NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M are two mobile-adjacent and desktop graphics solutions built on the same GF114 chip, yet they are tuned for very different outcomes. The benchmark data records a single OpenCL score for each, and the GTX 560 SE posts a 12.2% higher result. This gap, while not enormous, places the two cards in distinct performance tiers relative to the full database of GPUs. The GTX 560 SE sits at the 39th percentile, while the GTX 580M ranks at the 37th percentile, meaning the desktop card is marginally closer to the median of all recorded GPUs. More importantly, the nearest rival comparisons reveal that the GTX 560 SE trades blows with mid-range desktop parts like the GTX 970 and GTX 750, whereas the GTX 580M aligns with older or lower-tier mobile and workstation chips. The data suggests that the GTX 560 SE is the stronger compute performer, but the GTX 580M offers a different set of trade-offs in memory capacity and power efficiency that may matter for specific workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark recorded in the database is the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this workload, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE scores 7171, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M scores 6389. The delta is 12.2% in favor of the GTX 560 SE, which is a clear but not overwhelming margin. A 12.2% advantage in a compute-oriented test like OpenCL typically translates to noticeably faster execution in GPGPU tasks such as image processing, video encoding, or physics simulations, though the exact gain varies by application.

Looking at the rival landscape for each card reinforces this separation. The GTX 560 SE’s nearest rivals in average score are the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 at 7170 (a 0% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 at 7157 (0.2% higher for the GTX 560 SE), the AMD Radeon Vega 8 Mobile at 7203 (0.4% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 at 7222 (0.7% lower). This cluster shows that the GTX 560 SE is effectively a mid-pack performer, sitting within a narrow band of scores from 7157 to 7222. The differences here are tiny, all under 1%, so the GTX 560 SE is not dominant in its peer group, but it is competitive with several well-known desktop GPUs.

The GTX 580M’s nearest rivals tell a different story. Its closest match is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 SE at 6389, a 0% delta. The next rivals are the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 72 GB Blackwell at 6407 (0.3% lower for the GTX 580M), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 4100 at 6330 (0.9% higher), and the AMD Radeon R7 M350 at 6327 (1% higher). Here, the GTX 580M is grouped with older desktop parts and low-end mobile or workstation cards, all within a 1% band. The contrast is stark: the GTX 560 SE competes with the GTX 970 and GTX 750, while the GTX 580M competes with the GTX 460 SE and Radeon R7 M350. The 12.2% head-to-head delta is thus not an outlier but a reflection of the two cards sitting in different performance neighborhoods.

The benchmark data also shows that the GTX 560 SE wins this head-to-head matchup with 1 win and 0 losses. There are no recorded tests where the GTX 580M outperforms the GTX 560 SE. This is a clean sweep, though it is based on a single test. In the absence of additional benchmarks, the OpenCL score stands as the sole quantitative comparison, and it consistently favors the GTX 560 SE.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 560 SE wins in raw compute performance. Its OpenCL score of 7171 is 12.2% above the GTX 580M’s 6389, and that advantage is likely to appear in any workload that stresses the GPU’s parallel processing capabilities. The GTX 560 SE also has a higher pixel rate at 8.832 GPixel/s versus 9.920 GPixel/s for the GTX 580M, but note that the GTX 580M’s pixel rate is actually higher. This nuance is important: the GTX 580M has a faster pixel fill rate, which suggests it could handle certain rasterization tasks, like filling large triangles or rendering high-resolution textures, at a slightly quicker pace. However, the GTX 560 SE counters with a higher texture rate of 35.33 GTexel/s versus 39.68 GTexel/s for the GTX 580M, so the GTX 580M wins on texture throughput as well. The GTX 560 SE’s advantage in the OpenCL benchmark must therefore come from other factors, likely its higher effective memory clock speed (3.8 Gbps versus 3 Gbps) and its specific shader configuration.

For gaming and general 3D rendering, the GTX 580M holds advantages in memory capacity and bus width. It offers 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 96.00 GB/s. The GTX 560 SE has 1 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, resulting in 91.87 GB/s. The GTX 580M’s extra gigabyte is critical for modern games with large texture sets or for professional applications that need to hold more data on the GPU. The bandwidth difference is small, only about 4.5% in favor of the GTX 580M, but the capacity difference is 100% larger. In scenarios where memory capacity is the bottleneck, such as running a game with ultra-quality textures at high resolutions, the GTX 580M would likely perform better despite its lower compute score.

The GTX 560 SE, on the other hand, is better suited for compute-heavy tasks where the OpenCL score matters most. Its 12.2% lead in this test suggests it will handle general-purpose GPU workloads, like video transcoding or scientific simulations, with greater efficiency. The GTX 560 SE also has a lower TDP at 150 W versus 100 W for the GTX 580M, but that higher power draw is paired with a desktop form factor that allows for dual-slot cooling and two 6-pin power connectors. The GTX 580M, designed for laptops, uses an MXM module with no external power connectors, making it a more restrictive but more portable option.

Architecture Differences

Both cards share the same fundamental architecture: Fermi 2.0, built on the GF114 chip. The process node is identical at 40 nm, with the same foundry (TSMC), the same transistor count of 1,950 million, and the same die size of 332 mm². The transistor density is also identical at 5.9M per mm². This means the architectural DNA is the same, and any performance differences come from how the chip is configured and clocked.

