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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLI vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLI

► remove from comparison NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLI

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M SLI is a combination of two Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M graphics cards for laptops linked together in SLI mode. The combination can be up to 40% faster than a single GTX 260M if given the proper game or driver support. In fact,some games may even run slower under SLI than with a single 260M if driver support is poor. Regardless, current consumption is twice as high as a single 260M. Notably, Nvidia drivers support the deactivation of SLI to save power. This is in contrast to the Catalyst drivers of the 4870 X2 at the time of our review.

The graphics memory of both cards can't be added and compared to single cards, as each card stores the same information. Therefore, a GTX 260M SLI with 2x512 graphics memory only counts as 512 MB for games.

As all SLI combinations, the GeForce 260M SLI may suffer from noticeable micro stuttering at frame rates between 20 to 30 fps. This is due to the inconsistent delays between subsequent frames being rendered and shown onscreen. As a result, an SLI combination may need higher frame rates for fluent gameplay.

Similar to other cards with DirectX 10 capabilities, the GeForce GTX 260M SLI combination renders 3D images using "Unified Shaders". Dedicated pixel shaders and vertex shaders have been dropped in favor of 2x112 stream processors for rendering graphic work that would have normally been done by specialized pixel and vertex shaders. Furthermore, the shader units are higher clocked than the chip at 1375 MHz.

The performance of the GTX 260M SLI is in the region of a single GTX 260M, but can be about 40 percent higher depending on application and driver support. A single GTX 260M is only a bit faster than a 9800M GTX due to the higher clock speed. For current DirectX 10 games like Crysis, World in Conflict, Bioshock or Age of Conan, the performance of this graphics card is sufficient with medium and high details. Older games and less demanding ones run fluently with high resolutions and full details. The memory component is up to 2x1024 MB GDDR3 with speeds up to 950MHz in MXM 3.0 boards or up to 800 MHz in MXM 2.0 boards.

An advantage of the GeForce GTX 260M SLI is the integrated PureVideo HD video processor. As a result, it is able to decode/encode H.264-, VC-1-, MPEG2- and WMV9 video material that would have otherwise been processed by the CPU. This ultimately allows the CPU to concentrate more on other tasks and programs simultaneously.

Both chips also support PhysX and CUDA applications. A single GTX 260M can also be used to calculate PhysX effects if supported by the game or application.

HybridPower is a technique to choose between the integrated (if available) and dedicated graphics core for power-saving purposes. So far, this works only in Windows Vista. Up to now, the user had to use a tool to switch between the GPUs. In the near future, Nvidia intends to be able to switch GPUs automatically in the drivers (now known as Optimus Technology, which is not supported by the GTX 260M SLI). GeForceBoost is not supported with this card as there would be no performance gain if one were to combine the integrated GPU with the dedicated 460M SLI.

The current consumption of up to 2x75 = 150 Watts (including the MXM board and VRAM) allows the use of the SLI cards only in laptops with a strong cooling system. Therefore, the GTX 260M SLI can be found only in heavier and larger desktop replacement (DTR) notebooks.

Compared with desktop graphics cards, the performance of the GTX 260M SLI is about on par with the GeForce 9800 GT SLI (600/1500/900).

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M

► remove from comparison NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M is a high-end graphic card of the 200M series based on the G92b core and most similar to the Desktop GeForce 9800 GTX+. Therefore the 285M cannot be directly compared to the Desktop GTX 285. The chip is produced in a 55nm fabrication process, which is a step up from the 65nm process of the GTX 9800M. Its 128 pipelines are all enabled as well, as opposed to only 112 pipelines of the GTX 9800M. Compared to the GTX 280M, the GTX 285M features a slightly higher clock speed and is therefore only marginally faster (3-6% on average).

An innovation in the 200M series is the much accelerated switch times if using Hybrid Power (lower than 1 second compared to 7 seconds at the 9800M GTX).

