Nvidia: GeForce GTX 965M joins the product portfolio

With the GeForce GTX 965M, Nvidia introduces another Maxwell-based graphics card belonging to the lower high-end range. Despite significantly lower power consumption, the performance can compete with the older GeForce GTX 870's.

Till Schönborn, Published 01/06/2015

Despite same 28 nm process, Nvidia managed to significantly improve power consumption and performance compared to its predecessor models of the current Maxwell generation. Maxwell has only been available in some mid-range GPUs (GeForce 840M and GTX 850M/860M) as well in the highest-end segment (GeForce GTX 970M/980M) so far. Older Kepler models, for example the GeForce GTX 870M had to close the gap in the so-called performance class. Exactly this GTX 870M is now being replaced by the approximately equally fast, yet significantly more frugal GeForce GTX 965M.

Click here, to directly get to our GTX 965M review:

Review: Schenker XMG P705 (Clevo P670SA, GeForce GTX 965M)

	GeForce GTX 980M	GeForce GTX 970M	GeForce GTX 880M	GeForce GTX 870M	GeForce GTX 965M
Process	28 nm	28 nm	28 nm	28 nm	28 nm
Architecturr	Maxwell (GM204)	Maxwell (GM204)	Kepler (GK104)	Kepler (GK104)	Maxwell (GM204)
ALUs	1536	1280	1536	1344	1024
Core clock	1038 MHz + Boost	924 MHz + Boost	954 MHz + Boost	941 MHz + Boost	924 MHz + Boost
Memory interface	256 Bit (GDDR5)	192 Bit (GDDR5)	256 Bit (GDDR5)	192 Bit (GDDR5)	128 Bit (GDDR5)
RAM capacity	up to 8 GB	up to 6 GB	up to 8 GB	up to 6 GB	up to 4 GB(?)
Memory clock (eff.)	1250 MHz (5000 MHz)	1250 MHz (5000 MHz)	1250 MHz (5000 MHz)	1250 MHz (5000 MHz)	1250 MHz (5000 MHz)
DirectX	11.2	11.2	11.0	11.0	11.2

On paper, the GM204 curtailed to 1024 shaders and a 128 bit memory interface appears to be drastically inferior to the older GK104. The previous 870M features above 30 percent more ALUs and a 50% broader connection to GDDR5 VRAM. However, bigger caches and significantly more effective architecture ensure that the GTX 965M easily makes up for this disadvantage. Whether 3DMark or realistic gaming tests: On average, both graphics card are more or less equal. Most current 3D games run even with high settings and FHD resolution smoothly.

Unigine Heaven 3.0 | 3DMark | 3DMark 11 | 3DMark Vantage | SPECviewperf 12

Unigine Heaven 3.0 - 1920x1080 DX 11, Normal Tessellation, High Shaders AA:Off AF:Off (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	66.3 fps
Gigabyte P27G v2 GeForce GTX 860M (332.60)	49.4 fps
One K56-4N Radeon R9 M290X (13.151.0.0)	62 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	93 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	119 fps

3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	5394 Points
Gigabyte P27G v2 GeForce GTX 860M (332.60)	3928 Points
One K56-4N Radeon R9 M290X (13.151.0.0)	5294 Points
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	7268 Points
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	9809 Points

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	7136 Points
Gigabyte P27G v2 GeForce GTX 860M (332.60)	4969 Points
One K56-4N Radeon R9 M290X (13.151.0.0)	6817 Points
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	9907 Points
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	12781 Points

3DMark Vantage - 1280x1024 P GPU no PhysX (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	22456 Points
Gigabyte P27G v2 GeForce GTX 860M (332.60)	18446 Points
One K56-4N Radeon R9 M290X (13.151.0.0)	24205 Points
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	30252 Points
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	35904 Points

SPECviewperf 12
1900x1060 Solidworks (sw-03) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	30.1 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	35.27 fps
1900x1060 Siemens NX (snx-02) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	3.15 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	4.2 fps
1900x1060 Showcase (showcase-01) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	25.65 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	34.62 fps
1900x1060 Medical (medical-01) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	14.11 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	21.86 fps
1900x1060 Maya (maya-04) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	40.6 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	52.8 fps
1900x1060 Energy (energy-01) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	0.71 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	1.04 fps
1900x1060 Creo (creo-01) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	18.63 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	22.94 fps
1900x1060 Catia (catia-04) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	22.91 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	30.84 fps

