NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 vs NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm Comparison

The NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 are two end-of-life GPUs from different NVIDIA generations, targeting distinct use cases. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy in the available benchmark, but the full picture involves more than just raw compute scores. The Tesla K20Xm, a Kepler-based compute card, and the GTX 570, a Fermi 2.0-based consumer GPU, differ fundamentally in architecture, memory configuration, and feature set. This analysis walks through the benchmark results, architectural contrasts, and specification gaps to determine which card holds the advantage in what scenarios.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is Geekbench OpenCL. In this test, the NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm scores 17215 points, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 scores 13515 points. The Tesla K20Xm wins by a margin of 27.4%. This is a substantial lead, indicating that the Tesla K20Xm delivers significantly higher raw compute throughput in OpenCL workloads. The win count reflects this: the Tesla K20Xm takes 1 win, while the GTX 570 takes 0 wins in the head-to-head comparison.

The 27.4% delta is notable when placed in context with the nearest rivals for each card. The Tesla K20Xm's average benchmark score is 12625, which sits close to the AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT (12710, deltaPct -0.7%), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 (12773, deltaPct -1.2%), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (12830, deltaPct -1.6%), and AMD Radeon Pro 455 (12831, deltaPct -1.6%). This means the Tesla K20Xm's OpenCL score of 17215 is well above its own average, suggesting that OpenCL is a particular strength for this card. Conversely, the GTX 570's average benchmark score is 13515, which is identical to its OpenCL score. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7770M (13536, deltaPct -0.2%), AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT (13543, deltaPct -0.2%), NVIDIA P106-090 (13470, deltaPct 0.3%), and AMD Radeon Pro 555 (13407, deltaPct 0.8%). The GTX 570 sits squarely in the middle of this group, showing that its OpenCL performance is typical for its class.

When comparing the two cards directly, the Tesla K20Xm's 27.4% lead over the GTX 570 in OpenCL is decisive. However, this single benchmark does not capture other aspects like gaming performance or specific API support. The Geekbench Metal score for the Tesla K20Xm is 8035, which is lower than its OpenCL score, but no comparable Metal score exists for the GTX 570. The data shows that the Tesla K20Xm is built for compute-heavy tasks, while the GTX 570's strengths may lie elsewhere, though the provided benchmarks do not show those areas.

Where Each One Wins

The Tesla K20Xm wins decisively in OpenCL compute workloads, as evidenced by its 17215 score versus the GTX 570's 13515. This makes it the better choice for general-purpose GPU computing, scientific simulations, and data processing tasks that rely on OpenCL. The card's higher shading unit count (2688 versus 480) and texture mapping units (224 versus 60) contribute to this advantage. Additionally, the Tesla K20Xm has a significantly higher FP32 performance of 3.935 TFLOPS compared to the GTX 570's 1,405.4 GFLOPS, reinforcing its compute-oriented design. The Tesla K20Xm also offers 6 GB of GDDR5 memory versus the GTX 570's 1280 MB, which is a major benefit for large datasets that need to reside in video memory.

The GTX 570, despite losing the head-to-head benchmark, has its own domain where it is competitive. It is a consumer graphics card with display outputs (2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a), while the Tesla K20Xm has no display outputs. This makes the GTX 570 suitable for traditional desktop use, including gaming and video output, even though no gaming benchmarks are provided. The GTX 570 also has a lower thermal design power (TDP) of 219 W compared to the Tesla K20Xm's 235 W, which could be advantageous in power-constrained environments. Furthermore, the GTX 570 uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, while the Tesla K20Xm uses PCIe 3.0 x16, but the GTX 570's compatibility with older systems might be a plus. In terms of average benchmark score, the GTX 570 actually scores higher (13515) than the Tesla K20Xm's average (12625), meaning that across a broader set of tests, the GTX 570 might outperform the Tesla K20Xm, though the only direct comparison favors the Tesla card.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm scores 17215 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 scores 13515. The Tesla K20Xm leads by 27.4%.

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

A: The NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm has an average benchmark score of 12625, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 has an average benchmark score of 13515. The GTX 570 is higher in this metric.

Q: Does the Tesla K20Xm support display outputs?

A: No, the NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm has no display outputs. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 includes 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a outputs.

Q: What are the memory sizes of these two GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm has 6 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 has 1280 MB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: How do the nearest rivals compare to these GPUs?

A: The Tesla K20Xm's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT with a deltaPct of -0.7%, meaning it scores slightly lower. The GTX 570's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 7770M with a deltaPct of -0.2%, again slightly lower.

Q: What is the transistor density of each GPU?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm has a transistor density of 12.6M / mm², while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 has a transistor density of 5.8M / mm².

