NVIDIA Tesla P40 vs NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal Comparison

Launched in August 2016, the NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal and the NVIDIA Tesla P40 are both built on the same GP102 silicon, yet they serve fundamentally different purposes. The TITAN X Pascal is a GeForce-branded consumer halo card, while the Tesla P40 is a datacenter compute accelerator without display outputs. Both share the 16 nm TSMC process, 11,800 million transistors, and a 471 mm² die size, but the benchmark data reveals distinct performance profiles, particularly in compute workloads. The TITAN X Pascal holds a clear edge in both recorded Geekbench tests, while the Tesla P40 offers double the memory capacity, making the choice highly dependent on workload requirements.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

In the two head-to-head benchmark comparisons available, the NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal decisively outperforms the Tesla P40. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the TITAN X Pascal scores 66,696 points against the Tesla P40’s 62,017, a delta of 7.5%. This margin is notable but not overwhelming, suggesting that raw compute throughput is only moderately higher on the consumer card despite its higher base clock of 1417 MHz versus 1303 MHz on the Tesla P40.

The gap widens significantly in the Geekbench Vulkan test. The TITAN X Pascal achieves 77,499 points, while the Tesla P40 manages 68,172, resulting in a 13.7% advantage for the TITAN. This larger delta indicates that the TITAN X Pascal’s architectural configuration is better suited to low-level graphics API workloads, likely due to its higher memory clock (10 Gbps effective versus 7.2 Gbps) and GDDR5X memory type, which provides substantially more bandwidth (480.4 GB/s versus 347.1 GB/s).

When placed in the broader context of all GPUs, the TITAN X Pascal sits at the 91st percentile with an average benchmark score of 72,098. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 (72,379, -0.4% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6650M (71,768, +0.5%), and the AMD Radeon Vega Frontier Edition (73,370, -1.7%). These tight deltas show the TITAN X Pascal is competitively positioned among high-end cards from the same era, trailing the Vega Frontier Edition by only 1.7% while edging out the Radeon Pro Vega 64 by a hair.

The Tesla P40, by contrast, holds the 89th percentile with an average benchmark score of 65,095. Its nearest rivals show a different competitive landscape: the AMD Radeon Pro WX 9100 (64,212, +1.4% for the P40), the AMD Radeon VII (66,004, -1.4%), and the NVIDIA CMP 30HX (63,842, +2.0%). The Tesla P40’s position among these rivals is less dominant, with smaller positive margins over its competitors compared to the TITAN’s lead, reflecting its lower raw benchmark scores.

Interestingly, the Tesla P40 has more shading units (3840 versus 3584) and more texture mapping units (240 versus 224), yet it still loses in both benchmarks. This suggests that the TITAN X Pascal’s higher base clock and memory bandwidth more than compensate for the Tesla P40’s additional compute resources. The pixel rate is identical at 147.0 GPixel/s, but the texture rate tells a different story: the Tesla P40 achieves 367.4 GTexel/s versus 342.9 GTexel/s on the TITAN, a 7.1% advantage that does not translate into benchmark wins.

The Verdict

From the data alone, the NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal is the superior GPU for benchmark-driven performance. It wins both head-to-head tests, boasts a higher average benchmark score (72,098 versus 65,095), and holds a higher percentile rank (91st versus 89th). For any workload measured by Geekbench OpenCL or Vulkan, the TITAN X Pascal delivers between 7.5% and 13.7% more performance. Users seeking maximum compute throughput per benchmark score should unequivocally choose the TITAN X Pascal.

However, the Tesla P40 is not without its merits. Its 24 GB of GDDR5 memory is double the TITAN X Pascal’s 12 GB, and while the memory bandwidth is lower (347.1 GB/s versus 480.4 GB/s), the sheer capacity suggests it is designed for large datasets that exceed the TITAN’s memory footprint. The Tesla P40 also has more shading units and TMUs, which could theoretically benefit workloads that are highly parallel but not memory-bandwidth-bound. Yet, in the absence of benchmark data supporting such scenarios, these specifications remain theoretical advantages rather than demonstrated wins.

The verdict is clear: the TITAN X Pascal wins on all measured metrics. The Tesla P40’s only tangible advantage is memory capacity, which may be critical for specific datacenter inference or training tasks, but the benchmark evidence does not show this translating into higher Geekbench scores. For a buyer prioritizing raw performance as captured by these tests, the TITAN X Pascal is the definitive choice.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal has an average benchmark score of 72,098, which is 10.8% higher than the Tesla P40’s 65,095.

Q: How much faster is the TITAN X Pascal in Vulkan benchmarks?

A: The TITAN X Pascal scores 77,499 in Geekbench Vulkan, which is 13.7% faster than the Tesla P40’s 68,172.

Q: Does the Tesla P40 have any advantages in raw compute resources?

