NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M is an upper mid-range, DirectX 11-compatible graphics card for laptops unveiled in March 2015. It is based on Nvidia's Maxwell architecture (GM107 chip) and manufactured in 28 nm. The GTX 960M offers 640 shader units clocked at 1097 - 1202 MHz (Boost) as well as fast GDDR5 memory (128 bit, 5000 MHz effective, 80 GB/s).
Compared to the previous and technically very similar GTX 860M, the GTX 960M is clocked slightly higher.
Architecture
Compared to Kepler, Maxwell has been optimized in several details to increase power efficiency. Smaller Streaming Multiprocessors (SMM) with only 128 ALUs (Kepler: 192) and an optimized scheduler should lead to better utilization of the shaders. Nvidia promises that a Maxwell SMM with 128 ALUs can offer 90 percent of the performance of a Kepler SMX with 192 ALUs. GM107 features 5 SMMs and thus 640 shader cores, 40 TMUs and 16 ROPs (128-bit interface).
Another optimization is the massively enlarged L2 cache (GM107: 2 MB). The increased size can handle some of the memory traffic to allow for a relatively narrow memory interface without significantly reducing the performance.
GM107 supports DirectX 12 with feature level 11_0 only.
Performance
Although the GTX 960M has the same memory bandwidth as the previous GTX 860M, its higher core clock leads to a slightly better performance. Overall, the 960M is almost 10 percent faster and similar to the desktop GTX 750 Ti.
Many games of 2014/2015 can be played fluently in FullHD resolution and high detail settings. However, very demanding games such as Assassin's Creed Unity will require lower resolutions and/or details.
Features
GM107 integrates the sixth generation of the PureVideo HD video engine (VP6), offering a better decoding performance for H.264 and MPEG-2 videos. Of course, VP6 supports all features of previous generations (4K support, PIP, video encoding via NVENC API). Unfortunately, HDMI 2.0 is still not supported.
Power Consumption
The power consumption of the GeForce GTX 960M should be similar to the old GTX 860M (about 60 watts). Therefore, the GPU is best suited for 15-inch laptops or larger. The 900M series also supports Optimus to automatically switch between an integrated graphics card and the Nvidia GPU.
Manufacturer | NVIDIA |
GeForce GTX 900M Series | |
Codename | N16P-GX |
Architecture | Maxwell |
Pipelines | 640 - unified |
Core Speed | 1096 - 1202 (Boost) MHz |
Memory Speed | 5000 MHz |
Memory Bus Width | 128 Bit |
Memory Type | GDDR5 |
Max. Amount of Memory | 4096 MB |
Shared Memory | no |
DirectX | DirectX 12 (FL 11_0), Shader 5.0 |
Transistor Count | 1870 Million |
technology | 28 nm |
Features | Battery Boost, GameStream, ShadowPlay, GPU Boost 2.0, Optimus, PhysX, CUDA, SLI, GeForce Experience, GameWorks, Adaptive VSync, DSR, Ansel |
Notebook Size | medium sized |
Date of Announcement | 12.03.2015 |
Link to Manufacturer Page | http://www.geforce.com/hardware/notebook... |
Benchmarks
Performance Rating - 3DMark 11 + Fire Strike + Time Spy
14.2 pt (15%)
...
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 768MB -4%
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 581%
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy Score
min: 1198 avg: 1202 median: 1202 (7%) max: 1206 Points
...
...
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy Graphics
min: 1138 avg: 1148 median: 1148 (6%) max: 1158 Points
...
...
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics
min: 191856 avg: 224199 median: 226308 (36%) max: 251562 Points
...
...
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
min: 27912 avg: 90551 median: 106594 (15%) max: 131124 Points
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 366%
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Score
min: 4513 avg: 15113 median: 16283 (22%) max: 19618 Points
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 374%
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Graphics
min: 21403 avg: 29220 median: 30085.5 (15%) max: 33474 Points
...
...
