NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clear and consistent winner in this comparison. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 outperforms the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 in the only recorded head-to-head test, the geekbench_opencl benchmark. The GTX 580 scored 15283 points, while the GTX 570 trailed at 13515 points. This represents a 13.1% advantage for the GTX 580, a substantial gap that places the two cards in different performance tiers.

Looking at the broader database context, the GTX 580's score of 15283 places it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with an average score of 15290 (a 0% delta), the AMD Radeon 680M at 15270 (0.1% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM at 15199 (0.6% delta), and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 at 15171 (0.7% delta). These are remarkably close scores, indicating that the GTX 580 from the GeForce 500 generation is competitive with much newer hardware in this specific OpenCL workload.

The GTX 570's score of 13515 places it in the 54th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals tell a similar story: the AMD Radeon HD 7770M scores 13536 (a -0.2% delta, meaning the GTX 570 is slightly behind), the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT scores 13543 (also -0.2% delta), the NVIDIA P106-090 scores 13470 (0.3% delta in favor of the GTX 570), and the AMD Radeon Pro 555 scores 13407 (0.8% delta). The GTX 570 sits in a cluster of GPUs with very similar performance, but it is clearly a step below the GTX 580.

The 13.1% delta between the two cards is significant. In practical terms, this means the GTX 580 delivers roughly one-eighth more compute performance in OpenCL workloads. The data records 1 win for the GTX 580 and 0 wins for the GTX 570 across all head-to-head tests, leaving no ambiguity about which card is faster.

Architecture Differences

Both cards share the same fundamental architecture, but the data reveals meaningful differences in their execution resources. Both the GTX 580 and GTX 570 are built on the GF110 chip, which uses the Fermi 2.0 architecture from the GeForce 500 generation. Both are manufactured by TSMC on a 40 nm process node, with 3,000 million transistors on a 520 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 5.8M per mm². The silicon is identical; the differences lie in how each card configures that silicon.

The GTX 580 activates more of the GF110's resources. It features 512 shading units, 64 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 48 raster output units (ROPs). The GTX 570, by contrast, is configured with 480 shading units, 60 TMUs, and 40 ROPs. This means the GTX 580 has 32 additional shading units, 4 more TMUs, and 8 more ROPs. The ROP count difference is particularly notable, as it directly affects pixel throughput.

Memory configurations also differ substantially. The GTX 580 carries 1536 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus, while the GTX 570 has 1280 MB of GDDR5 on a 320-bit bus. The memory clock is higher on the GTX 580 at 1002 MHz (4 Gbps effective) versus 950 MHz (3.8 Gbps effective) on the GTX 570. These differences combine to produce a significant bandwidth gap: the GTX 580 achieves 192.4 GB/s, while the GTX 570 manages 152.0 GB/s. That is a 40.4 GB/s difference, roughly 26.6% more bandwidth for the GTX 580, which is even larger than the raw compute delta.

The clock and throughput numbers reinforce the pattern. The GTX 580 delivers a pixel rate of 24.70 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 49.41 GTexel/s. The GTX 570 delivers 21.96 GPixel/s and 43.92 GTexel/s. In floating-point performance, the GTX 580 achieves 1.581 TFLOPS, while the GTX 570 achieves 1,405.4 GFLOPS. The GTX 580 is ahead in every throughput metric.

Power characteristics differ as well. The GTX 580 has a TDP of 244 W and requires 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin power connectors. The GTX 570 has a lower TDP of 219 W and uses 2x 6-pin connectors. Both cards specify a 550 W suggested PSU and are dual-slot designs. Interestingly, both cards share the same display outputs (2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a), the same PCIe 2.0 x16 bus interface, and the same API support: DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and no Vulkan support recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 580 wins in essentially every measurable category. In the only head-to-head benchmark, it takes the OpenCL victory by 13.1%. Its architectural advantages in shading units, TMUs, ROPs, memory size, memory bus width, and memory bandwidth all point in the same direction. The GTX 580 is the stronger card for compute-heavy OpenCL workloads, and the data suggests it would also excel in pixel-heavy and texture-heavy tasks given its higher pixel rate and texture rate.

