GPU Comparison

The comparison between the NVIDIA Quadro K5000 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is a study in contrasting design philosophies from the same manufacturer. The K5000 is a professional workstation card built on the Kepler architecture, while the GTX 560 is a consumer gaming card from the older Fermi 2.0 generation. The data shows a clear overall winner in raw compute, but the specific strengths of each card tell a more nuanced story about their intended roles.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the NVIDIA Quadro K5000 is the definitive performance winner. In the only shared benchmark test, Geekbench OpenCL, the K5000 scores 11418 compared to the GTX 560's 9058, representing a significant 26.1% advantage. This is a substantial lead that aligns with the K5000's higher average benchmark score of 9637 versus the GTX 560's 9058. The K5000 also holds a higher percentile ranking among all GPUs at 46, compared to the GTX 560's 45.

However, the choice is not simply about picking the faster card. The data implies that these are tools for different jobs. The Quadro K5000, with its 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and 172.8 GB/s of bandwidth, is positioned for professional workloads that demand large memory capacities and high throughput. The GTX 560, with its 1 GB memory and 128.0 GB/s bandwidth, is a more modest offering. The K5000's launch MSRP is 2,499 USD, while the GTX 560's is 199 USD, which, while not a metric of performance, frames them as different classes of products. The GTX 560 is not a direct rival to the K5000; rather, the data suggests it is a card for a different, less demanding segment. If the priority is maximum compute performance and memory capacity, the K5000 is the clear choice. If the use case is simpler and the budget is constrained, the GTX 560 offers a baseline level of capability, but it is outclassed in every measurable benchmark category.

Architecture Differences

The two cards originate from different architectural generations, which explains their divergent performance profiles. The Quadro K5000 is built on the Kepler architecture, using the GK104 chip manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. This process node allows for a dense packing of 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.0M / mm². In contrast, the GeForce GTX 560 is based on the older Fermi 2.0 architecture, using the GF114 chip on a larger 40 nm process. This older node results in fewer transistors (1,950 million) on a physically larger die (332 mm²), giving a much lower transistor density of 5.9M / mm². This fundamental difference in manufacturing technology is a primary driver of the performance gap.

The core configurations are also vastly different. The K5000 is equipped with 1536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The GTX 560, by comparison, has only 336 shading units and 56 TMUs, but it also has 32 ROPs. This near-4.5x difference in shading units and 2.3x difference in texture units explains the K5000's massive lead in raw compute throughput. In terms of API support, both cards support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but the K5000 also supports Vulkan 1.2.175, a feature the GTX 560 lacks. This makes the K5000 more versatile for modern applications that leverage Vulkan.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in the shared benchmark test?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K5000 is faster. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, it scored 11418 against the GTX 560's 9058, a 26.1% difference.

Q: Do these cards have the same amount of memory?

A: No. The Quadro K5000 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the GeForce GTX 560 has 1024 MB (1 GB) of GDDR5 memory. The K5000 also has a higher memory bandwidth of 172.8 GB/s versus 128.0 GB/s.

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Quadro K5000 has a higher average benchmark score of 9637, compared to the GeForce GTX 560's 9058. This places the K5000 in the 46th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 560 is in the 45th percentile.

Q: Are the power requirements different?

A: Yes, the data shows a significant difference. The Quadro K5000 has a TDP of 122 W and requires a 300 W power supply, while the GeForce GTX 560 has a higher TDP of 150 W and requires a 450 W power supply.

Q: Do both cards support the same modern graphics APIs?

A: They both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. However, the Quadro K5000 also supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GeForce GTX 560 does not list Vulkan support.

Q: Which card is larger in physical size?

A: The Quadro K5000 is longer, measuring 267 mm (10.5 inches), while the GeForce GTX 560 measures 210 mm (8.3 inches). Both are dual-slot cards.

