NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost vs NVIDIA GRID K2 Comparison

NVIDIA GRID K2 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost are both end-of-life Kepler architecture cards, but they target completely different workloads. The GRID K2 is a virtualized data-center appliance with no display outputs, while the GTX 650 Ti Boost is a conventional consumer graphics card. The benchmark data shows they are far closer in raw compute performance than their very different form factors suggest.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The GRID K2 and GTX 650 Ti Boost are separated by a razor-thin margin in average benchmark score, with the GRID K2 posting an 8080 average against the GTX 650 Ti Boost’s 8067. That is a 0.2% delta, effectively a statistical tie. Both cards occupy the 42nd percentile of all GPUs, meaning they sit in the same performance tier despite very different hardware configurations.

Looking at individual tests, the GRID K2 wins both recorded benchmarks. In Geekbench Metal, the GRID K2 scores 5557, which is 14.4% ahead of the GTX 650 Ti Boost’s 4858. The gap widens slightly in Geekbench OpenCL, where the GRID K2 posts 10602 versus 9302, a 14% lead. These are meaningful wins, but they do not represent a class difference.

The context from nearest rivals reinforces how tight this comparison is. The GRID K2’s nearest rival list includes the GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost with a 0.2% delta, the GeForce 945M at -0.2%, the GeForce GTX 650 Ti at 0.3%, and the GeForce GTX 880M at 0.5%. On the other side, the GTX 650 Ti Boost’s nearest rivals include the GRID K2 at -0.2%, the GTX 650 Ti at 0.2%, the GTX 880M at 0.3%, and the Quadro P5000 at 0.3%. No card in either list is more than half a percent away in average score.

The GRID K2’s wins are consistent across both API tests, but the margin is moderate. In Metal, the 14.4% lead is substantial enough to notice in frame pacing, but in OpenCL the 14% advantage is similar. The GTX 650 Ti Boost does have one benchmark the GRID K2 lacks: a Geekbench Vulkan score of 10041. However, the GRID K2 has no recorded Vulkan result, so no direct comparison exists for that test.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but narrow choice. If you are working in a virtualized server environment and need GPU acceleration without any display output, the GRID K2 is the only option that fits that requirement. Its 14.4% Metal lead and 14% OpenCL lead over the GTX 650 Ti Boost are real advantages, and its 4 GB memory capacity doubles the consumer card’s 2 GB allocation.

For a desktop user building a system with physical displays, the GTX 650 Ti Boost is the practical pick. It has 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, while the GRID K2 has no outputs at all. The performance difference is modest, and the GTX 650 Ti Boost draws far less power, making it easier to integrate into a standard PC build.

The launch MSRP of the GRID K2 is 5,199 USD, while the GTX 650 Ti Boost launched at 169 USD. That price differential reflects the GRID K2’s enterprise virtualization focus, not its raw benchmark performance. The benchmark data shows these cards perform similarly, so the decision must rest on workload and form factor, not on speed.

Architecture Differences

Both cards use the Kepler architecture and are built on TSMC’s 28 nm process, but they employ different chips. The GRID K2 uses the GK104 die, while the GTX 650 Ti Boost uses the GK106. The GRID K2’s chip is substantially larger, with a die size of 294 mm² versus 221 mm² for the GTX 650 Ti Boost. Transistor counts follow the same pattern: 3,540 million on the GRID K2 versus 2,540 million on the GTX 650 Ti Boost. Transistor density is similar, at 12.0M per mm² for the GRID K2 and 11.5M per mm² for the GTX 650 Ti Boost.

The GRID K2 has double the shading units, with 1536 versus 768, and double the texture mapping units, at 128 versus 64. The ROP count is 32 versus 24. This hardware advantage translates into higher theoretical throughput: the GRID K2 reaches 2.289 TFLOPS FP32, while the GTX 650 Ti Boost manages 1.585 TFLOPS. The GRID K2’s pixel rate is 23.84 GPixel/s versus 16.51 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 95.36 GTexel/s versus 66.05 GTexel/s.

Memory configurations also diverge. The GRID K2 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, yielding 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 650 Ti Boost has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, yielding 144.2 GB/s bandwidth. Memory clocks differ too, with the GTX 650 Ti Boost running at 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective) versus the GRID K2’s 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective). The GTX 650 Ti Boost compensates for its narrower bus with faster memory, but the GRID K2 still ends up with higher total bandwidth.

