GeForce GTX 860M vs Tesla C2050

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 860M vs Tesla C2050 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 860M vs Tesla C2050: 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 860M

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 75W instead of 238W, a 163W reduction.
✅More future proof: Maxwell (2014−2017) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌2014 hardware with 2 GB 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 1.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $2,499 MSRP).

Tesla C2050

2011

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 1.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($2,499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌2011 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌217.3% higher power demand at 238W vs 75W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Tesla C2050 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 2.6% in PassMark G3D (3,176 vs 3,095), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

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

GeForce GTX 860M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 28nm process instead of 40nm and a newer 2014 generation instead of 2011. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Tesla C2050 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, Tesla C2050 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GTX 860M has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 860M vs Tesla C2050 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 860M

The GeForce GTX 860M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 13 2014. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 797 MHz to 1085 MHz. It has 1152 or 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,095 points.

Tesla C2050

The Tesla C2050 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 25 2011. It features the Fermi architecture. The core clock speed is 574 MHz. It has 448 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 238W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,176 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 860M scores 3,095 and the Tesla C2050 reaches 3,176 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 860M is built on Maxwell while the Tesla C2050 uses Fermi, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 1,152 (GeForce GTX 860M) vs 448 (Tesla C2050). Raw compute: 1.389 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 860M) vs 1.028 TFLOPS (Tesla C2050).

Feature	GeForce GTX 860M	Tesla C2050
G3D Mark Score	3,095	3,176+3%
Architecture	Maxwell	Fermi
Process Node	28 nm	40 nm
Shading Units	1152 or 640+157%	448
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.389 TFLOPS+35%	1.028 TFLOPS
ROPs	16	48+200%
TMUs	40	56+40%
L1 Cache	320 KB	896 KB+180%
L2 Cache	2 MB+167%	0.75 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 860M gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Tesla C2050 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GTX 860M	Tesla C2050
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

Both cards ship with 2 GB of GDDR5. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 860M and 64-bit on the Tesla C2050. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 860M) vs 0.75 MB (Tesla C2050) — the GeForce GTX 860M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 860M	Tesla C2050
VRAM Capacity	2 GB	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	128-bit+100%	64-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB+167%	0.75 MB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 860M draws 75W versus the Tesla C2050's 238W — a 104.2% difference. The GeForce GTX 860M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 860M) vs 350W (Tesla C2050). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs PCIe-powered.

Feature	GeForce GTX 860M	Tesla C2050
TDP	75W-68%	238W
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	PCIe-powered
Length	0mm	—
Height	0mm	—
Slots	0	—
Temp (Load)	80°C	—
Perf/Watt	41.3+211%	13.3

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GTX 860M (2014 vs 2011).

Feature	GeForce GTX 860M	Tesla C2050
MSRP	—	$2499
Codename	GM107	GF100
Release	January 13 2014	July 25 2011
Ranking	#578	#569

Search GeForce GTX 860M on Amazon

Search Tesla C2050 on Amazon

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.