NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 vs NVIDIA Tesla M4 Comparison

NVIDIA’s Tesla M4 and GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 represent two vastly different eras of GPU design, separated by nearly a decade of architectural evolution. The data available for direct comparison is limited to a single benchmark score for each card, operating in entirely different test suites. This analysis will interpret those scores within their respective competitive contexts, then walk through the architectural and specification chasm between the 2015-era compute accelerator and the 2025 flagship consumer GPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two cards do not share a common benchmark result in the FACT PACK, so a direct numerical comparison of performance is not possible. Instead, the data provides a single score for each within its own test environment.

The Tesla M4 posts a score of 16,932 in Geekbench OpenCL. In that test, it sits at the 60th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the data are tightly clustered: the AMD Radeon HD 7970M scores 17,019 (0.5% higher), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17,037 (0.6% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT scores 17,083 (0.9% higher). The only rival it beats is the NVIDIA T400 4 GB, which scores 16,792, putting the M4 0.8% ahead. This clustering indicates that in the OpenCL workload, the Tesla M4 is statistically indistinguishable from these other cards, all within a 1% band. The M4’s performance, while modest, is competitive with a range of cards from different generations and market segments.

The RTX 5090 D V2, on the other hand, was tested with 3DMark's Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, scoring 16,504. This result places it at the 59th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are equally tightly packed: the NVIDIA T400 scores 16,508 (a 0% delta), the AMD Radeon PRO W7500 scores 16,415 (0.5% lower), the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell scores 16,408 (0.6% lower), and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT scores 16,361 (0.9% lower). The 5090 D V2 is the top performer in this group, but the margins are razor-thin, with the T400 essentially tying it. The benchmark data suggests that in this specific DX12 workload, the 5090 D V2 is not decisively ahead of much older or less expensive hardware, holding only a sub-1% advantage.

It is critical to note that comparing the raw scores of 16,932 and 16,504 across different benchmarks is meaningless. The Geekbench OpenCL test and the 3DMark Steel Nomad test measure different workloads and are not calibrated to each other. The data shows that both cards are mid-pack performers within their respective test pools, but it provides no basis for a head-to-head performance verdict.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two processors is immense, reflecting a decade of NVIDIA’s design evolution.

The Tesla M4 is built on the GM206 chip, using the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. It is fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, with a transistor count of 2,940 million on a die size of 228 mm². This yields a transistor density of 12.9M per mm². It is part of the Tesla Maxwell generation (Mxx), which predates the Pascal architecture. The M4’s feature set is barebones for compute: it has no dedicated RT cores and no tensor cores. Its API support reaches DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The RTX 5090 D V2 is built on the GB202 chip, using the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. It is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a dramatically larger transistor count of 92,200 million on a die size of 750 mm². This results in a transistor density of 122.9M per mm², nearly ten times that of the M4. It belongs to the GeForce 50 series, succeeding the GeForce 40 series. The 5090 D V2 is equipped with 170 RT cores for ray tracing and 680 tensor cores for AI acceleration, features entirely absent from the M4. Its API support is more advanced, including DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The node shrink from 28 nm to 5 nm is the fundamental driver of the density and capability difference. The M4’s Maxwell architecture was designed for efficiency and basic compute, while the 5090 D V2’s Blackwell architecture is a full-featured GPU designed for real-time ray tracing, AI processing, and high-end graphics. The presence of RT and tensor cores alone represents a fundamental shift in what the GPU is designed to do.

FAQ

Q: What is the performance percentile of each GPU relative to all other GPUs in the database?

A: The Tesla M4 has a percentile rank of 60, based on its Geekbench OpenCL score of 16,932. The RTX 5090 D V2 has a percentile rank of 59, based on its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 16,504.

Q: How does the Tesla M4 compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7970M?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 7970M has an average score of 17,019 in the same Geekbench OpenCL test. This is 0.5% higher than the Tesla M4’s score of 16,932, meaning the M4 is slightly behind.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 D V2 use a different memory type than the Tesla M4?

A: Yes. The Tesla M4 uses 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 88.00 GB/s. The RTX 5090 D V2 uses 24 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 1.34 TB/s.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The RTX 5090 D V2 has a boost clock of 2407 MHz, which is substantially higher than the Tesla M4’s boost clock of 1072 MHz.