Similar to all other cards with native DirectX 10 capabilities, the GeForce GTX 285M renders 3D images using "Unified Shaders". In other words, there are no longer any more dedicated pixel shaders or vertex shaders. Instead, new stream processors (128 of them in the 285M) now process most of the heavy graphics loading that would have otherwise been done by dedicated pixel and vertex shaders. In fact, the shader units are clocked higher than the core chip itself.

As previously mentioned, the GTX 285M is about 3-6% faster than the GTX280M due to slightly higher clock speeds. This means that notebooks equipped with the GTX 285M should run all modern and demanding games (as of 2009) in high details and resolutions. Only very demanding games, like Crysis Warhead or Metro 2033, may become unplayable if at maximum graphical settings.

Games with PhysX support (e.g., Mirror's Edge) may benefit from improved performance out of the 285M. Still, the Mobility Radeon HD 5870 is arguably a faster and better value single core GPU for laptops.

An advantage of the GeForce GTX 285M is the integrated PureVideo HD video processor (VP2). With this software feature, the 285M can assist the CPU in the decoding of H.264-, VC-1-, MPEG2- or WMV9 videos. 

HybridPower is an Nvidia power-saving technology for Windows Vista used for switching between integrated and dedicated graphics cards. In the future, Nvidia wants this switch to occur automatically with drivers (now known as Optimus). GeForceBoost is not supported with the 285M, as there would be no performance gain in combining the integrated GPU with the dedicated video card.  

The power consumption can be up to 75 Watts (if including the MXM board and VRAM). As a result, the 285M is usually reserved for larger desktop replacement (DTR) laptops with powerful cooling solutions.

In June 2010, the GeForce GTX 480M (mobile Fermi) was announced with a revamped architecture compared to the GTX 285M. Compared to the 285M, the Fermi core will support DirectX 11 and offer better performance at the cost of higher power consumption levels and possibly higher heat output. 

If compared to desktop graphics cards, the performance of the 285M can be considered somewhere in between the 9800 GT and the 9800 GTX, the latter of which is clocked considerably higher (675/1675/1100 MHz) in comparison.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI

► remove from comparison NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 285M SLI is a graphics solution that combines two Nvidia GeForce GTX 285M with an SLI connection. As not every game supports SLI efficiently, the performance increase compared to a single card is only about 0-40%. The most frequently used technique is Alternate Frame Rendering (AFR), where each card take turns rendering a frame in an alternating manner. Therefore, the SLI solution may suffer from noticeable micro stuttering at frame-rates between 20-30 fps (due to display irregularities between each rendered frame).

Each of the two GeForce GTX 285M is based on the G92b core and is therefore produced in 55nm. It features the full 128 pipelines of the G92b core and is therefore comparable to the desktop 9800M GTX+ and not the desktop GTX 280.

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 285M SLI in laptops with Core 2 Duo CPUs is bundled with the GeForce 9400M G chipset and therefore supports HybridPower (if the manufacturer enables it). With HybridPower, both GTX cards can be disabled and only the chipset graphics core can run, leading to improved battery life (and possibly less fan noise). Modern Core i7 laptops are using an Intel chipset and do not support HybridPower.

Since there are two GTX 285M cards active in SLI, the electrical current consumption and exhumed heat are about twice as much as what a single GTX 285M can produce. Due to the large power and cooling requirements, this SLI combination can only be found in large DTR laptops (like the Alienware M17x).

