NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 represent two distinct generations of mobile and desktop graphics, separated by three years of architectural evolution. The data shows a clear overall winner in the GTX 850M, which takes the sole head-to-head benchmark victory by a significant margin. However, the GTX 560 retains specific strengths in raw throughput metrics that tell a more nuanced story for different workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is a decisive win for the newer GTX 850M. The 850M scores 9,821 points, while the GTX 560 manages 9,058 points. This translates to an 8.4% advantage for the Maxwell-based part. This is a substantial gap in a compute-oriented workload, indicating that the architectural efficiency of Maxwell provides a real-world performance edge over the older Fermi 2.0 design, despite the GTX 560 having a higher texture fill rate.

Looking at the broader performance context, the GTX 850M's average benchmark score of 9,302 places it in the 46th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon R7 M380 (average score 9,313, a -0.1% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 (average score 9,273, a 0.3% delta), and the AMD Radeon Vega 8 (average score 9,221, a 0.9% delta). This shows the 850M is clustered in a tight performance band where a 1% difference separates it from its closest competitors. In contrast, the GTX 560's average score of 9,058 places it in the 45th percentile, just one point below the 850M. Its rival list is more eclectic, including the NVIDIA TITAN V CEO Edition (average score 9,037, a 0.2% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 (average score 9,022, a 0.4% delta). The GTX 560 is actually 1.7% ahead of the AMD Radeon 890M, which scores 9,210.

The deltaPct values reveal that while the 850M wins the OpenCL test by 8.4%, its overall average score is only 2.7% higher than the GTX 560's (9,302 vs 9,058). This suggests the GTX 560 is highly competitive in certain synthetic workloads, even though it loses the specific OpenCL test. The 850M's win is clear, but not a landslide across all possible metrics.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 850M wins in compute performance and API compatibility. Its Geekbench OpenCL score is 8.4% higher, and it supports Vulkan 1.4, which the GTX 560 does not support at all. For applications leveraging modern compute APIs or Vulkan-based game engines, the 850M is the only viable choice of the two. The 850M also has a higher pixel rate at 14.43 GPixel/s compared to the GTX 560's 11.34 GPixel/s, giving it an edge in fill-rate-bound scenarios at lower resolutions.

The GTX 560 wins in raw memory bandwidth and texture throughput. Its memory bandwidth is a massive 128.0 GB/s, compared to the 850M's 32.03 GB/s — a fourfold difference. This is due to the GTX 560's 256-bit memory bus and GDDR5 memory, versus the 850M's 128-bit bus and DDR3 memory. The GTX 560 also has a higher texture rate at 45.36 GTexel/s, versus the 850M's 36.08 GTexel/s. For older games or workloads that are heavily dependent on texture fetches and memory bandwidth, the GTX 560 could provide smoother performance despite its lower compute score. The GTX 560's FP32 performance is 1,088.6 GFLOPS, which is close to the 850M's 1,154.6 GFLOPS, but the bandwidth advantage is what sets it apart.

The GTX 560 also has a larger L2 cache? No, this info is not in the pack. However, the GTX 560 has more ROPs (32 vs 16) and more TMUs (56 vs 40), which contributes to its higher texture and pixel rates. For anti-aliasing and high-detail texture work, the GTX 560's architecture is better suited.

The Verdict

The data points to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M as the superior overall GPU for modern workloads. Its 8.4% win in the OpenCL benchmark, combined with Vulkan 1.4 support and a higher pixel rate, makes it the better choice for compute applications and newer game titles. The 850M also achieves this with a dramatically lower TDP of 45 W, compared to the GTX 560's 150 W, making it far more suitable for thin-and-light laptops where the 850M is found as an IGP (integrated graphics processor).

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 should be the pick for users prioritizing memory bandwidth and texture throughput. Its 128.0 GB/s bandwidth is the single biggest differentiator, and its 45.36 GTexel/s texture rate exceeds the 850M's. For older game libraries that are bandwidth-limited or for specific compute tasks that rely on texture operations, the GTX 560 could outperform the 850M. However, its lack of Vulkan support and higher power draw make it a less future-proof option.

The GTX 850M sits at the 46th percentile, while the GTX 560 sits at the 45th percentile, confirming their close overall standing. But the 850M's higher average benchmark score (9,302 vs 9,058) and its win in the head-to-head test give it the edge. For most users, the 850M is the safer, more capable choice. The GTX 560 is a niche pick for specific bandwidth-hungry tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M scores 9,821, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 scores 9,058. The 850M is 8.4% faster in this test.

Q: Does the GTX 560 support Vulkan?

A: No. The GTX 560's API list does not include Vulkan, while the GTX 850M supports Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The GTX 560 has a memory bandwidth of 128.0 GB/s, which is exactly four times the GTX 850M's 32.03 GB/s.

Q: Which GPU has a higher texture fill rate?

A: The GTX 560 has a texture rate of 45.36 GTexel/s, which is higher than the GTX 850M's 36.08 GTexel/s.

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

A: The GTX 850M has an average benchmark score of 9,302, placing it in the 46th percentile. The GTX 560 has an average score of 9,058, placing it in the 45th percentile.

Q: Which GPU is more power-efficient based on the data?

A: The GTX 850M has a TDP of 45 W, while the GTX 560 has a TDP of 150 W. The 850M delivers a higher OpenCL score with lower power consumption.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and manufacturing processes. The GTX 850M uses the GM107 chip based on the Maxwell architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This chip contains 1,870 million transistors on a die size of 148 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 12.6M per mm². In contrast, the GTX 560 uses the GF114 chip based on the older Fermi 2.0 architecture, also made by TSMC but on a larger 40 nm process. The GF114 die is much larger at 332 mm² and contains 1,950 million transistors, yielding a lower transistor density of 5.9M per mm². The 850M's smaller, denser die is a direct result of the newer manufacturing node.

The memory subsystems are drastically different. The GTX 850M comes with 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, producing 32.03 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 560 offers only 1 GB of GDDR5 memory, but on a much wider 256-bit bus, delivering 128.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is the most significant architectural divergence and explains the GTX 560's strength in bandwidth-sensitive tasks. The 850M's memory clock is 1001 MHz (2 Gbps effective), while the GTX 560's memory clock is 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective).

Core configurations also differ. The GTX 850M has 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The GTX 560 has fewer shading units (336) but more TMUs (56) and ROPs (32). This explains the GTX 560's higher texture rate (45.36 GTexel/s) despite its lower FP32 performance (1,088.6 GFLOPS vs 1,154.6 GFLOPS). The 850M's higher pixel rate (14.43 GPixel/s vs 11.34 GPixel/s) is due to its higher clock efficiency, despite having half the ROPs.

The GTX 850M is designed for mobile integration as an IGP with no power connectors and a 45 W TDP. The GTX 560 is a dual-slot desktop card measuring 210 mm (8.3 inches) in length, requiring 2x 6-pin power connectors and a 450 W suggested PSU. The 850M uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, while the GTX 560 uses the older PCIe 2.0 x16 standard. Display outputs also reflect their intended use: the 850M is "Portable Device Dependent," while the GTX 560 offers 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but only the 850M includes Vulkan 1.4 in its feature set.