NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK vs NVIDIA Tesla M10 Comparison

NVIDIA Tesla M10 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK are both end-of-life, dual-slot cards built on a 28 nm TSMC process, yet they target entirely different workloads. The Tesla M10 is a Maxwell-based compute accelerator with 8 GB of memory and no display outputs, while the GTX TITAN BLACK is a Kepler-based consumer flagship with 6 GB of memory and full display connectivity. Benchmark data shows the GTX TITAN BLACK dominates in raw compute performance, but the Tesla M10 holds its own in specific API tests, making the choice heavily dependent on whether the task demands pure throughput or particular software compatibility.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX TITAN BLACK wins decisively in every head-to-head benchmark available, taking both the Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan tests. Its average benchmark score of 9474 places it in the 46th percentile of all GPUs, while the Tesla M10 posts a higher average of 9724 and sits in the 47th percentile — a curious inversion where the slower card in direct comparison scores better on aggregate metrics. This suggests the Tesla M10 benefits from a more consistent performance profile across a wider range of tests, even though it loses outright in the two direct comparisons.

The Tesla M10’s strength lies in its balance. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla C2070 (deltaPct 0.1), GeForce GTX 1070 (deltaPct -0.6), Quadro P4000 (deltaPct 0.6), and AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 (deltaPct 0.7), meaning it trades blows within 1% of each. This indicates a card that is well-rounded for compute workloads, particularly in OpenCL where it scores 10318. The GTX TITAN BLACK, by contrast, has nearest rivals like the GeForce GTX 760 (deltaPct 0.2) and AMD Radeon R7 M380 (deltaPct 1.7), showing it is competitive with mid-range consumer cards despite its flagship positioning.

For use-case split, the GTX TITAN BLACK wins where raw compute power is paramount — its 5.645 TFLOPS FP32 throughput dwarfs the Tesla M10’s 1.672 TFLOPS. However, the Tesla M10’s 8 GB memory capacity (versus 6 GB) and its higher average benchmark score suggest it may be better suited for memory-bound or multi-application scenarios. The GTX TITAN BLACK’s display outputs make it viable for workstation use that requires visualization, while the Tesla M10’s lack of outputs points to headless server deployment.

Architecture Differences

The two cards represent different architectural generations from NVIDIA. The Tesla M10 uses the GM107 chip based on Maxwell architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process with 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die. The GTX TITAN BLACK uses the GK110B chip based on Kepler architecture, also on 28 nm but packing 7,080 million transistors across a 561 mm² die — nearly four times the transistor count and almost four times the die area. Both have identical transistor density of 12.6M / mm², reflecting the same manufacturing node.

The compute resources differ dramatically. The Tesla M10 has 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 16 raster output units (ROPs). The GTX TITAN BLACK has 2,880 shading units, 240 TMUs, and 48 ROPs — 4.5 times the shaders, 6 times the TMUs, and 3 times the ROPs. This explains the massive gap in pixel rate (20.90 GPixel/s vs 58.80 GPixel/s) and texture rate (52.24 GTexel/s vs 235.2 GTexel/s). Clock speeds partially compensate: the Tesla M10 runs at 1033 MHz base and 1306 MHz boost, while the GTX TITAN BLACK runs lower at 889 MHz base and 980 MHz boost, but the sheer core count advantage overwhelms the frequency deficit.

Memory architecture is another key divergence. The Tesla M10 uses a 128-bit bus with 8 GB of GDDR5 at 5.2 Gbps effective, yielding 83.20 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX TITAN BLACK uses a 384-bit bus with 6 GB of GDDR5 at 7 Gbps effective, delivering 336.0 GB/s — over four times the bandwidth. This makes the GTX TITAN BLACK vastly superior for bandwidth-hungry tasks, while the Tesla M10’s larger capacity (8 GB vs 6 GB) could benefit workloads that need more data resident on the card.

API support shows the Tesla M10 is more modern in some respects: it supports Vulkan 1.4 and DirectX 12 (11_0), while the GTX TITAN BLACK supports Vulkan 1.2.175 and DirectX 12 (11_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6. The GTX TITAN BLACK also has a Geekbench Metal score of 24172, which the Tesla M10 lacks entirely, indicating its consumer-oriented feature set.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a lopsided contest. In Geekbench OpenCL, the GTX TITAN BLACK scores 27218 against the Tesla M10’s 10318, a delta of -62.1% for the Tesla. This is a 2.6-fold advantage for the GTX TITAN BLACK, consistent with its 3.4-fold higher FP32 throughput. The gap is even wider in Geekbench Vulkan: the GTX TITAN BLACK scores 29561 versus 9130 for the Tesla M10, a -69.1% delta — nearly a 3.2-fold margin.

These results highlight that the GTX TITAN BLACK’s architectural superiority translates directly into benchmark wins. Its higher pixel rate (58.80 GPixel/s vs 20.90 GPixel/s) and texture rate (235.2 GTexel/s vs 52.24 GTexel/s) are reflected in the compute-heavy OpenCL and Vulkan workloads. The Tesla M10’s higher boost clock (1306 MHz vs 980 MHz) does not compensate for the massive core count difference.

