NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX Comparison

The GeForce GTX 675MX and the GeForce GTX 560 SE represent two distinct approaches to mobile and desktop graphics from NVIDIA, separated by the generational shift from Fermi 2.0 to Kepler. The benchmark database records a single head-to-head comparison in Geekbench OpenCL, where the GTX 675MX posts a score of 10,723 against the GTX 560 SE’s 7,171, a lead of 49.5%. That result, while decisive, only begins to explain where each card fits. The GTX 675MX operates as a mobile MXM module with a 100 W TDP, while the GTX 560 SE is a desktop dual-slot card pulling 150 W with two 6-pin power connectors. Their architectures, memory subsystems, and raw compute capabilities diverge sharply, and the recorded data shows a clear hierarchy in raw throughput, even if the GTX 560 SE holds its own in certain legacy contexts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark recorded for both parts is Geekbench OpenCL. The GTX 675MX scores 10,723, while the GTX 560 SE scores 7,171. The delta is 49.5%, meaning the GTX 675MX is nearly half again as fast in this compute-oriented workload. That is not a marginal gap; it reflects the fundamental design differences between the two GPUs. The GTX 675MX carries 960 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, whereas the GTX 560 SE is configured with 288 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. In raw floating-point throughput, the GTX 675MX delivers 1,255.7 GFLOPS FP32, compared to 847.9 GFLOPS for the GTX 560 SE. The pixel rate tells a similar story: 13.08 GPixel/s versus 8.832 GPixel/s, a 48% advantage for the newer part. Texture rate is 52.32 GTexel/s against 35.33 GTexel/s.

Memory bandwidth amplifies the gap. The GTX 675MX uses a 256-bit bus with 2 GB of GDDR5, running at 3.6 Gbps effective, yielding 115.2 GB/s. The GTX 560 SE has a narrower 192-bit bus, 1024 MB of GDDR5 at 3.8 Gbps effective, producing 91.87 GB/s. The GTX 675MX thus carries 25% more bandwidth, which matters in OpenCL workloads that stream data through memory. The 49.5% performance delta in Geekbench OpenCL is larger than the bandwidth difference, indicating that the shading unit count and clock behavior also contribute. The GTX 675MX has over three times the shading units of the GTX 560 SE, and while clocks are not listed for either core, the sheer parallel resource advantage is decisive.

There is no recorded reverse win. The GTX 560 SE does not beat the GTX 675MX in any benchmark in the database. The wins tally stands at 1 for the GTX 675MX and 0 for the GTX 560 SE. That is a clean sweep, but it comes with a caveat: the database only includes one comparison test. The GTX 560 SE is an older desktop part from the Fermi 2.0 generation, and its absence of a Geekbench Metal result (the GTX 675MX has one at 6,131) suggests the GTX 560 SE lacks certain modern API support. The GTX 675MX also lists Vulkan 1.2.175 support, while the GTX 560 SE has no Vulkan entry at all. For compute workloads that use OpenCL, the GTX 675MX is the unambiguous winner.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 675MX wins in every measured category. In Geekbench OpenCL, it leads by 49.5%. In Geekbench Metal, it posts 6,131, a test the GTX 560 SE does not appear in, likely due to lack of Metal support on that older architecture. The GTX 675MX also holds the advantage in raw throughput metrics: higher FP32, higher pixel rate, higher texture rate, and higher memory bandwidth. For any modern compute task that leverages OpenCL or Metal, the GTX 675MX is the stronger choice.

The GTX 560 SE, however, has its own territory. It is a desktop card with a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface and a 450 W recommended PSU, meaning it can be installed in a standard desktop tower with a discrete power supply. The GTX 675MX is an MXM module, designed for laptops or all-in-one systems, with no power connectors and a TDP of 100 W. The GTX 560 SE has a dual-slot cooler and two 6-pin connectors, so it fits into legacy desktop builds that predate the Kepler generation. Its 40 nm process node and Fermi 2.0 architecture are older, but that also means it is compatible with older driver ecosystems and operating systems that might not fully support Kepler. The GTX 560 SE’s 1 GB memory is smaller, but for 2012-era games at 1080p, that was a common configuration. It also supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, same as the GTX 675MX, so API compatibility is not a differentiator except for Vulkan and Metal.

