NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database contains a single direct comparison between these two graphics cards: the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this benchmark, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 scores 15,707 points, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 scores 12,830 points. This gives the GTX 770 a decisive 22.4% lead over the GTX 590 in raw compute performance as measured by OpenCL.

The gap is substantial. A 22.4% advantage in a compute-oriented workload indicates that the GTX 770 is the more capable card for general-purpose GPU tasks. This is the only head-to-head benchmark available, so the overall win count stands at 1 for the GTX 770 and 0 for the GTX 590.

Looking at the broader database context, the GTX 770's average benchmark score across all its recorded tests is 14,747 points. Its single OpenCL score of 15,707 is higher than its average, suggesting it performs particularly well in this specific workload. The GTX 590's average benchmark score is 12,830, which is identical to its sole OpenCL score, as no other benchmark data exists for it.

The percentile rankings reinforce this hierarchy. The GTX 770 sits at the 57th percentile of all GPUs in the database, while the GTX 590 sits at the 52nd percentile. This 5-percentile gap places the GTX 770 in a stronger overall position relative to the entire GPU landscape.

Examining the nearest rivals provides further context. The GTX 770's closest competitor is the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT, which has an average score of 14,692, putting it a mere 0.4% behind. The NVIDIA Quadro M2000 follows at 14,532, which is 1.5% behind the GTX 770. On the other side, the GTX 770 trails the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti by 2.1% and the AMD Radeon Pro 560X by 2.2%, both of which have slightly higher average scores.

For the GTX 590, the competitive field is tighter. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 455, scores 12,831, which is effectively a tie at 0.0% difference. The AMD FirePro W5100 scores 12,847, putting it 0.1% behind the GTX 590. The AMD Radeon 740M scores 12,870, trailing by 0.3%, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 scores 12,773, which is 0.4% ahead of the GTX 590.

Where Each One Wins

The data points to a clear split between these two cards. The GTX 770 wins in every measurable category where direct comparison exists. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark, the OpenCL test, with a 22.4% margin. It also holds a higher average benchmark score, 14,747 versus 12,830, which represents a 15% advantage across all recorded tests.

The GTX 770 also wins on compute throughput in absolute terms. Its FP32 performance is listed at 3.333 TFLOPS, while the GTX 590 is listed at 1,244.2 GFLOPS. This is a massive difference, with the GTX 770 delivering roughly 2.7 times the single-precision floating-point throughput of the GTX 590.

The GTX 590 does not win any recorded benchmark. Its only score, 12,830 in OpenCL, places it below the GTX 770's score in the same test. It also has a lower percentile ranking, 52 compared to 57, and a lower average benchmark score.

For use cases, the GTX 770 appears better suited for compute-heavy applications like OpenCL workloads, where its 22.4% lead is decisive. The GTX 590, despite having no benchmark wins, still holds a higher memory bus width of 384 bit compared to 256 bit, and more ROPs at 48 versus 32. These specifications suggest it may handle certain memory-bandwidth-intensive tasks differently, though no benchmark data confirms this advantage.

The GTX 770 also shows broader API support, with Vulkan 1.2.175 support listed, while the GTX 590 has no Vulkan support recorded. For modern applications leveraging Vulkan, the GTX 770 is the only viable option between the two.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from different architectural generations. The GTX 770 uses the GK104 chip built on the Kepler architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. The GTX 590 uses the GF110 chip built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture, fabricated on a 40 nm process, also at TSMC.

The transistor counts differ significantly. The GTX 770 has 3,540 million transistors on a die size of 294 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 12.0 million transistors per square millimeter. The GTX 590 has 3,000 million transistors on a much larger die of 520 mm², giving it a density of 5.8 million transistors per square millimeter. The GTX 770 packs more than twice the transistor density into a smaller physical area.

The memory configurations diverge as well. The GTX 770 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 224.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 590 has 1,536 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering 164.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 770 has more memory and higher bandwidth, despite the narrower bus.

The memory clocks also differ. The GTX 770 operates at 1,753 MHz, which translates to 7 Gbps effective. The GTX 590 operates at 854 MHz, which translates to 3.4 Gbps effective. This clock speed difference contributes to the bandwidth gap.

