NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in the only benchmark test where both have recorded scores?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 scores 11,299 points, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 scores 7,925 points. This results in the GTX 760 winning by a margin of 42.6%.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each GPU?

A: The GTX 760 has an average benchmark score of 9,458 across all recorded tests, placing it in the 46th percentile of all GPUs. The GTX 460 has an average score of 7,925, placing it in the 41st percentile.

Q: Does the GTX 460 have any benchmark results besides OpenCL?

A: No. The database lists only one recorded benchmark for the GTX 460, which is the Geekbench OpenCL score of 7,925. The GTX 760 has additional recorded scores in Geekbench Metal (4,524) and Geekbench Vulkan (12,551).

Q: Which GPU has the higher memory bandwidth?

A: The GTX 760 has a memory bandwidth of 192.3 GB/s, which is more than double the GTX 460's 86.40 GB/s. The GTX 760 also uses a wider 256-bit memory bus compared to the GTX 460's 192-bit bus.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in terms of shading units and texture mapping units?

A: The GTX 760 has 1,152 shading units and 96 TMUs, while the GTX 460 has 336 shading units and 56 TMUs. The GTX 760's shading unit count is over three times higher.

Q: What is the pixel rate difference between the two cards?

A: The GTX 760 achieves a pixel rate of 24.77 GPixel/s, while the GTX 460 achieves 9.450 GPixel/s. This represents a significant advantage for the GTX 760 in fill-rate-bound workloads.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two NVIDIA cards spans two distinct design generations. The GTX 760 is built on the Kepler architecture using the GK104 chip, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The GTX 460 uses the older Fermi architecture with the GF104 chip, built on a 40 nm process, also at TSMC. This process shrink allowed the GTX 760 to pack 3,540 million transistors into a 294 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 12.0M per mm². The GTX 460 contains 1,950 million transistors spread across a larger 332 mm² die, resulting in a much lower density of 5.9M per mm².

The compute resources differ substantially. The GTX 760 features 1,152 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The GTX 460 has 336 shading units, 56 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. These raw unit counts translate into significantly different theoretical throughput figures. The GTX 760 delivers 2.378 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the GTX 460 manages 907.2 GFLOPS. Texture rate is 99.07 GTexel/s on the GTX 760 versus 37.80 GTexel/s on the GTX 460, and pixel rate is 24.77 GPixel/s versus 9.450 GPixel/s.

Memory subsystems also diverge. The GTX 760 carries 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit interface, with memory clocked at 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective), yielding 192.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 460 has 768 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, with memory at 900 MHz (3.6 Gbps effective), yielding 86.40 GB/s. The GTX 760's bandwidth advantage is roughly 2.2 times that of the GTX 460.

The GTX 760 introduces a boost clock architecture, with a base clock of 980 MHz and a boost clock of 1032 MHz. The GTX 460 lacks boost clock capabilities entirely, as its clock data is not specified in the database. Power consumption is comparable, with the GTX 760 rated at 170 W TDP and the GTX 460 at 160 W TDP. Both cards require dual-slot cooling and use dual 6-pin power connectors, with a suggested power supply of 450 W for both.

The GTX 760 uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the GTX 460 uses PCIe 2.0 x16. Display outputs also differ: the GTX 760 provides 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2, whereas the GTX 460 offers 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but the GTX 760 adds Vulkan support (1.2.175), while the GTX 460 has no recorded Vulkan capability.

The physical dimensions reflect the generational difference in design efficiency. The GTX 760 measures 241 mm (9.5 inches) in length, while the GTX 460 is shorter at 210 mm (8.3 inches). Both are end-of-life products, with the GTX 760 released on 2013-06-24 and the GTX 460 on 2010-07-11. The GTX 760's predecessor is the GeForce 600 series and its successor is the GeForce 900 series. The GTX 460's predecessor is the GeForce 200 series and its successor is the GeForce 500 series.

The Verdict

The data points to a decisive overall win for the GTX 760. In the single head-to-head benchmark available, the GTX 760 beats the GTX 460 by 42.6% in Geekbench OpenCL. The GTX 760 also has a higher average benchmark score, 9,458 versus 7,925, and sits in the 46th percentile of all GPUs compared to the GTX 460's 41st percentile.

For users selecting between these two cards, the GTX 760 is the clear choice for any application that leverages OpenCL compute or modern graphics APIs. Its 2 GB memory capacity versus 768 MB is crucial for higher-resolution textures and larger datasets. The GTX 760 also offers Vulkan support, which the GTX 460 lacks entirely, making it more future-proof for modern titles.

