NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER vs NVIDIA TITAN Xp Comparison
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER
TITAN Xp
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER vs NVIDIA TITAN Xp
The NVIDIA TITAN Xp and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER represent two distinct generations of NVIDIA’s GPU design philosophy. The TITAN Xp, built on the Pascal architecture, was the enthusiast-class flagship of its era, while the RTX 2060 SUPER, based on Turing, brought newer features to a more mainstream segment. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the TITAN Xp dominates in raw compute and most legacy DirectX tests, while the RTX 2060 SUPER counters with a significant win in OpenCL and brings hardware ray tracing and tensor cores to the table. This analysis examines what these scores signify for real-world workloads, based solely on the provided fact pack.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The most decisive victory for the NVIDIA TITAN Xp comes in the Passmark GPU Compute test, where it scores 9430 against the RTX 2060 SUPER’s 6721. That is a 40.3% lead, a massive gap that strongly indicates the Pascal card’s sheer mathematical throughput advantage in non-gaming workloads. This is further reinforced by the FP32 specification, where the TITAN Xp delivers 12.15 TFLOPS compared to the RTX 2060 SUPER’s 7.181 TFLOPS, a 69% advantage in raw single-precision compute. The data suggests that for any task that relies heavily on general-purpose GPU compute, the TITAN Xp is the clear workhorse.
In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the TITAN Xp again takes the lead, scoring 2372 versus 2011 for the RTX 2060 SUPER, a delta of 18%. This is a modern DirectX 12 workload, and the older Pascal architecture still manages to outperform the Turing card by a substantial margin. Similarly, in the Geekbench Vulkan test, the TITAN Xp wins with 87180 points against 77402, a 12.6% advantage. These two results combined indicate that the TITAN Xp’s raw rendering capability remains potent even in contemporary APIs, likely due to its significantly higher shading unit count (3840 versus 2176) and wider memory bus (384-bit versus 256-bit).
The TITAN Xp also sweeps the older DirectX API tests. In Passmark DirectX 11, it scores 152 versus 130, a 16.9% lead. In DirectX 10, the margin is 7.2% (119 versus 111), and in DirectX 9, it is a narrower 3.7% (226 versus 218). Even in the DirectX 12 Passmark test, the TITAN Xp wins by 13.1% (69 versus 61). The consistency across these legacy APIs suggests that the TITAN Xp’s architectural design, with its higher texture fill rate (379.7 GTexel/s versus 224.4 GTexel/s) and pixel rate (151.9 GPixel/s versus 105.6 GPixel/s), provides a broad performance advantage that is not limited to a single API generation.
The sole victory for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER comes in the Geekbench OpenCL test. Here, it scores 76957 against the TITAN Xp’s 72585, a 5.7% margin. This is an interesting anomaly, as it contradicts the Passmark Compute result. The OpenCL test may be more sensitive to specific driver optimizations or memory access patterns that favor the Turing architecture’s design, despite the TITAN Xp’s higher raw FP32 throughput. This single win shows that the RTX 2060 SUPER is not entirely outclassed in compute tasks, but it is the exception rather than the rule. Overall, the TITAN Xp wins 9 out of 10 head-to-head benchmarks, with an average benchmark score of 19177 compared to the RTX 2060 SUPER’s 18093, a difference of 5.9%.
Architecture Differences
The fundamental divide between these two GPUs lies in their architectures. The NVIDIA TITAN Xp is built on the Pascal architecture, using the GP102 chip manufactured on a 16 nm process at TSMC. In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER uses the Turing architecture with the TU106 chip on a more advanced 12 nm process, also from TSMC. This process shrink allowed Turing to pack more features into a similar die size, but it did not lead to higher raw performance. The TITAN Xp has a die size of 471 mm² and contains 11,800 million transistors, while the RTX 2060 SUPER has a slightly smaller 445 mm² die with 10,800 million transistors. The transistor density is nearly identical, at 25.1M / mm² for the TITAN Xp and 24.3M / mm² for the RTX 2060 SUPER.
