NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010 Comparison

# The Verdict

The data presents an unusual comparison: a 2014 mobile GPU against a 2024 single-slot desktop card. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M holds a higher average benchmark score of 2967, placing it in the 19th percentile of all GPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010 averages 2893 and sits at the 18th percentile. On raw aggregate performance, the GTX 860M is technically ahead, but the margin is razor-thin — roughly 2.6% — and the two cards trade blows across different test suites. The GTX 860M wins the PassMark G3D test with 3081 against the RTX 4010’s single 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 2893, yet the RTX 4010 counters with a higher FP32 throughput of 2.706 TFLOPS versus 2.108 TFLOPS. For legacy DirectX 9 and compute workloads, the GTX 860M dominates with scores of 55 and 1251 respectively, but the RTX 4010 brings modern features like ray tracing cores and Tensor cores that the older card simply lacks.

Who should pick which? Strictly from the data, the GTX 860M is the choice for anyone running older DirectX 9/10/11 applications or OpenCL compute tasks, as it leads in every PassMark subtest except G2D where it scores 226 (the RTX 4010 has no equivalent result). The RTX 4010 is the pick for users who need the latest API support — DirectX 12 Ultimate versus the GTX 860M’s DirectX 12 (11_0) — or who prioritize a card that is actively produced, draws less power at 50 W versus 75 W, and fits in a single-slot 163 mm form factor. The 19th and 18th percentile rankings indicate both are entry-level performers, but the RTX 4010’s architectural advantages suggest it will age better despite its lower aggregate score.

# Architecture Differences

The GTX 860M is built on the GK104 chip using NVIDIA’s Kepler architecture, fabricated on TSMC’s 28 nm process. It packs 3,540 million transistors into a 294 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.0M per mm². The RTX 4010, in contrast, uses the GA107 chip with the Ampere architecture, produced on Samsung’s 8 nm node. It contains 8,700 million transistors on a smaller 200 mm² die, achieving a much higher density of 43.5M per mm² — over 3.6 times denser than the Kepler part.

Core configuration differs significantly. The GTX 860M has 1,152 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs. The RTX 4010 has fewer shading units (768) and far fewer TMUs (24), but it maintains the same 16 ROPs. More importantly, the RTX 4010 adds 6 ray tracing cores and 24 Tensor cores, features entirely absent from the GTX 860M. Clock speeds also favor the newer card: the RTX 4010 runs at 1417 MHz base and 1762 MHz boost, while the GTX 860M operates at 797 MHz base and 915 MHz boost. This higher clock rate helps the RTX 4010 achieve 2.706 TFLOPS FP32 and matching 2.706 TFLOPS FP16 (1:1), while the GTX 860M delivers 2.108 TFLOPS FP32 with no listed FP16 capability.

Memory subsystems reflect their respective eras. The GTX 860M uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, providing 80.00 GB/s bandwidth. The RTX 4010 offers 4 GB of GDDR6 on a narrower 64-bit bus but achieves 96.00 GB/s bandwidth thanks to faster 12 Gbps effective memory speed. The RTX 4010 also supports PCIe 4.0 x8, while the GTX 860M uses PCIe 3.0 x16. API support is a generational leap: the RTX 4010 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the GTX 860M only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. Both support OpenGL 4.6. The GTX 860M is an integrated-class chip (IGP) with no power connectors and portable-device-dependent outputs; the RTX 4010 is a single-slot 163 mm card with 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, no power connectors, and a 250 W suggested PSU.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark dataset is empty, so the comparison relies on each card’s individual benchmark results. The GTX 860M has a much broader test history, covering Geekbench and PassMark suites. Its strongest results include a Geekbench OpenCL score of 10461, a Geekbench Vulkan score of 9648, and a Geekbench Metal score of 4900. In PassMark tests, it scores 3081 in G3D, 226 in G2D, 1251 in GPU compute, 55 in DirectX 9, 23 in DirectX 11, 15 in DirectX 10, and 13 in DirectX 12.