In terms of power efficiency, the GTX 675MX is the winner. It delivers higher performance at 100 W, while the GTX 560 SE consumes 150 W. That means the GTX 675MX achieves better performance per watt, a critical factor for mobile platforms. The GTX 560 SE’s higher TDP is acceptable for desktop use, but it is not a point in its favor. The GTX 675MX also has a much higher transistor density: 12.0M per mm² versus 5.9M per mm², reflecting the 28 nm process versus 40 nm. That density translates to more compute resources in a smaller die area, 294 mm² versus 332 mm², despite the GTX 560 SE having a physically larger die.

Architecture Differences

The GTX 675MX is built on the GK104 chip, a Kepler architecture design, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 3,540 million transistors into a 294 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.0M per mm². The GTX 560 SE uses the GF114 chip, a Fermi 2.0 architecture, on a 40 nm process, also from TSMC. It has 1,950 million transistors on a 332 mm² die, giving a density of 5.9M per mm². The process shrink from 40 nm to 28 nm allows the GTX 675MX to fit nearly twice the transistors into a smaller physical area, which explains its superior shader count and throughput.

The memory subsystems differ in width and capacity. The GTX 675MX uses a 256-bit bus with 2 GB of GDDR5, while the GTX 560 SE uses a 192-bit bus with 1 GB. Effective memory clocks are close: 3.6 Gbps for the GTX 675MX and 3.8 Gbps for the GTX 560 SE, but the wider bus gives the GTX 675MX a 115.2 GB/s bandwidth versus 91.87 GB/s. The GTX 675MX also has more ROPs (32 versus 24) and more TMUs (80 versus 48), which directly impacts fillrate and texture-heavy workloads.

In terms of API support, both cards list DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. The GTX 675MX adds Vulkan 1.2.175 support, while the GTX 560 SE has no Vulkan entry. The GTX 675MX also has a Geekbench Metal score, indicating Metal compatibility, whereas the GTX 560 SE does not appear in Metal tests. This is a generational gap: Kepler was designed with more forward-looking compute features, while Fermi 2.0 was already aging by 2012. The GTX 675MX is part of the GeForce 600M generation, with a predecessor in GeForce 500M and a successor in GeForce 700M. The GTX 560 SE belongs to the GeForce 500 series, with a predecessor in GeForce 400 and a successor in GeForce 600. That lineage places the GTX 675MX one step ahead in NVIDIA’s product roadmap.

Power delivery also differs. The GTX 675MX is an MXM module with a 100 W TDP, no power connectors, and a bus interface of MXM-B (3.0). The GTX 560 SE is a dual-slot desktop card with a 150 W TDP, two 6-pin connectors, and a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface. The GTX 560 SE has a physical length of 210 mm (8.3 inches), while the GTX 675MX has no listed dimensions, as it is designed for portable devices. The GTX 560 SE’s display outputs are 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a, while the GTX 675MX’s outputs are described as “Portable Device Dependent,” meaning they vary by laptop implementation.

FAQ

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

A: The GTX 675MX scores 10,723 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 49.5% higher than the GTX 560 SE’s 7,171. The GTX 675MX also has a Geekbench Metal score of 6,131, which the GTX 560 SE does not have.

Q: Why does the GTX 675MX have a higher transistor count but a smaller die?

A: The GTX 675MX uses a 28 nm process with 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. The GTX 560 SE uses a 40 nm process with 1,950 million transistors on a 332 mm² die. The smaller process node allows the GTX 675MX to pack more transistors into less space.

Q: Can the GTX 560 SE be used in a laptop?

A: No. The GTX 560 SE is a desktop card with a dual-slot cooler, two 6-pin power connectors, and a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface. The GTX 675MX is an MXM module designed for portable devices, with a 100 W TDP and no power connectors.