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Score
min: 2990 avg: 3927 median: 3984 (10%) max: 4340 Points
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 884%
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Graphics
min: 3906 avg: 4294 median: 4318 (9%) max: 4705 Points
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 1058%
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Graphics
min: 28134 avg: 100084 median: 112891 (15%) max: 200269 Points
...
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 9%
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 353%
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Score
min: 3527 avg: 5444 median: 5535.5 (14%) max: 6161 Points
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 599%
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance GPU
min: 4826 avg: 5277 median: 5278 (9%) max: 5901 Points
...
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 -5%
...
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 +min: 19872 avg: 23451 median: 23733 (44%) max: 26126 Points
...
AMD Radeon HD 6970 2%
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 101%
Unigine Heaven 3.0 - Unigine Heaven 3.0 DX 11
min: 56 avg: 56.2 median: 56.2 (19%) max: 56.3 fps
...
...
Unigine Heaven 2.1 - Heaven 2.1 high
68.7 fps (13%)
...
...
SPECviewperf 11
specvp11 snx-01 +SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 snx-01
min: 5.09 avg: 8.4 median: 5.9 (4%) max: 25.33 fps
Acer Aspire VN7-791G-79GT | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 5.09 |
Lenovo Ideapad Y700-17 80QK7709PB | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 5.14 |
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL | 5700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 5.31 |
Asus GL552VW-DK725T | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1163 / MHz | 4096MB | 5.94 |
Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 6 |
Lenovo Y700-15 80NV004LPB | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 6.1 |
MSI GE62 2QD | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 25.33 |
...
ATI Radeon HD 5770 1%
...
specvp11 tcvis-02 +SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 tcvis-02
min: 1.61 avg: 1.8 median: 1.7 (3%) max: 2.47 fps
Asus GL552VW-DK725T | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1163 / MHz | 4096MB | 1.61 |
Lenovo Y700-15 80NV004LPB | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 1.65 |
Acer Aspire VN7-791G-79GT | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 1.68 |
Lenovo Ideapad Y700-17 80QK7709PB | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 1.69 |
Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 1.7 |
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL | 5700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 1.75 |
MSI GE62 2QD | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 2.47 |
...
...
specvp11 sw-02 +SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 sw-02
min: 10.99 avg: 14.5 median: 14.2 (17%) max: 23.06 fps
Lenovo Ideapad Y700-17 80QK7709PB | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 10.99 |
Acer Aspire VN7-791G-79GT | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 11.69 |
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL | 5700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 12.26 |
Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 14.16 |
Asus GL552VW-DK725T | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1163 / MHz | 4096MB | 14.57 |
Lenovo Y700-15 80NV004LPB | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 14.98 |
MSI GE62 2QD | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 23.06 |
...
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 4%
...
specvp11 proe-05 +SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 proe-05
min: 2.21 avg: 4.1 median: 2.4 (10%) max: 14.34 fps
Asus GL552VW-DK725T | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1163 / MHz | 4096MB | 2.21 |
Lenovo Ideapad Y700-17 80QK7709PB | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 2.36 |
Acer Aspire VN7-791G-79GT | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 2.37 |
Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 2.37 |
Lenovo Y700-15 80NV004LPB | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 2.43 |
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL | 5700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 2.52 |
MSI GE62 2QD | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 14.34 |
...
...
specvp11 maya-03 +SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 maya-03
min: 14.6 avg: 20.2 median: 18.9 (14%) max: 34.01 fps
Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 14.6 |
Acer Aspire VN7-791G-79GT | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 15.58 |
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL | 5700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 18.87 |
Lenovo Ideapad Y700-17 80QK7709PB | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 18.94 |
Asus GL552VW-DK725T | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1163 / MHz | 4096MB | 19.48 |
Lenovo Y700-15 80NV004LPB | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 20.2 |
MSI GE62 2QD | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 34.01 |
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 -93%
...
