NVIDIA Quadro K5200 vs NVIDIA Tesla K40c Comparison

NVIDIA Quadro K5200 and NVIDIA Tesla K40c are both professional Kepler-generation accelerators from the same 28 nm TSMC process generation, but they target different corners of the workstation market. The Quadro K5200 is a display-oriented workstation card with 8 GB of memory, while the Tesla K40c is a compute-focused accelerator with 12 GB of memory and no display outputs. Benchmark data from the database records a single head-to-head OpenCL result, with the Quadro K5200 taking the win by 8.9%. The following sections break down where each card excels, how their architectures diverge, and what the recorded measurements show.

Where Each One Wins

The Quadro K5200 wins the only available head-to-head benchmark in the database, the Geekbench OpenCL test, with a score of 19024 compared to the Tesla K40c's 17468, a delta of 8.9%. This places the Quadro at the 64th percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the Tesla sits at the 61st percentile. For users running OpenCL workloads, the data indicates the Quadro K5200 holds a measurable advantage.

However, the Tesla K40c wins in raw compute specifications, which matters for certain workloads. It carries 2880 shading units versus 2304 on the Quadro, and its FP32 throughput is 5.046 TFLOPS versus 3.553 TFLOPS. The Tesla also has a wider 384-bit memory bus and 12 GB of memory compared to 8 GB on the Quadro. These hardware advantages do not translate into a higher OpenCL score in the recorded data, but they suggest the Tesla is built for memory-heavy and shader-heavy tasks that may not be fully captured by the single benchmark result.

The Quadro K5200, by contrast, offers display outputs (2x DVI, 2x DisplayPort 1.2) and a lower TDP of 150 W versus 245 W on the Tesla. It also supports DirectX 12 (11_1) while the Tesla is limited to DirectX 12 (11_0). For users needing a workstation card with both compute and display capabilities, the Quadro is the clear choice. For dedicated compute servers where display output is irrelevant and memory capacity is paramount, the Tesla's 12 GB frame buffer and wider bus give it an edge in workloads that fit within its larger memory pool.

Architecture Differences

Both cards are built on the Kepler architecture, but they use different chips. The Quadro K5200 uses the GK110B chip, while the Tesla K40c uses the GK180 chip. Both chips are fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process, and both have identical transistor counts of 7,080 million and die sizes of 561 mm², leading to the same transistor density of 12.6M per mm².

The shading unit counts differ significantly. The Tesla K40c has 2880 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs. The Quadro K5200 has 2304 shading units, 192 TMUs, and also 48 ROPs. This means the Tesla has 25% more shading units and 25% more TMUs, which should theoretically improve throughput in compute-heavy tasks. The pixel rate on the Tesla is 52.56 GPixel/s versus 37.01 GPixel/s on the Quadro, and the texture rate is 210.2 GTexel/s versus 148.0 GTexel/s.

Clock speeds also differ. The Tesla K40c runs at a base clock of 745 MHz and a boost clock of 876 MHz, while the Quadro K5200 runs at 667 MHz base and 771 MHz boost. Memory clocks are identical at 1502 MHz, translating to 6 Gbps effective on both cards. The API support is nearly identical, both supporting OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.175, but the Quadro supports DirectX 12 (11_1) while the Tesla only supports DirectX 12 (11_0). Neither card has ray tracing or tensor cores, as expected for Kepler-generation parts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains exactly one head-to-head benchmark between these two cards: Geekbench OpenCL. The Quadro K5200 scores 19024, and the Tesla K40c scores 17468. The Quadro wins by 8.9%. This is the sole recorded comparison, so the entire performance narrative rests on this single measurement.

To contextualize the Quadro's score, the database lists its nearest rivals by average score. The AMD FirePro D300 averages 19637, which is 0.2% higher than the Quadro's 19602 average. The AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT averages 19765, 0.8% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX averages 19410, which is 1% lower than the Quadro. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB averages 19334, which is 1.4% lower. These deltas indicate the Quadro sits in a tight cluster of GPUs with average scores between roughly 19300 and 19800.

For the Tesla K40c, its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 460 at 17509 (0.2% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro 560 at 17551 (0.5% higher), the AMD Radeon 780M at 17588 (0.7% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 at 17639 (1% higher). The Tesla's average score of 17468 places it just below this group, with all rivals within a 1% delta.

