NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M Comparison

NVIDIA’s GeForce 500M and 700M mobile lineups represent two distinct eras of laptop graphics, and the GTX 580M and GTX 770M are prime examples of that generational shift. The GTX 580M is a Fermi 2.0 part built on a 40 nm process, while the GTX 770M moves to Kepler on a 28 nm node. The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner, but the underlying specifications and architecture differences tell a more nuanced story about where each chip excels.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison in the data is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the result is decisive. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M scores 8552 points, while the GTX 580M manages 6389 points. That is a 25.3% advantage for the newer Kepler part. The deltaPct is listed from the perspective of the GTX 580M, showing it trails by that margin. This is a substantial gap in raw compute throughput, and it reflects the architectural leap between the two generations.

Looking at the nearest rivals in the database puts these scores into context. The GTX 580M’s score of 6389 places it in a dead tie with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 SE, which also scores 6389. It is barely ahead of the AMD Radeon R7 M350 (score 6327, deltaPct 1) and the AMD Radeon Pro WX 4100 (score 6330, deltaPct 0.9). The GTX 580M sits at the 37th percentile of all GPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly a third of the database. On the other side, the GTX 770M’s score of 8552 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX 6400 (score 6001, deltaPct 0), though that comparison seems off given the raw score difference. More relevantly, the GTX 770M is just 0.1% behind the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server (score 5996) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD FirePro W4100 (score 5987) and NVIDIA Quadro K4000M (score 5986). The GTX 770M’s 35th percentile ranking is slightly lower than the GTX 580M’s, but that is due to the newer card competing against a much larger and faster field of GPUs.

The single OpenCL result is the only head-to-head data point, but it is a strong one. The GTX 770M wins the only direct comparison, and it does so by a wide margin. There are no benchmark tests where the GTX 580M comes out ahead, so the narrative is one of generational improvement rather than a close contest.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 770M is the clear winner in raw compute performance. Its OpenCL score of 8552 versus 6389 for the GTX 580M means it is the better choice for any workload that leverages general-purpose GPU compute. This includes tasks like video encoding, physics simulations, and other OpenCL-accelerated applications. The GTX 770M also has a higher pixel rate at 15.94 GPixel/s compared to the GTX 580M’s 9.920 GPixel/s, and a higher texture rate at 63.76 GTexel/s versus 39.68 GTexel/s. These figures indicate faster fill-rate-bound operations, which matter for gaming at higher resolutions and for texture-heavy workloads.

The GTX 770M also has a higher shader count (960 versus 384) and more texture mapping units (80 versus 64), which contributes to its FP32 performance of 1.530 TFLOPS versus the GTX 580M’s 952.3 GFLOPS. That is a massive difference in floating-point throughput. The GTX 770M also benefits from a higher boost clock of 797 MHz (base 706 MHz), whereas the GTX 580M has no listed base or boost clock, only a memory clock of 750 MHz.

However, the GTX 580M is not without its advantages. It has a wider memory bus at 256 bit versus the GTX 770M’s 192 bit, and it has more ROPs (32 versus 24). This gives the older card a potential edge in certain memory-bandwidth-sensitive scenarios, though its overall bandwidth of 96.00 GB/s is nearly identical to the GTX 770M’s 96.19 GB/s. The GTX 580M also has a smaller memory footprint at 2 GB versus 3 GB, which could be a limitation in modern workloads that require more VRAM.

The GTX 580M also has a lower transistor density (5.9M / mm² versus 11.5M / mm²) and a larger die (332 mm² versus 221 mm²), despite having fewer transistors (1,950 million versus 2,540 million). This reflects the older 40 nm process versus the newer 28 nm process. The GTX 580M also has a higher TDP at 100 W versus the GTX 770M’s 75 W, which is notable given the performance gap.

The Verdict

The data points to one conclusion: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M is the superior GPU. In the only direct benchmark, it beats the GTX 580M by 25.3% in OpenCL performance. It also has a higher pixel rate (15.94 GPixel/s versus 9.920 GPixel/s), higher texture rate (63.76 GTexel/s versus 39.68 GTexel/s), and more than double the FP32 throughput (1.530 TFLOPS versus 952.3 GFLOPS). The GTX 770M achieves all of this while consuming less power (75 W versus 100 W), making it both faster and more efficient.

The GTX 580M’s only potential advantages are its wider memory bus (256 bit versus 192 bit) and higher ROP count (32 versus 24), but these do not translate into a benchmark win. Its bandwidth is practically identical to the GTX 770M’s, so the wider bus does not provide a meaningful benefit. For any user choosing between these two mobile GPUs, the GTX 770M is the clear pick unless a specific workload requires the GTX 580M’s specific ROP or bus configuration, which the data does not support.

Users who prioritize raw compute and gaming performance should select the GTX 770M. Its OpenCL score is 25.3% higher, and its architectural advantages in shading units, TMUs, and clock speeds make it the better all-around performer. The GTX 580M is a capable card for its era, but it is outclassed by the newer Kepler design.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M scores 8552 in Geekbench OpenCL, compared to the GTX 580M’s 6389, a 25.3% difference.

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

A: The GTX 580M has a bandwidth of 96.00 GB/s on a 256 bit bus, while the GTX 770M has 96.19 GB/s on a 192 bit bus. The difference is negligible.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The GTX 770M has 960 shading units, while the GTX 580M has 384. That is a 150% increase in shader count.

Q: What is the TDP of each card?

A: The GTX 580M has a TDP of 100 W, while the GTX 770M has a TDP of 75 W. The newer card is more power-efficient.

Q: Which GPU supports Vulkan?

A: The GTX 770M supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 580M has no Vulkan support listed. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What are the transistor counts for each GPU?

A: The GTX 580M has 1,950 million transistors on a 332 mm² die, while the GTX 770M has 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent different architectures from NVIDIA. The GTX 580M is based on the GF114 chip using the Fermi 2.0 architecture, manufactured by TSMC on a 40 nm process. The GTX 770M uses the GK106 chip with the Kepler architecture, also built by TSMC but on a newer 28 nm process.

The process shrink allows the GTX 770M to pack 2,540 million transistors into a smaller die of 221 mm², yielding a transistor density of 11.5M / mm². The GTX 580M has fewer transistors (1,950 million) on a larger die (332 mm²), resulting in a density of just 5.9M / mm². This is a direct consequence of the older 40 nm node.

The GTX 580M has 384 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The GTX 770M more than doubles the shading units to 960, increases TMUs to 80, but reduces ROPs to 24. The GTX 770M also has a higher FP32 performance at 1.530 TFLOPS versus 952.3 GFLOPS.

Memory configurations differ as well. The GTX 580M uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256 bit bus, while the GTX 770M uses 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 192 bit bus. Despite the narrower bus, the GTX 770M’s memory clock of 1002 MHz (effective 4 Gbps) gives it a bandwidth of 96.19 GB/s, slightly higher than the GTX 580M’s 96.00 GB/s.

Both cards use an MXM Module form factor with an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface, and both have no power connectors, relying on the motherboard. Display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent" for both. The GTX 580M has no listed base or boost clock, while the GTX 770M has a base clock of 706 MHz and a boost clock of 797 MHz. The GTX 580M’s memory clock is 750 MHz (effective 3 Gbps).

The GTX 770M also supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 580M does not list Vulkan support. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. The GTX 580M is part of the GeForce 500M generation, succeeding the GeForce 400M and preceding the GeForce 600M. The GTX 770M is from the GeForce 700M generation, succeeding the GeForce 600M and preceding the GeForce 800M. Both are end-of-life products, with the GTX 580M releasing in 2011 and the GTX 770M in 2013.