Q: Do both cards support the same DirectX and OpenGL versions?

A: Yes. Both list DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. However, the GTX 675MX additionally supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 560 SE has no Vulkan support listed.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference?

A: The GTX 675MX has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, offering 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 560 SE has 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, offering 91.87 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card has a higher power draw?

A: The GTX 560 SE has a TDP of 150 W and requires two 6-pin connectors, plus a 450 W recommended power supply. The GTX 675MX has a TDP of 100 W and uses no power connectors.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every specification. The GTX 675MX uses the GK104 chip with Kepler architecture, while the GTX 560 SE uses the GF114 chip with Fermi 2.0. Process nodes are 28 nm versus 40 nm. Transistor counts are 3,540 million versus 1,950 million, and die sizes are 294 mm² versus 332 mm². Transistor density is 12.0M per mm² for the GTX 675MX and 5.9M per mm² for the GTX 560 SE.

Memory configurations are distinct: the GTX 675MX has 2 GB GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth; the GTX 560 SE has 1024 MB GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus with 91.87 GB/s bandwidth. Effective memory clocks are 3.6 Gbps for the GTX 675MX and 3.8 Gbps for the GTX 560 SE. Shading units are 960 versus 288, TMUs are 80 versus 48, and ROPs are 32 versus 24. Pixel rates are 13.08 GPixel/s versus 8.832 GPixel/s, and texture rates are 52.32 GTexel/s versus 35.33 GTexel/s. FP32 throughput is 1,255.7 GFLOPS versus 847.9 GFLOPS.

TDP is 100 W for the GTX 675MX and 150 W for the GTX 560 SE. The GTX 675MX is an MXM module with MXM-B (3.0) interface and no power connectors, while the GTX 560 SE is a dual-slot card with a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, two 6-pin connectors, and a 450 W recommended PSU. The GTX 560 SE has a length of 210 mm (8.3 inches), while the GTX 675MX has no listed dimensions. Display outputs are portable-device-dependent for the GTX 675MX, versus 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a for the GTX 560 SE. Vulkan support exists only on the GTX 675MX (1.2.175), and Metal scores exist only for the GTX 675MX. The GTX 675MX belongs to the GeForce 600M generation, with a predecessor in GeForce 500M and successor in GeForce 700M. The GTX 560 SE belongs to the GeForce 500 series, with a predecessor in GeForce 400 and successor in GeForce 600. Release dates are 2012-09-30 for the GTX 675MX and 2012-02-19 for the GTX 560 SE, roughly seven months apart.

Both cards are end-of-life, and neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database. Their average benchmark scores are 8,427 for the GTX 675MX and 7,171 for the GTX 560 SE. The GTX 675MX sits at the 43rd percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 560 SE sits at the 39th. The nearest rivals for the GTX 675MX include the AMD Radeon 880M (average score 8,436, delta -0.1%), the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 (8,458, delta -0.4%), the AMD Radeon HD 8870M (8,462, delta -0.4%), and the AMD Radeon R9 M375X (8,325, delta +1.2%). For the GTX 560 SE, the nearest rivals are the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 (7,170, delta 0%), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (7,157, delta +0.2%), the AMD Radeon Vega 8 Mobile (7,203, delta -0.4%), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 (7,222, delta -0.7%). These deltas show that the GTX 675MX is tightly clustered with modern integrated and entry-level discrete GPUs, while the GTX 560 SE sits just below a similar cluster, making its performance comparable to older Intel Iris Pro parts.

The data is clear: the GTX 675MX is the more capable GPU in every recorded metric, with a 49.5% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, a wider memory bus, more shading units, and a smaller, more efficient process node. The GTX 560 SE remains a viable legacy desktop option, but it cannot match the newer part’s compute throughput or modern API support. For any workload that leverages OpenCL, Metal, or Vulkan, the GTX 675MX is the superior choice.