NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 vs NVIDIA Quadro P2200 Comparison

The GeForce GTX 660 and Quadro P2200 represent two very different eras of NVIDIA GPU design, with seven years of architectural evolution separating them. The benchmark data shows a decisive performance advantage for the Quadro P2200, but the comparison also reveals significant differences in feature sets, memory configurations, and intended use cases that go beyond raw compute scores. Below is a detailed breakdown based on available benchmark data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

In the two head-to-head benchmark comparisons available, the NVIDIA Quadro P2200 wins both outright, and by substantial margins. The most dramatic gap appears in the Geekbench OpenCL test, where the Quadro P2200 scores 32,344 against the GeForce GTX 660’s 11,347. That represents a deltaPct of -64.9% from the perspective of the GTX 660, meaning the Quadro P2200 is roughly 2.85 times faster in this compute-oriented workload. This is a massive generational leap, driven not just by clock speeds but by fundamental architectural improvements.

The Vulkan results tell a similar story. The Quadro P2200 posts 31,351 in Geekbench Vulkan, while the GTX 660 manages only 11,415. The deltaPct here is -63.6%, putting the Quadro P2200 at roughly 2.75 times the performance of the older card. Both tests heavily favor the newer GPU, and the consistency across OpenCL and Vulkan suggests the advantage is not workload-specific but rather a broad compute superiority. The GTX 660 fails to win a single benchmark in this head-to-head set, with a 0-2 record overall.

The average benchmark scores also underscore this gap. The GTX 660 has an average score of 9,022 across all recorded tests, while the Quadro P2200 averages 8,686. However, this aggregate figure is misleading, as it includes a wider range of tests for the Quadro P2200, including several Passmark DirectX legacy tests where it scores very low (e.g., 33 in DirectX 12, 45 in DirectX 10). The head-to-head results, which use identical test conditions, are far more reliable for direct comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The Quadro P2200 is the clear winner in every measurable compute and graphics workload present in the data. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 32,344 and Vulkan score of 31,351 position it as a capable performer for modern applications that leverage these APIs. The GTX 660, with its scores of 11,347 and 11,415 respectively, is effectively outclassed in any scenario that relies on current-generation compute shaders or Vulkan rendering.

However, the GTX 660 retains relevance in a narrow sense. Its average benchmark score of 9,022 is higher than the Quadro P2200’s 8,686, though this is due to the inclusion of Passmark tests in the Quadro P2200’s dataset that drag down its average. Looking at the Passmark G3D score specifically, the Quadro P2200 hits 9,364, which is the highest single benchmark in its profile. The GTX 660 has no equivalent Passmark data, so direct comparison in that suite is impossible.

For purely legacy DirectX 9 workloads, the Quadro P2200 scores 167 in Passmark DirectX 9, which is its best legacy result. The GTX 660 has no such data point. In practical terms, the Quadro P2200 wins in modern APIs, professional rendering, and any compute-heavy task. The GTX 660’s only advantage is its higher average benchmark score, which is a statistical artifact and not a real performance lead.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The GTX 660 uses the GK106 chip, based on the Kepler architecture from the GeForce 600 generation. It is fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, with 2,540 million transistors packed into a 221 mm² die. The transistor density is 11.5 million per square millimeter. In contrast, the Quadro P2200 uses the GP106 chip, based on the Pascal architecture from the Quadro Pascal generation. This chip is built on a more advanced 16 nm process, also at TSMC, and contains 4,400 million transistors on a slightly smaller 200 mm² die. The density jumps to 22.0 million transistors per square millimeter, reflecting the newer fabrication technology.

Memory configurations diverge sharply. The GTX 660 has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 144.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Quadro P2200 offers 5 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 160-bit bus, but with a much higher effective speed of 10 Gbps, resulting in 200.2 GB/s of bandwidth. Despite the narrower bus, the Quadro P2200’s faster memory technology gives it a clear bandwidth advantage.

