NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE Specifications
GeForce GTX 560 SE GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
GTX 560 SE Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce GTX 560 SE's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The GeForce GTX 560 SE by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 560 SE Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce GTX 560 SE's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
GeForce GTX 560 SE by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the GTX 560 SE, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
GTX 560 SE Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
Fermi 2.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE is built on NVIDIA's Fermi 2.0 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the GTX 560 SE will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 560 SE Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the GeForce GTX 560 SE to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce GTX 560 SE by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
NVIDIA API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
GeForce GTX 560 SE Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE is manufactured by NVIDIA as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the GeForce GTX 560 SE by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GeForce GTX 560 SE Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations. OpenCL is widely supported across different GPU vendors and platforms.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby PerformersAbout NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE is a 40 nm Fermi 2.0 part from the GeForce 500 generation, built on the GF114 chip with 1,950 million transistors on a 332 mm² die. It sits at the 38th percentile of all GPUs in the database, with a Geekbench OpenCL score of 7032, placing it in a tightly contested mid-range segment where a few points separate it from its nearest rivals.
How It Compares
The NVIDIA T600 is the closest competitor, scoring 7068 against the GTX 560 SE's 7032. That is a mere 0.5% gap in favor of the T600, a margin so thin that benchmark variance alone could flip the ordering. In practical terms, the two cards are effectively interchangeable for compute workloads, though the T600's newer architecture may offer feature advantages not reflected in raw OpenCL throughput.
The AMD Radeon R5 M240 trails slightly with a score of 6984, putting it 0.7% behind the GTX 560 SE. This is a negligible difference—well within the noise of typical benchmark runs. Users coming from the R5 M240 would see no meaningful uplift in raw compute performance, though the GTX 560 SE does bring a different set of display outputs and a dual-slot cooler design.
The Intel UHD Graphics 750, an integrated solution, scores 6966, which is 0.9% lower than the GTX 560 SE. The delta is small enough that the integrated GPU can match the discrete card in this specific OpenCL test. However, the GTX 560 SE's dedicated 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory and 91.87 GB/s of bandwidth give it a structural advantage in memory-bound tasks that the UHD 750's shared-memory design cannot replicate, even if the raw score is close.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M is the outlier in this group, scoring 7193 with a 2.2% lead over the GTX 560 SE. That is the largest margin among the listed rivals, but it is still modest. The GTX 680M is a mobile part, so its performance comes with different thermal and power constraints, yet the data shows it holds a consistent, if small, edge in this benchmark.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GTX 560 SE does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores. Its architecture, Fermi 2.0, predates the introduction of hardware-accelerated ray tracing by several generations. Consequently, any ray-traced workloads would rely on software fallbacks, which are impractical for real-time use given the card's compute capabilities.
The GPU does support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, which are the relevant API specifications listed in the fact pack. The DirectX 12 support is at the 11_0 feature level, meaning it can run DirectX 12 titles but only with the feature set of DirectX 11. This limits access to certain modern rendering techniques that require higher feature levels. Vulkan support is not listed, so its availability is unconfirmed.
For display output, the card provides 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a ports. The mini-HDMI 1.3a standard supports 1080p output but lacks the bandwidth for higher resolutions or refresh rates that newer HDMI versions offer. The 192-bit memory bus and 3.8 Gbps effective GDDR5 speed deliver 91.87 GB/s of bandwidth, which is adequate for the card's 288 shading units and 48 texture mapping units.
Benchmark Performance
The benchmark results place the GTX 560 SE in a very tight performance band. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 7032 is within 2% of all four nearest rivals, which is remarkable for hardware spanning different architectures and market segments. The spread from the lowest-scoring rival (Intel UHD Graphics 750 at 6966) to the highest (GTX 680M at 7193) is just 3.3% total.
Against the T600, the GTX 560 SE is 0.5% slower. That delta is negligible, but it means the T600 wins the matchup on paper. The GTX 560 SE does beat the Radeon R5 M240 by 0.7%, a mirror-image margin that again carries no practical significance. The lead over the UHD 750 is 0.9%, the largest advantage the GTX 560 SE holds over any rival in this group. The GTX 680M, meanwhile, is 2.2% faster, which is the only gap that approaches a measurable difference.
In terms of raw throughput, the GTX 560 SE delivers 847.9 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, a pixel rate of 8.832 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 35.33 GTexel/s. These figures align with its benchmark position—solidly mid-pack, neither embarrassing nor impressive. The 150 W TDP and 450 W suggested PSU rating indicate that performance comes at a moderate power cost, but the data does not show efficiency metrics to compare against rivals.
Who Should Consider It
The GTX 560 SE is best suited for users targeting 1080p resolution at medium to low settings in older or less demanding titles. Its 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory is a hard constraint; modern games at 1080p with high-resolution textures will exceed this capacity, causing stuttering or texture pop-in. The 91.87 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for the card's compute level, but it is not a buffer for future workloads.
Given its benchmark proximity to the Intel UHD Graphics 750, users with that integrated GPU would not see a substantial compute uplift. However, the dedicated memory and 24 ROPs give the GTX 560 SE an edge in rasterization-heavy scenes that the integrated part lacks. For those coming from the Radeon R5 M240, the 0.7% performance delta means an upgrade would be imperceptible in real-world use.
The GTX 560 SE is not a candidate for high-refresh-rate gaming or 1440p resolutions. Its pixel rate of 8.832 GPixel/s and FP32 compute of 847.9 GFLOPS are simply too low for those demands. It is a legacy part, now end-of-life, that can still handle esports titles and older AAA games at playable framerates, provided expectations are kept in check. The dual-slot cooler and 2x 6-pin power connectors require a case with adequate clearance and a PSU rated at 450 W or higher.
FAQ
Q: How does the GTX 560 SE compare to the NVIDIA T600?
A: The T600 scores 7068 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 0.5% higher than the GTX 560 SE's 7032. The difference is negligible, making them effectively equal in compute performance.
Q: Does the GTX 560 SE support ray tracing?
A: No. The card has no dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores. Its Fermi 2.0 architecture and DirectX 12 (11_0) support mean hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not available.
Q: What is the memory configuration of the GTX 560 SE?
A: It has 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, running at 3.8 Gbps effective, providing 91.87 GB/s of bandwidth.
Q: Is the GTX 560 SE faster than the Intel UHD Graphics 750?
A: Yes, marginally. The GTX 560 SE scores 7032 versus 6966 for the UHD 750, a 0.9% lead. The discrete card also has dedicated memory, which helps in memory-bound tasks.
Q: What are the power requirements for the GTX 560 SE?
A: The card has a 150 W TDP, requires 2x 6-pin power connectors, and the suggested PSU rating is 450 W.
Q: What APIs does the GTX 560 SE support?
A: It supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. Vulkan support is not listed in the specifications.
The AMD Equivalent of GeForce GTX 560 SE
Looking for a similar graphics card from AMD? The AMD Radeon RX 480 offers comparable performance and features in the AMD lineup.
Popular NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 SE Comparisons
See how the GeForce GTX 560 SE stacks up against similar graphics cards from the same generation and competing brands.
Compare GeForce GTX 560 SE with Other GPUs
Select another GPU to compare specifications and benchmarks side-by-side.
Browse GPUs