Core configurations show the GTX 770 with 1,536 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The GTX 590 has 512 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The GTX 770 has three times the shading units and double the TMUs, while the GTX 590 has 50% more ROPs.

Pixel and texture rates reflect these differences. The GTX 770 achieves 34.72 GPixel/s pixel rate and 138.9 GTexel/s texture rate. The GTX 590 achieves 19.46 GPixel/s and 38.91 GTexel/s. The GTX 770 more than triples the texture fill rate and nearly doubles the pixel fill rate.

The power requirements also differ. The GTX 770 has a TDP of 230 W, uses a dual-slot cooler, and requires one 6-pin and one 8-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 550 W. The GTX 590 has a TDP of 365 W, also uses a dual-slot cooler, requires two 8-pin power connectors, and has a suggested PSU of 750 W.

The bus interface differs as well. The GTX 770 uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the GTX 590 uses PCIe 2.0 x16. The GTX 770 also has a smaller physical footprint at 267 mm in length and 38 mm in width, compared to the GTX 590's 279 mm length and 40 mm width. Both cards share the same 111 mm height.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 across all recorded metrics. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark by 22.4%, holds a higher average benchmark score by 15%, and occupies a higher percentile position in the overall GPU ranking. Its architectural advantages, including a newer process node, higher transistor density, more shading units, and faster memory, all contribute to this outcome.

The GTX 770's launch MSRP was 399 USD. It was released on 2013-05-29 and belongs to the GeForce 700 generation, with the GeForce 600 as its predecessor and GeForce 900 as its successor. It is now end-of-life.

The GTX 590's launch MSRP was 699 USD. It was released on 2011-03-23 and belongs to the GeForce 500 generation, with the GeForce 400 as its predecessor and GeForce 600 as its successor. It is also end-of-life.

For users choosing between these two cards, the GTX 770 is the superior choice based on every measured dimension. It delivers significantly higher compute performance, better memory bandwidth, and broader API support, including Vulkan. The GTX 590 offers a wider memory bus and more ROPs, but these specifications do not translate into any recorded benchmark advantage.

The GTX 770's higher transistor density on a smaller die suggests more efficient design, while its lower TDP of 230 W versus 365 W indicates less power draw and heat generation. The GTX 770 also requires a less demanding PSU at 550 W versus 750 W.

FAQ

Q: Which card wins in OpenCL performance?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 scores 15,707 in the OpenCL benchmark, while the GTX 590 scores 12,830, giving the GTX 770 a 22.4% lead.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The GTX 770 has an average benchmark score of 14,747, while the GTX 590 has an average score of 12,830, a difference of 15%.

Q: What are the memory capacities of the two cards?

A: The GTX 770 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the GTX 590 has 1,536 MB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor density?

A: The GTX 770 has a transistor density of 12.0 million transistors per square millimeter, compared to the GTX 590's 5.8 million.

Q: Do both cards support Vulkan?

A: No. The GTX 770 supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 590 has no Vulkan support recorded.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each card?

A: The GTX 770 has a TDP of 230 W, while the GTX 590 has a TDP of 365 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 |

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

| Architecture | Kepler | Fermi 2.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |

| Transistors | 3,540 million | 3,000 million |

| Die Size | 294 mm² | 520 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.0M / mm² | 5.8M / mm² |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 1536 MB |

| Memory Bus Width | 256 bit | 384 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 224.4 GB/s | 164.0 GB/s |

| Memory Clock | 1753 MHz (7 Gbps effective) | 854 MHz (3.4 Gbps effective) |

| Shading Units | 1536 | 512 |

| Texture Mapping Units | 128 | 64 |

| Raster Output Pipelines | 32 | 48 |

| Pixel Rate | 34.72 GPixel/s | 19.46 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 138.9 GTexel/s | 38.91 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 3.333 TFLOPS | 1,244.2 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 230 W | 365 W |

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

| Suggested PSU | 550 W | 750 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 2.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 | 3x DVI, 1x mini-DisplayPort |

| Vulkan Support | 1.2.175 | None |

| Length | 267 mm (10.5 inches) | 279 mm (11 inches) |

| Width | 38 mm (1.5 inches) | 40 mm (1.6 inches) |

| Launch MSRP | 399 USD | 699 USD |