A: Yes, the Tesla P40 has 3840 shading units and 240 TMUs, compared to 3584 shading units and 224 TMUs on the TITAN X Pascal. It also has a higher texture rate of 367.4 GTexel/s versus 342.9 GTexel/s.

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

A: The Tesla P40 has 24 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the TITAN X Pascal has 12 GB of GDDR5X memory. The TITAN has higher bandwidth at 480.4 GB/s compared to 347.1 GB/s.

Q: Which card has a higher base clock speed?

A: The TITAN X Pascal has a base clock of 1417 MHz, while the Tesla P40 has a base clock of 1303 MHz. Both share the same boost clock of 1531 MHz.

Q: How do the cards rank among all GPUs?

A: The TITAN X Pascal is in the 91st percentile, while the Tesla P40 is in the 89th percentile. The TITAN’s nearest rival is the AMD Radeon Vega Frontier Edition at 73,370, while the Tesla P40’s nearest rival is the AMD Radeon VII at 66,004.

Specification Differences

The two cards diverge on several key specifications, starting with memory. The TITAN X Pascal uses 12 GB of GDDR5X with a 384-bit bus and 480.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Tesla P40 offers 24 GB of GDDR5 on the same 384-bit bus but with a lower 347.1 GB/s bandwidth. Memory clocks also differ: 1251 MHz (10 Gbps effective) on the TITAN versus 1808 MHz (7.2 Gbps effective) on the Tesla.

Compute resources show a split. The Tesla P40 has more shading units (3840) and TMUs (240) than the TITAN X Pascal (3584 and 224, respectively), but the TITAN has a higher base clock (1417 MHz versus 1303 MHz). Both share a 1531 MHz boost clock. The pixel rate is identical at 147.0 GPixel/s, but the texture rate favors the Tesla P40 at 367.4 GTexel/s versus 342.9 GTexel/s. FP32 throughput is higher on the Tesla P40 at 11.76 TFLOPS versus 10.97 TFLOPS, and FP16 is similarly higher at 183.7 GFLOPS versus 171.5 GFLOPS (both at 1:64 ratio).

Physical and interface differences are notable. The TITAN X Pascal includes display outputs (1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a), while the Tesla P40 has no outputs. Power connectors differ: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin on the TITAN versus 8-pin EPS on the Tesla. Dimensions are nearly identical, with the TITAN at 267 mm x 112 mm x 40 mm and the Tesla at 267 mm x 111 mm, with no width listed for the Tesla.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on the Pascal architecture using the GP102 chip, manufactured on TSMC’s 16 nm process with 11,800 million transistors on a 471 mm² die. The transistor density is identical at 25.1M per mm². The architecture itself is the same generation, but the product lines diverge: the TITAN X Pascal belongs to the GeForce 10 generation, while the Tesla P40 belongs to the Tesla Pascal (Pxx) generation.

Neither card has ray tracing cores or tensor cores, confirming they predate the RTX and Tensor core era. Both support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The fundamental architectural difference lies in their target usage: the TITAN X Pascal is configured for consumer graphics with display outputs and a gaming-oriented feature set, while the Tesla P40 is stripped of display capabilities and optimized for datacenter compute, evidenced by its larger memory pool and 8-pin EPS power connector instead of standard PCIe power.

The release dates are close — August 2016 for the TITAN X Pascal and September 2016 for the Tesla P40 — and both are end-of-life. Their predecessors and successors also follow the product line split: the TITAN’s predecessor is GeForce 900 and successor is GeForce 20, while the Tesla P40’s predecessor is Tesla Maxwell and successor is Tesla Volta.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal wins in every recorded benchmark category. In Geekbench OpenCL, it leads by 7.5%, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it leads by 13.7%. Its higher base clock and superior GDDR5X memory bandwidth clearly drive these victories. For any workload that relies on OpenCL or Vulkan performance, the TITAN X Pascal is the stronger card. Its display outputs also make it viable for consumer use cases like gaming or workstation graphics where a monitor connection is required.

The Tesla P40 wins in memory capacity, offering 24 GB versus 12 GB, and in raw compute resource counts — more shading units, more TMUs, and higher FP32 and FP16 throughput. This suggests it is better suited for large-scale compute tasks that require holding massive datasets in memory, such as certain machine learning inference or scientific simulations, though the benchmark data does not directly validate this. The Tesla P40 also has a higher texture rate, which could benefit texture-heavy compute workloads, but this advantage does not appear in the Geekbench results.

In summary, the TITAN X Pascal is the benchmark champion across all measured tests, while the Tesla P40’s appeal rests on its double memory capacity and slightly higher theoretical compute limits. For users who need display output and maximum Geekbench scores, the TITAN X Pascal is the clear winner. For those who prioritize memory size above all else and can forgo display connectivity, the Tesla P40 offers a compelling specification sheet, albeit with lower measured performance.