GPU Comparison

The NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 represent two vastly different eras of GPU design, separated by more than a decade of architectural evolution. The data shows a single direct benchmark comparison, but the disparity in that result is so profound that it defines the entire relationship between these two end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only shared benchmark between the two GPUs is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is a landslide victory for the modern mobile part. The RTX A2000 Mobile scores 56,518 points, while the GTX 480 manages just 13,300 points. That translates to a delta of 324.9%, meaning the Ampere-based laptop GPU delivers more than four times the compute performance of the Fermi-based desktop card from 2010.

Breaking down the numbers, the RTX A2000 Mobile’s OpenCL score places it in a completely different performance tier. Its average benchmark score of 13,821 across all tests further reinforces this, as it sits at the 55th percentile of all GPUs. The GTX 480, by contrast, averages 13,300 points and lands at the 53rd percentile. While these percentile positions look close, the RTX A2000 Mobile’s lead in the OpenCL test is so large that it dwarfs the entire benchmark portfolio of the older card.

The delta of 324.9% is not a marginal improvement; it represents a generational leap. In raw terms, the RTX A2000 Mobile produces 8.637 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, compared to 1,345 GFLOPS for the GTX 480. Even the memory subsystem tells a similar story: the newer card’s 192.0 GB/s of bandwidth edges out the GTX 480’s 177.4 GB/s, despite the older card having a wider 384-bit bus. The efficiency of GDDR6 at 12 Gbps effective simply outclasses the GDDR5 running at 3.7 Gbps effective.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX A2000 Mobile wins the only head-to-head benchmark, but its dominance extends far beyond that single test. Its Passmark suite shows a versatile performer: scoring 9,611 in G3D, 4,334 in GPU Compute, and 491 in G2D. The DirectX tests reveal a GPU that excels in modern workloads, with a score of 115 in DirectX 9, 68 in DirectX 11, and 57 in DirectX 10. The DirectX 12 score of 47 is particularly telling, as it confirms the architecture’s ability to handle contemporary APIs.

The GTX 480 has no wins in the data. It lacks any benchmark results beyond the OpenCL test, making it impossible to claim superiority in any workload category. The architectural limitations are clear: it has no RT cores, no tensor cores, and supports DirectX 12 (11_0) rather than the 12 Ultimate (12_2) that the RTX A2000 Mobile supports. The older card also lacks Vulkan support entirely, while the newer part supports Vulkan 1.4.

For use-case analysis, the RTX A2000 Mobile is the only sensible choice for any modern workload. Its 20 RT cores and 80 tensor cores enable ray tracing and AI acceleration, features the GTX 480 simply cannot offer. The newer card’s 2,560 shading units and 80 TMUs provide a massive parallel processing advantage over the GTX 480’s 480 shading units and 60 TMUs. The pixel rate of 80.98 GPixel/s versus 21.03 GPixel/s further cements this gap.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two GPUs is staggering, starting with the manufacturing process. The RTX A2000 Mobile uses an 8 nm process at Samsung, while the GTX 480 relies on TSMC’s 40 nm node. This process shrink allows the newer chip to pack 8,700 million transistors into a 200 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 43.5 million per mm². The GTX 480, by contrast, crams 3,100 million transistors into a massive 529 mm² die, achieving just 5.9 million transistors per mm².

The core configurations reflect this generational shift. The RTX A2000 Mobile’s GA107 chip features 2,560 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It also introduces dedicated hardware that simply did not exist in 2010: 20 RT cores and 80 tensor cores. The GTX 480’s GF100 chip has 480 shading units, 60 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, with no ray tracing or tensor core support whatsoever.

Memory architecture differs fundamentally as well. The RTX A2000 Mobile uses 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, achieving 192.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 480 uses 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus, yet only manages 177.4 GB/s. The newer memory technology delivers more bandwidth with a narrower bus, a testament to the efficiency gains of the decade between releases.

Clock speeds tell an interesting story. The RTX A2000 Mobile has a base clock of 1215 MHz and a boost clock of 1687 MHz. The GTX 480 has no listed base or boost clock, only a memory clock of 924 MHz. This means the newer GPU operates at significantly higher frequencies while consuming just 95 W of power, compared to the GTX 480’s 250 W TDP. The power efficiency is further highlighted by the power connectors: the RTX A2000 Mobile uses none, being an IGP, while the GTX 480 requires 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin connectors and a suggested 600 W PSU.

The bus interface also reflects progress. The RTX A2000 Mobile uses PCIe 4.0 x16, while the GTX 480 is limited to PCIe 2.0 x16. The newer card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the older card peaks at DirectX 12 (11_0) with no Vulkan support. The RTX A2000 Mobile’s display outputs are portable-device dependent, while the GTX 480 offers 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a.

The Verdict

The data leaves no room for ambiguity. The NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile is the superior GPU in every measurable way, with a 324.9% lead in the only shared benchmark. Its 55th percentile standing, average score of 13,821, and comprehensive feature set make it the clear choice for anyone needing modern compute, ray tracing, or AI capabilities.

The GTX 480, despite its 53rd percentile ranking and 13,300 average score, is obsolete for contemporary workloads. Its Fermi architecture lacks the dedicated hardware required for modern APIs and acceleration features. The 250 W power draw and dual-slot form factor further disadvantage it against the 95 W IGP design of the RTX A2000 Mobile.

For professionals or enthusiasts considering these GPUs, the choice is straightforward. The RTX A2000 Mobile’s 8.637 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, 192.0 GB/s bandwidth, and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate make it suitable for current-generation gaming, content creation, and AI tasks. The GTX 480, with its 1,345 GFLOPS and 177.4 GB/s bandwidth, is only relevant for legacy applications or historical collections.

Nearest rival data reinforces the RTX A2000 Mobile’s positioning. Its average score of 13,821 puts it within 0.6% of the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (13,745), 0.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon 660M (13,812), and 0.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 570X (13,871). The GTX 480’s rivals paint a similar picture: it sits 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon Pro 555X (13,321) and 0.6% behind the AMD Radeon HD 8950M (13,376).

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the RTX A2000 Mobile than the GTX 480 in OpenCL performance?

A: The RTX A2000 Mobile scores 56,518 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 324.9% higher than the GTX 480’s score of 13,300.

Q: What are the memory specifications of each GPU?

A: The RTX A2000 Mobile has 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 192.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 480 has 1536 MB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus with 177.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does the GTX 480 support ray tracing or tensor cores?

A: No. The GTX 480 has no RT cores and no tensor cores. The RTX A2000 Mobile has 20 RT cores and 80 tensor cores.

Q: What is the power consumption difference between the two cards?

A: The RTX A2000 Mobile has a TDP of 95 W and uses no power connectors, while the GTX 480 has a TDP of 250 W and requires 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin connectors with a suggested 600 W PSU.

Q: Which GPU has better API support for modern games?

A: The RTX A2000 Mobile supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The GTX 480 only supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, with no Vulkan support.

Q: What is the transistor density difference between the two architectures?

A: The RTX A2000 Mobile’s GA107 chip has a density of 43.5 million transistors per mm², while the GTX 480’s GF100 chip has a density of 5.9 million transistors per mm².