NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the recorded benchmark data?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M wins the only head-to-head benchmark. It scores 4855 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the GTX 460M scores 4282, a delta of 13.4%.

Q: How do these two mobile GPUs compare to their closest rivals?

A: The GTX 560M sits 0.2% above the GeForce 940MX (4844) and 0.2% below the Radeon R6 M255DX (4867). The GTX 460M is 1.0% ahead of the Quadro K3000M (4241) and 0.3% above the Radeon Vega 3 (4268).

Q: Do both cards use the same memory configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, with 625 MHz memory clock (2.5 Gbps effective) and 60.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The GTX 560M has a TDP of 75 W, while the GTX 460M is rated at 50 W. The newer card draws more power but delivers higher performance.

Q: Are they from the same architecture generation?

A: No. The GTX 560M uses Fermi 2.0 with the GF116 chip, while the GTX 460M uses the original Fermi architecture with the GF106 chip. Both are built on TSMC's 40 nm process.

Q: What is the performance percentile ranking for each card?

A: The GTX 560M ranks in the 28th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 460M ranks in the 25th percentile. This places both in the lower performance tier of the database.

Architecture Differences

The GTX 560M and GTX 460M share the same fundamental Fermi design lineage, but they are not identical silicon. The GTX 560M is built on Fermi 2.0, a refined version of the architecture, using the GF116 chip. The GTX 460M uses the original Fermi architecture with the GF106 chip. This architectural revision is the primary reason for the performance gap.

Both chips are manufactured by TSMC on the same 40 nm process node, with identical transistor counts of 1,170 million and die sizes of 238 mm². The transistor density is also the same at 4.9M per mm². The core configuration is identical in terms of compute units: both have 192 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs.

The key architectural difference lies in how those units are clocked and driven. The GTX 560M achieves a pixel rate of 6.200 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 24.80 GTexel/s. The GTX 460M is slower in both respects, with 5.400 GPixel/s and 21.60 GTexel/s. This translates directly to a higher FP32 throughput for the GTX 560M at 595.2 GFLOPS versus 518.4 GFLOPS for the GTX 460M.

The memory subsystems are architecturally identical: 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, running at 625 MHz with 2.5 Gbps effective speed, yielding 60.00 GB/s bandwidth. This means the memory is not a differentiating factor; the performance delta comes entirely from the improved execution efficiency of Fermi 2.0.

The GTX 560M belongs to the GeForce 500M generation, while the GTX 460M belongs to the GeForce 400M generation. The GTX 460M's predecessor is the GeForce 300M, and its successor is the GeForce 500M, which includes the GTX 560M itself. The GTX 560M's predecessor is the GeForce 400M, and its successor is the GeForce 600M.

Both cards support the same API feature set: DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and no Vulkan support. The display outputs are listed as portable-device dependent for both, reflecting their mobile MXM form factor. Both are classified as end-of-life products, with the GTX 560M released in 2011 and the GTX 460M released in 2010.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data records only one head-to-head test, and the GTX 560M wins it outright. There is no benchmark in which the GTX 460M comes out ahead. This makes the use-case split straightforward: the GTX 560M is the superior performer in the single recorded metric.

The GTX 560M's advantage is most pronounced in compute-oriented workloads, as measured by Geekbench OpenCL. Its higher FP32 throughput of 595.2 GFLOPS versus 518.4 GFLOPS suggests it will handle GPGPU tasks with greater headroom. The higher pixel and texture rates also indicate better rasterization throughput for graphics rendering.

The GTX 460M's only advantage in the recorded data is power efficiency. At 50 W TDP, it draws significantly less power than the GTX 560M's 75 W. For a mobile platform where thermal and battery constraints are critical, this could be a meaningful consideration. However, the performance deficit is substantial: the GTX 560M leads by 13.4% in the benchmark.

The GTX 460M also uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 bus interface, while the GTX 560M uses MXM-B (3.0). This suggests the newer card is designed for newer laptop platforms with more advanced interconnect capabilities. In practice, this means the GTX 560M is better suited to systems that can provide its higher power budget and newer bus interface.

For users prioritizing raw performance in a mobile GPU, the GTX 560M is the clear choice. For users prioritizing lower power draw and compatibility with older PCIe 2.0 platforms, the GTX 460M retains some relevance, but it sacrifices 13.4% performance to do so.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in several key specifications, while sharing the same memory configuration and transistor count.

Chip and Architecture: The GTX 560M uses the GF116 chip with Fermi 2.0 architecture, while the GTX 460M uses the GF106 chip with the original Fermi architecture.

