NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M are both end-of-life mobile graphics solutions from NVIDIA, but they occupy completely different performance tiers. The GTX 860M is built on the larger GK104 chip, while the GT 720M uses the smaller GK208 die. Benchmark results show a decisive gap between them, with the GTX 860M delivering over 300% higher compute performance in the only directly comparable test. These are not competing products; they are answers to different questions.

The Verdict

The data points to a single conclusion: the GTX 860M is in a different league. Its average benchmark score of 2967 places it at the 19th percentile of all GPUs, while the GT 720M sits at the 17th percentile with an average score of 2605. The single head-to-head benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, shows the GTX 860M scoring 10461 versus 2605 for the GT 720M — a 301.6% advantage. That is not a marginal win; it is a generational chasm.

Choose the GTX 860M if you need actual gaming or compute capability in a laptop. Its closest rivals in the database include the GTX 750 Ti (average score 2953, just 0.5% slower) and the Quadro P600 (average score 2923, 1.5% slower), which puts it in credible entry-level desktop territory. The GT 720M, by contrast, sits near the GT 440 (2645, 1.5% faster) and GT 1030 (2662, 2.1% faster) — cards that are already considered minimal for modern tasks. The GT 720M is only suitable for basic display output and light 2D work; the GTX 860M at least attempts 3D workloads.

Pick the GT 720M only if power draw is the absolute priority and you never intend to run anything beyond desktop applications. Its 33 W TDP is less than half of the GTX 860M's 75 W, and it uses a 64-bit DDR3 memory bus, which is fine for video playback but nothing else. For anyone who plans to game, render, or use GPU compute, the GTX 860M is the only sensible choice from this pair.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the GTX 860M in compute workloads?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 860M scores 10461 against 2605 for the GT 720M, which is a 301.6% higher result. This is the only benchmark where both GPUs have recorded scores.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same modern APIs?

A: Yes. Both report DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175 support. Neither has ray tracing or tensor cores, as indicated by null values for those fields.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The GTX 860M has 1152 shading units, compared to 192 for the GT 720M. The GTX 860M also has 96 texture mapping units versus 16, and 16 ROPs versus 8.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: Both have 2 GB of memory, but the GTX 860M uses GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 80.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the GT 720M uses DDR3 on a 64-bit bus with 12.80 GB/s bandwidth. The memory clock is 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) for the GTX 860M and 800 MHz (1600 Mbps effective) for the GT 720M.

Q: Which GPU has a smaller die and fewer transistors?

A: The GT 720M uses the GK208 chip with 1,020 million transistors on an 87 mm² die. The GTX 860M uses the GK104 chip with 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. Both are manufactured on a 28 nm process by TSMC.

Q: Are these GPUs still in production?

A: No. Both are marked as end-of-life. The GTX 860M was released in March 2014 and succeeded by the GeForce 900M series, while the GT 720M was released in December 2013 and succeeded by the GeForce 800M series.

Architecture Differences

The GTX 860M is based on the GK104 chip, which is part of the original Kepler architecture. The GT 720M uses the GK208 chip, labeled as Kepler 2.0. While both are 28 nm TSMC parts, the GK104 is a much larger and more complex design. The GTX 860M packs 3,540 million transistors into a 294 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 12.0 million per mm². The GT 720M's GK208 has only 1,020 million transistors on an 87 mm² die, with a slightly lower density of 11.7 million per mm².

The shader configuration tells the real story. The GTX 860M has 1152 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The GT 720M has 192 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. That is a 6x difference in shading units and TMUs, and a 2x difference in ROPs. Consequently, the pixel rate for the GTX 860M is 21.96 GPixel/s versus 3.032 GPixel/s for the GT 720M, and the texture rate is 87.84 GTexel/s versus 12.13 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is 2.108 TFLOPS for the GTX 860M and just 291.1 GFLOPS for the GT 720M — a 7.2x gap in raw math throughput.

