForce GT 640 (3210).

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The GT 545 uses the GF116 chip on NVIDIA’s Fermi 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. The GT 730M uses the GK107 chip on the Kepler architecture, also from TSMC but on a newer 28 nm node. This node shrink allows the GT 730M to pack more transistors into a smaller die: 1,270 million transistors on 118 mm² versus 1,170 million on 238 mm² for the GT 545. The transistor density tells the story — the GT 730M achieves 10.8M transistors per mm², more than double the GT 545’s 4.9M per mm².

The compute layouts differ significantly. The GT 545 has 144 shading units, 24 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 16 raster operation units (ROPs). The GT 730M more than doubles the shading units to 384, with 32 TMUs and the same 16 ROPs. This gives the Kepler chip a theoretical FP32 throughput of 556.8 GFLOPS, compared to the GT 545’s 414.7 GFLOPS. The GT 730M also benefits from higher clock rates — its base and boost are both 725 MHz, while the GT 545 has no listed base or boost clock, only a memory clock of 800 MHz (1600 Mbps effective).

Memory architecture is another differentiator. The GT 545 uses a 192-bit bus with 38.40 GB/s bandwidth, while the GT 730M uses a 128-bit bus with 28.80 GB/s. The GT 730M compensates with a higher memory clock of 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) and double the capacity at 2 GB versus 1536 MB. The GT 545 supports PCIe 2.0 x16, while the GT 730M moves to PCIe 3.0 x16. The GT 730M also adds Vulkan 1.2.175 support, a feature absent from the GT 545.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single direct benchmark comparison favors the GT 545 decisively. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GT 545 scores 3594, beating the GT 730M’s 3107 by 15.7%. This is a significant margin, especially considering the GT 730M’s higher shading unit count and FP32 throughput. The GT 545’s win likely stems from its superior memory bandwidth (38.40 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s) and wider 192-bit bus, which matters more in OpenCL workloads than raw shader count.

The GT 730M does not win any head-to-head benchmark in the data, but it does have a second benchmark result — a Geekbench Vulkan score of 3524 — that the GT 545 cannot match due to its lack of Vulkan support. While this is not a direct comparison, it shows the GT 730M is capable in modern API contexts. The GT 545’s average score of 3594 places it 0.1% below the RTX 5000 Mobile Ada Generation (3596) and 1% below the GTX 1050 (3629). The GT 730M’s average of 3316 puts it 0.5% below the Intel HD Graphics 530 (3332) and 3.3% above the GT 640 (3210).

In terms of overall percentile ranking, the GT 545 sits at the 21st percentile, one point higher than the GT 730M’s 20th percentile. This is a narrow gap, but it aligns with the GT 545’s higher average score. The data indicates that in raw compute, the older Fermi card is the stronger performer, despite its older architecture.

The Verdict

The data makes one thing clear: if you need raw OpenCL compute performance, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 is the winner. It beats the GT 730M by 15.7% in the shared Geekbench OpenCL test and has a higher average benchmark score (3594 versus 3316). The GT 545 also offers significantly higher memory bandwidth (38.40 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s), which is critical for bandwidth-sensitive workloads.

However, the GT 730M is not without merit. Its 33 W TDP is less than half the GT 545’s 70 W, making it a far better choice for power-constrained environments like slim laptops or MXM-based systems. It also supports Vulkan 1.2.175, which the GT 545 cannot, giving it a path to modern graphics APIs. The GT 730M’s 2 GB of memory is also more generous than the GT 545’s 1536 MB, which can help with larger textures.

For a desktop user with a 250 W PSU and a PCIe 2.0 slot, the GT 545 is the straightforward pick for performance. For a mobile user or anyone prioritizing efficiency and modern API support, the GT 730M is the more sensible choice. The GT 545’s launch MSRP was 149 USD, which reflects its original positioning, but the GT 730M has no listed launch MSRP. Neither card is in production, so availability is limited to used or refurbished markets.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GT 545 | NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M |

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

| Chip | GF116 | GK107 |

| Architecture | Fermi 2.0 | Kepler |

| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 1,170 million | 1,270 million |

| Die Size | 238 mm² | 118 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 4.9M / mm² | 10.8M / mm² |

| Base Clock | Not listed | 725 MHz |

| Boost Clock | Not listed | 725 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 800 MHz (1600 Mbps effective) | 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 1536 MB | 2 GB |

| Memory Type | DDR3 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus Width | 192 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.40 GB/s | 28.80 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 144 | 384 |

| TMUs | 24 | 32 |

| ROPs | 16 | 16 |

| Pixel Rate | 4.320 GPixel/s | 5.800 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 17.28 GTexel/s | 23.20 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 414.7 GFLOPS | 556.8 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 70 W | 33 W |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | MXM Module |

| Power Connectors | None | None |

| Suggested PSU | 250 W | Not listed |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, 1x VGA | Portable Device Dependent |

| Vulkan | Not listed | 1.2.175 |

| Release Date | 2011-05-13 | 2013-01-19 |

| Predecessor | GeForce 400 | GeForce 600M |

| Successor | GeForce 600 | GeForce 800M |

Where Each One Wins

The GT 545 wins in raw compute and memory bandwidth. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 3594 is 15.7% higher than the GT 730M’s 3107, and its 38.40 GB/s bandwidth dwarfs the GT 730M’s 28.80 GB/s. This makes it the better choice for OpenCL-heavy applications, older DirectX titles, and any workload that saturates memory. Its 192-bit bus is a clear advantage over the GT 730M’s 128-bit bus.

The GT 730M wins on efficiency and modern feature support. Its 33 W TDP is less than half of the GT 545’s 70 W, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops or MXM modules where thermals and battery life matter. Its Vulkan 1.2.175 support is a concrete advantage — the GT 545 has no Vulkan path at all. The GT 730M also has 2 GB of memory versus 1.5 GB, which can be beneficial for modern games with higher texture requirements. Its higher pixel rate (5.800 GPixel/s versus 4.320 GPixel/s) and texture rate (23.20 GTexel/s versus 17.28 GTexel/s) suggest it fills pixels and textures faster, even if it loses on overall compute.

In practical terms, the GT 545 is for builders who already have a desktop chassis and a 250 W PSU, and who prioritize compute performance over power draw. The GT 730M is for mobile users or small-form-factor systems where the MXM form factor fits, and where Vulkan support and lower power consumption are non-negotiable. The data does not show a single winner across all metrics — it shows a trade-off between the GT 545’s brute-force compute and the GT 730M’s modern efficiency.