NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M and the GeForce GTX 1050 represent two very different eras of mobile graphics. The data shows a clear generational gap, with the GTX 1050 dominating in raw compute, while the GT 635M holds a narrow edge in a single, specific legacy benchmark. This analysis breaks down where each card excels, based strictly on the benchmark results and technical specifications provided.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results paint a stark picture of specialization. The GeForce GTX 1050 wins the only head-to-head benchmark available, the Geekbench OpenCL test, with a score of 15,233 against the GT 635M's 3,740. This represents a massive 75.4% delta in favor of the GTX 1050, indicating a colossal advantage in general-purpose compute and raw shader performance. This is further supported by the GTX 1050's other benchmark results, including a Passmark G3D score of 5,028 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 8,995, which are not present in the GT 635M's data set. The GTX 1050 is the clear winner for any task that leverages modern APIs or heavy parallel processing.

The GeForce GT 635M, conversely, has only one benchmark result to its name: the same Geekbench OpenCL test. While its absolute score of 3,740 is far lower than the GTX 1050's, it is competitive within its own performance tier. The data from its nearest rivals shows it performing 1.2% better than the NVIDIA GeForce 825M (3,694) and 0.6% better than both the NVIDIA Quadro 3000M (3,718) and the GeForce GT 740M (3,717). It even outperforms the newer Intel UHD Graphics 710 (3,792) by 1.4%. This indicates that the GT 635M's sole win condition is not against the GTX 1050, but rather within its own legacy segment, where it remains a serviceable option for very old or lightweight workloads.

The GTX 1050's wins are across the board in modern compute, while the GT 635M's only comparative strength lies in its narrow victory over similarly-aged integrated graphics. There is no scenario in the data where the GT 635M beats the GTX 1050. The GTX 1050's higher pixel rate (46.56 GPixel/s vs 1.900 GPixel/s) and texture rate (58.20 GTexel/s vs 7.600 GTexel/s) reinforce its dominance in rendering tasks, making it the definitive choice for any gaming or graphical workload beyond basic desktop use.

The Verdict

The verdict is straightforward based on the numbers. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 is the superior product by an enormous margin. Its Geekbench OpenCL score is 4.07 times higher than the GT 635M's, and its architectural advantages are overwhelming. The data indicates this is the only sensible choice for anyone needing to run modern applications, 3D games, or GPU-accelerated tasks. It also supports modern APIs like Vulkan 1.4 and DirectX 12 (12_1), which the GT 635M does not fully support (DirectX 12 (11_0), no Vulkan). The GTX 1050's launch MSRP is 109 USD, a figure that is now historical but contextualizes its original market position.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M should only be considered by someone with a very specific, legacy requirement. Its performance puts it in the 22nd percentile of all GPUs, just one point above the GTX 1050's 21st percentile, which is a statistical oddity given the massive performance gap. However, its nearest rivals are all older or low-power parts, and it offers no modern feature support. It is an end-of-life product from 2012 with no Vulkan support and an older DirectX feature level. For any practical purpose in a modern context, the GTX 1050 is the only viable option, and the GT 635M is relegated to the annals of history for vintage systems.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single head-to-head benchmark is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is a decisive victory for the GeForce GTX 1050. The GTX 1050 scores 15,233, while the GT 635M scores 3,740. The deltaPct of -75.4% is listed from the perspective of the GTX 1050, meaning the GT 635M's score is 75.4% lower. This translates to the GTX 1050 delivering roughly 4x the compute performance of the GT 635M in this specific test.

This result is not surprising given the specifications. The GTX 1050 has 640 shading units compared to the GT 635M's 96, and 32 ROPs compared to 4. Its FP32 performance is rated at 1.862 TFLOPS versus 182.4 GFLOPS for the GT 635M. The memory subsystem also plays a role; the GTX 1050 uses GDDR5 with a bandwidth of 112.1 GB/s, while the GT 635M uses DDR3 with a bandwidth of only 28.80 GB/s. This memory bandwidth deficit alone would bottleneck the older card in any data-intensive workload.

