GeForce GTX 580M SLI vs GeForce GTX 650

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 580M SLI vs GeForce GTX 650 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce GTX 580M SLI vs GeForce GTX 650: 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 580M SLI

2011

Why buy it

✅130.8% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2011 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 16.1 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $109 MSRP).
❌53.8% higher power demand at 100W vs 65W.

GeForce GTX 650

2012

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 16.1 vs 0 G3D/$ ($109 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs 512 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 100W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 580M SLI across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2012 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GTX 580M SLI is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 130.8% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 0.9% in PassMark G3D (1,771 vs 1,756), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GTX 580M SLI 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 650 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce GTX 650 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GTX 580M SLI has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 580M SLI vs GeForce GTX 650 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 580M SLI

The GeForce GTX 580M SLI is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 6 2011. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 620 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,771 points.

GeForce GTX 650

The GeForce GTX 650 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 6 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 1058 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 65W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,756 points. Launch price was $109.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 580M SLI scores 1,771 and the GeForce GTX 650 reaches 1,756 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 580M SLI is built on Fermi while the GeForce GTX 650 uses Kepler, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 768 (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs 384 (GeForce GTX 650).

Feature	GeForce GTX 580M SLI	GeForce GTX 650
G3D Mark Score	1,771	1,756
Architecture	Fermi	Kepler
Process Node	40 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	768+100%	384

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 580M SLI	GeForce GTX 650
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 580M SLI has 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 650 carries 2 GB. GeForce GTX 650 gives you 300% 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 580M SLI and 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 650.

Feature	GeForce GTX 580M SLI	GeForce GTX 650
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB	2 GB+300%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	80 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs 11_0 (GeForce GTX 650). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 3.

Feature	GeForce GTX 580M SLI	GeForce GTX 650
DirectX	12 (11_0)+9%	11_0
Max Displays	2	3+50%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: PureVideo HD VP4 (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs NVENC 2nd Gen (GeForce GTX 650). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP4 vs NVDEC 1st Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs H.264 (GeForce GTX 650).

Feature	GeForce GTX 580M SLI	GeForce GTX 650
Encoder	PureVideo HD VP4	NVENC 2nd Gen
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP4	NVDEC 1st Gen
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 ASP	H.264

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 580M SLI draws 100W versus the GeForce GTX 650's 65W — a 42.4% difference. The GeForce GTX 650 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 580M SLI) vs 300W (GeForce GTX 650). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	GeForce GTX 580M SLI	GeForce GTX 650
TDP	100W	65W-35%
Recommended PSU	350W	300W-14%
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	1x 6-pin
Length	—	145mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	90°C	—
Perf/Watt	17.7	27.0+53%

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GTX 650 (2012 vs 2011).

Feature	GeForce GTX 580M SLI	GeForce GTX 650
MSRP	—	$109
Codename	N12E-GTX2	GK107
Release	January 6 2011	September 6 2012
Ranking	#509	#719

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