NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive victory for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK. In the two recorded head-to-head tests, the TITAN BLACK wins both, with the largest margin appearing in the OpenCL compute test where it scores 27218 against the GTX 880M's 5622, a 384.1% advantage. This is not a marginal lead; it is a generational gap in raw compute throughput. The Metal test shows a similarly lopsided result, with the TITAN BLACK scoring 24172 versus 10458, a 131.1% delta.

To contextualize these scores, the database's average benchmark score places the TITAN BLACK at 9474, while the GTX 880M sits at 8040. The TITAN BLACK's percentile ranking among all GPUs is 46, whereas the GTX 880M ranks at 42. While both cards sit in the middle of the overall distribution, the gap between them is substantial. The TITAN BLACK's nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA Quadro K5000 (avg score 9637, delta -1.7%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M (avg score 9645, delta -1.8%), placing it just below those parts. The GTX 880M's closest competitor is the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 (avg score 8039, delta 0%), meaning the 880M is effectively tied with that workstation card, but it is 0.2% behind the GeForce GTX 650 Ti and 0.3% behind the GTX 650 Ti Boost.

The recorded data shows the TITAN BLACK is 17.8% faster than the GTX 880M based on average benchmark scores. In the individual head-to-head tests, the OpenCL result is particularly telling: the TITAN BLACK's score is nearly five times higher. This suggests the TITAN BLACK's larger shader array and memory subsystem are far better suited to compute workloads. The Metal test, while closer in relative terms, still shows the TITAN BLACK at more than double the score. There are no benchmark categories where the GTX 880M closes the gap; the wins count is 2 for the TITAN BLACK and 0 for the GTX 880M.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs use the Kepler architecture and are fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process node. However, the chips are fundamentally different in scale. The TITAN BLACK uses the GK110B chip, which contains 7,080 million transistors on a 561 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.6 million per mm². The GTX 880M uses the smaller GK104 chip, with 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, giving a density of 12.0 million per mm². The TITAN BLACK has roughly double the transistor count and nearly double the die area, which explains its dominance in compute-heavy tests.

The execution resources differ accordingly. The TITAN BLACK has 2880 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs. The GTX 880M has 1536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. This is a direct 1.875x advantage in shader count for the TITAN BLACK, which aligns with its massive lead in the OpenCL benchmark. The pixel rate for the TITAN BLACK is 58.80 GPixel/s versus 31.78 GPixel/s for the GTX 880M, and the texture rate is 235.2 GTexel/s versus 127.1 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is rated at 5.645 TFLOPS for the TITAN BLACK and 3.050 TFLOPS for the GTX 880M.

Memory configurations also diverge sharply. The TITAN BLACK ships with 6 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus, delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 880M has 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, providing 160.0 GB/s. The TITAN BLACK's memory clock is 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective), while the GTX 880M runs at 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective). The wider bus and higher clock give the TITAN BLACK more than double the bandwidth, which is critical for high-resolution textures and compute workloads that stream large datasets.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The GTX 880M has a higher base clock of 954 MHz and a boost clock of 993 MHz, compared to the TITAN BLACK's 889 MHz base and 980 MHz boost. Despite the lower clocks, the TITAN BLACK's massive resource advantage overcomes the frequency deficit. The GTX 880M is a mobile-oriented part on an MXM module with no power connectors and a 122 W TDP. The TITAN BLACK is a dual-slot desktop card with 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin connectors and a 250 W TDP. The power envelope explains the clock differences: the GTX 880M is constrained by laptop thermals, while the TITAN BLACK has room to draw more power and feed its larger die.

Both cards support DirectX 12 (the TITAN BLACK at 11_1, the GTX 880M at 11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The TITAN BLACK offers display outputs of 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2, while the GTX 880M's outputs are portable device dependent. The TITAN BLACK uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the GTX 880M uses MXM-B (3.0).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK is the superior GPU for anyone prioritizing raw performance. It wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, has a higher average score, and offers more than double the compute throughput in OpenCL. Its 384.1% lead in OpenCL and 131.1% lead in Metal are not close calls. The TITAN BLACK also holds a 46th percentile ranking versus the GTX 880M's 42nd, meaning it sits higher in the overall database distribution.

The GTX 880M is not without rationale. Its 8 GB of memory exceeds the TITAN BLACK's 6 GB, and its lower TDP of 122 W versus 250 W makes it suitable for portable systems. The MXM form factor and lack of external power connectors indicate a design target of laptops and compact systems where the TITAN BLACK's dual-slot, 267 mm length cannot fit. For users constrained by a chassis that only accepts MXM modules, the GTX 880M is the only choice between these two. But for desktop users with room for a full-length card, the TITAN BLACK delivers 17.8% higher average performance and vastly superior compute results.

