NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 SE vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE over the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 SE. In the only head-to-head test recorded, the GeForce OpenCL benchmark, the GTX 560 SE scores 7171 against 6389 for the GTX 460 SE, a decisive 12.2% advantage. The GTX 560 SE wins the single recorded benchmark comparison, while the GTX 460 SE records zero wins. For any user choosing strictly between these two end-of-life cards based on performance data, the GTX 560 SE is the straightforward pick.

The GTX 560 SE also sits higher in the overall performance distribution. It lands at the 39th percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the GTX 460 SE sits at the 37th percentile. This is a modest but meaningful gap in relative standing. The GTX 560 SE's average benchmark score of 7171 places it in company with the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 (7170) and just ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (7157), while the GTX 460 SE's 6389 average matches the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M exactly. The data does not show any workload where the GTX 460 SE pulls ahead; it is consistently behind in the recorded measurements.

The GTX 460 SE does have one distinction: it carries a launch MSRP of 160 USD. However, since both cards are end-of-life and the database records no launch price for the GTX 560 SE, no direct cost comparison is possible. On pure performance, the GTX 560 SE is the superior part. The GTX 460 SE remains a functional choice for legacy systems, but the benchmark evidence gives every reason to prefer its successor.

Architecture Differences

Both cards share the same fundamental building blocks, but they are not identical. The GTX 560 SE uses the GF114 chip, while the GTX 460 SE uses the GF104 chip. The GTX 560 SE belongs to the GeForce 500 generation and is built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture, whereas the GTX 460 SE belongs to the GeForce 400 generation on the original Fermi architecture. This architectural revision is the key differentiator.

The underlying silicon is essentially the same size and complexity. Both chips are fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC, both pack 1,950 million transistors, and both have a die size of 332 mm². The transistor density is identical at 5.9 million per square millimeter. The core configuration is also identical in two key areas: both have 288 shading units and 48 texture mapping units. The difference appears in the render output units (ROPs): the GTX 560 SE has 24 ROPs, while the GTX 460 SE has 32 ROPs. That is a 33% deficit for the newer card on paper, yet the newer architecture compensates elsewhere.

Memory configurations differ significantly. The GTX 560 SE uses a 192-bit memory bus with 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory, delivering 91.87 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 460 SE uses a wider 256-bit bus with the same 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory, delivering 108.8 GB/s of bandwidth. That is an 18.4% bandwidth advantage for the older card. However, the GTX 560 SE runs its memory at 957 MHz (3.8 Gbps effective), whereas the GTX 460 SE runs at 850 MHz (3.4 Gbps effective). The higher clock rate on the GTX 560 SE partially offsets its narrower bus.

Clock speeds and derived rates tell the rest of the story. The GTX 560 SE achieves a pixel rate of 8.832 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 35.33 GTexel/s. The GTX 460 SE manages 7.800 GPixel/s and 31.20 GTexel/s, respectively. In floating-point compute, the GTX 560 SE delivers 847.9 GFLOPS against 748.8 GFLOPS for the GTX 460 SE, a 13.2% advantage. Both cards share the same 150 W TDP, dual-slot design, dual 6-pin power connectors, and a suggested 450 W power supply. Both use PCIe 2.0 x16, have identical display outputs (2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a), and measure the same 210 mm (8.3 inches) in length. API support is identical: DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, with no Vulkan support recorded for either.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only recorded head-to-head test is the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark, and the result is unambiguous. The GTX 560 SE scores 7171, while the GTX 460 SE scores 6389. That is a 12.2% delta in favor of the GTX 560 SE. In raw points, the gap is 782 points, which is substantial for two cards with similar silicon budgets.

The GTX 560 SE's score of 7171 puts it in a tight cluster of rivals. It is effectively tied with the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 (7170, 0% delta) and narrowly ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (7157, 0.2% delta). It trails the AMD Radeon Vega 8 Mobile (7203, -0.4%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 (7222, -0.7%) by small margins. This positioning suggests the GTX 560 SE delivers performance competitive with much newer integrated and entry-level discrete solutions.

