NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M vs NVIDIA Quadro P2200 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M and NVIDIA Quadro P2200 represent two distinct generations of NVIDIA mobile and workstation graphics, separated by five years of architectural evolution. The GTX 870M, built on the Kepler architecture with a 28 nm process, targets high-end consumer laptops from 2014, while the Quadro P2200, using the Pascal architecture on a 16 nm node, serves professional workstation workloads from 2019. The recorded benchmark data shows a single direct head-to-head comparison, but the broader specification and architecture differences paint a clear picture of two very different design philosophies.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded head-to-head benchmark, the NVIDIA Quadro P2200 is the clear winner in the only directly comparable test. In Geekbench OpenCL, the P2200 scores 32,344 against the GTX 870M’s 12,630, a delta of -61% for the older card. This is not a marginal victory; it is a decisive performance gap that reflects the generational leap between Kepler and Pascal.

However, the GTX 870M has its own strengths when considering the broader benchmark landscape. Its average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 9,959, which places it in the 48th percentile of all GPUs in the database. The Quadro P2200, by contrast, averages 8,686 across its nine recorded tests, landing in the 44th percentile. This discrepancy highlights an important nuance: the GTX 870M’s two benchmark results (Geekbench Metal at 7,288 and Geekbench OpenCL at 12,630) skew its average upward, while the P2200’s suite includes several legacy DirectX tests that drag its average down.

For raw compute workloads in modern OpenCL applications, the Quadro P2200 wins outright. For legacy API compatibility and certain productivity scenarios, the GTX 870M’s higher percentile ranking suggests it remains competitive in specific niches. The P2200’s PassMark G3D score of 9,364 and GPU compute score of 3,921 indicate strong DirectX 11-era performance, while its DirectX 9 score of 167 and DirectX 10 score of 45 show weaker backwards compatibility in those older APIs.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M has an average benchmark score of 9,959, compared to 8,686 for the NVIDIA Quadro P2200.

Q: How much faster is the Quadro P2200 in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The Quadro P2200 scores 32,344 versus the GTX 870M’s 12,630, which is a 61% advantage according to the recorded delta percentage.

Q: Do these GPUs support the same DirectX version?

A: No. The GTX 870M supports DirectX 12 (11_0), while the Quadro P2200 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), a more recent feature level.

Q: What are the memory configurations of each card?

A: The GTX 870M has 3 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus with 120.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Quadro P2200 has 5 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 160-bit bus with 200.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card has a higher transistor density?

A: The Quadro P2200 has a transistor density of 22.0M per mm², while the GTX 870M has 12.0M per mm².

Q: What is the pixel rate difference?

A: The Quadro P2200 achieves 59.72 GPixel/s, more than double the GTX 870M’s 27.08 GPixel/s.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records exactly one head-to-head benchmark between these two GPUs: Geekbench OpenCL. In that test, the Quadro P2200 produces a score of 32,344, while the GTX 870M manages 12,630. The delta percentage of -61% indicates the GTX 870M is 61% slower than the P2200 in this workload. This is a substantial gap, and it aligns with the architectural differences between the two cards: the P2200’s Pascal architecture delivers higher clock speeds, more efficient execution, and a significantly higher FP32 throughput of 3.822 TFLOPS versus 2.599 TFLOPS for the GTX 870M.

Looking beyond the single direct test, the broader benchmark suites reveal additional context. The GTX 870M’s Geekbench Metal score of 7,288 is its second recorded result, but the P2200 has no Metal benchmark in the database. The P2200’s PassMark tests cover multiple DirectX versions: DirectX 11 scores 70, DirectX 12 scores 33, DirectX 10 scores 45, and DirectX 9 scores 167. Its 2D graphics score of 881 and 3D graphics score of 9,364 show where its strengths lie. The GPU compute score of 3,921 is notably lower than the OpenCL result, suggesting that the PassMark compute test measures a different workload profile.

