NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M vs NVIDIA Quadro K2000 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How does the NVIDIA Quadro K2000 compare to the GeForce GT 730M in raw compute performance?

A: The Quadro K2000 delivers 732.7 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the GT 730M produces 556.8 GFLOPS. That is a 31% advantage for the Quadro in the recorded OpenCL benchmark, with scores of 4071 versus 3107.

Q: Are these two GPUs based on the same chip?

A: Yes, both use the GK107 chip on the Kepler architecture, built on a 28 nm process at TSMC. They share the same 1,270 million transistor count and 118 mm² die size, so their architectural foundations are identical.

Q: Which card has better memory performance?

A: The Quadro K2000 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 64.00 GB/s of bandwidth. The GT 730M uses 2 GB of DDR3 on the same 128-bit bus, but only reaches 28.80 GB/s. The Quadro has more than double the memory bandwidth.

Q: Do both cards support the same modern APIs?

A: Yes, both list DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. Older API support is identical even though the Quadro and GeForce target different markets.

Q: Which GPU has a higher benchmark percentile ranking?

A: The Quadro K2000 sits at the 24th percentile of all GPUs, while the GT 730M sits at the 20th. The Quadro's average benchmark score is 3964 versus 3316 for the GT 730M.

Q: Why does the GT 730M have a lower TDP?

A: The GT 730M is rated at 33 W and uses an MXM module form factor, while the Quadro K2000 is a single-slot card rated at 51 W. The Quadro also requires a 250 W suggested PSU, while the GT 730M has no suggested PSU listed.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on the same GK107 chip, which means the core geometry is identical: 384 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The architecture is Kepler in both cases, fabricated at TSMC on a 28 nm process. Transistor density is the same at 10.8M per mm², and the die is 118 mm².

The real divergence is in how each product is configured. The Quadro K2000 runs its memory at 1000 MHz with 4 Gbps effective transfer, paired with GDDR5, while the GT 730M runs at 900 MHz with 1800 Mbps effective and uses DDR3. That memory choice alone explains the massive bandwidth gap: 64.00 GB/s versus 28.80 GB/s.

Clock behavior also differs. The GT 730M has a fixed base and boost clock of 725 MHz, with no boost headroom. The Quadro K2000 does not list a base or boost clock in the database, but its resulting pixel rate is 7.632 GPixel/s and texture rate is 30.53 GTexel/s. The GT 730M manages only 5.800 GPixel/s and 23.20 GTexel/s.

The Quadro is a desktop workstation card with a single-slot cooler, PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, and display outputs including 1x DVI and 2x DisplayPort 1.2. The GT 730M is a mobile MXM module with PCIe 3.0 x16 and display outputs that are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning the laptop manufacturer decides the ports. The Quadro's TDP is 51 W versus 33 W for the GT 730M, reflecting the higher clocked memory and faster overall throughput.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two direct comparisons between these GPUs: Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan. The Quadro K2000 wins both.

In OpenCL, the Quadro scores 4071 against the GT 730M's 3107. That is a 31% delta, the largest gap in the head-to-head set. This test stresses raw compute throughput, and the Quadro's GDDR5 bandwidth and higher texture and pixel rates show up clearly here.

In Vulkan, the Quadro scores 4191 and the GT 730M scores 3524. The delta is 18.9%, still a decisive win, but narrower than in OpenCL. Vulkan workloads can be more latency-sensitive and driver-dependent, which may compress the gap compared to the pure compute-oriented OpenCL test.

The overall win tally is 2 for the Quadro K2000 and 0 for the GT 730M. There is no benchmark in the database where the GT 730M comes out ahead. The Quadro's average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 3964, while the GT 730M averages 3316, a difference of roughly 648 points.

For context on where the Quadro sits among its peers, its nearest rivals include the GeForce 830M at 3957 (0.2% slower), the Radeon R5 M420 at 3956 (0.2% slower), and the GeForce GT 745M at 3953 (0.3% slower). The only rival above it in the list is the Radeon HD 6850 X2 at 3977, which is 0.3% faster. The Quadro is effectively at parity with that cluster, so its 24th percentile ranking reflects a crowded field of similar-performance mobile and low-end desktop parts.

