NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M and GT 730M are two end-of-life mobile graphics solutions from the GeForce 700M generation, both built on a 28 nm TSMC process and both rated at a 33 W TDP in an MXM Module form factor. The data shows a split decision: the GT 740M wins one benchmark decisively, while the GT 730M edges out the other by a narrow margin. The GT 740M posts an average benchmark score of 3717 against the GT 730M’s 3316, placing them at the 22nd and 20th percentiles of all GPUs respectively. Average scores, however, only tell part of the story; the architecture differences between the two explain why each pulls ahead in different workloads.

The Verdict

For users running OpenCL-heavy applications, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M is the clear pick. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 3974 is 27.9% higher than the GT 730M’s 3107, a substantial margin that reflects its significantly higher compute throughput. The GT 740M’s average score of 3717 also places it just 0.6% behind the NVIDIA Quadro 3000M (3718) and 0.6% ahead of the GeForce 825M (3694), meaning it trades blows with professional-grade mobile parts from the same era.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M, by contrast, is the choice when Vulkan performance matters more. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 3524 beats the GT 740M’s 3459 by 1.8%, a small but real advantage. In this test, the GT 730M lands within 0.5% of the Intel HD Graphics 530 (3332) and actually outperforms it, while also sitting 3.3% above the NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 (3210). The GT 730M’s average score of 3316 puts it 0.9% behind the GeForce 920M (3287), showing that it remains competitive with later-generation entry-level parts.

Given the overall benchmark averages, the GT 740M is the stronger all-around performer, but the GT 730M is not without merit. Buyers who prioritize OpenCL compute should choose the GT 740M without hesitation. Those whose workloads are Vulkan-centric and who are willing to sacrifice 12% in average benchmark score will find the GT 730M acceptable, though the margin of its Vulkan win is small enough that it should not be the sole deciding factor for most users.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data shows each GPU claiming one victory. The GT 740M wins the Geekbench OpenCL test with a score of 3974 versus 3107, a deltaPct of 27.9% in its favor. This is the defining performance gap between the two parts. OpenCL workloads — which include general-purpose compute tasks like physics simulations, image processing, and some rendering tasks — will run considerably faster on the GT 740M. The GT 740M’s FP32 throughput of 793.3 GFLOPS versus the GT 730M’s 556.8 GFLOPS directly explains this result; the GT 740M delivers 42.5% more raw single-precision compute power.

The GT 730M wins the Geekbench Vulkan test, scoring 3524 against 3459, a deltaPct of -1.8% from the perspective of the GT 740M. While the margin is narrow, it indicates that the GT 730M handles Vulkan’s API overhead and draw-call distribution slightly more efficiently. This could translate to better frame pacing in Vulkan-based titles or applications, though the practical difference of 65 points is minimal. The GT 730M’s 128-bit memory bus and 16 ROPs, compared to the GT 740M’s 64-bit bus and 8 ROPs, likely contribute to this edge in certain rendering paths that rely on memory bandwidth and pixel throughput.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are NVIDIA Kepler parts, but they are different chips. The GT 740M uses the GK208 chip, which is classified as Kepler 2.0, while the GT 730M uses the GK107 chip under the original Kepler architecture. This distinction matters. GK208 is a smaller, more modern design at 87 mm² with 1,020 million transistors, resulting in a transistor density of 11.7M per mm². The GK107 is larger at 118 mm² with 1,270 million transistors, giving it a density of 10.8M per mm². The larger die of the GT 730M allows for a wider 128-bit memory bus and 16 ROPs, whereas the GT 740M is limited to a 64-bit bus and 8 ROPs.

Clock speeds also differ substantially. The GT 740M runs at a base clock of 980 MHz with a boost up to 1033 MHz. The GT 730M runs at a flat 725 MHz for both base and boost — there is no boost headroom. This higher clock speed is the GT 740M’s primary weapon: it pushes the same 384 shading units and 32 TMUs as the GT 730M, but at a much higher frequency, yielding a pixel rate of 8.264 GPixel/s versus 5.800 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 33.06 GTexel/s versus 23.20 GTexel/s.

Memory is identical in type (DDR3) and capacity (2 GB), but the bus width changes everything. The GT 730M’s 128-bit bus provides 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth, exactly double the GT 740M’s 14.40 GB/s from its 64-bit bus. Memory clock speeds are the same at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective), so the bandwidth difference is purely a function of bus width. This explains why the GT 730M wins the Vulkan test despite lower compute throughput — it can feed data to the shaders more quickly in certain workloads.

The GT 740M uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, while the GT 730M uses PCIe 3.0 x16. In mobile MXM modules, this difference rarely bottlenecks performance, but it is a spec-level divergence. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175, and both are end-of-life products with the same predecessor (GeForce 600M) and successor (GeForce 800M).

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The GT 740M is significantly stronger in compute. It delivers 793.3 GFLOPS of FP32 performance versus the GT 730M’s 556.8 GFLOPS, a 42.5% advantage. This is reflected in the Geekbench OpenCL scores, where the GT 740M scores 3974 against 3107.