The texture and pixel rates also favor the P2200. The P2200 achieves 119.4 GTexel/s versus 108.3 GTexel/s for the GTX 870M, a modest but real advantage. The pixel rate difference is more pronounced: 59.72 GPixel/s versus 27.08 GPixel/s, which explains the P2200’s superiority in fill-rate-bound scenarios.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every major specification. The GTX 870M uses a 28 nm process node, while the Quadro P2200 uses 16 nm, both from TSMC. The GTX 870M’s chip is GK104 with 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. The P2200’s GP106 packs 4,400 million transistors into a smaller 200 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 22.0M per mm² against the older card’s 12.0M per mm².

Clock speeds show a generational jump. The GTX 870M runs at a base of 941 MHz with a boost of 967 MHz. The P2200 starts at 1000 MHz base and boosts to 1493 MHz, a 54% higher boost clock. Memory clocks also differ: the GTX 870M’s memory runs at 1250 MHz with 5 Gbps effective speed, while the P2200’s memory operates at 1251 MHz with 10 Gbps effective speed, doubling the data rate.

Memory capacity and bandwidth favor the P2200: 5 GB of GDDR5X on a 160-bit bus delivering 200.2 GB/s, versus 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus delivering 120.0 GB/s. Interestingly, the P2200 achieves higher bandwidth despite a narrower bus, thanks to the faster GDDR5X memory.

Shader configuration also differs. The GTX 870M has 1,344 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. The P2200 has 1,280 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 40 ROPs. Fewer shaders and TMUs, but more ROPs, combined with much higher clocks, give the P2200 its performance edge.

Form factor and interface set the cards apart. The GTX 870M uses an MXM Module with an MXM-B (3.0) bus interface, while the P2200 is a single-slot card with a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface. The P2200 has a 250 W suggested PSU, while the GTX 870M lists no such recommendation. Display outputs differ as well: the GTX 870M is dependent on the portable device, while the P2200 offers 4x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between Kepler and Pascal is the fundamental story here. The GTX 870M’s Kepler architecture, released in 2014, was designed for the GeForce 800M generation. It supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The Quadro P2200’s Pascal architecture, from the Quadro Pascal (Px200) generation, supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The newer feature set of Pascal provides better compatibility with modern rendering pipelines.

Power draw reflects the efficiency gains of the newer process. The GTX 870M has a TDP of 100 W, while the P2200 draws 75 W despite delivering higher performance. This is a direct result of the 16 nm node and architectural improvements. The P2200 also lists a FP16 performance figure of 59.72 GFLOPS (1:64), which the GTX 870M does not report at all, indicating Pascal’s support for half-precision compute.

The production status of both cards is end-of-life, but their release dates span five years: the GTX 870M launched on 2014-03-11, and the P2200 on 2019-06-09. The GTX 870M’s predecessor is the GeForce 700M series and its successor is the GeForce 900M. The P2200’s predecessor is Quadro Maxwell and its successor is Quadro Volta.

In the nearest rival comparisons, the GTX 870M sits close to the AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with a -0.5% delta, the NVIDIA Quadro K5100M at -0.8%, and the AMD Radeon R9 M375 at -1.1%. It edges ahead of the NVIDIA Quadro 6000 by 1.1%. The P2200’s rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 v2 and RTX 3050 A Mobile, both at -0.7%, the AMD FirePro W5170M at 1.1%, and the Intel Arc A380 at 1.5%. These figures show that each card sits in a competitive middle tier of the database, not at the extremes.

Ultimately, the data indicates the Quadro P2200 is the superior performer in modern compute workloads, with the OpenCL result leaving no ambiguity. The GTX 870M’s higher average score is an artifact of its limited benchmark set, not a reflection of real-world superiority. For professional users working with OpenCL-accelerated applications, the P2200 is the clear choice. For legacy compatibility and older API support, the GTX 870M’s Kepler architecture may still hold relevance in specific environments.