GPU Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 and the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 represent two very different approaches to graphics hardware, separated by nearly a decade of architectural evolution. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the older desktop card holding a significant lead in raw compute benchmarks despite its age and higher power demands. This analysis compares their specifications, benchmark results, and architectural philosophies based solely on the provided database facts.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 achieves an average benchmark score of 9058, while the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 scores 8458. This places the GTX 560 at the 45th percentile of all GPUs, compared to the MX330's 43rd percentile.

Q: How large is the performance gap in the head-to-head OpenCL benchmark?

A: In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 560 scores 9058 against the MX330's 7896. This results in a 14.7% advantage for the GTX 560, making it the definitive winner in that specific test.

Q: What are the power consumption differences between the two cards?

A: The GTX 560 has a TDP of 150 W and requires a 450 W suggested PSU along with two 6-pin power connectors. In contrast, the MX330 has a TDP of just 10 W, requires no power connectors, and is designed as an integrated graphics processor (IGP).

Q: How do their memory subsystems compare?

A: The GTX 560 uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 128.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The MX330 has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, yielding 56.06 GB/s. The GTX 560's bus width provides a substantial bandwidth advantage.

Q: What are the manufacturing process nodes for each chip?

A: The GTX 560 is built on a 40 nm TSMC process, while the MX330 uses a 14 nm Samsung process. This results in a much higher transistor density for the MX330, at 24.3M / mm² compared to 5.9M / mm² for the GTX 560.

Q: Which card supports the newer DirectX version?

A: The MX330 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the GTX 560 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and has no listed Vulkan support. This makes the MX330 more feature-complete for modern APIs.

Architecture Differences

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture with the GF114 chip, fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC. Its transistor count is 1,950 million spread across a die size of 332 mm². In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce MX330 uses the Pascal architecture with the GP108B chip, manufactured on a 14 nm process at Samsung. It packs 1,800 million transistors into a much smaller 74 mm² die, showcasing a significant leap in manufacturing efficiency. The transistor density difference is stark, with the MX330 achieving 24.3M / mm² versus the GTX 560's 5.9M / mm².

In terms of compute resources, the GTX 560 has 336 shading units, 56 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 render output units (ROPs). The MX330 has more shading units at 384 but fewer TMUs (24) and ROPs (16). This configuration suggests the MX330 is designed for shader-heavy workloads, while the GTX 560 has a more balanced throughput pipeline. The GTX 560's pixel rate is 11.34 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 45.36 GTexel/s, whereas the MX330 achieves a higher pixel rate of 25.50 GPixel/s but a lower texture rate of 38.26 GTexel/s.

Memory architecture also differs significantly. The GTX 560 uses a 256-bit bus with 1024 MB of GDDR5, while the MX330 uses a 64-bit bus with 2 GB of GDDR5. Despite the MX330 having twice the memory capacity, its bandwidth of 56.06 GB/s is less than half of the GTX 560's 128.0 GB/s. The MX330's memory clock is higher at 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective) versus the GTX 560's 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), but the narrower bus limits overall throughput. The GTX 560 also has a dual-slot form factor with 2x 6-pin power connectors, while the MX330 is an IGP with no power connectors. Both cards support OpenGL 4.6, but the MX330 adds Vulkan 1.4 support and DirectX 12 (12_1), whereas the GTX 560 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, where the GTX 560 decisively outperforms the MX330. The GTX 560 scores 9058, while the MX330 manages 7896, resulting in a 14.7% delta in favor of the older card. This is a substantial margin, especially considering the MX330's higher shading unit count and newer architecture. The data indicates that the GTX 560's wider memory bus and higher texture fill rate contribute to its superior compute performance in this workload.

When placed against their respective nearest rivals, the GTX 560's score of 9058 is 0.2% ahead of the NVIDIA TITAN V CEO Edition (9037) and 0.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 (9022). It also leads the AMD Radeon 550X (8918) by 1.6%, while trailing the AMD Radeon 890M (9210) by 1.7%. The MX330's score of 7896 in the same test places it 0% from the AMD Radeon HD 8870M (8462) in terms of average score, but its head-to-head loss is clear. The MX330's average score of 8458 is 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon 880M (8436) and 0.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX (8427), but it trails the Intel Arc A380 (8558) by 1.2%.