Q: Does the GT 730M have any advantages over the GT 740M?

A: Yes, the GT 730M has double the memory bandwidth (28.80 GB/s vs 14.40 GB/s) due to its 128-bit bus versus the GT 740M’s 64-bit bus. It also has twice the ROPs (16 vs 8). These advantages show up in the Geekbench Vulkan test, where the GT 730M scores 3524 versus 3459.

Q: Are these two GPUs from the same architecture generation?

A: They are both from the GeForce 700M generation and use the Kepler architecture, but they are different chips. The GT 740M uses the GK208 chip (Kepler 2.0), while the GT 730M uses the GK107 chip (original Kepler). The GT 740M’s chip is smaller (87 mm² vs 118 mm²) but has higher transistor density (11.7M/mm² vs 10.8M/mm²).

Q: How do these GPUs compare to their closest rivals?

A: The GT 740M’s average score of 3717 is essentially level with the NVIDIA Quadro 3000M (3718, 0% delta) and 0.6% ahead of the GeForce 825M. The GT 730M’s average of 3316 is 0.5% ahead of the Intel HD Graphics 530 (3332) and 3.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 (3210).

Q: What is the power consumption of each GPU?

A: Both GPUs are rated at a 33 W TDP and use no power connectors, drawing power solely through the MXM Module slot. This makes them comparable in thermal and power requirements.

Q: Which GPU should I choose for gaming?

A: The data does not include gaming benchmarks. It shows the GT 740M winning OpenCL by a wide margin and the GT 730M winning Vulkan by a small margin. If your games use Vulkan, the GT 730M’s higher bandwidth may offer a slight edge; for OpenCL-based game features or compute, the GT 740M is superior.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench OpenCL benchmark is where the GT 740M dominates. Its score of 3974 is 27.9% higher than the GT 730M’s 3107, a margin of 867 points. This is the largest performance delta between the two GPUs in any metric. The GT 740M’s high clock speeds (980 MHz base, 1033 MHz boost) and 793.3 GFLOPS FP32 throughput allow it to crush the GT 730M in compute-heavy tasks. The GT 730M’s 556.8 GFLOPS and flat 725 MHz clock simply cannot keep up with raw number-crunching workloads.

The Geekbench Vulkan benchmark flips the script, albeit narrowly. The GT 730M scores 3524, while the GT 740M scores 3459, giving the GT 730M a 1.8% advantage. The 65-point difference is small but consistent with the GT 730M’s hardware strengths: its 128-bit memory bus provides 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth, double the GT 740M’s 14.40 GB/s. Additionally, the GT 730M has 16 ROPs against the GT 740M’s 8, which can improve pixel throughput in certain rendering scenarios. The GT 730M’s pixel rate of 5.800 GPixel/s is lower than the GT 740M’s 8.264 GPixel/s due to clock speeds, but Vulkan’s driver overhead and memory access patterns may favor the wider bus.

Comparing average scores, the GT 740M leads with 3717 versus 3316, a 12.1% overall advantage. The GT 740M’s nearest rival, the Quadro 3000M, scores 3718 with a 0% deltaPct, placing them statistically tied. The GT 730M’s nearest rival, the Intel HD Graphics 530, scores 3332 with a -0.5% deltaPct, meaning the GT 730M is 0.5% ahead of that integrated solution. In the broader market, the GT 740M sits at the 22nd percentile of all GPUs, while the GT 730M sits at the 20th percentile — a small but meaningful ranking gap.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ on several key specifications. The GT 740M uses the GK208 chip with Kepler 2.0 architecture, while the GT 730M uses the GK107 chip with original Kepler architecture. Transistor counts differ: the GT 740M has 1,020 million transistors on an 87 mm² die, while the GT 730M packs 1,270 million transistors onto a 118 mm² die. This yields a transistor density of 11.7M/mm² for the GT 740M versus 10.8M/mm² for the GT 730M.

Clock speeds diverge significantly. The GT 740M runs at 980 MHz base and 1033 MHz boost, while the GT 730M runs at a static 725 MHz for both. Memory configurations share the same 2 GB DDR3 type and 900 MHz clock (1800 Mbps effective), but the bus widths differ: 64-bit for the GT 740M and 128-bit for the GT 730M. This results in bandwidth of 14.40 GB/s for the GT 740M and 28.80 GB/s for the GT 730M. ROP counts also differ, with the GT 740M having 8 and the GT 730M having 16. Pixel rate and texture rate follow clock speeds: the GT 740M achieves 8.264 GPixel/s and 33.06 GTexel/s, while the GT 730M manages 5.800 GPixel/s and 23.20 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 793.3 GFLOPS for the GT 740M and 556.8 GFLOPS for the GT 730M. The PCIe interface differs as well: the GT 740M uses PCIe 3.0 x8, while the GT 730M uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Both have 384 shading units and 32 TMUs, no power connectors, and portable-device-dependent display outputs.