The GTX 460 SE's score of 6389 places it in a different tier. It matches the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M exactly (6389, 0% delta), trails the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 72 GB Blackwell (6407, -0.3%) by a hair, and leads the AMD Radeon Pro WX 4100 (6330, 0.9%) and the AMD Radeon R7 M350 (6327, 1%). The GTX 460 SE is effectively a mobile-class performer in this test, while the GTX 560 SE sits closer to desktop mid-range territory.

The database records one win for the GTX 560 SE and zero for the GTX 460 SE. There is no test in the data where the older card comes out ahead. The 12.2% margin is consistent across all recorded metrics when accounting for clock and architecture differences: the GTX 560 SE leads in pixel rate (13.2%), texture rate (13.2%), and FP32 compute (13.2%), despite having fewer ROPs and less memory bandwidth.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in the recorded benchmarks?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE is faster. It scores 7171 in the Geekbench OpenCL test versus 6389 for the GTX 460 SE, a 12.2% advantage.

Q: Does the GTX 460 SE have any advantage in memory bandwidth?

A: Yes. The GTX 460 SE uses a 256-bit memory bus with 108.8 GB/s of bandwidth, while the GTX 560 SE uses a 192-bit bus with 91.87 GB/s. However, the GTX 560 SE compensates with a higher effective memory clock of 3.8 Gbps versus 3.4 Gbps.

Q: How do the two cards compare in transistor count and die size?

A: They are identical. Both use TSMC's 40 nm process, both have 1,950 million transistors, and both have a die size of 332 mm² with a density of 5.9M transistors per square millimeter.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: Both cards have a 150 W TDP, require a dual-slot cooling solution, use two 6-pin power connectors, and have a suggested 450 W power supply. They are identical in this regard.

Q: Which card has more shading units and texture units?

A: Both have 288 shading units and 48 texture mapping units. The GTX 460 SE has more render output units (32 versus 24), but the GTX 560 SE still achieves higher pixel and texture rates.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the GTX 460 SE?

A: The GTX 460 SE had a launch MSRP of 160 USD. The database records no launch MSRP for the GTX 560 SE.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 560 SE wins the only recorded benchmark, so its territory is clear: any workload that stresses raw OpenCL compute. Its 847.9 GFLOPS of FP32 performance and 35.33 GTexel/s texture rate give it a measurable edge in compute-heavy tasks. The 12.2% lead in the Geekbench OpenCL test translates to real-world advantages in GPU-accelerated applications that rely on general-purpose compute. The GTX 560 SE also holds a 13.2% lead in pixel rate, which helps in rasterization-bound scenarios despite its narrower memory bus.

The GTX 460 SE's wins are structural rather than benchmark-based. Its 256-bit memory bus and 108.8 GB/s of bandwidth give it a theoretical advantage in bandwidth-sensitive workloads, but the recorded data does not show this translating into any actual performance win. Its 32 ROPs versus 24 on the GTX 560 SE also suggest an edge in fill-rate-limited scenarios, yet the GTX 560 SE's higher clocks still produce a better pixel rate (8.832 GPixel/s versus 7.800 GPixel/s). The GTX 460 SE's only recorded advantage is its launch MSRP of 160 USD, which is a pricing data point rather than a performance one.

For users with legacy systems that already have a GeForce 400 series card, the GTX 460 SE remains a drop-in option with identical power connectors, slot width, and dimensions as the GTX 560 SE. Both cards require a 450 W power supply and use PCIe 2.0 x16, so swapping between them would not require any system changes. However, the upgrade path is clear: the GTX 560 SE delivers better compute performance, better pixel throughput, and a higher overall percentile ranking with the same power envelope. The GTX 460 SE wins only in the narrow sense of having a recorded launch price and a wider memory bus that fails to produce a benchmark victory. The data points decisively to the GTX 560 SE as the stronger part.