NVIDIA GeForce 945M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 Comparison

The data presents two very different NVIDIA graphics solutions: the desktop-oriented GeForce GTX 460 v2 and the mobile GeForce 945M. While both are end-of-life products, their benchmark scores tell a story of architectural evolution versus raw desktop design. The GTX 460 v2, a Fermi 2.0 part from 2011, holds a narrow lead in the single available benchmark, but the 945M, a Maxwell chip from 2015, counters with superior efficiency and modern feature support. This comparison is not about a clear winner, but about understanding what each card was optimized to achieve.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU scores higher in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 scores 8743, which is 8% higher than the GeForce 945M's score of 8099. The GTX 460 v2 wins this head-to-head benchmark.

Q: How does the GTX 460 v2 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 460 v2's score of 8743 is essentially tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile (8746, 0% delta). It is 0.7% faster than the Quadro P2200 (8686) but trails the AMD Radeon R9 M265X (8851) by 1.2% and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 (8863) by 1.4%.

Q: Where does the GeForce 945M stand relative to its competition?

A: The 945M's score of 8099 is 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA GRID K2 (8080) and 0.4% ahead of the GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost (8067). It is slightly behind the AMD Radeon R9 M360 (8129) and the GeForce GTX 950M (8135), both by 0.4%.

Q: What are the key architectural differences between the two cards?

A: The GTX 460 v2 is built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture using a 40 nm process at TSMC, featuring the GF114 chip. The 945M uses the Maxwell architecture on a 28 nm process, also at TSMC, with the GM107 chip.

Q: Do these GPUs support the same modern APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. However, they differ on Vulkan: the 945M supports Vulkan 1.4, while the GTX 460 v2 has no listed Vulkan support.

Q: What is the difference in their memory configurations?

A: The GTX 460 v2 uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, providing 96.19 GB/s of bandwidth. The 945M uses 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, resulting in much lower bandwidth at 28.80 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 460 v2 wins in raw compute performance and memory bandwidth. Its Geekbench OpenCL score is 8% higher than the 945M's, and its memory bandwidth of 96.19 GB/s is more than three times that of the 945M's 28.80 GB/s. This suggests the desktop card is better suited for tasks that are sensitive to memory throughput, such as high-resolution texture work or compute-heavy workloads that can use its wider bus. The data also shows the GTX 460 v2 has a higher texture rate (43.62 GTexel/s vs 40.80 GTexel/s) and more ROPs (24 vs 16), which could benefit certain fill-rate-bound scenarios.

The GeForce 945M wins in efficiency and modern feature support. Its TDP is 75 W, less than half of the GTX 460 v2's 160 W, making it a far more power-efficient part for mobile use. It also has double the memory capacity (2 GB vs 1 GB), which is crucial for modern games that exceed 1 GB of VRAM usage. The 945M's support for Vulkan 1.4 and its higher FP32 throughput (1,305.6 GFLOPS vs 1,046.3 GFLOPS) indicate it has a more capable compute architecture per clock and can leverage newer graphics APIs. The 945M also has a higher pixel rate (16.32 GPixel/s vs 10.91 GPixel/s) despite having fewer ROPs, due to its higher clocks.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architecture gap is significant. The GTX 460 v2 is based on Fermi 2.0, a mature desktop design from the GeForce 400 generation. It is built on a 40 nm process with a large 332 mm² die containing 1,950 million transistors. This results in a transistor density of 5.9M / mm². In contrast, the 945M uses the Maxwell architecture, a newer and more efficient design from the GeForce 900M generation. It is built on a 28 nm process, which is a major node shrink, and packs 1,870 million transistors into a much smaller 148 mm² die, achieving a density of 12.6M / mm².

