NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti vs NVIDIA GRID K2 Comparison

The NVIDIA GRID K2 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti are both Kepler-based graphics cards from NVIDIA, but they target fundamentally different use cases. The GRID K2 is a data-center virtualization powerhouse, while the GTX 650 Ti is a mainstream desktop GPU. The benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but architectural differences reveal a more nuanced story than raw scores alone.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only shared benchmark between the two cards is Geekbench OpenCL, and the results are decisively lopsided. The GRID K2 scores 10,602 points, while the GTX 650 Ti manages 7,877 points. That translates to a 34.6% advantage for the GRID K2, a substantial margin that reflects the former's enterprise-class design. The GRID K2 wins the sole head-to-head comparison, with a 1-0 record in wins.

This 34.6% delta is significant when placed in context. The GRID K2's average benchmark score across all tests is 8,080, while the GTX 650 Ti sits at 8,053 — a difference of only 0.3%. The OpenCL result, however, shows a much larger gap than the averages suggest. This discrepancy indicates the GRID K2's strength is concentrated in compute workloads, whereas the GTX 650 Ti's modest OpenCL showing drags its average down less than one might expect.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each card reinforces the picture. The GRID K2's closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost, with an average score of 8,067 and a deltaPct of 0.2% — essentially a statistical tie. The GTX 650 Ti itself is also in that cluster, with its 8,053 average representing a 0.3% gap from the GRID K2. The NVIDIA GeForce 945M (8,099, -0.2%) and the GTX 880M (8,040, 0.5%) round out the GRID K2's immediate rivals. For the GTX 650 Ti, the same names appear: the GTX 880M (8,040, 0.2%), GTX 650 Ti Boost (8,067, -0.2%), and the Quadro P5000 (8,039, 0.2%). Both cards sit in the 42nd percentile of all GPUs, meaning they are surrounded by comparable performers in aggregate despite their different architectures.

The practical interpretation is straightforward: in raw compute throughput, the GRID K2 delivers over a third more performance than the GTX 650 Ti. In the broader benchmark landscape, however, both cards are mid-pack performers, with the GRID K2's advantage being workload-dependent rather than universal.

Architecture Differences

The two cards share the same 28 nm process node and TSMC foundry, but their chips diverge significantly. The GRID K2 uses the GK104 chip, while the GTX 650 Ti is built on the GK106S. The GRID K2 packs 3,540 million transistors across a 294 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.0M per mm². The GTX 650 Ti is smaller, with 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die and a density of 11.5M per mm². The GRID K2's larger die and higher transistor count translate directly into more execution resources.

The compute configuration illustrates the gap. The GRID K2 features 1,536 shading units, 128 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 raster output units (ROPs). The GTX 650 Ti is exactly half in two of these categories: 768 shading units and 64 TMUs, with 16 ROPs — again half. This doubling of resources explains the GRID K2's compute lead. Pixel rate stands at 23.84 GPixel/s for the GRID K2 versus 14.85 GPixel/s for the GTX 650 Ti. Texture rate is 95.36 GTexel/s versus 59.39 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance (FP32) reaches 2.289 TFLOPS on the GRID K2, compared to 1,425.4 GFLOPS on the GTX 650 Ti.

Memory configurations also differ. The GRID K2 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 160.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 650 Ti has 1,024 MB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 86.40 GB/s. The memory clock is 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) for the GRID K2 and 1350 MHz (5.4 Gbps effective) for the GTX 650 Ti — the GTX 650 Ti runs its memory faster, but the GRID K2's wider bus more than compensates.

Both cards support DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175, so API compatibility is identical. Neither card has ray tracing or tensor cores. The GRID K2 has no display outputs, a clear sign of its server role, while the GTX 650 Ti offers 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.4a. Power draw reflects the performance gap: the GRID K2 is rated at 225 W TDP with a 550 W suggested PSU and dual-slot cooling, while the GTX 650 Ti draws 110 W, needs only a 300 W PSU, and fits in a single slot. The GRID K2 uses 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin power connectors; the GTX 650 Ti uses a single 6-pin.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in compute workloads?

A: The GRID K2 wins the only shared benchmark, Geekbench OpenCL, by 34.6% — scoring 10,602 versus 7,877. Its FP32 throughput of 2.289 TFLOPS versus 1,425.4 GFLOPS confirms this advantage.

Q: Do these cards have the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use NVIDIA's Kepler architecture, but with different chips. The GRID K2 uses GK104, while the GTX 650 Ti uses GK106S. Both are built on TSMC's 28 nm process.

Q: What are the memory capacity differences?

A: The GRID K2 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 650 Ti has 1,024 MB on a 128-bit bus with 86.40 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Can the GRID K2 output video to displays?

A: No. The GRID K2 has no display outputs, indicating its purpose is server-side rendering and virtualization. The GTX 650 Ti, by contrast, has 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.4a.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The GRID K2 has a 225 W TDP with a 550 W suggested PSU and dual-slot cooling, requiring 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin connectors. The GTX 650 Ti has a 110 W TDP, a 300 W suggested PSU, single-slot cooling, and a single 6-pin connector.

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The GRID K2 has an average score of 8,080, while the GTX 650 Ti averages 8,053 — a 0.3% difference. Both sit in the 42nd percentile of all GPUs.

The Verdict

The data dictates a clear split based on intended use. The GRID K2 is the superior compute card, with double the shading units, TMUs, and ROPs of the GTX 650 Ti, plus twice the memory capacity and nearly double the bandwidth. Its 34.6% lead in OpenCL and 60% higher FP32 throughput make it the obvious choice for any workload that leverages raw parallel processing. The lack of display outputs reinforces that this is a back-end card, meant for virtualized environments where rendering happens off-device.

The GTX 650 Ti, meanwhile, is a conventional desktop card with display connectivity and a much lower power envelope. Its 110 W TDP versus the GRID K2's 225 W, and its single-slot design versus dual-slot, make it far more practical for a standard consumer system. The memory clock is actually higher on the GTX 650 Ti (1350 MHz vs 1250 MHz), but the GRID K2's 256-bit bus overcomes that with superior overall bandwidth.

For a user building a workstation or gaming rig, the GTX 650 Ti is the only one of the two that makes sense — the GRID K2 cannot connect to a monitor. For a data center deploying GPU-accelerated virtualization, the GRID K2's compute lead and 4 GB memory capacity are the relevant factors. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (8,080 vs 8,053), but that metric masks the GRID K2's specialization. Neither card is a clear winner; they are tools for different jobs, and the benchmark data supports that conclusion.

Specification Differences

| Field | NVIDIA GRID K2 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti |

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

| Chip | GK104 | GK106S |

| Generation | GRID (K2) | GeForce 600 |

| Transistors | 3,540 million | 2,540 million |

| Die Size | 294 mm² | 221 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.0M / mm² | 11.5M / mm² |

| Memory Clock | 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) | 1350 MHz (5.4 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 1024 MB |

| Memory Bus Width | 256 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 160.0 GB/s | 86.40 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 1536 | 768 |

| TMUs | 128 | 64 |

| ROPs | 32 | 16 |

| Pixel Rate | 23.84 GPixel/s | 14.85 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 95.36 GTexel/s | 59.39 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 2.289 TFLOPS | 1,425.4 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 225 W | 110 W |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | Single-slot |

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

| Suggested PSU | 550 W | 300 W |

| Display Outputs | No outputs | 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 1.4a |

| Length | 267 mm (10.5 inches) | 145 mm (5.7 inches) |

| Release Date | 2013-05-10 | 2012-10-08 |

| Launch MSRP | 5,199 USD | 149 USD |