The GTX 460 retains a niche for retro builds or systems with strict length constraints, as its 210 mm length is shorter than the GTX 760's 241 mm. Its lower 160 W TDP is marginally more power-efficient than the GTX 760's 170 W. However, these advantages are small compared to the performance gulf between the two cards.

The GTX 760's nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK (average score 9,474, 0.2% higher), the AMD Radeon R7 M380 (9,313, 1.6% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M (9,302, 1.7% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 (9,294, 1.8% lower). This places the GTX 760 in the upper-midrange of the database's recorded GPUs, competing closely with high-end mobile parts and older desktop flagships.

The GTX 460's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro K4100M (7,906, 0.2% lower), the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 (8,039, 1.4% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M (8,040, 1.4% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti (8,053, 1.6% higher). This positions the GTX 460 at the lower end of the performance spectrum, roughly matching entry-level desktop cards from later generations.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every specification category recorded in the database. The GTX 760 uses the Kepler architecture with the GK104 chip, while the GTX 460 uses Fermi with the GF104 chip. Process nodes differ: 28 nm versus 40 nm. Transistor counts are 3,540 million versus 1,950 million. Die sizes are 294 mm² versus 332 mm². Transistor densities are 12.0M per mm² versus 5.9M per mm².

Clock speeds show the GTX 760's modern boost architecture: base 980 MHz, boost 1032 MHz, with memory at 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective). The GTX 460 has no base or boost clock listed, and its memory runs at 900 MHz (3.6 Gbps effective). Memory capacity is 2 GB versus 768 MB, bus width is 256 bit versus 192 bit, and bandwidth is 192.3 GB/s versus 86.40 GB/s.

Compute units differ: shading units 1,152 versus 336, TMUs 96 versus 56, ROPs 32 versus 24. Pixel rates are 24.77 GPixel/s versus 9.450 GPixel/s. Texture rates are 99.07 GTexel/s versus 37.80 GTexel/s. FP32 throughput is 2.378 TFLOPS versus 907.2 GFLOPS.

TDP is 170 W versus 160 W. Bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x16 versus PCIe 2.0 x16. Display outputs: the GTX 760 has 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2; the GTX 460 has 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a. API support: both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but only the GTX 760 supports Vulkan 1.2.175. Card length is 241 mm versus 210 mm. Release dates are 2013-06-24 versus 2010-07-11. The launch MSRP for the GTX 760 is 249 USD, and for the GTX 460 it is 199 USD. The slot width, power connectors, and suggested PSU are identical: dual-slot, 2x 6-pin, and 450 W respectively.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains one direct comparison between these two GPUs, and it is heavily one-sided. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 760 scores 11,299 points against the GTX 460's 7,925 points. The delta of 42.6% represents a substantial performance advantage for the newer card. This is the largest margin recorded in the head-to-head data, and it correlates strongly with the architectural differences described above.

The GTX 760's OpenCL score of 11,299 is particularly noteworthy when placed in context with its other benchmark results. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 12,551 is even higher, though the GTX 460 has no Vulkan result to compare. The GTX 760's Geekbench Metal score of 4,524 is lower than its OpenCL and Vulkan scores, which reflects the different workload characteristics of Apple's Metal API.

For the GTX 460, the single recorded OpenCL score of 7,925 aligns closely with its nearest rivals in the database. It sits between the Quadro K4100M (7,906) and the Quadro P5000 (8,039), and it trails the GeForce GTX 650 Ti (8,053) by 1.6%. This indicates that the GTX 460 performs at a level comparable to later entry-level desktop cards, despite being from an older generation.

The GTX 760's average benchmark score of 9,458 is heavily influenced by its three recorded tests: OpenCL at 11,299, Vulkan at 12,551, and Metal at 4,524. The average sits closer to the OpenCL and Vulkan results, reflecting their higher magnitude. The GTX 760's nearest rival, the GTX TITAN BLACK, scores 9,474, which is only 0.2% higher. This places the GTX 760 within a hair's breadth of a high-end workstation card from the same era.

The benchmark data confirms that the GTX 760 is not merely a generational refresh but a substantial leap in compute capability. The 42.6% OpenCL advantage is the headline number, but the GTX 760 also offers a wider feature set with Vulkan support and a larger memory pool. The GTX 460, while once a capable midrange card, is firmly relegated to the lower tier of the database's performance rankings.