...
specvp11 lightwave-01 +SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 lightwave-01
min: 0.72 avg: 18 median: 21.1 (23%) max: 21.87 fps
MSI GE62 2QD | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 0.72 |
Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 18.84 |
Asus GL552VW-DK725T | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1163 / MHz | 4096MB | 20.89 |
Lenovo Ideapad Y700-17 80QK7709PB | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 21.07 |
Lenovo Y700-15 80NV004LPB | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 21.31 |
Acer Aspire VN7-791G-79GT | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 21.45 |
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL | 5700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 21.87 |
...
ATI Radeon HD 5850 2%
...
specvp11 ensight-04 +SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 ensight-04
min: 12.67 avg: 31.9 median: 34.3 (16%) max: 38.41 fps
MSI GE62 2QD | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 12.67 |
Lenovo Ideapad Y700-17 80QK7709PB | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 34.03 |
Asus GL552VW-DK725T | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1163 / MHz | 4096MB | 34.18 |
Acer Aspire VN7-791G-79GT | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 34.27 |
Lenovo Y700-15 80NV004LPB | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 34.78 |
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL | 5700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 35.12 |
Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 38.41 |
...
...
specvp11 catia-03 +SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 catia-03
min: 15.82 avg: 16.9 median: 16.7 (20%) max: 18.49 fps
Acer Aspire VN7-791G-79GT | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 15.82 |
Asus GL552VW-DK725T | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1163 / MHz | 4096MB | 16.28 |
Dell Inspiron 15 7566 PL | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 16.28 |
Lenovo Ideapad Y700-17 80QK7709PB | 6700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 4096MB | 16.68 |
Lenovo Y700-15 80NV004LPB | 6700HQ | 8192 MB | 1097-1176 / MHz | 4096MB | 17.31 |
MSI GE62 2QD | 4720HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 17.62 |
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL | 5700HQ | 16384 MB | 1097 / MHz | 2048MB | 18.49 |
...
...
SPECviewperf 12
specvp12 sw-03 +SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03
min: 5.19 avg: 12.9 median: 6.2 (3%) max: 24.99 fps
...
...
specvp12 snx-02 +SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02
min: 1.61 avg: 2 median: 1.7 (1%) max: 2.49 fps
...
...
specvp12 showcase-01 +SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01
min: 10.6 avg: 17 median: 15.5 (7%) max: 23.5 fps
...
...
specvp12 mediacal-01 +SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01
min: 2.29 avg: 6.7 median: 2.4 (2%) max: 14.4 fps
...
...
specvp12 maya-04 +SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04
min: 12.53 avg: 18.4 median: 15.4 (7%) max: 34.03 fps
...
...
specvp12 energy-01 +SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 energy-01
min: 0.73 avg: 11.7 median: 17.9 (62%) max: 20.1 fps
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 143%
specvp12 creo-01 +SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01
min: 10.72 avg: 25.7 median: 34.6 (20%) max: 35.52 fps
...
...
specvp12 catia-04 +SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04
min: 14.24 avg: 15.7 median: 15.8 (6%) max: 17.84 fps
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 1416%
Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) +Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit)
min: 3367 avg: 6733 median: 6741 (32%) max: 9471 points
...
...
Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit +Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit
min: 15.09 avg: 52.5 median: 55.8 (25%) max: 67.81 fps
...
ATI Radeon HD 5850 -4%
ATI Radeon HD 5670 2%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 5%
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 224%
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit +Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit
min: 18.7 avg: 73.1 median: 81.4 (23%) max: 106.93 fps
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 267%
Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit +Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit
99.6 % (100%)
...
...
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - LuxMark v2.0 Room GPU
min: 667 avg: 836 median: 879 (9%) max: 991 Samples/s
...
...
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - LuxMark v2.0 Sala GPU
min: 1097 avg: 1311 median: 1254 (4%) max: 1532 Samples/s
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 2038%
ComputeMark v2.1 - ComputeMark v2.1 Result
min: 3139 avg: 3321 median: 3337 (7%) max: 3503 points
...
...
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card

- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
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.
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 1177%
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 1529%
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 1494%
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 1524%
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
...
...
...
...
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 501%
...
...
...
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 294%
...
...
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (Desktop) 618%
...
...
...
...
...