The RTX 4010 has only one recorded benchmark: 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 with a score of 2893. This single data point makes direct comparisons difficult, but we can still draw meaningful conclusions. The GTX 860M’s PassMark DirectX 12 score of 13 is far below the RTX 4010’s 3DMark DX12 result of 2893, indicating the newer architecture handles modern APIs far more efficiently. Conversely, the GTX 860M’s DirectX 9 score of 55 suggests strong legacy performance, where the RTX 4010 has no equivalent data.

In raw compute, the GTX 860M’s PassMark GPU compute score of 1251 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 10461 show it outperforms its aggregate average of 2967 in compute-heavy workloads. The RTX 4010’s FP32 rating of 2.706 TFLOPS exceeds the GTX 860M’s 2.108 TFLOPS by roughly 28%, yet the GTX 860M still posts higher average benchmark scores. This discrepancy highlights that theoretical throughput doesn’t always translate to real-world benchmark wins, likely due to driver maturity, test methodology, and the GTX 860M’s wider 128-bit memory bus.

# FAQ

Q: Which card has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M averages 2967 across all its benchmarks, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4010 averages 2893. The GTX 860M holds a lead of approximately 2.6%.

Q: Does the RTX 4010 support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the RTX 4010 includes 6 ray tracing cores and 24 Tensor cores as part of its Ampere architecture. The GTX 860M has no ray tracing or Tensor core support.

Q: How do the memory bandwidths compare?

A: The GTX 860M provides 80.00 GB/s bandwidth from 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus. The RTX 4010 offers 96.00 GB/s bandwidth from 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, giving the newer card 20% more bandwidth despite a narrower bus.

Q: What is the DirectX support difference?

A: The RTX 4010 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the GTX 860M only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: Which card is more power-efficient?

A: The RTX 4010 has a 50 W TDP compared to the GTX 860M’s 75 W TDP. The RTX 4010 also specifies a 250 W suggested PSU, while the GTX 860M lists no PSU requirement.

Q: Are these cards comparable in physical size?

A: No. The GTX 860M is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no slot width, designed for laptops. The RTX 4010 is a single-slot desktop card measuring 163 mm in length and 69 mm in height.

# Where Each One Wins

The GTX 860M wins decisively in legacy DirectX performance. Its PassMark DirectX 9 score of 55, DirectX 10 score of 15, and DirectX 11 score of 23 demonstrate strength in older APIs, while the RTX 4010 has no recorded results for these tests. The GTX 860M also leads in compute benchmarks, posting a PassMark GPU compute score of 1251 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 10461 — results that suggest it handles general-purpose compute tasks well. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 9648 further indicates solid performance in Vulkan titles. The GTX 860M’s higher aggregate score of 2967 versus 2893 makes it the overall benchmark winner, and it holds an edge in G2D performance with a 226 score. For users running older games or compute workloads, the GTX 860M is clearly the better performer.

The RTX 4010 wins in modern API support and future-proofing. Its DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) capability and Vulkan 1.4 support exceed the GTX 860M’s DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. The RTX 4010’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2893, while lower than the GTX 860M’s average, represents a modern test where the older card has no comparable result. The RTX 4010’s 2.706 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16 (1:1) throughput outpaces the GTX 860M’s 2.108 TFLOPS FP32, offering better compute headroom for current-generation games. The 4 GB GDDR6 memory with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth gives the RTX 4010 more capacity and bandwidth than the GTX 860M’s 2 GB GDDR5 at 80.00 GB/s. The RTX 4010 also wins on power efficiency with its 50 W TDP, and it remains in active production while the GTX 860M is end-of-life. For users building a modern system with PCIe 4.0, requiring ray tracing, or needing a compact single-slot card, the RTX 4010 is the only sensible choice despite its lower aggregate benchmark score.