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLINVIDIA GeForce GTX 285MNVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI
GeForce GTX 200M Series
GeForce GTX 285M SLI 256 @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 1020 MHz
GeForce GTX 280M SLI 256 @ 0.59 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 260M SLI 224 @ 0.55 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 285M 128 @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 1020 MHz
GeForce GTX 280M 128 @ 0.59 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 260M 112 @ 0.55 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 285M SLI 256 @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 1020 MHz
GeForce GTX 280M SLI 256 @ 0.59 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 260M SLI 224 @ 0.55 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 285M 128 @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 1020 MHz
GeForce GTX 280M 128 @ 0.59 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 260M 112 @ 0.55 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 285M SLI 256 @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 1020 MHz
GeForce GTX 280M SLI 256 @ 0.59 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 260M SLI 224 @ 0.55 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 285M 128 @ 0.58 GHz256 Bit @ 1020 MHz
GeForce GTX 280M 128 @ 0.59 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
GeForce GTX 260M 112 @ 0.55 GHz256 Bit @ 950 MHz
CodenameNB9E-GTXN10E-GTX1N10E-GTX
ArchitectureG9xG9xG9x
Pipelines224 - unified128 - unified256 - unified
Core Speed550 MHz576 MHz576 MHz
Shader Speed1375 MHz1500 MHz1500 MHz
Memory Speed950 MHz1020 MHz1020 MHz
Memory Bus Width256 Bit256 Bit256 Bit
Memory TypeGDDR3GDDR3GDDR3
Max. Amount of Memory2048 MB1024 MB2048 (2x1024) MB
Shared Memorynonono
APIDirectX 10, Shader 4.0DirectX 10, Shader 4.0DirectX 10, Shader 4.0
Power Consumption150 Watt150 Watt
Transistors1.5 Billion754 Million1.5 Billion
technology55 nm55 nm55 nm
FeaturesHybridPower, PureVideo HD, CUDA, PhysX readyHybridPower, PureVideo HD (VP2), CUDA, PhysX readyHybridPower, PureVideo HD, CUDA, PhysX ready
Notebook Sizelargelargelarge
Date of Announcement02.03.2009 02.03.2009 02.03.2009
InformationMXM 3MXM 3MXM 3
Link to Manufacturer Pagewww.nvidia.comwww.nvidia.comwww.nvidia.com

Benchmarks

3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLI
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. total
8959 Points (3%)
3DM Vant. Perf. total + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M
min: 6438     avg: 6521     median: 6498 (2%)     max: 6628 Points
3DM Vant. Perf. total + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI
11233 Points (3%)
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLI
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX
8764 Points (5%)
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M
min: 5501     avg: 5631     median: 5631 (3%)     max: 5761 Points
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI
10511 Points (6%)
3DMark 2001SE - 3DMark 2001 - Standard
30910 Points (32%)
3DMark 03 - 3DMark 03 - Standard
min: 47633     avg: 49182     median: 49181.5 (26%)     max: 50730 Points
37372 Points (20%)
3DMark 05 - 3DMark 05 - Standard
min: 12820     avg: 14510     median: 14509.5 (16%)     max: 16199 Points
min: 18935     avg: 18965     median: 18964.5 (21%)     max: 18994 Points
21611 Points (24%)
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLI
3DMark 06
min: 10794     avg: 11989     median: 11989 (16%)     max: 13184 Points
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M
min: 12840     avg: 12989     median: 12988.5 (17%)     max: 13137 Points
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI
16608 Points (22%)
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x800 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M
3DMark 06
13729 Points (18%)
3DMark 06 - Score Unknown Settings + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI
3DMark 06
16132 Points (21%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Gaming graphics
min: 6.8     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (89%)     max: 7.3 Points
7.3 Points (92%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Graphics
min: 6.8     avg: 7.1     median: 7.1 (89%)     max: 7.3 Points
7.3 Points (92%)
Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLI
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit)
3995 Points (3%)
Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M
4941 Points (4%)
Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI
min: 4418     avg: 4616     median: 4482 (3%)     max: 4949 Points
Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit
min: 30.82     avg: 31.4     median: 31.4 (11%)     max: 32.01 fps
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI
min: 29.33     avg: 30.7     median: 30.7 (11%)     max: 32.04 fps

Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLI → 100% n=5

Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M → 100% n=5

Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI → 129% n=5

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

Mafia 2

Mafia 2

2010
low 800x600
GeForce GTX 285M:
54.9  fps
med. 1024x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
53.8  fps
high 1360x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
52.2  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
36.9  fps
low 1024x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
184  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
32.8  fps
low 800x600
GeForce GTX 285M:
66.3  fps
med. 1360x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
40.8  fps
high 1600x900
GeForce GTX 285M:
21.4  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
13.7  fps
high 1366x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
47.2  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
81.5  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
26  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
50.6  fps
med. 1024x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
70  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
118.1  fps
high 1366x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
61.2  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
113.9  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
43.3  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
84.3  fps
Risen

Risen

2009
med. 1024x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
59.2  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
103.5  fps
high 1366x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
43.4  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
84.7  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
30.3  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
58  fps
Need for Speed Shift

Need for Speed Shift

2009
med. 1024x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
75.8  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
86.2  fps
high 1366x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
65.3  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
85.3  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
38.6  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
79.8  fps
Colin McRae: DIRT 2

Colin McRae: DIRT 2

2009
med. 1024x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
99.3  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
127.1  fps
high 1360x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
66.2  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
103.7  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
32.9  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
69.9  fps
Anno 1404

Anno 1404

2009
ultra 1280x1024
GeForce GTX 285M:
46.7  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
89.4  fps
F.E.A.R. 2

F.E.A.R. 2

2009
high 1280x1024
GeForce GTX 285M:
89.2  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
127.5  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
47.6  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
87.7  fps
Crysis - GPU Benchmark

Crysis - GPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
100%
GeForce GTX 260M SLI:
102  fps
med. 1024x768
100%
GeForce GTX 260M SLI:
64  fps
116%
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
74.2  fps
high 1024x768
100%
GeForce GTX 260M SLI:
51  fps
99%
GeForce GTX 285M:
50.3  fps
122%
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
62  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
13.9  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
26.9  fps
Crysis - CPU Benchmark

Crysis - CPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
100%
GeForce GTX 260M SLI:
132  fps
med. 1024x768
100%
GeForce GTX 260M SLI:
65  fps
114%
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
73.9  fps
high 1024x768
100%
GeForce GTX 260M SLI:
52  fps
89%
GeForce GTX 285M:
46.4  fps
114%
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
59.3  fps
ultra 1920x1080
GeForce GTX 285M:
13  fps
GeForce GTX 285M SLI:
24.9  fps
World in Conflict - Benchmark

World in Conflict - Benchmark

2007
low 800x600
GeForce GTX 285M:
126  fps
med. 1024x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
84  fps
high 1024x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
53  fps
Call of Juarez Benchmark

Call of Juarez Benchmark

2006
high 1024x768
GeForce GTX 285M:
36.5  fps

Average Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLI → 100%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%

Average Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M → 94%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 94%

Average Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLI → 116%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 118%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285Mlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Mafia 254.953.852.236.9
StarCraft 218432.8
Metro 203366.340.821.3713.67
Battlefield: Bad Company 247.226
CoD Modern Warfare 27061.243.3
Risen59.243.430.3
Need for Speed Shift75.865.338.6
Colin McRae: DIRT 299.366.232.9
Anno 140446.7
F.E.A.R. 289.247.6
Crysis - GPU Benchmark50.313.9
Crysis - CPU Benchmark46.413
World in Conflict - Benchmark1268453
Call of Juarez Benchmark36.5
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps

1
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4
1
7
4
4
8







NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285M SLIlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Battlefield: Bad Company 281.550.6
CoD Modern Warfare 2118.1113.984.3
Risen103.584.758
Need for Speed Shift86.285.379.8
Colin McRae: DIRT 2127.1103.769.9
Anno 140489.4
F.E.A.R. 2127.587.7
Crysis - GPU Benchmark74.26226.9
Crysis - CPU Benchmark73.959.324.9
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps





5
1

1
6
1
2
2
5






NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M SLIlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Crysis - GPU Benchmark1026451
Crysis - CPU Benchmark1326552
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps


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For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List

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