GeForce GTX 560 vs GRID K2

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 560

2011Core: 810 MHz
VS

GRID K2

2013Core: 745 MHz

GeForce GTX 560 vs GRID K2 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce GTX 560 vs GRID K2: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce GTX 560

2011

Why buy it

  • Costs $5,000 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $5,199 MSRP).
  • Delivers 2542.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 13.9 vs 0.5 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $5,199 MSRP).
  • Draws 150W instead of 225W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 1 GB vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2011 hardware with 1 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

GRID K2

2013

Why buy it

  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs 1 GB).
  • More future proof: Kepler (2012−2018) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • 2013 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 2512.6% HIGHER MSRP
    $5,199 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.5 vs 13.9 G3D/$ ($5,199 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
  • 50% higher power demand at 225W vs 150W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce GTX 560 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1.1% in PassMark G3D (2,768 vs 2,737), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce GTX 560 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond because it comes out ahead on the available hardware-headroom signals for this matchup.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce GTX 560 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $5,000 cheaper on MSRP at $199 vs $5,199, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 2542.2% (13.9 vs 0.5), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 560 vs GRID K2 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 560

The GeForce GTX 560 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 17 2011. It features the Fermi 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 810 MHz. It has 336 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,768 points. Launch price was $199.

NVIDIA

GRID K2

The GRID K2 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 11 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 745 MHz. It has 1536 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,737 points. Launch price was $5,199.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 560 scores 2,768 and the GRID K2 reaches 2,737 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 560 is built on Fermi 2.0 while the GRID K2 uses Kepler, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 336 (GeForce GTX 560) vs 1,536 (GRID K2). Raw compute: 1.089 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 560) vs 2.289 TFLOPS ×2 (GRID K2).

FeatureGeForce GTX 560GRID K2
G3D Mark Score
2,768+1%
2,737
Architecture
Fermi 2.0
Kepler
Process Node
40 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
336
1536 ×2+357%
Compute (TFLOPS)
1.089 TFLOPS
2.289 TFLOPS ×2+110%
ROPs
32
32 ×2
TMUs
56
128 ×2+129%
L1 Cache
448 KB+250%
128 KB
L2 Cache
512 KB
512 KB

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 560 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The GRID K2 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce GTX 560GRID K2
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
Standard
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 560 has 1 GB of VRAM, while the GRID K2 carries 2 GB. GRID K2 gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 560 and 64-bit on the GRID K2.

FeatureGeForce GTX 560GRID K2
VRAM Capacity
1 GB
2 GB+100%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
128-bit+100%
64-bit
L2 Cache
512 KB
512 KB
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 560 draws 150W versus the GRID K2's 225W — a 40% difference. The GeForce GTX 560 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 560) vs 350W (GRID K2). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.

FeatureGeForce GTX 560GRID K2
TDP
150W-33%
225W
Recommended PSU
500W
350W-30%
Power Connector
2x 6-pin
PCIe-powered
Perf/Watt
18.5+52%
12.2
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 560 came in at $199, while the GRID K2 launched at $5199. On MSRP, GeForce GTX 560 was 96.2% cheaper ($5000 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 13.9 (GeForce GTX 560) vs 0.5 (GRID K2) — the GeForce GTX 560 offers 2680% better value. The newer card here is GRID K2 (2013 vs 2011).

FeatureGeForce GTX 560GRID K2
MSRP
$199-96%
$5199
Performance per Dollar
13.9+2680%
0.5
Codename
GF114
GK104
Release
May 17 2011
May 11 2013
Ranking
#605
#611

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.