The core configurations are dramatically different. The TITAN Xp houses 3840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 96 raster output units (ROPs). The RTX 2060 SUPER has far fewer, with 2176 shading units, 136 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. This explains the TITAN Xp’s massive lead in fill rates and compute throughput. However, the RTX 2060 SUPER introduces hardware that the Pascal-based TITAN Xp completely lacks: 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores. These dedicated units enable real-time ray tracing and AI-based features like DLSS, which are entirely absent from the TITAN Xp’s feature set. This is a generational leap in capability, even if it does not translate into wins in the traditional rasterization benchmarks.
Memory architecture also differs significantly. The TITAN Xp uses 12 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 384-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 547.6 GB/s. The RTX 2060 SUPER uses 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a narrower 256-bit bus, resulting in 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The TITAN Xp has a 22% bandwidth advantage, which is critical for high-resolution textures and compute-heavy workloads. The RTX 2060 SUPER compensates with faster effective memory speed (14 Gbps versus 11.4 Gbps), but the narrower bus limits its overall throughput. The TITAN Xp also supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the RTX 2060 SUPER supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), indicating newer API features in the latter.
Clock speeds are closer than one might expect. The TITAN Xp has a base clock of 1405 MHz and a boost clock of 1582 MHz. The RTX 2060 SUPER has a higher base clock of 1470 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz. Despite these higher clocks, the RTX 2060 SUPER cannot overcome the TITAN Xp’s massive core count advantage. The FP16 performance tells a similar story: the TITAN Xp achieves only 189.8 GFLOPS (1:64 ratio), while the RTX 2060 SUPER achieves 14.36 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio). This indicates that the Turing card is far more capable of handling FP16 workloads, which are common in AI and some compute tasks, while the Pascal card is heavily optimized for FP32.
Where Each One Wins
The benchmark data paints a clear picture of use-case scenarios. The NVIDIA TITAN Xp is the undisputed champion in raw rasterization performance and legacy API compatibility. Its victories in DirectX 9, 10, 11, and 12, along with its strong Vulkan and modern DX12 results, make it a superior choice for traditional gaming at high resolutions and frame rates. The 18% lead in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is particularly notable, as it suggests the TITAN Xp can handle modern game engines without issue. Its 40.3% lead in Passmark GPU Compute also makes it the better option for any GPU-accelerated computing task that relies on FP32 math, such as scientific simulations, video encoding, or 3D rendering.
The RTX 2060 SUPER’s single OpenCL win is noteworthy, but more importantly, its architectural features define its strengths. The presence of 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores means it is the only card of the two that can hardware-accelerate ray tracing and utilize AI-driven technologies. For users who prioritize these features in modern games, the RTX 2060 SUPER offers capabilities the TITAN Xp cannot match, despite losing in traditional benchmarks. Its higher FP16 throughput (14.36 TFLOPS versus 189.8 GFLOPS) also makes it more suitable for workloads that leverage half-precision arithmetic, which is becoming increasingly common in machine learning inference.
The TITAN Xp’s higher memory bandwidth (547.6 GB/s versus 448.0 GB/s) and larger frame buffer (12 GB versus 8 GB) provide another advantage. In scenarios with large textures or datasets that exceed 8 GB, the TITAN Xp will have a clear edge. The RTX 2060 SUPER, with its smaller 8 GB buffer, may face limitations in such cases. However, the RTX 2060 SUPER’s lower TDP of 175 W versus the TITAN Xp’s 250 W makes it a more power-efficient option, requiring a suggested PSU of 450 W compared to 600 W. This could be a deciding factor for users with smaller power supplies or more compact builds.
FAQ
Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?
A: The NVIDIA TITAN Xp. It delivers 12.15 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, compared to the RTX 2060 SUPER’s 7.181 TFLOPS. This is reflected in the Passmark GPU Compute score, where the TITAN Xp leads by 40.3%.