Clock Rates and Throughput: The GTX 560M has a pixel rate of 6.200 GPixel/s versus 5.400 GPixel/s for the GTX 460M. The texture rate is 24.80 GTexel/s versus 21.60 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 595.2 GFLOPS versus 518.4 GFLOPS.

Power: The GTX 560M is rated at 75 W TDP, while the GTX 460M is rated at 50 W.

Bus Interface: The GTX 560M uses MXM-B (3.0), while the GTX 460M uses PCIe 2.0 x16.

Generation and Release: The GTX 560M is from the GeForce 500M generation, released in 2011. The GTX 460M is from the GeForce 400M generation, released in 2010.

Predecessor and Successor: The GTX 560M's predecessor is the GeForce 400M, and its successor is the GeForce 600M. The GTX 460M's predecessor is the GeForce 300M, and its successor is the GeForce 500M.

Identical Specifications: Both have 1,170 million transistors, 238 mm² die size, 4.9M per mm² transistor density, 1536 MB GDDR5 memory, 192-bit bus, 625 MHz memory clock (2.5 Gbps effective), 60.00 GB/s bandwidth, 192 shading units, 32 TMUs, 24 ROPs, DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, no Vulkan support, MXM Module slot width, no power connectors, and portable-device-dependent display outputs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records a single head-to-head benchmark between these two GPUs: Geekbench OpenCL. The GTX 560M scores 4855, while the GTX 460M scores 4282. This gives the GTX 560M a 13.4% advantage, and it is the winner in the only recorded comparison.

This 13.4% delta is consistent with the theoretical throughput differences. The GTX 560M's FP32 rate of 595.2 GFLOPS is 14.8% higher than the GTX 460M's 518.4 GFLOPS. The pixel rate advantage is 14.8% (6.200 versus 5.400 GPixel/s), and the texture rate advantage is 14.8% (24.80 versus 21.60 GTexel/s). The benchmark delta of 13.4% is slightly below these theoretical figures, which is typical for real-world workloads that include memory latency and other overheads.

For context, the GTX 560M's score of 4855 places it just above the GeForce 940MX (4844, +0.2%) and just below the Radeon R6 M255DX (4867, -0.2%). It also sits above the GeForce GTS 450 (4893, -0.8%) and the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB (4901, -0.9%) in relative terms, though these deltas are small.

The GTX 460M's score of 4282 is closely matched by its nearest rivals: it is 0.3% below the AMD FirePro W2100 (4295), 0.3% above the Radeon Vega 3 (4268), 1.0% above the Quadro K3000M (4241), and 1.2% below the GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 (4335). These tight margins indicate that the GTX 460M sits in a dense performance cluster, whereas the GTX 560M has a slight edge over its immediate competitors.

The wins tally is 1-0 in favor of the GTX 560M. There are no recorded benchmarks where the GTX 460M takes the lead.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M is the faster GPU. It wins the only recorded head-to-head benchmark by 13.4%, and its theoretical throughput figures, higher pixel rate, higher texture rate, and higher FP32 output all support this conclusion.

The GTX 560M is the better choice for users who want maximum performance from their mobile GPU. Its 4855 Geekbench OpenCL score places it in the 28th percentile of all GPUs, and it edges out the GeForce 940MX by 0.2%. The architecture revision to Fermi 2.0 delivers measurable gains over the original Fermi design in the GTX 460M.

The GTX 460M, however, retains a distinct advantage: power consumption. At 50 W TDP versus 75 W for the GTX 560M, it draws one-third less power. For laptops with tighter thermal envelopes or smaller batteries, this could be the deciding factor. The GTX 460M also uses the older PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, which may be necessary for compatibility with older platforms.

The GTX 460M's 4282 score places it in the 25th percentile, and its nearest rival comparison shows it is competitive with the Radeon Vega 3 and Quadro K3000M. It is not a weak GPU, but it is clearly behind the GTX 560M.

In practical terms, users should pick the GTX 560M if they want the higher performance tier and have the power budget to support its 75 W draw. Users should pick the GTX 460M only if they are constrained by power limits or need the PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, and they are willing to accept a 13.4% performance deficit.

Both cards are end-of-life products, so the decision will likely be made in the used or refurbished market. The GTX 560M represents the newer, faster option from the GeForce 500M generation, while the GTX 460M is the older, slower option from the GeForce 400M generation. The recorded data supports no other conclusion: the GTX 560M is the superior performer, and the GTX 460M is the efficiency-oriented alternative.