Graphics Processor Details
Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 480M is based on the same Fermi architecture as its high-flying GeForce GTX 480 desktop card, so that our previous analysis allows us to focus on the things that make this mobile version different from its desktop counterpart.
| Desktop vs. Mobile GeForce Graphics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop GeForce GTX 480 | Desktop GeForce GTX 465 | GeForce GTX 480M | |
| Transistors | 3 billion | 3 billion | 3 billion |
| Engine Clock | 700 MHz | 607 MHz | 425 MHz |
| Stream Processors | 480 | 352 | 352 |
| Texture Units | 60 | 44 | 44 |
| ROP Units | 40 | 32 | 32 |
| Compute Performance | 1345 GFLOPS | 855 GFLOPS | 598 GFLOPS |
| DRAM Type | GDDR5-3696 | GDDR5-3206 | GDDR5-2400 |
| DRAM Interface | 384-bits | 256-bits | 256-bits |
| Memory Bandwidth | 177.4 GB/s | 102.6 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |
| TDP | 250 W | 200 W | 100 W |
Whoops! It appears that the GeForce GTX 480M is equivalent to a power-optimized, underclocked GeForce GTX 465 with 2 GB of slower RAM! And yet, Nvidia isn’t the only company doing this with its notebook parts, as the chart from our previous Mobility Radeon HD 5870 test clearly proves.
| Desktop vs. Mobility Radeon Graphics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop Radeon HD 5870 | Desktop Radeon HD 5770 | Mobility Radeon HD 5870 | |
| Transistors | 2.15 billion | 1.04 billion | 1.04 billion |
| Engine Clock | 850 MHz | 850 MHz | 700 MHz |
| Shader (ALUs) | 1600 | 800 | 800 |
| Texture Units | 80 | 40 | 40 |
| Z/Stencil Units | 128 | 64 | 64 |
| Compute Performance | 2.72 TFLOPS | 1.36 TFLOPS | 1.12 TFLOPS |
| DRAM Type | GDDR5-4800 | GDDR5-4800 | GDDR5-4000 |
| DRAM Interface | 256-bits | 128-bits | 128-bits |
| Memory Bandwidth | 153.6 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s | 64.0 GB/s |
| TDP | 188 W | 108 W | 50 W |
The GeForce GTX 480M is a low-power version of the GeForce GTX 465, just as the Mobility HD 5870 is a low-power version of the Radeon HD 5770. Nvidia’s relabeling of a mid-priced desktop component as a high-end mobile part is thus a perfect match to what its competitor is doing, and light-years ahead of its previous naming scheme.
If you're here reading this story, you'll know exactly what to expect from the mobile flagships from AMD and Nvidia. It's the folks who don't do their homework before buying we're most worried about. Calling these modules GeForce GTX 480 and Radeon HD 5870 simply sends the wrong message. With that said, we've agreed to disagree with both companies' marketing departments. They think they're simply suggesting each card is best-in-class, as on the desktop. We think they're establishing certain performance expectations that'll fall far short of the desktop.
Moving forward, we'll put aside AMD's higher computational performance numbers and power savings from the above charts, since these two completely-different architectures are rated using dissimilar methodology by their manufacturers. Instead, we'll rely on benchmark data and power measurements. The proof in the pudding is, after all, in the eating.
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It plays Crysis!
I think that sums it up.
Portable vasectomy!
Portable vasectomy!
LOL +1
Quite a surprise on the power consumption...
That's a crazy heat pipe setup...
Agree on the naming thing on the last page, that would be helpful.
Great review.
Before its launch,it was rumored that it will have a much higher power consumption than 5870M, but now it seems they are close
"Notice that the component on the left uses both fans and has two-thirds the total number of heat pipes" Ummmmm if I'm looking at the picture correctly the GPU and the majority of the heat pipes are on the Right, you may want to retype that.
are there no temperatures for gpu in article or i missed it?
The funny thing is, AMD actually DID use the naming scheme you like in their LAST generation of mobile GPU's. The Mobility 4850 matched the standard 4850's number of stream processors, albeit with lower clock speeds. Same with the Mobility 4870 and Mobility 4870x2.
They changed it in response to Nvidia's naming scheme, which is a shame. I liked the matching of desktop/laptop performance to names, too.
Great review.Before its launch,it was rumored that it will have a much higher power consumption than 5870M, but now it seems they are close
The difference of around 50W under full load is a big deal! Fortunately, you only SEE that difference under full GPU load.
"Notice that the component on the left uses both fans and has two-thirds the total number of heat pipes" Ummmmm if I'm looking at the picture correctly the GPU and the majority of the heat pipes are on the Right, you may want to retype that.
Excellent observation, thanks! I was flipping it back over in my mind, since it's upside down, but that doesn't work for describing photos!
are there no temperatures for gpu in article or i missed it?
FurMark reports GPU temperatures in the mid 70's, but I'm not certain how accurate that reading is so the information wasn't included.
The funny thing is, AMD actually DID use the naming scheme you like in their LAST generation of mobile GPU's. The Mobility 4850 matched the standard 4850's number of stream processors, albeit with lower clock speeds. Same with the Mobility 4870 and Mobility 4870x2.They changed it in response to Nvidia's naming scheme, which is a shame. I liked the matching of desktop/laptop performance to names, too.
Yes, I've never been one to make a big deal of underclocking, but when NVidia named its G92 as a GTX 280M, I reached my personal limit.
With that kind of money i can get both, a good gaming desktop and a decent gaming laptop (with 5870M). Oh well...
But its nice to see nVidia catching up to ATI... Let the price wars begin so i canget my second 5850 ;-)
Great review.Before its launch,it was rumored that it will have a much higher power consumption than 5870M, but now it seems they are close
Many people were praising the Mobility Radeon HD5870 for its relatively low power consumption, especially in comparison to the spec sheet for the GTX480M, which described Nvidia's latest high end mobile part as having a TDP of 100W. In fact according to the spec sheets the Mobility HD5870 uses significantly less power then even the GTX285M at full load, 50W in comparison to 75W. However, it quickly became apparent that something wasn't adding up.
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 15-11.html
What many of the people who were bashing the TDP's of the GTX285M and GTX480M didn't understand was that ATI and Nvidia calculate TDP differently. ATI only figures in the power draw of the GPU itself, while Nvidia measures the entire board including memory. So direct comparisons based solely on the numbers provided by the spec sheets won't accurately represent real-world differences in power consumption. In many cases the actual power draw of these mobile parts is much closer then the official spec sheets would have you believe.
How hot does this thing run? Manufacturers need to stop focusing on 'faster, faster' and more on 'cooler, cooler' now
No.. the chip itself IS the heat
!
Price is being overlooked here.
GTX 285M is 75$ more than Mobility 5870 so I believe I can buy 2 5870 for the price of one 480M.
I've been waiting to use this for some time now...
http://i49.tinypic.com/59x5xv.jpg
Article pretty much proves my point.
great catching up nV! but I like desktop computers more for performance!
lol at the price. I don't think anyone is going to pay twice as much for a laptop that has a 10% performance advantage. Also I don't think AVADirect is going to show us the laptop symbolic of the GTX480M. Their HD5870 Mobility model is not that good compared to ASUS, ACERs, and MSI's models. It will probably be from these three that will make a sellable laptop using the GTX480M.