The GT 730M's nearest rivals tell a different story. It is 0.5% behind the Intel HD Graphics 530 (3332), 0.9% ahead of the GeForce 920M (3287), 2.2% behind the Intel HD Graphics P4600 (3389), and 3.3% ahead of the GeForce GT 640 (3210). This places the GT 730M in the lower tier of integrated and entry-level discrete GPUs, consistent with its 20th percentile ranking.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Quadro K2000 is the faster GPU in every recorded benchmark. If you are choosing between these two for a workload that depends on OpenCL or Vulkan performance, the Quadro offers a 31% lead in one and an 18.9% lead in the other. It also has more than double the memory bandwidth, which matters for texture-heavy or bandwidth-sensitive tasks.

The GT 730M is not without a niche. Its 33 W TDP is significantly lower than the Quadro's 51 W, and the MXM form factor means it is designed for laptops where power and space are constrained. The Quadro cannot be dropped into a laptop, and the GT 730M cannot be installed in a desktop workstation slot. The form factor difference alone will dictate which is usable in a given system.

From a pure performance standpoint, the Quadro K2000 is the clear pick. From a platform standpoint, the choice is determined by whether you need a desktop workstation card or a mobile module. The GT 730M's only advantages are lower power draw and mobile compatibility, not speed.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs share their core architecture but differ in nearly every implementation detail.

• Memory type: Quadro K2000 uses GDDR5, GT 730M uses DDR3.
• Memory clock: Quadro K2000 runs at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), GT 730M at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective).
• Memory bandwidth: Quadro K2000 delivers 64.00 GB/s, GT 730M delivers 28.80 GB/s.
• Base/boost clock: GT 730M has a fixed 725 MHz base and boost, Quadro K2000 has no base or boost clock listed.
• Pixel rate: Quadro K2000 at 7.632 GPixel/s, GT 730M at 5.800 GPixel/s.
• Texture rate: Quadro K2000 at 30.53 GTexel/s, GT 730M at 23.20 GTexel/s.
• FP32 compute: Quadro K2000 at 732.7 GFLOPS, GT 730M at 556.8 GFLOPS.
• TDP: Quadro K2000 at 51 W, GT 730M at 33 W.
• Slot width: Quadro K2000 is single-slot, GT 730M is an MXM module.
• Suggested PSU: Quadro K2000 lists 250 W, GT 730M has none.
• Bus interface: Quadro K2000 uses PCIe 2.0 x16, GT 730M uses PCIe 3.0 x16.
• Display outputs: Quadro K2000 has 1x DVI and 2x DisplayPort 1.2, GT 730M is "Portable Device Dependent."
• Dimensions: Quadro K2000 is 202 mm (8 inches) long and 111 mm (4.4 inches) high, GT 730M has no dimensions listed.
• Release date: Quadro K2000 released February 28, 2013, GT 730M released January 19, 2013.
• Generation: Quadro K2000 belongs to Quadro Kepler (Kx000), GT 730M belongs to GeForce 700M.
• Predecessor/successor: Quadro K2000 follows Quadro Fermi and leads to Quadro Maxwell; GT 730M follows GeForce 600M and leads to GeForce 800M.
• Launch MSRP: Quadro K2000 had a launch MSRP of 599 USD. The GT 730M has no launch MSRP recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The Quadro K2000 wins in every performance category recorded. It has higher FP32 compute, higher pixel and texture fill rates, and more memory bandwidth. In OpenCL it is 31% faster, and in Vulkan it is 18.9% faster. Workloads that stress compute shaders, large textures, or high-resolution frame buffers will favor the Quadro. Its DisplayPort 1.2 outputs also make it suitable for multi-monitor workstation setups, though the database does not record multi-monitor benchmark data.

The GT 730M wins in power efficiency and portability. At 33 W versus 51 W, it draws roughly a third less power. The MXM form factor means it fits into laptops, and the PCIe 3.0 x16 interface is a generation newer than the Quadro's PCIe 2.0 x16. For a laptop user who needs a basic discrete GPU without the power budget of a workstation card, the GT 730M is the only viable option of the two.

The recorded data shows no scenario where the GT 730M outperforms the Quadro in compute benchmarks. Its wins are strictly in system-level attributes: lower TDP, mobile form factor, and newer bus interface. If the task is rendering, compute, or any GPU-accelerated workload where the Quadro can physically be installed, the Quadro K2000 is the faster choice. If the task is fitting into a laptop chassis with limited cooling and power, the GT 730M is the only one that fits.