Q: Does the RTX 2060 SUPER support ray tracing?
A: Yes. The RTX 2060 SUPER has 34 RT cores, which are dedicated to hardware-accelerated ray tracing. The TITAN Xp has no RT cores.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?
A: The TITAN Xp has a 547.6 GB/s bandwidth from its 384-bit bus, while the RTX 2060 SUPER has a 448.0 GB/s bandwidth from its 256-bit bus. The TITAN Xp has a 22% bandwidth advantage.
Q: In which benchmark does the RTX 2060 SUPER outperform the TITAN Xp?
A: The RTX 2060 SUPER wins the Geekbench OpenCL test, scoring 76957 against the TITAN Xp’s 72585, a 5.7% margin.
Q: What are the transistor counts and die sizes?
A: The TITAN Xp has 11,800 million transistors on a 471 mm² die, while the RTX 2060 SUPER has 10,800 million transistors on a 445 mm² die.
Q: Which card has more shading units?
A: The TITAN Xp has 3840 shading units, significantly more than the RTX 2060 SUPER’s 2176.
Specification Differences
| Specification | NVIDIA TITAN Xp | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Turing |
| Process Node | 16 nm | 12 nm |
| Transistors | 11,800 million | 10,800 million |
| Die Size | 471 mm² | 445 mm² |
| Transistor Density | 25.1M / mm² | 24.3M / mm² |
| Base Clock | 1405 MHz | 1470 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1582 MHz | 1650 MHz |
| Memory Size | 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5X | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus Width | 384 bit | 256 bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 547.6 GB/s | 448.0 GB/s |
| Shading Units | 3840 | 2176 |
| TMUs | 240 | 136 |
| ROPs | 96 | 64 |
| RT Cores | 0 | 34 |
| Tensor Cores | 0 | 272 |
| Pixel Rate | 151.9 GPixel/s | 105.6 GPixel/s |
| Texture Rate | 379.7 GTexel/s | 224.4 GTexel/s |
| FP32 | 12.15 TFLOPS | 7.181 TFLOPS |
| FP16 | 189.8 GFLOPS (1:64) | 14.36 TFLOPS (2:1) |
| TDP | 250 W | 175 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Suggested PSU | 600 W | 450 W |
| DirectX Support | 12 (12_1) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |
| Display Outputs | 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 2x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x USB Type-C |
| Release Date | 2017-04-05 | 2019-07-08 |
| Launch MSRP | 1,199 USD | 399 USD |
The Verdict
The data is unequivocal for traditional performance: the NVIDIA TITAN Xp is the superior GPU in almost every measurable benchmark. With a 40.3% lead in compute, an 18% lead in modern DX12, and a 12.6% lead in Vulkan, it offers significantly higher raw performance. Its 12 GB memory buffer and 547.6 GB/s bandwidth provide a substantial advantage in memory-intensive tasks. The TITAN Xp’s average benchmark score of 19177, which is 5.9% higher than the RTX 2060 SUPER’s 18093, and its 9 out of 10 head-to-head wins make it the clear choice for users prioritizing maximum frame rates and compute throughput. The percentile ranking also supports this, with the TITAN Xp at 64 and the RTX 2060 SUPER at 62.
However, the RTX 2060 SUPER should not be dismissed. Its victory in OpenCL and its architectural features—RT cores and tensor cores—make it a forward-looking choice. For users who value hardware ray tracing and AI-based features, or who have power supply constraints (175 W TDP versus 250 W), the RTX 2060 SUPER is the only option with these capabilities. Its higher boost clock and FP16 performance also suggest it could excel in specific AI or compute workloads that leverage these units. The choice depends entirely on the user’s priorities: the TITAN Xp for raw, brute-force performance and compute, or the RTX 2060 SUPER for modern features and efficiency. The data shows that the TITAN Xp is still a benchmark champion, but the RTX 2060 SUPER represents a different kind of progress that raw scores alone cannot capture.