The GTX 560's victory in the OpenCL test is its sole head-to-head win, with the MX330 recording zero wins. This suggests that while the MX330 may have advantages in power efficiency and API support, it cannot match the GTX 560's raw computational power in this benchmark. The 14.7% delta is significant enough to classify the GTX 560 as the stronger performer in compute-heavy tasks, despite its older architecture and higher power draw.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every major specification category. The GTX 560 uses the GF114 chip on a 40 nm process, while the MX330 uses the GP108B chip on a 14 nm process. The GTX 560 has a larger die (332 mm²) with more transistors (1,950 million) compared to the MX330's 74 mm² die with 1,800 million transistors. The clock speeds also diverge, with the MX330 having a base clock of 1531 MHz and a boost clock of 1594 MHz, while the GTX 560 has no listed base or boost clocks. The memory clock differs as well: the GTX 560 runs at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective), while the MX330 runs at 1752 MHz (7 Gbps effective).

Memory capacity and bus width are major differentiators. The GTX 560 offers 1024 MB on a 256-bit bus, while the MX330 offers 2 GB on a 64-bit bus. This results in a bandwidth of 128.0 GB/s for the GTX 560 versus 56.06 GB/s for the MX330. The shading unit count favors the MX330 (384 vs. 336), but the GTX 560 has more TMUs (56 vs. 24) and ROPs (32 vs. 16). Pixel rates are higher on the MX330 (25.50 GPixel/s vs. 11.34 GPixel/s), but texture rates are higher on the GTX 560 (45.36 GTexel/s vs. 38.26 GTexel/s). The FP32 compute also favors the MX330 at 1,224.2 GFLOPS versus the GTX 560's 1,088.6 GFLOPS, and the MX330 lists an FP16 rate of 19.13 GFLOPS (1:64), which the GTX 560 does not have.

Power and form factor differences are extreme. The GTX 560 has a TDP of 150 W, a dual-slot width, and requires 2x 6-pin power connectors with a 450 W suggested PSU. The MX330 has a TDP of 10 W, is an IGP, and requires no power connectors or suggested PSU. The bus interface also differs, with the GTX 560 using PCIe 2.0 x16 and the MX330 using PCIe 3.0 x4. Display outputs are another point of divergence: the GTX 560 offers 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a, while the MX330 is "Portable Device Dependent." The GTX 560's dimensions are listed as 210 mm (8.3 inches) in length, while the MX330 has no listed dimensions. Finally, the release dates are separated by years, with the GTX 560 launching in May 2011 and the MX330 in February 2020. The GTX 560 has a launch MSRP of 199 USD, while the MX330 has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is the clear winner in the OpenCL benchmark, scoring 14.7% higher than the MX330. This makes it the superior choice for compute-intensive applications that rely on raw parallel processing power, such as older professional workloads or general-purpose GPU computing. Its higher memory bandwidth (128.0 GB/s) and larger number of TMUs and ROPs give it an edge in tasks that are sensitive to texture throughput and pixel fill rates. The GTX 560's dual-slot design and 150 W TDP indicate it is intended for desktop systems where power and space are not limiting factors, and its 256-bit memory bus is a significant advantage for bandwidth-hungry scenarios.

The NVIDIA GeForce MX330, despite losing the head-to-head benchmark, has its own set of strengths. Its 10 W TDP and IGP form factor make it ideal for portable devices where power efficiency is paramount. It offers twice the memory capacity (2 GB) and a higher pixel rate (25.50 GPixel/s), which could benefit display output tasks. The MX330 also supports newer APIs, including DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, making it more compatible with modern games and applications that leverage these interfaces. Its higher shading unit count (384) and FP32 compute (1,224.2 GFLOPS) suggest it can handle shader-heavy workloads more efficiently than the GTX 560, despite the lower overall benchmark score.

In a use-case split, the GTX 560 wins in scenarios requiring maximum memory bandwidth and legacy compute performance, such as older game titles or CUDA-based tasks from its era. The MX330 wins in modern mobile environments where battery life and thermal output are critical, and where API support for DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4 is necessary for compatibility with current software. The data shows the GTX 560 holds a 14.7% performance advantage in OpenCL, but the MX330's architectural efficiency and feature set make it a more versatile option for contemporary portable computing. Neither card excels in every area, but the GTX 560's benchmark victory is unambiguous based on the available data.