The GTX 1050 also scores 7,823 in Geekbench Metal and 8,995 in Geekbench Vulkan, tests that the GT 635M did not undergo. In the Passmark suite, the GTX 1050 shows balanced performance with a G3D score of 5,028 and a DirectX 11 score of 38. The GT 635M has no comparable results, reinforcing that its only measured data point is the OpenCL score where it is vastly outperformed.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, with a score of 15,233 compared to the GT 635M's 3,740.

Q: What is the performance difference in the head-to-head benchmark?

A: The GTX 1050 leads by 75.4%, meaning the GT 635M's score is roughly a quarter of the GTX 1050's score.

Q: Does the GT 635M support the Vulkan API?

A: No, the GT 635M's API list does not include Vulkan, while the GTX 1050 supports Vulkan 1.4.

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

A: The GTX 1050 has a memory bandwidth of 112.1 GB/s using GDDR5, while the GT 635M has 28.80 GB/s using DDR3.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor density?

A: The GTX 1050, manufactured on a 14 nm process, has a density of 25.0M transistors per mm², whereas the 40 nm GT 635M has 5.0M per mm².

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures. The GT 635M is based on the Fermi architecture, using the GF108 chip, while the GTX 1050 is based on the Pascal architecture, using the GP107 chip. This represents a leap of two major architectural generations for NVIDIA.

The manufacturing process is a key differentiator. The GT 635M is fabricated by TSMC on a 40 nm process, packing 585 million transistors into a 116 mm² die. In contrast, the GTX 1050 is built by Samsung on a 14 nm process, fitting 3,300 million transistors into a slightly larger 132 mm² die. This results in a transistor density of 25.0M per mm² for the GTX 1050 versus 5.0M per mm² for the GT 635M, a 5x improvement that explains the massive performance gulf.

The execution resources are also vastly different. The GTX 1050 features 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 render output units (ROPs). The GT 635M has only 96 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. This 6.6x increase in shader count and 8x increase in ROPs allows the GTX 1050 to process geometry and pixels at a much higher rate. The GTX 1050's API support is also more modern, offering DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the GT 635M only supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no Vulkan support listed.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal clear differences in almost every category, confirming the generational gap.

• Process Node: The GTX 1050 uses a 14 nm process (Samsung), while the GT 635M uses a 40 nm process (TSMC).
• Transistors: The GTX 1050 has 3,300 million transistors, compared to the GT 635M's 585 million.
• Die Size: The GTX 1050's die is 132 mm², slightly larger than the GT 635M's 116 mm².
• Core Clocks: The GTX 1050 has a base clock of 1354 MHz and a boost clock of 1455 MHz. The GT 635M has no listed base or boost clock.
• Memory: The GTX 1050 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 at 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective), while the GT 635M uses 2 GB of DDR3 at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective).
• Memory Bandwidth: The GTX 1050's bandwidth is 112.1 GB/s, versus 28.80 GB/s for the GT 635M.
• Shading Units: 640 on the GTX 1050, 96 on the GT 635M.
• TMUs: 40 on the GTX 1050, 16 on the GT 635M.
• ROPs: 32 on the GTX 1050, 4 on the GT 635M.
• Pixel Rate: The GTX 1050 achieves 46.56 GPixel/s, while the GT 635M is limited to 1.900 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: The GTX 1050 reaches 58.20 GTexel/s, compared to 7.600 GTexel/s for the GT 635M.
• FP32 Performance: The GTX 1050 delivers 1.862 TFLOPS, while the GT 635M provides 182.4 GFLOPS.
• TDP: The GTX 1050 has a TDP of 75 W, while the GT 635M is rated at 35 W.
• Slot Width: The GTX 1050 is a dual-slot card, while the GT 635M is listed as an IGP (integrated graphics processor).
• Bus Interface: The GTX 1050 uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the GT 635M uses PCIe 2.0 x16.
• Display Outputs: The GTX 1050 has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, and 1x DisplayPort 1.4a. The GT 635M's outputs are "Portable Device Dependent".
• DirectX Support: The GTX 1050 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the GT 635M supports DirectX 12 (11_0).
• Vulkan Support: The GTX 1050 supports Vulkan 1.4; the GT 635M has no Vulkan support.
• Release Date: The GTX 1050 was released in October 2016, while the GT 635M was released in March 2012.