The key architectural divergence lies in the number of active execution units. The GTX 560 SE has 288 shading units, 48 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 24 render output units (ROPs). The GTX 580M has 384 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. On paper, the GTX 580M has 33% more shading units, 33% more TMUs, and 33% more ROPs. This should make the GTX 580M the faster card in raw shader throughput, yet the benchmark data shows the opposite. The explanation lies in clock speeds and memory clocks. The GTX 560 SE runs its memory at 957 MHz, translating to 3.8 Gbps effective, while the GTX 580M runs at 750 MHz, or 3 Gbps effective. The GTX 560 SE’s memory is clocked 27.6% higher, which helps compensate for its narrower 192-bit bus. The GTX 580M’s wider 256-bit bus partially offsets its lower memory clock, but the GTX 560 SE still achieves a similar bandwidth (91.87 GB/s versus 96.00 GB/s).

The shading unit count difference does not translate into a compute advantage for the GTX 580M in the recorded benchmark, which suggests that memory bandwidth and effective clock speeds play a larger role in OpenCL performance than raw shader counts. The GTX 560 SE’s FP32 throughput is 847.9 GFLOPS, while the GTX 580M reaches 952.3 GFLOPS, a 12.3% higher figure. Yet the GTX 560 SE wins the benchmark. This discrepancy points to memory bandwidth or driver optimizations as the limiting factor for the GTX 580M. The GTX 580M’s higher FP32 capability is not realized in the OpenCL test, possibly due to memory latency or the lower memory clock.

Both cards support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, with no Vulkan support recorded. They share the same architecture generation (GeForce 500 for the GTX 560 SE, GeForce 500M for the GTX 580M), and both are end-of-life products. The GTX 560 SE is the successor to the GeForce 400 series and precedes the GeForce 600 series, while the GTX 580M follows the GeForce 400M and precedes the GeForce 600M.

Specification Differences

The specifications differ in several key areas, all of which are recorded in the database. Memory size is one of the most significant: the GTX 560 SE has 1024 MB, while the GTX 580M has 2 GB. The bus width also differs: 192 bit for the GTX 560 SE versus 256 bit for the GTX 580M. Memory clock speeds are different as well, with the GTX 560 SE at 957 MHz (3.8 Gbps effective) and the GTX 580M at 750 MHz (3 Gbps effective). This results in bandwidth figures of 91.87 GB/s for the GTX 560 SE and 96.00 GB/s for the GTX 580M, with the GTX 580M holding a narrow 4.5% lead.

The shading units are 288 for the GTX 560 SE and 384 for the GTX 580M. TMUs are 48 versus 64, and ROPs are 24 versus 32. Pixel rate is 8.832 GPixel/s for the GTX 560 SE and 9.920 GPixel/s for the GTX 580M. Texture rate is 35.33 GTexel/s versus 39.68 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is 847.9 GFLOPS versus 952.3 GFLOPS. The TDP differs substantially: 150 W for the GTX 560 SE and 100 W for the GTX 580M. The GTX 560 SE uses a dual-slot cooler with two 6-pin power connectors and a suggested PSU of 450 W, while the GTX 580M is an MXM module with no power connectors and no suggested PSU listed.

The bus interface also differs: PCIe 2.0 x16 for the GTX 560 SE, and MXM-B (3.0) for the GTX 580M. Display outputs are different, with the GTX 560 SE offering 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a, while the GTX 580M is described as portable device dependent, meaning its outputs are determined by the laptop manufacturer. Physical dimensions are only listed for the GTX 560 SE, at 210 mm or 8.3 inches in length, while the GTX 580M has no recorded dimensions. The release dates differ: the GTX 560 SE launched on 2012-02-19, while the GTX 580M launched earlier on 2011-06-27.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE scores 7171 in the Geekbench OpenCL test, while the GTX 580M scores 6389. The GTX 560 SE leads by 12.2%.

Q: Why does the GTX 580M have more shading units but a lower score?

A: The GTX 580M has 384 shading units versus 288 for the GTX 560 SE, but its memory clock is lower at 750 MHz versus 957 MHz. The GTX 560 SE’s higher memory clock and effective bandwidth compensate for the fewer shading units, resulting in a higher OpenCL score.

Q: How much memory does each card have?

A: The GTX 560 SE has 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory, while the GTX 580M has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory. The GTX 580M also has a wider 256-bit bus versus 192-bit for the GTX 560 SE.

Q: Is the GTX 580M more power efficient?

A: Yes, the GTX 580M has a TDP of 100 W, which is lower than the GTX 560 SE’s 150 W. The GTX 580M is designed as an MXM module for laptops, so it uses no external power connectors, while the GTX 560 SE requires two 6-pin connectors and a 450 W power supply.

Q: Are these cards compatible with the same software APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. Neither has recorded Vulkan support. They share the same Fermi 2.0 architecture and are built on the GF114 chip.

Q: Which card is better for compute workloads?

A: Based on the recorded data, the GTX 560 SE is better for compute workloads, as its OpenCL score is 12.2% higher. Its FP32 throughput is lower at 847.9 GFLOPS versus 952.3 GFLOPS, but the actual benchmark result favors the GTX 560 SE, indicating that memory bandwidth and clock speeds play a larger role in OpenCL performance.