NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 vs NVIDIA Quadro P1000 Comparison

The NVIDIA Quadro P1000 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 share the same GP107 chip and Pascal architecture, yet they are positioned for entirely different workloads. Benchmark data shows the GTX 1050 dominates in raw compute and graphics tests, while the Quadro P1000 counters with a significant win in 2D performance. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, architectural differences, and the use cases each card serves best.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The GeForce GTX 1050 wins eight of the nine shared benchmarks, and the margin of victory varies considerably by test type. The largest delta appears in the DirectX 11 PassMark test, where the GTX 1050 scores 38 against the Quadro’s 31, a difference of 18.4%. The gap narrows in DirectX 12, with the GTX 1050’s 20 narrowly edging out the Quadro’s 19, a 5% advantage. The Vulkan results follow a similar pattern, with the GTX 1050 scoring 8995 versus 7739, a 14% lead. These numbers suggest that while the GTX 1050 holds a consistent edge in modern API workloads, the margin is not uniform across all test conditions.

In compute-heavy scenarios, the GTX 1050 again takes the lead. The Geekbench OpenCL score favors the GTX 1050 at 15233, which is 10.8% ahead of the Quadro P1000’s 13584. The PassMark GPU Compute test shows a 9.6% advantage for the GTX 1050, with scores of 2091 and 1891 respectively. The DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 results are closer in percentage terms but still favor the GTX 1050: 83 versus 79 (4.8%) and 24 versus 21 (12.5%). The overall 3D graphics score, PassMark G3D, gives the GTX 1050 a 5028 total, which is 10.3% higher than the Quadro’s 4512.

The Quadro P1000’s sole victory comes in the PassMark G2D test, a measure of 2D graphics and desktop rendering performance. Here, the Quadro scores 589, which is 28.9% higher than the GTX 1050’s 457. This is a substantial single-test win and highlights a clear divergence in optimization priorities between the two cards. The average benchmark score across all tests reinforces the overall trend: the GTX 1050 averages 3629, while the Quadro P1000 averages 3163. This places the GTX 1050 at the 21st percentile of all GPUs, just one point above the Quadro’s 20th percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 1050 is the clear winner for any task that relies on 3D rendering, compute shaders, or modern graphics APIs. Its DirectX 11 win of 18.4% is the largest single advantage in the entire comparison, indicating a strong performance in legacy but still widely used game engines and professional applications. The compute results, including OpenCL and GPU Compute, show a consistent 9-11% lead, making the GTX 1050 the better choice for general-purpose GPU workloads that are not specifically optimized for the Quadro lineup. For users running Vulkan-based applications, the 14% advantage in that specific test reinforces the GTX 1050’s suitability for cross-platform graphics.

The Quadro P1000’s win in the G2D test is its primary selling point from a performance perspective. A 28.9% lead in 2D performance suggests the card is tuned for desktop environments, CAD software, and other applications that spend more time rendering 2D interfaces and vectors than complex 3D scenes. This is a niche advantage, but it is a real one. The Quadro P1000 also holds a slight edge in the DirectX 12 test, losing by only 5% compared to larger deficits elsewhere, which indicates that its driver overhead in the newest API is relatively efficient. However, with only one outright win out of nine tests, the data is unambiguous about which card is faster in the majority of scenarios.

Architecture Differences

Both cards are built on the same GP107 chip using a 14 nm process at Samsung, with 3,300 million transistors and a die size of 132 mm². The shading units, texture mapping units, and render output units are identical: 640, 40, and 32 respectively. The theoretical pixel and texture rates are also nearly identical, with the Quadro P1000 posting 47.36 GPixel/s and 59.20 GTexel/s, while the GTX 1050 posts 46.56 GPixel/s and 58.20 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is close, with the Quadro at 1.894 TFLOPS and the GTX 1050 at 1.862 TFLOPS, a difference of less than 2%. Both support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The key architectural differences lie in clock speeds, memory configuration, and power delivery. The GTX 1050 has a higher base clock of 1354 MHz compared to the Quadro’s 1266 MHz, though the boost clock tells a different story: the Quadro boosts to 1480 MHz, which is higher than the GTX 1050’s 1455 MHz. The memory clocks diverge significantly, with the GTX 1050 running at 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective) versus the Quadro’s 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective). This leads to a major bandwidth difference: the GTX 1050 delivers 112.1 GB/s, while the Quadro P1000 delivers only 80.19 GB/s. Both use a 128-bit bus and GDDR5 memory, but the GTX 1050’s faster memory clock gives it a 39.8% bandwidth advantage.