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for the two cards show several key differences. The GPU chip differs: the Tesla K20Xm uses the GK110 chip, while the GTX 570 uses the GF110 chip. The process node is also different, with the Tesla K20Xm built on a 28 nm process and the GTX 570 on a 40 nm process. Transistor counts are 7,080 million for the Tesla K20Xm versus 3,000 million for the GTX 570, and the die sizes are 561 mm² and 520 mm², respectively. This results in a transistor density of 12.6M / mm² for the Tesla K20Xm and 5.8M / mm² for the GTX 570.

Memory configurations differ significantly. The Tesla K20Xm has 6 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 249.6 GB/s. The GTX 570 has 1280 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 320-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 152.0 GB/s. The memory clock is also higher on the Tesla K20Xm at 1300 MHz (5.2 Gbps effective) versus 950 MHz (3.8 Gbps effective) on the GTX 570. The shading units, texture mapping units, and raster output units all favor the Tesla K20Xm: 2688 shading units versus 480, 224 TMUs versus 60, and 48 ROPs versus 40. Pixel rate and texture rate follow suit, with the Tesla K20Xm achieving 40.99 GPixel/s and 164.0 GTexel/s, compared to the GTX 570's 21.96 GPixel/s and 43.92 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 3.935 TFLOPS for the Tesla K20Xm and 1,405.4 GFLOPS for the GTX 570.

The TDP differs by 16 W, with the Tesla K20Xm at 235 W and the GTX 570 at 219 W. The bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x16 for the Tesla K20Xm and PCIe 2.0 x16 for the GTX 570. Display outputs are absent on the Tesla K20Xm but present on the GTX 570. The power connectors are listed only for the GTX 570 (2x 6-pin). The launch MSRP is 7,699 USD for the Tesla K20Xm and 349 USD for the GTX 570, though this information is stated once here per guidelines.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs belong to different NVIDIA architectures. The Tesla K20Xm is based on the Kepler architecture, specifically the GK110 chip, and is part of the Tesla Kepler (Kxx) generation. The GTX 570 uses the Fermi 2.0 architecture with the GF110 chip, from the GeForce 500 generation. This architectural divide explains many of the performance and feature differences. Kepler was designed for higher efficiency and compute performance, which is reflected in the Tesla K20Xm's higher shading unit count and FP32 throughput. Fermi 2.0, while older, was a mature architecture for consumer gaming.

The process node difference is stark: 28 nm for Kepler versus 40 nm for Fermi 2.0. This allows the Tesla K20Xm to pack 7,080 million transistors into a 561 mm² die, resulting in a density of 12.6M / mm². The GTX 570's 40 nm process yields 3,000 million transistors on a 520 mm² die, with a density of 5.8M / mm². The smaller process node contributes to the Tesla K20Xm's higher clock rates and memory bandwidth. The memory architecture also differs: the Tesla K20Xm has a 384-bit bus with 6 GB of memory, while the GTX 570 has a 320-bit bus with 1280 MB. This gives the Tesla K20Xm a 64% advantage in memory bandwidth (249.6 GB/s versus 152.0 GB/s).

Feature support varies as well. Both cards support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but the Tesla K20Xm supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 570 has no Vulkan support listed. The Tesla K20Xm also has no display outputs, as it is designed for compute servers, whereas the GTX 570 includes multiple display outputs for consumer use. The generation lineage differs: the Tesla K20Xm's predecessor is Tesla Fermi and its successor is Tesla Maxwell, while the GTX 570's predecessor is GeForce 400 and its successor is GeForce 600. These architectural and generational differences underpin the performance gap seen in benchmarks.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm is the superior choice for compute-intensive OpenCL workloads. Its 27.4% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, combined with higher memory capacity (6 GB versus 1280 MB), higher memory bandwidth (249.6 GB/s versus 152.0 GB/s), and higher FP32 performance (3.935 TFLOPS versus 1,405.4 GFLOPS), makes it the clear winner for tasks like scientific computing, data analysis, and any application that leverages OpenCL. The Tesla K20Xm's higher transistor density and newer process node (28 nm versus 40 nm) also point to a more advanced design.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570, however, is the better option for users who need a traditional graphics card with display outputs. Its 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a outputs make it suitable for desktop use, gaming, and video output, areas where the Tesla K20Xm cannot function due to its lack of outputs. The GTX 570 also has a lower TDP (219 W versus 235 W) and a lower average benchmark score comparison, as its average of 13515 exceeds the Tesla K20Xm's average of 12625. This suggests that in a broader range of tests, the GTX 570 might hold its own, even though the single direct benchmark favors the Tesla K20Xm.

In summary, the Tesla K20Xm wins on raw compute power and memory resources, making it ideal for professional compute environments. The GTX 570 wins on practical usability for consumer workloads, offering display connectivity and a lower power draw. The choice between them depends entirely on the intended application: compute professionals should lean toward the Tesla K20Xm, while general users with display needs should opt for the GTX 570. The data does not support one card as universally better; each excels in its respective domain.