The GTX 570's advantages are more practical than performance-oriented. It has a lower TDP at 219 W versus 244 W, which means it draws less power under load. It also uses 2x 6-pin power connectors rather than the GTX 580's 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin configuration, which could make it easier to install in systems with older or more limited power supplies. Both cards require a 550 W PSU, so the system-level power requirement is identical.

For users who prioritize raw performance, the GTX 580 is the clear choice. For users who are constrained by power delivery or want a slightly cooler-running card, the GTX 570 offers a more modest draw while still delivering solid Fermi 2.0 performance. The GTX 570's score of 13515 places it in the 54th percentile, which is respectable, but the GTX 580's 58th percentile ranking reflects its higher standing in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in OpenCL benchmarks?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 is faster. It scored 15283 in the geekbench_opencl test, while the GTX 570 scored 13515. The GTX 580 leads by 13.1%.

Q: Do these cards use the same chip?

A: Yes, both use the GF110 chip based on the Fermi 2.0 architecture. They share the same 40 nm process node, 3,000 million transistors, and 520 mm² die size.

Q: How do the memory configurations differ?

A: The GTX 580 has 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus with 192.4 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 570 has 1280 MB of GDDR5 on a 320-bit bus with 152.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The GTX 580 has 512 shading units, while the GTX 570 has 480. The GTX 580 also has more TMUs (64 vs 60) and more ROPs (48 vs 40).

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The GTX 580 has a TDP of 244 W and needs 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin power connectors. The GTX 570 has a TDP of 219 W and uses 2x 6-pin connectors. Both recommend a 550 W PSU.

Q: How do the two cards rank among all GPUs?

A: The GTX 580 sits in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 570 sits in the 54th percentile. The GTX 580's nearest rival is the RTX 2060 (0% delta), and the GTX 570's nearest rival is the Radeon HD 7770M (-0.2% delta).

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 |

|---|---|---|

| Memory Clock | 1002 MHz (4 Gbps effective) | 950 MHz (3.8 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 1536 MB | 1280 MB |

| Memory Bus Width | 384 bit | 320 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 192.4 GB/s | 152.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 512 | 480 |

| TMUs | 64 | 60 |

| ROPs | 48 | 40 |

| Pixel Rate | 24.70 GPixel/s | 21.96 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 49.41 GTexel/s | 43.92 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 1.581 TFLOPS | 1,405.4 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 244 W | 219 W |

| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 2x 6-pin |

| Height | 111 mm (4.4 inches) | Not recorded |

| Launch MSRP | 499 USD | 349 USD |

| Release Date | 2010-11-08 | 2010-12-06 |

The two cards are identical in several areas: both use the GF110 chip, Fermi 2.0 architecture, 40 nm process, 3,000 million transistors, 520 mm² die, dual-slot width, 550 W suggested PSU, PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a outputs, and DirectX 12 (11_0) plus OpenGL 4.6 API support.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 is the superior card. Its 13.1% lead in OpenCL performance, combined with advantages in every architectural metric, makes it the clear choice for anyone seeking maximum performance from this generation. The GTX 580's higher shading unit count, larger memory pool, wider memory bus, and greater bandwidth all contribute to its dominance. Its 58th percentile ranking versus the GTX 570's 54th percentile reinforces the gap.

The GTX 570 is not without merit. It consumes 25 W less power, uses simpler power connectors, and carries a lower launch MSRP of 349 USD versus 499 USD for the GTX 580. For users with power supply constraints or those who prioritize efficiency over peak performance, the GTX 570 remains a viable option. Its 13515 OpenCL score is competitive with its nearest rivals, and it delivers the same Fermi 2.0 feature set as the GTX 580.

The verdict depends on priorities. For raw compute performance, the GTX 580 wins outright. For lower power draw and a lower launch MSRP, the GTX 570 has its place. The database records 1 win for the GTX 580 and 0 for the GTX 570 in direct comparison, which settles the performance question. Users who need the best possible OpenCL results should select the GTX 580. Users who are more sensitive to power consumption or upfront cost may find the GTX 570 adequate, but they should expect a noticeable performance deficit in compute-heavy workloads.