NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains one direct comparison between these two cards, the Geekbench OpenCL test. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 scores 13,515, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M scores 12,769. That gives the GTX 570 a 5.8% lead in this particular workload. The margin is modest, but it is a clean win for the older desktop card.

Context from the database matters here. The GTX 570's average benchmark score sits at 13,515, which places it in the 54th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon HD 7770M at 13,536 (a delta of -0.2%), the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT at 13,543 (also -0.2%), and the NVIDIA P106-090 at 13,470 (+0.3%). The GTX 570 is essentially in a dead heat with these cards, meaning its OpenCL result is competitive with a broad range of hardware spanning very different eras.

The GTX 780M tells a different story. Its average benchmark score is 11,261, placing it in the 50th percentile. That is notably lower than the GTX 570's average. However, the 780M has three recorded benchmark entries: 8,319 in Geekbench Metal, 12,769 in OpenCL, and 12,696 in Vulkan. The OpenCL result is its strongest, and it trails the GTX 570 by that same 5.8% margin. The Vulkan score of 12,696 is nearly identical to the OpenCL result, suggesting consistent performance across those two APIs. The Metal score is far lower, which may reflect API optimization differences rather than raw hardware capability.

The database shows only one head-to-head win for the GTX 570 and none for the GTX 780M. That is a narrow picture, but the delta is real. A 5.8% difference in OpenCL is not overwhelming, yet it does point to the desktop card holding a measurable edge in at least one compute scenario. The GTX 780M's other benchmark results, particularly its Vulkan score, sit close enough to suggest that in some workloads the gap would narrow or reverse, but the data as recorded gives the GTX 570 the only direct victory.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations. The GTX 570 uses the GF110 chip, built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture, part of the GeForce 500 series. It is fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC, with 3,000 million transistors on a 520 mm² die. That works out to a transistor density of 5.8 million per square millimeter. The GTX 780M uses the GK104 chip, based on Kepler, from the GeForce 700M series. It is built on a 28 nm process, also at TSMC, with 3,540 million transistors on a much smaller 294 mm² die. The density jumps to 12.0 million per square millimeter. The shift from 40 nm to 28 nm is a major factor: the 780M packs more transistors into roughly half the die area.

The compute resources differ sharply. The GTX 570 has 480 shading units, 60 texture mapping units, and 40 raster output units. The GTX 780M has 1,536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The 780M carries three times the shading units and more than double the TMUs, but fewer ROPs. This suggests the 780M is built for higher arithmetic throughput per clock, while the 570 retains a wider ROP configuration relative to its shader count.

Clock behavior also separates them. The GTX 570 has no listed base or boost clock in the database, only a memory clock of 950 MHz (3.8 Gbps effective). The GTX 780M lists a base clock of 771 MHz and a boost clock of 797 MHz, with memory at 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective). The 780M's memory runs faster in effective data rate, and its boost clock provides a predictable upper bound. The 570's lack of a base clock entry makes direct clock comparison impossible from the data, but the architectural differences already explain much of the performance gap.

The 780M adds Vulkan support with API version 1.2.175, while the 570 has no Vulkan entry in the database. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. The 780M also supports Metal, as evidenced by its Geekbench Metal score, a feature the 570 does not list. These API differences matter for software compatibility, especially in modern workloads that lean on Vulkan or Metal.

Power and physical design diverge as well. The GTX 570 has a TDP of 219 W, requires a 550 W suggested PSU, uses dual-slot cooling, and draws power from two 6-pin connectors. The GTX 780M has a TDP of 122 W, uses an MXM module form factor, and has no power connectors of its own, drawing power through the module interface. The 780M is a mobile part by design, while the 570 is a desktop card. The 570's length is listed at 267 mm (10.5 inches), while the 780M has no dimension data. The 570's display outputs include 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a, whereas the 780M's outputs are listed as portable device dependent.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the GTX 570 wins the only direct benchmark comparison, taking OpenCL by 5.8%. Its average score of 13,515 also exceeds the 780M's average of 11,261 by a substantial margin, roughly 20% higher. The 570's 54th percentile ranking versus the 780M's 50th percentile confirms that the desktop card sits slightly higher in the overall distribution of GPU performance.