The 8.9% gap between the Quadro and Tesla in OpenCL is substantial relative to these tight rival clusters. While the Tesla has more shading units and higher clocks, the recorded benchmark shows the Quadro pulling ahead. This could reflect driver optimizations for the Quadro lineup, memory bandwidth utilization, or the specific nature of the OpenCL workload in the test.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in several key specification fields. The chip is different: GK110B for the Quadro versus GK180 for the Tesla. The generation names also differ, with the Quadro in the "Quadro Kepler (Kx200)" generation and the Tesla in the "Tesla Kepler (Kxx)" generation.

Clock speeds differ: the Quadro has a base clock of 667 MHz and boost of 771 MHz, while the Tesla has 745 MHz base and 876 MHz boost. Memory size differs: 8 GB on the Quadro versus 12 GB on the Tesla. Memory bus width differs: 256-bit on the Quadro versus 384-bit on the Tesla. Memory bandwidth differs: 192.3 GB/s on the Quadro versus 288.4 GB/s on the Tesla.

Shading units differ: 2304 on the Quadro versus 2880 on the Tesla. TMUs differ: 192 on the Quadro versus 240 on the Tesla. ROPs are the same at 48 on both. Pixel rate differs: 37.01 GPixel/s on the Quadro versus 52.56 GPixel/s on the Tesla. Texture rate differs: 148.0 GTexel/s on the Quadro versus 210.2 GTexel/s on the Tesla. FP32 throughput differs: 3.553 TFLOPS on the Quadro versus 5.046 TFLOPS on the Tesla.

TDP differs: 150 W on the Quadro versus 245 W on the Tesla. Power connectors differ: 1x 6-pin on the Quadro versus 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin on the Tesla. Suggested PSU differs: 450 W on the Quadro versus 550 W on the Tesla. Display outputs differ: the Quadro has 2x DVI and 2x DisplayPort 1.2, while the Tesla has no outputs. DirectX support differs: the Quadro supports 12 (11_1) while the Tesla supports 12 (11_0). Release dates differ: the Quadro launched on 2014-07-21, while the Tesla launched on 2013-10-07. The Tesla K40c has a launch MSRP of 7,699 USD, while the Quadro has no recorded launch MSRP.

Dimensions are identical in length (267 mm, 10.5 inches) for both, and the Quadro also has a recorded height of 111 mm (4.4 inches) while the Tesla has no height recorded. Both are dual-slot cards with PCIe 3.0 x16 interfaces. Both are end-of-life products. Both use GDDR5 memory with identical memory clocks of 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective).

FAQ

Q: Which card has more memory, and does that affect performance?

A: The Tesla K40c has 12 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus, while the Quadro K5200 has 8 GB on a 256-bit bus. The Tesla's memory bandwidth is 288.4 GB/s versus 192.3 GB/s on the Quadro. However, the recorded OpenCL benchmark shows the Quadro winning by 8.9%, so the larger memory pool does not translate into a higher score in that specific test.

Q: What is the performance difference between these two cards in the database?

A: The only head-to-head benchmark is Geekbench OpenCL, where the Quadro K5200 scores 19024 and the Tesla K40c scores 17468. The Quadro wins by 8.9%. The Quadro also has a higher average benchmark score of 19602 versus 17468 for the Tesla, and it sits at the 64th percentile compared to the Tesla's 61st.

Q: Do these cards support the same APIs?

A: Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.175. The key difference is DirectX: the Quadro K5200 supports DirectX 12 (11_1), while the Tesla K40c only supports DirectX 12 (11_0). Neither card has ray tracing or tensor cores.

Q: Can the Tesla K40c output video to a display?

A: No. The Tesla K40c has no display outputs at all. The Quadro K5200, by contrast, has 2x DVI and 2x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, making it suitable for workstation use with monitors.

Q: How do these cards compare to recent GPUs in the database?

A: The Quadro K5200's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX (1% lower average score) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB (1.4% lower). The Tesla K40c's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 780M (0.7% higher) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (1% higher). Both cards cluster within a narrow band of average scores around their respective levels.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The Quadro K5200 has a TDP of 150 W and requires a single 6-pin power connector with a suggested 450 W PSU. The Tesla K40c has a TDP of 245 W, requires a 6-pin and an 8-pin power connector, and suggests a 550 W PSU. Both are dual-slot cards with identical 267 mm length.