This node difference is the primary driver of efficiency. The 945M delivers higher FP32 performance (1,305.6 GFLOPS) and a higher pixel rate (16.32 GPixel/s) while consuming only 75 W, whereas the GTX 460 v2 achieves lower numbers with a 160 W TDP. The 945M also has more shading units (640 vs 336), which, combined with higher clocks (boost up to 1020 MHz vs no boost clock listed), explains its higher compute throughput despite a narrower memory bus. The GTX 460 v2 counters with a wider 192-bit memory bus and faster GDDR5 memory, which is why its bandwidth is vastly superior. The 945M is a mobile-first design (MXM Module form factor), while the GTX 460 v2 is a dual-slot desktop card with power connectors.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal clear contrasts in every major category. The card dimensions differ entirely, with the GTX 460 v2 being a 210 mm (8.3 inches) dual-slot card, while the 945M is an MXM Module with no listed dimensions. Power delivery is another major split: the GTX 460 v2 requires 2x 6-pin power connectors and a 450 W suggested PSU, while the 945M has no power connectors and lists no PSU requirement, reflecting its low-power mobile nature. Their bus interfaces are different as well, with the GTX 460 v2 using PCIe 2.0 x16 and the 945M using MXM-B (3.0).

Memory specifications are also starkly different. The GTX 460 v2 has 1024 MB of GDDR5 with a 192-bit bus and 96.19 GB/s bandwidth. The 945M has 2 GB of DDR3 with a 128-bit bus and only 28.80 GB/s bandwidth. Clock speeds show the 945M's advantage in core clocks, with a base of 928 MHz and boost of 1020 MHz, while the GTX 460 v2 lists no base or boost clocks, only a memory clock of 1002 MHz (4 Gbps effective). The 945M's memory clock is 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective). The GTX 460 v2 was released on 2011-09-23 with a launch MSRP of 199 USD, while the 945M was released on 2015-10-26 with no listed launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only head-to-head benchmark available is Geekbench OpenCL, and the GTX 460 v2 wins it decisively. The GTX 460 v2 scores 8743 against the 945M's 8099, a delta of 8% in favor of the desktop card. This is a clear win, but the context from the rival lists adds nuance. The 945M's score of 8099 is only 0.4% behind the GeForce GTX 950M, which is a higher-tier mobile part in the same generation. This suggests the 945M is performing near the expected level for its class.

Meanwhile, the GTX 460 v2's score of 8743 places it right alongside the RTX 3050 A Mobile (0% delta), a much newer and more advanced mobile GPU. This is a remarkable data point, indicating that the old Fermi card's raw compute power remains competitive with a modern entry-level mobile part in this specific OpenCL test. However, the 945M's higher FP32 rate (1,305.6 GFLOPS vs 1,046.3 GFLOPS) and pixel rate (16.32 GPixel/s vs 10.91 GPixel/s) suggest that in other, more compute-heavy synthetic tests, the 945M could potentially close the gap or even overtake the GTX 460 v2, despite losing this specific benchmark.

The Verdict

From the data, the choice between these two GPUs depends entirely on the use case and platform. The GTX 460 v2 is the pick for anyone who needs maximum memory bandwidth and a proven track record in older desktop systems. Its 8% lead in Geekbench OpenCL and its 96.19 GB/s bandwidth make it a stronger candidate for memory-intensive tasks on a desktop platform where its 160 W TDP and dual-slot size are not constraints. Its performance parity with the RTX 3050 A Mobile in this test confirms its raw power.

The GeForce 945M is the logical choice for a mobile or low-power system. Its 75 W TDP, lack of power connectors, and MXM form factor make it the only viable option for a laptop. While it loses the compute benchmark, its 2 GB of VRAM, support for Vulkan 1.4, and higher core clocks provide a more modern feature set and better efficiency for its intended environment. The data implies that the 945M is a more balanced, forward-looking mobile solution, while the GTX 460 v2 is a brute-force desktop part that excels in specific, bandwidth-heavy workloads but is less versatile. For a desktop user with an older platform, the GTX 460 v2 is the stronger performer; for a laptop user or someone prioritizing power efficiency, the 945M is the only sensible option.