Specification Differences

The following table highlights the key differences in specifications between the two cards, based on the provided data.

| Specification | NVIDIA Quadro K5000 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Kepler | Fermi 2.0 |

| Chip | GK104 | GF114 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |

| Transistors | 3,540 million | 1,950 million |

| Die Size | 294 mm² | 332 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.0M / mm² | 5.9M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 706 MHz | (not specified) |

| Memory Clock | 1350 MHz (5.4 Gbps effective) | 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 1024 MB |

| Memory Bandwidth | 172.8 GB/s | 128.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 1536 | 336 |

| TMUs | 128 | 56 |

| Pixel Rate | 22.59 GPixel/s | 11.34 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 90.37 GTexel/s | 45.36 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 2.169 TFLOPS | 1,088.6 GFLOPS |

| TDP | 122 W | 150 W |

| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 300 W | 450 W |

| Display Outputs | 2x DVI, 2x DisplayPort 1.2 | 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a |

| Vulkan Support | 1.2.175 | (not specified) |

| Length | 267 mm (10.5 inches) | 210 mm (8.3 inches) |

| Release Date | 2012-08-16 | 2011-05-16 |

| Predecessor | Quadro Fermi | GeForce 400 |

| Successor | Quadro Maxwell | GeForce 600 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is in the Geekbench OpenCL test. This is a critical metric for compute workloads, as it measures general-purpose processing on the GPU. The results are decisive in favor of the NVIDIA Quadro K5000.

The K5000 achieved a score of 11418, while the GTX 560 managed 9058. This represents a 26.1% performance advantage for the K5000. This large delta is consistent with the architectural differences, particularly the K5000's 1536 shading units versus the GTX 560's 336. The higher memory bandwidth of the K5000 (172.8 GB/s) also likely contributes to its lead in this test, as OpenCL workloads often involve significant data movement. While the GTX 560 has a higher TDP of 150 W compared to the K5000's 122 W, this did not translate into a performance advantage in this benchmark. The data clearly shows that in this head-to-head test, the K5000 is the superior compute processor.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark results, the wins are one-sided in terms of raw performance, but the use-case split is defined by the data.

NVIDIA Quadro K5000 Wins:

• Compute Performance: The K5000 is the unequivocal winner in the Geekbench OpenCL test, with a 26.1% higher score. This suggests it is better suited for professional applications like 3D rendering, scientific simulation, and video processing that heavily utilize GPU compute.
• Memory Capacity and Bandwidth: With 4 GB of memory and 172.8 GB/s bandwidth, the K5000 can handle larger datasets and more complex textures than the GTX 560's 1 GB and 128.0 GB/s. This is crucial for high-resolution textures and large frame buffers in professional visualization.
• API Compatibility: The K5000's support for Vulkan 1.2.175 gives it a compatibility edge for newer software titles, whereas the GTX 560 lacks this feature.
• Power Efficiency: The K5000 achieves higher performance while consuming less power, with a TDP of 122 W versus the GTX 560's 150 W, and it requires a less powerful PSU (300 W vs 450 W).

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Wins:

• Physical Footprint: The GTX 560 is significantly shorter at 210 mm (8.3 inches) compared to the K5000's 267 mm (10.5 inches). This makes it a better fit for smaller cases or systems with limited clearance.
• Legacy Display Output: The GTX 560 offers a mini-HDMI 1.3a output, which might be convenient for connecting directly to certain displays or home theater setups without an adapter, whereas the K5000 only provides DVI and DisplayPort outputs.
• Lower Initial Investment: While not a performance metric, the launch MSRP of 199 USD for the GTX 560 versus 2,499 USD for the K5000 indicates that the GTX 560 was positioned for a more accessible market segment.

In summary, the K5000 wins on almost every performance and feature metric, making it the superior choice for professional work. The GTX 560's only advantages are its smaller size and lower entry price point, which could make it a viable option for basic computing tasks where the K5000's pro-level features are not needed.