Clock speeds favor the GTX 650 Ti Boost, which has a base clock of 980 MHz and a boost clock of 1032 MHz. The GRID K2 has no listed base or boost clocks, only its memory clock. The GRID K2 is a dual-slot card with 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin power connectors, while the GTX 650 Ti Boost is dual-slot with a single 6-pin connector. The GRID K2 is longer at 267 mm versus 241 mm.

FAQ

Q: Which card has better raw compute performance in the benchmark data?

A: The GRID K2 wins both recorded benchmarks. It leads by 14.4% in Geekbench Metal (5557 vs 4858) and by 14% in Geekbench OpenCL (10602 vs 9302).

Q: How close are the two cards in average benchmark score?

A: They are nearly identical. The GRID K2 has an average score of 8080, and the GTX 650 Ti Boost has 8067, a difference of 0.2%.

Q: Does the GTX 650 Ti Boost have any benchmark advantage over the GRID K2?

A: The GTX 650 Ti Boost has a Geekbench Vulkan score of 10041, but the GRID K2 has no recorded Vulkan benchmark, so no direct comparison is possible in that test.

Q: Can the GRID K2 be used for conventional desktop display output?

A: No. The GRID K2 has no display outputs, while the GTX 650 Ti Boost has 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference?

A: The GRID K2 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the GTX 650 Ti Boost has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The GRID K2 has 160.0 GB/s bandwidth on a 256-bit bus, while the GTX 650 Ti Boost has 144.2 GB/s on a 192-bit bus.

Where Each One Wins

The GRID K2 wins in every benchmark where both cards have results. Its 14.4% Metal lead and 14% OpenCL lead are consistent across APIs. The GRID K2 also wins on raw hardware specifications: 1536 shading units versus 768, 128 TMUs versus 64, 2.289 TFLOPS versus 1.585 TFLOPS, and double the memory capacity at 4 GB versus 2 GB. It has a larger die (294 mm² vs 221 mm²) and more transistors (3,540 million vs 2,540 million). For workloads that scale with shading unit count and memory capacity, the GRID K2 is the stronger card.

The GTX 650 Ti Boost wins on power efficiency and practical desktop integration. Its TDP is 134 W versus the GRID K2’s 225 W, and its recommended PSU is 300 W versus 550 W. It is shorter at 241 mm versus 267 mm, and it has full display outputs, which the GRID K2 lacks entirely. Its memory clock is faster at 1502 MHz versus 1250 MHz, though this does not overcome the bus width deficit. The GTX 650 Ti Boost also has a Vulkan benchmark score, suggesting better API coverage for consumer applications.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every significant specification except architecture, process node, foundry, and API support. Both use Kepler, both are 28 nm, and both are fabricated by TSMC. Both support DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175.

The chip differs: GK104 for the GRID K2, GK106 for the GTX 650 Ti Boost. Die size is 294 mm² versus 221 mm². Transistor count is 3,540 million versus 2,540 million. Transistor density is 12.0M per mm² versus 11.5M per mm².

Shading units are 1536 versus 768. TMUs are 128 versus 64. ROPs are 32 versus 24. FP32 performance is 2.289 TFLOPS versus 1.585 TFLOPS. Pixel rate is 23.84 GPixel/s versus 16.51 GPixel/s. Texture rate is 95.36 GTexel/s versus 66.05 GTexel/s.

Memory size is 4 GB versus 2 GB. Memory bus width is 256 bit versus 192 bit. Memory bandwidth is 160.0 GB/s versus 144.2 GB/s. Memory clock is 1250 MHz versus 1502 MHz.

The GTX 650 Ti Boost has a base clock of 980 MHz and a boost clock of 1032 MHz; the GRID K2 has no listed base or boost clocks. TDP is 225 W versus 134 W. Power connectors are 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin versus 1x 6-pin. Suggested PSU is 550 W versus 300 W. Length is 267 mm versus 241 mm.

Display outputs: the GRID K2 has none, while the GTX 650 Ti Boost has 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2. Generation differs, with the GRID K2 in the GRID (K2) generation and the GTX 650 Ti Boost in the GeForce 600 generation. The GTX 650 Ti Boost has a predecessor (GeForce 500) and successor (GeForce 700); the GRID K2 has neither listed. Release dates are close, with the GRID K2 on 2013-05-10 and the GTX 650 Ti Boost on 2013-03-25.