NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER represent two distinct eras of GPU design, separated by the arrival of dedicated ray tracing hardware and a significant leap in manufacturing efficiency. The data shows that the newer RTX 2060 SUPER decisively outperforms the older GTX 780 in the available compute benchmarks, though the comparison is not merely about raw speed but also about architectural philosophy and feature support.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data available for direct comparison is limited to two compute-focused tests, but the results are stark and unambiguous. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the RTX 2060 SUPER scores 76,957, while the GTX 780 manages 22,863. This translates to a deltaPct of -70.3 from the perspective of the GTX 780, meaning the newer card is roughly 236% faster in this workload. The margin is even more pronounced in the Geekbench Vulkan test, where the RTX 2060 SUPER scores 77,402 against the GTX 780's 24,514, a deltaPct of -68.3. This indicates the RTX 2060 SUPER is about 215% ahead in Vulkan compute performance.

These are not marginal gains; they represent a generational leap in compute throughput. The GTX 780's 4.156 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is dwarfed by the RTX 2060 SUPER's 7.181 TFLOPS. While the RTX 2060 SUPER has fewer shading units (2,176 vs. 2,304), its significantly higher clock speeds (1,650 MHz boost vs. 902 MHz boost) and architectural efficiency allow it to pull far ahead. The RTX 2060 SUPER also boasts a substantial lead in texture and pixel fill rates, with 224.4 GTexel/s and 105.6 GPixel/s, respectively, compared to the GTX 780's 173.2 GTexel/s and 43.30 GPixel/s. The pixel rate advantage is particularly telling, indicating the newer card can handle modern rendering techniques that heavily stress the ROPs.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, the RTX 2060 SUPER's average benchmark score of 18,093 places it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 780's average of 19,164 puts it in the 64th percentile. This is an interesting anomaly: the older card has a higher average score across all its tested benchmarks, but this is likely due to the different types of tests each card was subjected to. The GTX 780's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA TITAN Xp (avg score 19,177, deltaPct -0.1) and the NVIDIA Tesla K20m (avg score 19,089, deltaPct 0.4), while the RTX 2060 SUPER sits near the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile (avg score 18,159, deltaPct -0.4) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (avg score 18,189, deltaPct -0.5). The head-to-head data, however, is unambiguous: in the two tests where both cards were measured, the RTX 2060 SUPER wins by a massive margin.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally favors the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER. In the direct head-to-head benchmarks, it wins both tests decisively, with scores that are more than three times higher than the GTX 780's. The RTX 2060 SUPER's higher FP32 throughput, memory bandwidth, and pixel rate all point to a card that is not just faster, but fundamentally more capable for modern workloads. The GTX 780, despite its higher average benchmark score across a different set of tests, cannot compete in the metrics that matter for contemporary gaming and compute tasks.

The RTX 2060 SUPER is the clear choice for anyone seeking performance in modern applications, especially those that can utilize its dedicated RT and Tensor cores. The GTX 780, with its Kepler architecture, lacks support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS, features that are increasingly common in new game releases. While the GTX 780's average benchmark score is higher, this appears to be a function of the specific tests it was run through, not an indication of real-world superiority. The verdict from the data is simple: the RTX 2060 SUPER is the superior GPU, offering dramatically better performance in the benchmarks where they are directly compared.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is significantly faster, scoring 76,957 compared to the GTX 780's 22,863, a deltaPct of -70.3 from the GTX 780's perspective.

Q: Does the GTX 780 win any of the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The data shows the GTX 780 has 0 wins in head-to-head benchmarks, while the RTX 2060 SUPER has 2 wins.

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

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s, which is significantly higher than the GTX 780's 288.4 GB/s.

Q: Does the GTX 780 support hardware ray tracing?

A: No. The GTX 780 has no RT cores (null in the data), while the RTX 2060 SUPER has 34 RT cores.