The GTX 780M, however, is not without merit. Its Vulkan score of 12,696 is close to its OpenCL result, and its Metal score of 8,319 indicates some capability in that API. The 780M also consumes significantly less power, with a TDP of 122 W versus 219 W for the 570, and it offers 4 GB of memory versus 1,280 MB. For a mobile module, that memory capacity is a meaningful advantage in texture-heavy workloads. But the database shows no benchmark where the 780M beats the 570.

The verdict leans toward the GTX 570 for raw compute performance based on the numbers. The 780M is a viable alternative if the use case prioritizes power efficiency, memory capacity, or API coverage like Vulkan and Metal. The data does not support a claim that the 780M is faster in any recorded test.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every major specification category. The GTX 570 uses the GF110 chip on Fermi 2.0, while the 780M uses GK104 on Kepler. The process node moves from 40 nm to 28 nm, and transistors increase from 3,000 million to 3,540 million. Die size shrinks from 520 mm² to 294 mm², and transistor density rises from 5.8M/mm² to 12.0M/mm².

Memory configuration changes significantly. The 570 has 1,280 MB of GDDR5 on a 320-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 152.0 GB/s and memory clock of 950 MHz (3.8 Gbps effective). The 780M has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 160.0 GB/s and memory clock of 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective). The 780M has more memory and slightly higher bandwidth, but a narrower bus.

Compute units differ: the 570 has 480 shading units, 60 TMUs, and 40 ROPs, while the 780M has 1,536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Pixel rate is 21.96 GPixel/s for the 570 and 25.50 GPixel/s for the 780M. Texture rate is 43.92 GTexel/s for the 570 and 102.0 GTexel/s for the 780M. FP32 performance is 1,405.4 GFLOPS for the 570 and 2.448 TFLOPS for the 780M.

Power and physical specs also differ. The 570 has a TDP of 219 W, dual-slot width, 2x 6-pin power connectors, a 550 W suggested PSU, and a length of 267 mm. The 780M has a TDP of 122 W, MXM module slot width, no power connectors, and no suggested PSU. The 570 uses PCIe 2.0 x16, while the 780M uses MXM-B (3.0). The 570 has 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a outputs, while the 780M's outputs are portable device dependent. The 570 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, while the 780M adds Vulkan 1.2.175. The 570's launch MSRP is 349 USD, while the 780M has no listed launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 has an average benchmark score of 13,515, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M's average of 11,261.

Q: How much faster is the GTX 570 in the OpenCL benchmark?

A: The GTX 570 scores 13,515 versus the GTX 780M's 12,769, a delta of 5.8% in favor of the GTX 570.

Q: Does the GTX 780M support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the GTX 780M lists Vulkan support with API version 1.2.175, and it has a recorded Geekbench Vulkan score of 12,696. The GTX 570 does not list Vulkan support in the database.

Q: What is the memory size difference between the two cards?

A: The GTX 570 has 1,280 MB of GDDR5 memory, while the GTX 780M has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: Which card has a higher TDP?

A: The GTX 570 has a TDP of 219 W, while the GTX 780M has a TDP of 122 W.

Q: What is the transistor density difference?

A: The GTX 570 has a transistor density of 5.8 million per square millimeter on a 40 nm process, while the GTX 780M has 12.0 million per square millimeter on a 28 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 570 wins in raw OpenCL compute performance, as the only direct head-to-head benchmark shows a 5.8% lead. Its average score of 13,515 also puts it in the 54th percentile, higher than the 780M's 50th percentile. For workloads that rely on OpenCL, such as certain compute or rendering tasks, the 570 is the stronger choice based on the data.

The GTX 780M wins in areas that do not show up in the direct benchmark but are clear from the specifications. It has 4 GB of memory versus 1,280 MB, which matters for applications that need large frame buffers or texture sets. Its Vulkan support, with a score of 12,696, gives it an API advantage the 570 lacks entirely. Its TDP of 122 W is significantly lower than the 570's 219 W, making it a far more power-efficient option for mobile or thermally constrained systems. The 780M also has higher FP32 throughput at 2.448 TFLOPS versus 1,405.4 GFLOPS, and a higher texture rate at 102.0 GTexel/s versus 43.92 GTexel/s, though the recorded benchmarks do not reflect these advantages in a direct win.

The GTX 780M also supports Metal, with a score of 8,319, which is unavailable on the 570. For users in portable systems or those prioritizing modern API coverage, the 780M is the practical pick. For users focused purely on OpenCL performance as measured in the database, the GTX 570 takes the win.