NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score in the database?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M records an average benchmark score of 4855, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M scores 3953. The GTX 560M sits at the 28th percentile of all GPUs, compared to the GT 745M's 23rd percentile.

Q: How do these two compare in the only head-to-head benchmark available?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 560M scores 4855 against the GT 745M's 3580. That is a 26.3% advantage for the GTX 560M, which wins the only direct comparison in the database.

Q: What memory configurations do these mobile GPUs use?

A: The GT 745M has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 560M has 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a wider 192-bit bus but with slightly lower bandwidth at 60.00 GB/s.

Q: Which GPU is more power-efficient according to the specifications?

A: The GT 745M has a TDP of 45 W, while the GTX 560M draws 75 W. The GT 745M is also built on a smaller 28 nm process node compared to the GTX 560M's 40 nm node.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same modern APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. However, the GT 745M supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 560M has no Vulkan support listed in the database.

Q: What is the production status and release timeline for these chips?

A: Both are end-of-life products. The GTX 560M was released on May 30, 2011, and the GT 745M arrived on March 31, 2013. The GTX 560M belongs to the GeForce 500M generation, while the GT 745M is from the GeForce 700M generation.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M is the faster GPU. Its average benchmark score of 4855 beats the GT 745M's 3953 by roughly 23%. In the single head-to-head OpenCL test, the GTX 560M leads by 26.3%. If raw compute performance is the priority, the GTX 560M is the clear choice.

However, the GT 745M has advantages that matter in specific contexts. It consumes 45 W versus 75 W, making it a better fit for thinner, cooler-running laptops. It also has a smaller die (118 mm² versus 238 mm²) and a denser transistor layout (10.8M per mm² versus 4.9M per mm²). The GT 745M supports Vulkan, which the GTX 560M does not, and it has 384 shading units versus 192. For users who need modern API compatibility or prioritize efficiency over peak compute, the GT 745M is the more sensible pick.

For legacy gaming and general compute workloads where OpenCL is the relevant API, the GTX 560M delivers noticeably better results. For users who value newer architecture features, lower power draw, and Vulkan support, the GT 745M is the better match. There is no tie here: the GTX 560M wins on performance, the GT 745M wins on efficiency and modernity.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains exactly one direct comparison between these two GPUs: the Geekbench OpenCL test. The GTX 560M scores 4855, and the GT 745M scores 3580. The delta is 26.3% in favor of the GTX 560M. That is a substantial margin, not a marginal one.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the GTX 560M also has a higher average score across all recorded tests (4855 versus 3953). The GT 745M has three benchmark entries (Geekbench Metal, OpenCL, and Vulkan) with scores of 2777, 3580, and 5502 respectively. Its average of 3953 is pulled down by the Metal score. The GTX 560M has only one recorded benchmark, the OpenCL test, which doubles as its average.

The GTX 560M's nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX (avg score 4844, delta 0.2%), the AMD Radeon R6 M255DX (avg score 4867, delta -0.2%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (avg score 4893, delta -0.8%). The GT 745M's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R5 M420 (avg score 3956, delta -0.1%), the NVIDIA GeForce 830M (avg score 3957, delta -0.1%), and the NVIDIA Quadro K2000 (avg score 3964, delta -0.3%). These rival comparisons show that both GPUs sit in their respective performance tiers, but the GTX 560M's tier is simply higher.

Specification Differences

The GT 745M and GTX 560M differ on several key specification points. The GT 745M uses the GK107 chip with 1,270 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. The GTX 560M uses the GF116 chip with 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die. The transistor density tells the story: 10.8M per mm² for the GT 745M versus 4.9M per mm² for the GTX 560M.

Memory configurations diverge as well. The GT 745M has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 64.00 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 560M has 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus with 60.00 GB/s bandwidth. The GT 745M has more capacity but a narrower bus; the GTX 560M has less capacity but a wider bus. Memory clocks also differ: the GT 745M runs at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), while the GTX 560M runs at 625 MHz (2.5 Gbps effective).

Compute resources are notably different. The GT 745M has 384 shading units and 32 TMUs, but only 16 ROPs. The GTX 560M has 192 shading units and 32 TMUs, but 24 ROPs. Pixel rates favor the GTX 560M at 6.200 GPixel/s versus 4.392 GPixel/s. Texture rates also favor the GTX 560M at 24.80 GTexel/s versus 17.57 GTexel/s. FP32 performance favors the GTX 560M at 595.2 GFLOPS versus 421.6 GFLOPS.

Power and form factor differ substantially. The GT 745M has a TDP of 45 W and is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) slot width. The GTX 560M has a TDP of 75 W and is an MXM module with no power connectors. The bus interfaces also differ: PCIe 3.0 x16 for the GT 745M versus MXM-B (3.0) for the GTX 560M.

Architecture Differences

The GT 745M is built on NVIDIA's Kepler architecture using the GK107 chip. The GTX 560M uses the older Fermi 2.0 architecture with the GF116 chip. This is a generational leap: Kepler was designed to improve performance-per-watt over Fermi, and the transistor density figures reflect that. The GT 745M packs 10.8M transistors per mm² on a 28 nm TSMC process, while the GTX 560M manages only 4.9M per mm² on a 40 nm process.

Kepler also brought a significant increase in shading units. The GT 745M has 384 shading units, double the GTX 560M's 192. However, the GTX 560M compensates with higher clock-driven throughput in certain operations: its FP32 output of 595.2 GFLOPS exceeds the GT 745M's 421.6 GFLOPS, and its pixel and texture rates are higher despite fewer shaders.

Cache and feature differences are not fully specified in the database, but the API support tells part of the story. The GT 745M supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 560M has no Vulkan support. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. The GT 745M is part of the GeForce 700M generation, succeeding the GeForce 600M and preceding the GeForce 800M. The GTX 560M is part of the GeForce 500M generation, succeeding the GeForce 400M and preceding the GeForce 600M.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 560M wins in raw compute performance. Its OpenCL score of 4855 is 26.3% higher than the GT 745M's 3580. Its FP32 rating of 595.2 GFLOPS, pixel rate of 6.200 GPixel/s, and texture rate of 24.80 GTexel/s all exceed the GT 745M's corresponding figures. For workloads that are heavily shader-bound or depend on fill rates, the GTX 560M is the better performer. The GTX 560M also has more ROPs (24 versus 16), which helps with pixel-heavy rendering.

The GT 745M wins on efficiency and modern features. Its 45 W TDP is 30 W lower than the GTX 560M's 75 W. Its 28 nm process node is two generations ahead of the GTX 560M's 40 nm node. The GT 745M supports Vulkan, which matters for users running modern games or applications that rely on Vulkan for rendering. Its 2 GB memory capacity is also larger than the GTX 560M's 1536 MB, which can help in texture-heavy scenarios where capacity matters more than bandwidth.

For a user choosing between these two for a legacy laptop upgrade or a project build, the decision hinges on priorities. If the goal is maximum benchmark performance in OpenCL-based workloads, the GTX 560M is the obvious pick. If the goal is lower power consumption, better transistor efficiency, and Vulkan compatibility, the GT 745M is the more forward-looking option. The database records one win for the GTX 560M and zero for the GT 745M in direct head-to-head testing, but the GT 745M's feature set gives it a distinct role in systems where power and API support are the limiting factors.