NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX represent two distinct generations of NVIDIA mobile and desktop graphics, separated by a significant architectural shift. While both cards are now end-of-life products, their benchmark data reveals a clear performance hierarchy, with the newer mobile part taking the lead in raw compute despite its lower power envelope. This analysis compares the two based solely on the provided benchmark and specification data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available between the two cards is the Geekbench OpenCL test, which measures general-purpose compute performance. In this test, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX decisively outperforms the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560. The GTX 675MX scores 10,723 points, while the GTX 560 scores 9,058 points. This represents a delta of -15.5% for the GTX 560, meaning the GTX 675MX is approximately 15.5% faster in this workload.

This result is notable because it inverts the typical expectation that a desktop card would outperform a mobile counterpart. The data shows the GTX 675MX, despite being a mobile part, holds a clear edge in OpenCL compute. When looking at the broader context, the GTX 560’s score of 9,058 places it in the 45th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rival being the NVIDIA TITAN V CEO Edition at a score of 9,037, a negligible 0.2% difference. The GTX 675MX, with its higher raw score, sits in the 43rd percentile, but its average benchmark score of 8,427 is actually lower than its OpenCL result, due to the inclusion of a separate Metal benchmark score of 6,131. In its own rivalry set, the GTX 675MX is virtually tied with the AMD Radeon 880M, which scores 8,436, a -0.1% difference.

The single head-to-head result is the only direct data point for comparison, but it is a meaningful one. It demonstrates that in a compute-heavy task, the GTX 675MX’s architectural advantages translate into a measurable performance win. The GTX 560 does not win any of the head-to-head benchmarks, while the GTX 675MX wins one.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures from NVIDIA. The GTX 560 is based on the GF114 chip, which uses the Fermi 2.0 architecture, part of the GeForce 500 generation. In contrast, the GTX 675MX uses the GK104 chip, built on the Kepler architecture, part of the GeForce 600M generation. This generational leap brings several key changes.

The manufacturing process differs significantly. The GTX 560 is fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC, while the GTX 675MX uses a more advanced 28 nm process, also at TSMC. This process shrink allows the GTX 675MX to pack a much higher transistor density. The GTX 560 contains 1,950 million transistors on a 332 mm² die, resulting in a density of 5.9M transistors per mm². The GTX 675MX, despite having a smaller die at 294 mm², crams in 3,540 million transistors, achieving a density of 12.0M per mm²—more than double that of the GTX 560.

The core configuration also diverges dramatically. The GTX 560 features 336 shading units, 56 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 raster output units (ROPs). The GTX 675MX, on the other hand, boasts 960 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. This gives the GTX 675MX nearly three times the shading units and significantly more texture processing capability, which explains its higher theoretical texture fillrate of 52.32 GTexel/s compared to the GTX 560’s 45.36 GTexel/s. The pixel rate is also higher on the GTX 675MX at 13.08 GPixel/s versus 11.34 GPixel/s.

In terms of API support, both cards support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. However, the GTX 675MX adds Vulkan support (version 1.2.175), while the GTX 560 lists no Vulkan support. This makes the GTX 675MX more future-proof for modern applications that rely on Vulkan. The memory clocks also differ, with the GTX 560 running its GDDR5 memory at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective) and the GTX 675MX at 900 MHz (3.6 Gbps effective), a detail that impacts bandwidth.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher compute score in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX scores 10,723 points, which is 15.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560’s score of 9,058 points.

Q: How do the two cards compare in terms of memory size?

A: The GTX 675MX comes with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the GTX 560 has 1 GB of GDDR5 memory. Both use a 256-bit memory bus.

Q: Which card has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The GTX 560 has a higher memory bandwidth of 128.0 GB/s, whereas the GTX 675MX has a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s, due to its lower memory clock.

Q: Is there a significant difference in power consumption?

A: Yes, the GTX 675MX has a TDP of 100 W, which is considerably lower than the GTX 560’s TDP of 150 W.

Q: Do these cards support the same modern graphics APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but the GTX 675MX also supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 560 does not.

Q: What is the production status of these GPUs?

A: Both the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX are listed as end-of-life products.

Specification Differences

The following table outlines the key specifications where the two GPUs differ, based solely on the provided data.

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Fermi 2.0 | Kepler |

| Generation | GeForce 500 | GeForce 600M |

| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 1,950 million | 3,540 million |

| Die Size | 332 mm² | 294 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 5.9M / mm² | 12.0M / mm² |

| Memory Clock | 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective) | 900 MHz (3.6 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 1024 MB | 2 GB |

| Memory Bandwidth | 128.0 GB/s | 115.2 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 336 | 960 |

| TMUs | 56 | 80 |

| Pixel Rate | 11.34 GPixel/s | 13.08 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 45.36 GTexel/s | 52.32 GTexel/s |

| FP32 (Floating Point) | 1,088.6 GFLOPS | 1,255.7 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 150 W | 100 W |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | MXM Module |

| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | None |

| Suggested PSU | 450 W | None |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | MXM-B (3.0) |

| Display Outputs | 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a | Portable Device Dependent |

| Vulkan Support | None | 1.2.175 |

| Release Date | 2011-05-16 | 2012-09-30 |

| Launch MSRP | 199 USD | None |

Where Each One Wins

The data points to distinct strengths for each card, though the GTX 675MX holds the overall performance crown. The GTX 675MX is the clear winner in compute performance, as evidenced by its 15.5% lead in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark. Its architecture also provides higher theoretical throughput in pixel and texture fillrates, along with a higher FP32 compute rating of 1,255.7 GFLOPS versus the GTX 560’s 1,088.6 GFLOPS. The GTX 675MX also wins on memory capacity with 2 GB, which is beneficial for modern workloads, and it offers Vulkan API support.

The GTX 560, while losing the compute race, has a few specific advantages. Its memory bandwidth is higher at 128.0 GB/s compared to the GTX 675MX’s 115.2 GB/s, which can be advantageous in bandwidth-sensitive tasks. It also has a lower power draw per the TDP figures? No, that is incorrect. The GTX 675MX has a lower TDP of 100 W versus 150 W. The GTX 560’s advantage lies in its desktop form factor with standard display outputs (2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI) and a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, making it a drop-in solution for a desktop system. Its launch MSRP was also listed at 199 USD.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark and specification data, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX is the superior performer. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark by a comfortable margin and offers a more modern architecture with a higher core count, more memory, and lower power consumption. The data suggests that for anyone prioritizing compute performance and efficiency, the GTX 675MX is the clear choice.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560, while older and slower in compute, retains relevance in specific scenarios. Its higher memory bandwidth could be a deciding factor for workloads that are heavily dependent on memory throughput rather than raw shader compute. Furthermore, its desktop-oriented design with dedicated display outputs and a standard PCIe interface makes it a more practical option for building or upgrading a traditional desktop system.

In the final analysis, the GTX 675MX wins on performance and efficiency, while the GTX 560 holds a niche for desktop users who require a specific interface or memory bandwidth profile. The percentile rankings place the GTX 560 at the 45th percentile and the GTX 675MX at the 43rd percentile, which is a counterintuitive result given the GTX 675MX’s higher raw OpenCL score; however, this is due to the GTX 675MX’s lower average score of 8,427, which is dragged down by its weaker Metal benchmark result of 6,131. For most users, the GTX 675MX’s superior compute and modern feature set make it the recommended pick from this data.