GPU Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M is the clear winner in this comparison, delivering over three times the OpenCL performance of the Quadro 2000M. The data shows a decisive generational and architectural leap, with the GTX 860M winning the only head-to-head benchmark by a massive 67.2% margin. The Quadro 2000M, despite its professional branding, is an older Fermi-era part that is outclassed in raw compute by the Kepler-based GeForce. The verdict is simple: for any workload measured here, the GTX 860M is the superior choice.

The Verdict

The benchmark data leaves no room for ambiguity: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M is the definitive performer in this pairing. In the sole direct comparison available, the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 860M scores 10,461 points against the Quadro 2000M's 3,434 points. This represents a 67.2% advantage for the GTX 860M, a margin so large that it transcends any specific use case. The Quadro 2000M is not competitive in this metric, and its 21st percentile ranking versus all GPUs places it just ahead of the Intel HD Graphics 530 (3,332) and behind the NVIDIA GeForce 920MX (3,528). Meanwhile, the GTX 860M's average benchmark score of 2,967 places it in the 19th percentile, with its nearest rival being the GTX 750 Ti at 2,953.

The data indicates that the Quadro 2000M's only potential appeal lies in its legacy status, not its performance. Its architecture, process node, and memory technology are all outdated relative to the GTX 860M. For any user prioritizing compute performance, the choice is unequivocal. The GTX 860M does not just win; it dominates, offering a level of OpenCL performance that is roughly 200% higher than the Quadro. The Quadro 2000M, with its single benchmark score of 3,434, is merely a historical artifact in this comparison, while the GTX 860M is a functional, albeit end-of-life, mobile GPU.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 860M wins the only category where both have data: OpenCL compute performance. Its score of 10,461 in Geekbench OpenCL is more than triple the Quadro 2000M's 3,434. This indicates a fundamental advantage in general-purpose GPU computing tasks that leverage OpenCL. The GTX 860M also shows versatility across multiple API benchmarks, with scores in Geekbench Metal (4,900), Geekbench Vulkan (9,648), and Passmark G3D (3,081). These additional data points suggest a modern, feature-complete GPU capable of handling diverse workloads.

The Quadro 2000M has no benchmark wins. Its single OpenCL score of 3,434 is its only data point, and it is far below the GTX 860M's result. The Quadro's nearest rivals in terms of average score include the Intel HD Graphics P4600 (3,389) and the Intel HD Graphics 530 (3,332), which underscores its position as an entry-level performer from a bygone era. While the Quadro 2000M does have a higher percentile ranking (21st) than the GTX 860M (19th), this is a statistical artifact of the different benchmark suites used and does not reflect actual performance parity. In every measurable aspect, the GTX 860M wins.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two GPUs is vast, explaining the performance disparity. The Quadro 2000M is built on the Fermi architecture, utilizing the GF106 chip manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. This older design houses 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 4.9M / mm². In contrast, the GTX 860M is based on the Kepler architecture with the GK104 chip, fabricated on a more modern 28 nm process. This newer node allows for a significantly more complex chip: 3,540 million transistors packed into a 294 mm² die, achieving a density of 12.0M / mm². The transistor count is triple that of the Quadro, a clear indicator of the Kepler's more advanced design.

These architectural differences manifest in raw specifications. The GTX 860M features 1,152 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, while the Quadro 2000M has only 192 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The shading unit count is six times higher on the GTX 860M. This massive increase in parallel processing elements directly translates to the observed compute performance advantage. Furthermore, the GTX 860M has a much higher memory bandwidth at 80.00 GB/s, using GDDR5 memory, compared to the Quadro's 28.80 GB/s with DDR3. The GTX 860M also supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the Quadro 2000M lists no Vulkan support, and the GTX 860M's base clock of 797 MHz and boost clock of 915 MHz are higher than the Quadro's unspecified base clocks.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M is the clear winner, scoring 10,461 points in Geekbench OpenCL compared to the NVIDIA Quadro 2000M's 3,434 points.

Q: How much faster is the GTX 860M than the Quadro 2000M in compute workloads?

A: The GTX 860M is 67.2% faster than the Quadro 2000M in the Geekbench OpenCL test, as indicated by the deltaPct in the head-to-head benchmark data.

Q: What are the memory configurations of these two GPUs?

A: Both GPUs have 2 GB of memory on a 128-bit bus. However, the Quadro 2000M uses DDR3 with a bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s, while the GTX 860M uses GDDR5 with a significantly higher bandwidth of 80.00 GB/s.

Q: Do both GPUs support DirectX 12?

A: Yes, both the NVIDIA Quadro 2000M and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M list DirectX 12 (11_0) support in their API specifications.

Q: Which GPU is the GTX 860M most similar to in performance?

A: According to the nearest rivals data, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti is the closest match, with an average score of 2,953 and a deltaPct of 0.5% compared to the GTX 860M's average of 2,967.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M has a pixel rate of 21.96 GPixel/s, which is substantially higher than the Quadro 2000M's pixel rate of 4.400 GPixel/s.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is a landslide. The GTX 860M scores 10,461, while the Quadro 2000M scores 3,434. The deltaPct of -67.2% indicates that the Quadro 2000M is 67.2% behind the GTX 860M. To put this in perspective, the Quadro's score of 3,434 is only slightly higher than the GTX 860M's average benchmark score of 2,967, which includes results from several other less intensive tests. This means the Quadro's peak OpenCL performance is roughly equivalent to the GTX 860M's average performance across all its benchmark tests, which include DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 11, and compute tests.

The GTX 860M's OpenCL score also dwarfs the scores of the Quadro's nearest rivals. The Quadro 2000M's nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740, scores 3,431, just three points behind the Quadro. The GTX 860M's score of 10,461 is roughly three times that of the GT 740, illustrating the massive performance gap between the two compared GPUs. While the GTX 860M's nearest rivals, such as the GTX 750 Ti (2,953) and the Quadro P600 (2,923), are in the same performance ballpark, the Quadro 2000M is in a completely different, much lower tier. The data shows that the Quadro 2000M is competitive with integrated graphics solutions like the Intel HD Graphics 530 (3,332), not with dedicated Kepler-era parts.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet highlights fundamental differences between the two GPUs. The process node is a major differentiator: the Quadro 2000M uses a 40 nm process, while the GTX 860M uses a 28 nm process. This allows the GTX 860M to pack 3,540 million transistors compared to the Quadro's 1,170 million. The GTX 860M has a larger die size of 294 mm² compared to 238 mm² for the Quadro, but its transistor density of 12.0M / mm² is far higher than the Quadro's 4.9M / mm².

Core configurations are starkly different. The GTX 860M has 1,152 shading units and 96 TMUs, while the Quadro 2000M has only 192 shading units and 32 TMUs. Both have 16 ROPs. The memory subsystem also differs significantly: the Quadro uses DDR3 at 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective) with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth, while the GTX 860M uses GDDR5 at 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective) with 80.00 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 860M also has defined clocks of 797 MHz base and 915 MHz boost, whereas the Quadro's base and boost clocks are null. The GTX 860M's texture rate is 87.84 GTexel/s versus the Quadro's 17.60 GTexel/s, and its FP32 performance is 2.108 TFLOPS versus the Quadro's 422.4 GFLOPS. The TDP differs, with the Quadro at 55 W and the GTX 860M at 75 W. Finally, the GTX 860M supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the Quadro does not list Vulkan support.