Q: Which card has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has a boost clock of 1,650 MHz, which is much higher than the GTX 780's 902 MHz boost clock.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The GTX 780 has a higher average benchmark score of 19,164, compared to the RTX 2060 SUPER's 18,093. However, the RTX 2060 SUPER dominates in the direct head-to-head tests.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every major specification category. The RTX 2060 SUPER is built on a 12 nm process node, while the GTX 780 uses a 28 nm node. The newer card has a larger transistor count (10,800 million vs. 7,080 million) but a smaller die size (445 mm² vs. 561 mm²), resulting in a much higher transistor density (24.3M / mm² vs. 12.6M / mm²). Memory configurations differ greatly: the RTX 2060 SUPER has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, while the GTX 780 has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus. The newer card has a wider memory bus bandwidth (448.0 GB/s vs. 288.4 GB/s). Clock speeds are higher on the RTX 2060 SUPER (1,470 MHz base / 1,650 MHz boost vs. 863 MHz base / 902 MHz boost), and it also has a faster effective memory speed (14 Gbps vs. 6 Gbps). The RTX 2060 SUPER has more ROPs (64 vs. 48) but fewer TMUs (136 vs. 192) and shading units (2,176 vs. 2,304). Power consumption is lower on the newer card, with a 175 W TDP versus the GTX 780's 250 W TDP, and it requires a single 8-pin power connector instead of a 6-pin and 8-pin combo. The suggested PSU is also lower for the RTX 2060 SUPER (450 W vs. 600 W). The cards also differ in physical dimensions, with the RTX 2060 SUPER being shorter (229 mm vs. 267 mm). Display outputs are different, with the RTX 2060 SUPER featuring HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4a, and USB Type-C, while the GTX 780 has HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2. The launch MSRP for the GTX 780 was 649 USD, while the RTX 2060 SUPER launched at 399 USD.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these GPUs is profound, reflecting a major shift in NVIDIA's design philosophy. The GTX 780 is based on the Kepler architecture and the GK110 chip, while the RTX 2060 SUPER uses the Turing architecture and the TU106 chip. Turing is a fundamentally newer design, built on a 12 nm process compared to Kepler's 28 nm. The most significant difference is the inclusion of dedicated hardware in the RTX 2060 SUPER: 34 RT cores for real-time ray tracing and 272 Tensor cores for AI-accelerated tasks like DLSS. The GTX 780 has neither, meaning it must rely on compute shaders for these effects, which is far less efficient. This is reflected in the API support; the RTX 2060 SUPER supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the GTX 780 is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0). The newer card also supports Vulkan 1.4, whereas the GTX 780 supports Vulkan 1.2.175. The FP16 performance is another key differentiator: the RTX 2060 SUPER can deliver 14.36 TFLOPS (2:1) of FP16 performance, while the GTX 780 has no listed FP16 capability. The RTX 2060 SUPER also has a higher number of transistors (10,800 million vs. 7,080 million), despite its smaller die, showcasing a denser and more complex design.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 2060 SUPER wins in every direct comparison available. Its 76,957 OpenCL and 77,402 Vulkan scores are more than triple the GTX 780's 22,863 and 24,514, respectively. This makes it the clear choice for any application that leverages these APIs, which includes most modern games and compute workloads. The RTX 2060 SUPER's higher pixel rate (105.6 GPixel/s vs. 43.30 GPixel/s) suggests it will excel in high-resolution rendering with demanding anti-aliasing and post-processing effects. Its larger 8 GB memory buffer is also a significant advantage for modern game textures and larger datasets, whereas the GTX 780's 3 GB buffer is a potential bottleneck. The RTX 2060 SUPER's dedicated RT and Tensor cores give it a unique capability that the GTX 780 simply cannot match, making it the only choice for games with ray tracing or DLSS enabled.

The GTX 780's wins are more contextual. Its higher average benchmark score of 19,164, compared to the RTX 2060 SUPER's 18,093, indicates that in the specific legacy tests it was run on, it performed well. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA TITAN Xp and Tesla K20m, suggesting it holds its own in certain compute scenarios that were common during its era. Furthermore, its lower power draw relative to its performance in those legacy tests might be a consideration for someone running very old software. However, in the modern landscape defined by the head-to-head data, the GTX 780 has no clear area of victory. It is simply outclassed. The RTX 2060 SUPER is the winner for gaming, content creation, and any modern compute task, while the GTX 780 remains a relic of the Kepler era, best suited for legacy applications where its particular strengths are still relevant.