The Crew - 1920x1080 Ultra Video Preset (modified) AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	34.2 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	25 (19^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	36.3 (31^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	48.6 (40^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 970M (344.75)	47 (39^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 980M (344.75)	59.7 (54^min) fps

Dragon Age: Inquisition - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics Quality AA:2x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	27.1 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	18.3 (14^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	25.3 (20^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	31 (24^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)	48.9 fps

Far Cry 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics Quality AA:SM (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	32.4 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	23 (20^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	32.9 (28^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	40.3 (34^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)	59.4 fps

Assassin's Creed Unity - 1920x1080 Ultra High Graphics Quality AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	13.7 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	13.1 (11^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	18.8 (16^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	23.9 (21^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)	33.3 fps

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare - 1920x1080 Extra / On (Cache Shadow Maps Off), 2x Supersampling AA:2x SM (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	35.8 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	24.4 (20^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	33.8 (29^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	39.8 (32^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)	57.9 fps

Civilization: Beyond Earth - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	49.9 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	34.2 (15^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	45.1 (19^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	53.6 (24^min) fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	80.4 fps

F1 2014 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	99 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	83 (69^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	98 (75^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	102 (74^min) fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	109 fps

The Evil Within - 1920x1080 High / Enabled AA:SM (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	51 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	29 (23^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	38.2 (31^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	46.4 (37^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)	82.8 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	63 fps

Ryse: Son of Rome - 1920x1080 Very High Texture Res. + High Graphics Quality (Motion Blur & Temporal AA On, Rest Off/Disabled) AF:8x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	33.4 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	21.4 (16^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	30.1 (23^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	37.4 (29^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	41.3 (33^min) fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	54.7 fps

Alien: Isolation - 1920x1080 Ultra, On, Shadow Map 2048, HDAO AA:2x SM AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	54.8 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	39.8 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	55.9 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	68.9 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	75.7 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	96.1 fps

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset (HD Package) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	28.8 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	26.4 (12^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	38.9 (26^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	48.3 (30^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	51.2 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)	67.6 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	65 fps

Fifa 15 - 1920x1080 High Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	155.2 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	119.5 (47^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	157.4 (68^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	189.3 (163^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	217.8 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	240.4 fps

Sims 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	70 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	54.9 (38^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	65.8 (43^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	73.5 (55^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	93.8 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	97 fps

GRID: Autosport - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	58.2 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	42.6 (35^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	62.3 (53^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	76.8 (64^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	82.3 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	107.1 fps

Watch Dogs - 1920x1080 Ultra Overall Quality, Ultra Textures AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	17.7 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)	18.9 (14^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)	26.8 (22^min) fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)	32.9 (28^min) fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	34.4 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	45.9 fps

Thief - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FXAA & High SS AF:8x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	34.2 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)	22.6 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	47.9 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	62.1 fps

Battlefield 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	39.1 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)	26.2 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	54.8 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	72.9 fps

Saints Row IV - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:8x MS AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	40.7 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)	31.1 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	58.8 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	72.5 fps

Dota 2 - 1920x1080 High / On, Render Quality: 100 % (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	97.7 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)	58.3 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	113.4 fps

Metro: Last Light - 1920x1080 Very High (DX11) AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	38.7 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)	23.7 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	53.3 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	66.8 fps

BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	53.3 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)	35.9 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	72.5 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	91.2 fps

Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:FX AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	57.3 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)	43 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	80.3 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	104.5 fps

Crysis 3 - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:2xSM AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	23.9 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)	18.4 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	33.4 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	43.3 fps

Hitman: Absolution - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4xMS AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705 GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)	28.1 fps
Schenker W504 GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)	19.6 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)	41.2 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)	54.6 fps
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)	54 fps

The GeForce GTX 965M is available from now on and is expected to be just under 100 Euro cheaper than the next faster GeForce GTX 970M on average. The Schenker bolides XMG P505 (15 inch) and XMG P705 (17 inch) belong to the first notebooks with the new GPU. Further manufacturers are expected to follow soon.