Compute resources also favor the Quadro P2200. The GTX 660 has 960 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs. The Quadro P2200 has 1,280 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 40 ROPs. Pixel rate for the Quadro P2200 is 59.72 GPixel/s versus 20.64 GPixel/s for the GTX 660. Texture rate similarly jumps from 82.56 GTexel/s to 119.4 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance (FP32) is 3.822 TFLOPS for the Quadro P2200, nearly double the GTX 660’s 1.981 TFLOPS.

Clock speeds tell a nuanced story. The GTX 660 has a base clock of 980 MHz and a boost of 1032 MHz. The Quadro P2200 starts at 1000 MHz but boosts much higher, to 1493 MHz. This aggressive boost behavior contributes significantly to its performance lead. The Quadro P2200 also supports FP16 at 59.72 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio), a feature absent from the GTX 660.

API support differs as well. The GTX 660 supports DirectX 12 (feature level 11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The Quadro P2200 supports DirectX 12 (feature level 12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The newer Vulkan version and higher DirectX feature level give the Quadro P2200 better compatibility with modern titles and applications.

Power and physical characteristics are also distinct. The GTX 660 has a TDP of 140 W, requires a dual-slot cooler, and needs a 1x 6-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 300 W. It measures 241 mm in length. The Quadro P2200 is far more efficient, with a TDP of just 75 W, a single-slot design, no external power connectors, and a suggested PSU of only 250 W. It is also shorter at 201 mm and includes a height of 111 mm. Display outputs differ too: the GTX 660 offers 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2, while the Quadro P2200 provides 4x DisplayPort 1.4a.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 has a higher average benchmark score of 9,022, compared to the Quadro P2200’s 8,686. However, this aggregate includes different test sets, and the head-to-head results favor the Quadro P2200.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest gap is in the Geekbench OpenCL test, where the Quadro P2200 scores 32,344 versus the GTX 660’s 11,347, a deltaPct of -64.9% in favor of the Quadro P2200.

Q: How does memory capacity compare between the two cards?

A: The Quadro P2200 has 5 GB of GDDR5X memory, while the GTX 660 has 2 GB of GDDR5. The Quadro P2200 also has higher bandwidth at 200.2 GB/s versus 144.2 GB/s.

Q: Which GPU has a lower power consumption?

A: The Quadro P2200 has a TDP of 75 W, significantly lower than the GTX 660’s 140 W. The Quadro P2200 also requires no external power connectors.

Q: Do both GPUs support modern APIs?

A: Both support OpenGL 4.6 and DirectX 12, but the Quadro P2200 has a higher DirectX feature level (12_1 versus 11_0) and a newer Vulkan version (1.4 versus 1.2.175).

Q: What is the release date difference between the two?

A: The GTX 660 was released on September 5, 2012, while the Quadro P2200 was released on June 9, 2019.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA Quadro P2200 is the superior GPU in every head-to-head benchmark. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 32,344 and Vulkan score of 31,351 crush the GTX 660’s 11,347 and 11,415, representing a roughly 2.8x performance advantage. The Quadro P2200 also offers more memory (5 GB versus 2 GB), higher bandwidth (200.2 GB/s versus 144.2 GB/s), nearly double the FP32 compute (3.822 TFLOPS versus 1.981 TFLOPS), and better API support including Vulkan 1.4 and DirectX 12_1.

The GTX 660’s only statistical claim is its higher average benchmark score of 9,022, but this is an artifact of differing test suites and does not reflect real-world superiority. Any user choosing between these two cards for modern workloads should select the Quadro P2200. It wins on raw performance, efficiency (75 W TDP versus 140 W), physical footprint (single-slot versus dual-slot), and feature set. The GTX 660, released in 2012, is a relic of the Kepler era and cannot compete with the Pascal-based Quadro P2200 in any meaningful compute or graphics scenario. For professional applications, Vulkan-based workloads, or any task requiring modern API support, the Quadro P2200 is the only logical choice based on this data.