The GTX 880M's nearest rivals include the Quadro P5000 (delta 0%), GTX 650 Ti (delta -0.2%), and GTX 650 Ti Boost (delta -0.3%). This means the GTX 880M is essentially performance-equivalent to a mid-range desktop GPU from an earlier generation. The TITAN BLACK, by contrast, sits within 1.7% of the AMD Radeon R7 M380 and 0.2% of the GTX 760, and it is only 1.7% behind the Quadro K5000 and 1.8% behind the GTX 960M. The TITAN BLACK is closer to those higher-tier parts than the GTX 880M is to its own rivals.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every measurable specification. The chip is GK110B for the TITAN BLACK and GK104 for the GTX 880M. Transistor count is 7,080 million versus 3,540 million. Die size is 561 mm² versus 294 mm². Transistor density is 12.6M per mm² versus 12.0M per mm².

Base clock: 889 MHz (TITAN BLACK) versus 954 MHz (GTX 880M). Boost clock: 980 MHz versus 993 MHz. Memory clock: 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective) versus 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective).

Memory size: 6 GB versus 8 GB. Bus width: 384 bit versus 256 bit. Bandwidth: 336.0 GB/s versus 160.0 GB/s.

Shading units: 2880 versus 1536. TMUs: 240 versus 128. ROPs: 48 versus 32.

Pixel rate: 58.80 GPixel/s versus 31.78 GPixel/s. Texture rate: 235.2 GTexel/s versus 127.1 GTexel/s. FP32: 5.645 TFLOPS versus 3.050 TFLOPS.

TDP: 250 W versus 122 W. Slot width: Dual-slot versus MXM Module. Power connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin versus None. Suggested PSU: 600 W versus null. Bus interface: PCIe 3.0 x16 versus MXM-B (3.0).

Display outputs: 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 versus Portable Device Dependent.

Dimensions: The TITAN BLACK is 267 mm long, 111 mm tall, and 38 mm wide. The GTX 880M has no recorded dimensions.

DirectX support: 12 (11_1) versus 12 (11_0). OpenGL and Vulkan versions are identical.

Release date: 2014-02-17 for the TITAN BLACK versus 2014-03-11 for the GTX 880M. The TITAN BLACK has a launch MSRP of 999 USD; the GTX 880M has no recorded MSRP. Generation: GeForce 700 versus GeForce 800M. Predecessor: GeForce 600 versus GeForce 700M. Successor: GeForce 900 versus GeForce 900M.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK scores 27218, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M scores 5622. The TITAN BLACK is 384.1% ahead.

Q: Does the GTX 880M have more memory?

A: Yes, the GTX 880M has 8 GB of GDDR5, while the TITAN BLACK has 6 GB. However, the TITAN BLACK has a 384-bit bus with 336.0 GB/s bandwidth versus the GTX 880M's 256-bit bus with 160.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The TITAN BLACK has an average benchmark score of 9474, and the GTX 880M has 8040. The TITAN BLACK is 17.8% higher.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The TITAN BLACK has 2880 shading units, while the GTX 880M has 1536. The TITAN BLACK has 240 TMUs and 48 ROPs versus the GTX 880M's 128 TMUs and 32 ROPs.

Q: Are both cards based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both use the Kepler architecture on a 28 nm process from TSMC. The TITAN BLACK uses the GK110B chip with 7,080 million transistors, while the GTX 880M uses the GK104 chip with 3,540 million transistors.

Q: Which card has a higher boost clock?

A: The GTX 880M has a boost clock of 993 MHz, slightly higher than the TITAN BLACK's 980 MHz. The GTX 880M also has a higher base clock at 954 MHz versus 889 MHz.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK wins in every recorded benchmark category. It is the clear choice for compute-intensive workloads, as evidenced by its 384.1% lead in OpenCL and 131.1% lead in Metal. Its 5.645 TFLOPS FP32 performance, 336.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 2880 shading units make it suitable for tasks like GPU rendering, scientific simulation, and large dataset processing. The dual-slot design, 600 W suggested PSU, and 250 W TDP indicate a desktop workstation or high-end gaming rig.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M wins in portability and power efficiency. Its 122 W TDP is less than half of the TITAN BLACK's 250 W, and its MXM module form factor with no power connectors makes it installable in laptops. Its 8 GB memory capacity exceeds the TITAN BLACK's 6 GB, which could benefit certain memory-bound tasks at lower resolutions where bandwidth is less critical. However, its lower bandwidth (160.0 GB/s) and fewer shading units (1536) limit its performance envelope.

For users who need maximum compute throughput and can accommodate a full-length desktop card, the TITAN BLACK is the only logical choice. For users building or upgrading a laptop with an MXM slot, the GTX 880M is the only option between these two parts. The data does not support any scenario where the GTX 880M outperforms the TITAN BLACK in raw speed. The 880M's advantages are purely practical: lower power draw, smaller footprint, and more memory capacity. Every performance metric, from pixel rate to texture rate to FP32, favors the TITAN BLACK.