The memory capacity is another differentiator. The Quadro P1000 offers 4 GB, while the GTX 1050 is limited to 2 GB. This is a critical distinction for workloads that require large framebuffers or datasets. The power envelope also differs, with the Quadro P1000 rated at 47 W TDP and a suggested PSU of 200 W, while the GTX 1050 is rated at 75 W TDP and requires a suggested 250 W PSU. The physical design varies as well: the Quadro is a single-slot card measuring 150 mm in length and 69 mm in height, while the GTX 1050 is a dual-slot card at 145 mm length and 111 mm height. The display outputs also differ, with the Quadro offering four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a connections, while the GTX 1050 provides one DVI, one HDMI 2.0, and one DisplayPort 1.4a.

The Verdict

The data supports a simple conclusion for most users: the GeForce GTX 1050 is the faster card. It wins 89% of the shared benchmarks, including every modern graphics API test and all compute workloads. Its memory bandwidth advantage of 112.1 GB/s versus 80.19 GB/s is the likely driver of these wins, and its higher base clock contributes to its lead in 3D rendering. The GTX 1050’s average benchmark score of 3629 is 14.7% higher than the Quadro’s 3163, and its nearest rival data shows it trading blows with cards like the GT 735M and HD 6770, whereas the Quadro sits closer to the GT 640 and RTX 5080 SUPER in average score.

However, the Quadro P1000 is not without a purpose. Its 4 GB memory capacity is double that of the GTX 1050, which is crucial for professional applications that need to hold large textures or models in VRAM. The 28.9% win in the G2D test indicates better 2D performance, which is often more relevant in productivity and CAD environments than in gaming. The lower 47 W TDP makes it a more power-efficient option for dense workstations, and the four mini-DisplayPort outputs support multi-monitor setups without adapters. For a professional user who values memory capacity, 2D rendering, and power efficiency over raw 3D compute, the Quadro P1000 is the logical choice. For anyone else, the GTX 1050’s consistent performance lead in every other test makes it the superior option.

FAQ

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 has an average benchmark score of 3629, while the NVIDIA Quadro P1000 scores 3163.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two cards?

A: The largest gap is in the PassMark G2D test, where the Quadro P1000 leads the GTX 1050 by 28.9%.

Q: Do both cards have the same memory bus width?

A: Yes, both use a 128-bit memory bus, but the GTX 1050 has a higher memory bandwidth of 112.1 GB/s compared to the Quadro’s 80.19 GB/s.

Q: Which card supports more display outputs?

A: The Quadro P1000 supports four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, while the GTX 1050 supports one DVI, one HDMI 2.0, and one DisplayPort 1.4a.

Q: How does the memory capacity differ between the two?

A: The Quadro P1000 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the GTX 1050 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the cards?

A: The Quadro P1000 has a TDP of 47 W, while the GTX 1050 has a TDP of 75 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA Quadro P1000 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 |

|----------------|---------------------|--------------------------|

| Base Clock | 1266 MHz | 1354 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1480 MHz | 1455 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective) | 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 2 GB |

| Memory Bandwidth | 80.19 GB/s | 112.1 GB/s |

| Pixel Rate | 47.36 GPixel/s | 46.56 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 59.20 GTexel/s | 58.20 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 1.894 TFLOPS | 1.862 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 47 W | 75 W |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | Dual-slot |

| Suggested PSU | 200 W | 250 W |

| Dimensions (LxH) | 150 mm x 69 mm | 145 mm x 111 mm |

| Display Outputs | 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| Release Date | 2017-02-06 | 2016-10-24 |