NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q vs NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 Comparison

The benchmark data positions the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 and the NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q as surprisingly close in aggregate performance, yet the underlying scores reveal a starkly different story depending on the workload. The Quadro RTX 8000 leads in the only directly comparable head-to-head benchmark by a massive margin, while the GRID M60-1Q's overall average score is kept afloat by a single data point. This analysis breaks down where each card truly excels and for whom each is suited.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only benchmark where both products have a recorded score is the Geekbench Vulkan test, and the result is decisively one-sided. The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 scores 125,781, while the NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q scores just 31,220. This translates to a 302.9% advantage for the RTX 8000, meaning it delivers more than four times the performance in this particular API workload. This is a generational leap in compute capability, reflecting the fundamental architectural differences between the two.

While the head-to-head table lists only this single test, the broader benchmark suite provides context. The Quadro RTX 8000 has a much richer benchmark profile, with scores for Geekbench OpenCL, multiple Passmark DirectX tests (9, 10, 11, 12), Passmark G2D, G3D, and GPU Compute. In contrast, the GRID M60-1Q has only the one Geekbench Vulkan score. This disparity in available data points is itself informative: the RTX 8000 is designed for a wide range of professional and compute tasks, while the GRID M60-1Q's validation appears limited to a specific virtualized workload.

The overall average benchmark scores for the two cards are nearly identical. The Quadro RTX 8000 averages 31,401, while the GRID M60-1Q averages 31,220. This puts the GRID M60-1Q just 0.6% behind the RTX 8000 in overall average, according to the RTX 8000's nearestRivals data. However, this aggregate figure is misleading. The RTX 8000's average is derived from nine diverse benchmarks, including the extremely high Vulkan score. The GRID M60-1Q's average is derived from a single benchmark, which happens to be its only data point. The GRID M60-1Q's own nearestRivals data confirms this, showing the RTX 8000 as a rival with a -0.6% deltaPct, meaning the RTX 8000 is slightly ahead on average.

The individual Passmark results for the RTX 8000 show a mixed bag. Its Passmark G3D score is a robust 19,799, and its GPU Compute score is 9,992. However, its DirectX scores are surprisingly low, with a DirectX 12 score of 79, DirectX 11 of 188, DirectX 10 of 137, and DirectX 9 of 211. These low scores likely reflect driver or workload-specific issues in those legacy tests, but they contribute to the overall average. The GRID M60-1Q has no comparable data, so a direct comparison on those specific tests is not possible.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 is the superior performer for any task that leverages modern graphics APIs or compute workloads. Its 302.9% lead in Geekbench Vulkan is not a marginal victory; it is a complete dominance. The RTX 8000 is the only choice for professionals needing high-end rendering, simulation, or AI inference, where its massive FP32 throughput of 16.31 TFLOPS and 48 GB of memory are critical assets.

The NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q, on the other hand, is a specialized product for a narrow use case. Its single benchmark score of 31,220 in Vulkan, while equal to its average, does not demonstrate capability across a broad range of tasks. It is a virtualized GPU solution with no display outputs, indicating its purpose is to serve as a shared resource in a data center, not as a primary workstation card. Its performance, while seemingly on par with the RTX 8000 in the aggregate average, is not comparable in any meaningful way for professional graphics work.

For a user deciding between these two, the choice is straightforward. If the task requires a physical workstation GPU with direct display output, support for the latest APIs, and raw compute power, the Quadro RTX 8000 is the only option with the data to back it up. The GRID M60-1Q's lack of display outputs and its sparse benchmark profile make it unsuitable for such a role. The RTX 8000's 75th percentile ranking among all GPUs, shared by the GRID M60-1Q, is a statistical artifact of the GRID's single high score, not a sign of comparable real-world performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Quadro RTX 8000 wins in every scenario where performance is measured. Its victory in the Geekbench Vulkan test by 302.9% suggests it is vastly superior in applications that leverage Vulkan's low-overhead, multi-threaded capabilities. This includes modern game engines, professional visualization software, and compute shaders. Its 48 GB of GDDR6 memory with 672.0 GB/s bandwidth provides a massive advantage for large datasets, such as high-resolution textures, complex 3D scenes, and machine learning models.