Notably, the Tesla M10’s average benchmark score of 9724 is actually higher than the GTX TITAN BLACK’s 9474, despite losing both direct comparisons. This is because the GTX TITAN BLACK’s PassMark scores are mixed — it scores 9184 in G3D but only 47 in DirectX 10, 73 in DirectX 11, 34 in DirectX 12, and 133 in DirectX 9. These low legacy API scores drag its average down. The Tesla M10 has no PassMark data, so its average comes only from the two Geekbench tests, both of which are respectable.

The GTX TITAN BLACK also shows strong performance in PassMark GPU compute with a score of 3726, and a G2D score of 595, indicating solid 2D and compute capabilities beyond the Geekbench tests. The Tesla M10 lacks these data points, making its aggregate score less representative of a full workload profile.

FAQ

Q: Which card has higher raw compute performance?

A: The GTX TITAN BLACK dominates with 5.645 TFLOPS FP32 versus the Tesla M10’s 1.672 TFLOPS, and it wins both head-to-head benchmarks (OpenCL 27218 vs 10318, Vulkan 29561 vs 9130).

Q: Does the Tesla M10 have any advantage in memory capacity?

A: Yes, the Tesla M10 has 8 GB of GDDR5 versus 6 GB on the GTX TITAN BLACK, though the GTX TITAN BLACK has far higher bandwidth (336.0 GB/s vs 83.20 GB/s).

Q: Why does the Tesla M10 have a higher average benchmark score despite losing head-to-head?

A: The Tesla M10’s average of 9724 comes from only two Geekbench tests, while the GTX TITAN BLACK’s 9474 includes multiple low PassMark scores (e.g., 34 in DirectX 12), which pull its average down.

Q: Can the Tesla M10 output video to a display?

A: No, the Tesla M10 has no display outputs, while the GTX TITAN BLACK includes 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2.

Q: Which card supports newer Vulkan versions?

A: The Tesla M10 supports Vulkan 1.4, whereas the GTX TITAN BLACK supports Vulkan 1.2.175, giving the Tesla a newer API level despite lower performance.

Q: What is the power connector requirement for each card?

A: The Tesla M10 requires a single 8-pin connector with a 550 W suggested PSU, while the GTX TITAN BLACK needs a 6-pin plus 8-pin with a 600 W suggested PSU.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA Tesla M10 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK |

|---|---|---|

| Chip | GM107 | GK110B |

| Architecture | Maxwell | Kepler |

| Generation | Tesla Maxwell (Mxx) | GeForce 700 |

| Transistors | 1,870 million | 7,080 million |

| Die Size | 148 mm² | 561 mm² |

| Base Clock | 1033 MHz | 889 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1306 MHz | 980 MHz |

| Memory Size | 8 GB | 6 GB |

| Memory Bus | 128 bit | 384 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.20 GB/s | 336.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 640 | 2880 |

| TMUs | 40 | 240 |

| ROPs | 16 | 48 |

| Pixel Rate | 20.90 GPixel/s | 58.80 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 52.24 GTexel/s | 235.2 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1.672 TFLOPS | 5.645 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 225 W | 250 W |

| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 550 W | 600 W |

| Display Outputs | No outputs | 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 |

| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 (11_1) |

| Vulkan | 1.4 | 1.2.175 |

| Dimensions | 267 mm length | 267 mm length, 111 mm height, 38 mm width |

| Release Date | 2016-05-17 | 2014-02-17 |

| Launch MSRP | None | 999 USD |

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the GTX TITAN BLACK is the superior card for raw performance. It wins both head-to-head benchmarks by margins of 62-69%, delivers 3.4 times the FP32 throughput, and offers 4 times the memory bandwidth. Any workload that prioritizes compute speed — rendering, simulation, or high-throughput compute — should favor the GTX TITAN BLACK, which also provides display outputs for interactive use.

The Tesla M10, however, is not without merit. Its 8 GB memory capacity exceeds the GTX TITAN BLACK’s 6 GB, and its higher average benchmark score (9724 vs 9474) suggests better consistency across varied tests. Its support for Vulkan 1.4 (versus 1.2.175) makes it more future-proof for newer API-based applications. Its lower TDP (225 W vs 250 W) and single 8-pin connector (versus 6-pin plus 8-pin) indicate easier power integration in dense server environments, where its lack of display outputs is not a drawback.

The choice depends on the application. For headless compute servers needing maximum memory per card and modern API support, the Tesla M10’s balance may be preferable. For any task where raw speed matters — and the benchmarks show that is most tasks — the GTX TITAN BLACK is the clear winner. The 46th percentile ranking for the GTX TITAN BLACK versus 47th for the Tesla M10 is a statistical artifact of differing test suites, not a reflection of true performance parity. Data-driven decision-making here points to the GTX TITAN BLACK for performance, and the Tesla M10 only for specific memory-capacity or API-version requirements.