Neither GPU has ray tracing or tensor cores. The bus interface differs as well: the GTX 860M uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the GT 720M uses PCIe 2.0 x8. Both have portable-device-dependent display outputs and no power connectors. The GTX 860M is listed as an IGP (integrated graphics package), while the GT 720M is an MXM module. The GTX 860M is the successor to the GeForce 700M series and was itself succeeded by the GeForce 900M; the GT 720M succeeds the GeForce 600M and was followed by the GeForce 800M.

Specification Differences

The clock speeds differentiate them further. The GTX 860M runs at a base clock of 797 MHz with a boost of 915 MHz. The GT 720M runs at 719 MHz base and 758 MHz boost. Memory clocks are far apart: 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) for the GTX 860M versus 800 MHz (1600 Mbps effective) for the GT 720M.

Memory bandwidth is one of the largest gaps. The GTX 860M's 128-bit GDDR5 bus delivers 80.00 GB/s, while the GT 720M's 64-bit DDR3 bus manages only 12.80 GB/s — a 6.25x difference. Both have 2 GB of memory, but the type and bus width make them incomparable in practice.

The TDP difference is significant: 75 W for the GTX 860M and 33 W for the GT 720M. While the GTX 860M draws more power, it also has a much higher performance ceiling. The GTX 860M's slot width is listed as "IGP," and it uses PCIe 3.0 x16; the GT 720M is an "MXM Module" with PCIe 2.0 x8. Both are end-of-life products with no launch MSRP listed in the data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test. The GTX 860M scores 10461, and the GT 720M scores 2605. That is a delta of 301.6% in favor of the GTX 860M. This is not a close contest — the GTX 860M performs more than four times better in this compute-oriented workload.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the GTX 860M has ten recorded benchmark scores, including PassMark G3D at 3081, Geekbench Vulkan at 9648, and Geekbench Metal at 4900. Its average benchmark score is 2967. The GT 720M has only one recorded score — that same Geekbench OpenCL result — which also serves as its average. In PassMark tests, the GTX 860M shows a pattern of strong DirectX 9 (55) and DirectX 11 (23) scores, with weaker DirectX 10 (15) and DirectX 12 (13) results. Its GPU compute score is 1251, and its G2D score is 226.

The nearest rivals for the GTX 860M are the GTX 750 Ti (2953, 0.5% slower), the GeForce 820A (2983, 0.5% faster), the Quadro P600 (2923, 1.5% slower), and the RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB (2913, 1.9% slower). This places the GTX 860M in a performance band that includes modern desktop cards, though its age is evident. The GT 720M's nearest rivals are the GT 440 (2645, 1.5% faster), the Quadro K2000M (2555, 2% slower), the Intel Arc Pro B50 (2660, 2.1% faster), and the GT 1030 (2662, 2.1% faster). The GT 720M is clustered with older entry-level parts.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 860M wins everywhere that matters. It has a 301.6% lead in OpenCL compute, a 6.25x advantage in memory bandwidth, and a 7.2x advantage in FP32 throughput. It is the only one of the two that can realistically handle modern 3D games at low-to-medium settings, based on its PassMark G3D score of 3081 and its proximity to the GTX 750 Ti. For GPU-accelerated tasks like video encoding, rendering, or OpenCL workloads, the GTX 860M is the clear pick.

The GT 720M wins on power efficiency and physical footprint. Its 33 W TDP is less than half of the GTX 860M's 75 W, and its smaller die (87 mm² versus 294 mm²) means less heat generation. It is an MXM module, which may be easier to integrate into slim chassis. For basic tasks like desktop compositing, video playback, and light office work, the GT 720M is sufficient and will drain less battery. It also has a lower transistor count (1,020 million versus 3,540 million), which historically correlates with lower manufacturing cost, though no pricing data is available.

The verdict is unambiguous: the GTX 860M is for users who need real GPU performance, while the GT 720M is for users who need minimal power draw and have no 3D ambitions. There is no middle ground in this comparison.