Q: Is the Tesla M4 still in production?

A: No. The Tesla M4 has a production status of "End-of-life" and was released on 2015-11-09. The RTX 5090 D V2 is marked as "Active" and was released on 2025-08-14.

Q: What is the difference in FP32 compute performance?

A: The Tesla M4 delivers 2.195 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The RTX 5090 D V2 delivers 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is approximately 47.7 times higher.

Specification Differences

The following table outlines the key specifications where the two GPUs differ, based solely on the FACT PACK data.

| Specification | NVIDIA Tesla M4 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 |

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

| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 | Blackwell 2.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 5 nm |

| Transistors | 2,940 million | 92,200 million |

| Die Size | 228 mm² | 750 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.9M / mm² | 122.9M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 872 MHz | 2017 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1072 MHz | 2407 MHz |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 24 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR7 |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 384 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 88.00 GB/s | 1.34 TB/s |

| Memory Clock | 1375 MHz (5.5 Gbps effective) | 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective) |

| Shading Units | 1024 | 21760 |

| TMUs | 64 | 680 |

| ROPs | 32 | 176 |

| RT Cores | None | 170 |

| Tensor Cores | None | 680 |

| Pixel Rate | 34.30 GPixel/s | 423.6 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 68.61 GTexel/s | 1,636.8 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 2.195 TFLOPS | 104.8 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | Not listed | 104.8 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 50 W | 575 W |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | Not listed | 1x 16-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 250 W | 950 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | No outputs | 1x HDMI 2.1b, 3x DisplayPort 2.1b |

| DirectX Support | 12 (12_1) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |

| Dimensions (LxHxW) | Not listed | 304 mm x 137 mm x 48 mm |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2015-11-09 | 2025-08-14 |

| Predecessor | Tesla Kepler | GeForce 40 |

| Successor | Tesla Pascal | GeForce 60 |

Where Each One Wins

The data supports distinct use-case advantages for each card, based on their physical characteristics and benchmark contexts.

The Tesla M4 wins in scenarios defined by minimal power and space requirements. Its 50 W TDP and 250 W suggested PSU are drastically lower than the 5090 D V2's 575 W TDP and 950 W suggested PSU. Its single-slot design and lack of display outputs indicate it was purpose-built for headless compute or rendering tasks where a low-profile, low-power accelerator is sufficient. Its end-of-life status and 2015 release date mean it is a legacy part, but its benchmark score of 16,932 in Geekbench OpenCL shows it remains competitive within that specific test against cards like the GTX 690 and RX 7600 XT.

The RTX 5090 D V2 wins in every other measurable category of raw capability. It has a massive advantage in compute, with 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 versus the M4's 2.195 TFLOPS. Its memory subsystem is vastly superior, offering 24 GB of GDDR7 with a 1.34 TB/s bandwidth, compared to the M4's 4 GB of GDDR5 at 88.00 GB/s. It is a dual-slot card with display outputs and is designed to be a high-performance graphics and compute solution. The presence of RT and tensor cores makes it suitable for ray-traced workloads and AI acceleration, which the M4 cannot handle. Its PCIe 5.0 interface and active production status indicate it is a current-generation product.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear generational divide. The NVIDIA Tesla M4 is a legacy, low-power compute accelerator. Its benchmark results show it performing at a similar level to other mid-range cards from its era, but its 50 W TDP and single-slot form factor are its defining features. It is suitable for applications where power draw and physical space are the primary constraints, and where the workload is compatible with its limited feature set and lack of display outputs.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 is a current-generation, high-power flagship. Its benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad is competitive with its nearest rivals, but its defining characteristics are its immense compute resources, advanced memory, and support for RT and tensor cores. It is the appropriate choice for demanding graphics, ray tracing, AI, and compute tasks where maximum performance is critical, and where the system can accommodate its 575 W TDP, dual-slot size, and 950 W suggested PSU. The choice between these two is not a matter of performance equivalence but of workload: the M4 for minimal-power legacy tasks, and the 5090 D V2 for any modern, performance-intensive workload.