The GRID M60-1Q does not win any of the compared benchmarks, as the data shows 1 win for the RTX 8000 and 0 for the GRID. However, its existence implies a specific niche. As a GRID product with "No outputs," it is designed for server-side virtualization. Its lower TDP of 225 W versus the RTX 8000's 260 W, and its single 8-pin power connector, suggest it may be easier to deploy in dense server environments. Its smaller die size of 398 mm² and lower transistor count of 5,200 million also indicate a less complex, potentially more power-efficient chip for its intended tasks. The GRID M60-1Q's win is in its specific deployment model: a virtualized GPU for remote users, where its performance in a single Vulkan test is sufficient for the intended workload.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in the Geekbench Vulkan benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 is significantly faster, scoring 125,781 compared to the GRID M60-1Q's 31,220, a 302.9% difference.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each card?

A: The Quadro RTX 8000 has an average benchmark score of 31,401, while the GRID M60-1Q has an average of 31,220.

Q: How does the GRID M60-1Q compare to the Quadro RTX 8000 in terms of overall average score?

A: According to the Quadro RTX 8000's nearestRivals data, the GRID M60-1Q is 0.6% behind in average score. From the GRID M60-1Q's perspective, the RTX 8000 is 0.6% ahead.

Q: Do both cards have the same number of display outputs?

A: No. The Quadro RTX 8000 has 4x DisplayPort 1.4a and 1x USB Type-C outputs, while the GRID M60-1Q has no display outputs.

Q: What is the memory size difference between the two cards?

A: The Quadro RTX 8000 has 48 GB of GDDR6 memory, while the GRID M60-1Q has 1024 MB (1 GB) of GDDR5 memory.

Q: What is the transistor density of each chip?

A: The Quadro RTX 8000's TU102 chip has a transistor density of 24.7M / mm², while the GRID M60-1Q's GM204 chip has a density of 13.1M / mm².

Architecture Differences

The two cards are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Quadro RTX 8000 uses the TU102 chip based on the Turing architecture, fabricated on a 12 nm process at TSMC. This chip contains 18,600 million transistors on a 754 mm² die. Turing introduces dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI, which is reflected in the RTX 8000's 72 RT cores and 576 tensor cores. It also features 4,608 shading units, 288 TMUs, and 96 ROPs.

In contrast, the GRID M60-1Q uses the GM204 chip based on the older Maxwell 2.0 architecture, also from TSMC but on a 28 nm process. This chip is much smaller, with 5,200 million transistors on a 398 mm² die. It has no RT cores or tensor cores, reflecting its pre-Turing design. It has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The architectural gap is vast, with the Turing chip offering a higher transistor density (24.7M / mm² vs 13.1M / mm²) and a more modern feature set.

The memory subsystems also differ. The RTX 8000 uses 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus, achieving a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. The GRID M60-1Q uses 1024 MB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 160.4 GB/s. This difference in memory capacity and bandwidth is a primary driver of the RTX 8000's superior performance in data-intensive tasks. The RTX 8000 also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the GRID M60-1Q supports DirectX 12 (12_1).

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal the distinct purposes of each card. The most glaring difference is the display outputs. The Quadro RTX 8000 provides 4x DisplayPort 1.4a and 1x USB Type-C, making it a functional workstation card. The GRID M60-1Q has no display outputs, confirming its role as a server-side virtualization GPU.

Memory is another major differentiator. The RTX 8000 has 48 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 384-bit bus and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GRID M60-1Q has a mere 1024 MB of GDDR5 with a 256-bit bus and 160.4 GB/s bandwidth. The clocks also differ significantly. The RTX 8000 has a base clock of 1395 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, while the GRID M60-1Q has a base clock of 557 MHz and a boost of 1178 MHz. The RTX 8000's memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective), while the GRID's runs at 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective).

Compute capabilities are starkly different. The RTX 8000 delivers 16.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 32.62 TFLOPS of FP16 (2:1), while the GRID M60-1Q delivers 4.825 TFLOPS of FP32 and has no FP16 data. The RTX 8000's pixel rate is 169.9 GPixel/s and texture rate is 509.8 GTexel/s, versus 75.39 GPixel/s and 150.8 GTexel/s for the GRID. Power requirements also differ, with the RTX 8000 having a 260 W TDP and requiring a 600 W PSU with a 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin connector, while the GRID has a 225 W TDP and a 550 W PSU with a 1x 8-pin connector. Finally, the RTX 8000 has a launch MSRP of 9,999 USD, while the GRID M60-1Q has no listed launch MSRP.