Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.
860M SLI vs 590
Combined performance score
860M SLI outperforms 590 by 42% in our combined benchmark results.
General info
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
Place in performance ranking | 460 | 368 |
Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
Value for money | 0.46 | 4.60 |
Architecture | Fermi (2010−2014) | Maxwell (2014−2018) |
GPU code name | GF110 | no data |
Market segment | Desktop | Laptop |
Release date | 24 March 2011 (13 years old) | 12 March 2014 (10 years old) |
Launch price (MSRP) | $699 | no data |
Current price | $600 (0.9x MSRP) | $489 |
GTX 860M SLI has 900% better value for money than GTX 590.
Technical specs
General performance parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. These parameters indirectly speak of performance, but for precise assessment you have to consider their benchmark and gaming test results. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
Pipelines / CUDA cores | 1024 | 1280 |
CUDA cores | 1024 | no data |
Core clock speed | 607 MHz | 1029 MHz |
Number of transistors | 3,000 million | 2x 1870 Million |
Manufacturing process technology | 40 nm | 28 nm |
Power consumption (TDP) | 365 Watt | 120 Watt |
Maximum GPU temperature | 97 °C | no data |
Texture fill rate | 77.7 billion/sec | no data |
Floating-point performance | 2x 1,244.2 gflops | no data |
Size and compatibility
Information on GeForce GTX 590 and GeForce GTX 860M SLI compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop video cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility). For notebook video cards it's notebook size, connection slot and bus, if the video card is inserted into a slot instead of being soldered to the notebook motherboard.
Laptop size | no data | large |
Bus support | 16x PCI-E 2.0 | no data |
Interface | PCIe 2.0 x16 | no data |
Length | 11" (280 mm) (27.9 cm) | no data |
Height | 4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm) | no data |
Width | 2-slot | no data |
Supplementary power connectors | Two 8-pin | no data |
SLI options | + | + |
Memory
Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.
Memory type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
Maximum RAM amount | 3072 MB (1536 MB per GPU) | 2x 4 GB |
Memory bus width | 768-bit (384-bit per GPU) | 2x 128 Bit |
Memory clock speed | 1707 MHz | 5000 MHz |
Memory bandwidth | 327.7 GB/s | no data |
Shared memory | - | - |
Video outputs and ports
Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.
Display Connectors | Three Dual Link DVI-IMini DisplayPort | no data |
Multi monitor support | + | no data |
HDMI | + | no data |
Maximum VGA resolution | 2048x1536 | no data |
Audio input for HDMI | Internal | no data |
Technologies
Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.
Optimus | no data | + |
API support
List of supported graphics and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 (FL 11_0) |
Shader Model | 5.1 | no data |
OpenGL | 4.2 | no data |
OpenCL | 1.1 | no data |
Vulkan | N/A | no data |
CUDA | + | + |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Non-gaming benchmark performance comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark performance score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.
860M SLI outperforms 590 by 42% in our combined benchmark results.
3DMark Vantage Performance
3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.
Benchmark coverage: 17%
860M SLI outperforms 590 by 6% in 3DMark Vantage Performance.
3DMark 11 Performance GPU
3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.
Benchmark coverage: 17%
860M SLI outperforms 590 by 7% in 3DMark 11 Performance GPU.
3DMark Fire Strike Graphics
Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.
Benchmark coverage: 14%
590 outperforms 860M SLI by 12% in 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics.
Gaming performance
Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.
Average FPS across all PC games
Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:
900p | 47
−38.3%
| 65−70
+38.3%
|
Full HD | 109
+137%
| 46
−137%
|
1200p | 112
−33.9%
| 150−160
+33.9%
|
Performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
Cyberpunk 2077 | 14−16
−35.7%
|
18−20
+35.7%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 18−20
−44.4%
|
24−27
+44.4%
|
Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 12−14
−66.7%
|
20−22
+66.7%
|
Battlefield 5 | 27−30
−44.8%
|
40−45
+44.8%
|
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 24−27
−33.3%
|
30−35
+33.3%
|
Cyberpunk 2077 | 14−16
−35.7%
|
18−20
+35.7%
|
Far Cry 5 | 21−24
−52.4%
|
30−35
+52.4%
|
Far Cry New Dawn | 21−24
−50%
|
30−35
+50%
|
Forza Horizon 4 | 30−33
−43.3%
|
40−45
+43.3%
|
Hitman 3 | 21−24
−50%
|
30−35
+50%
|
Horizon Zero Dawn | 16−18
−47.1%
|
24−27
+47.1%
|
Red Dead Redemption 2 | 14−16
−40%
|
21−24
+40%
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 18−20
−36.8%
|
24−27
+36.8%
|
Watch Dogs: Legion | 14−16
−53.3%
|
21−24
+53.3%
|
Full HD
High Preset
Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 18−20
−44.4%
|
24−27
+44.4%
|
Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 12−14
−66.7%
|
20−22
+66.7%
|
Battlefield 5 | 27−30
−44.8%
|
40−45
+44.8%
|
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 24−27
−33.3%
|
30−35
+33.3%
|
Cyberpunk 2077 | 14−16
−35.7%
|
18−20
+35.7%
|
Far Cry 5 | 21−24
−52.4%
|
30−35
+52.4%
|
Far Cry New Dawn | 21−24
−50%
|
30−35
+50%
|
Forza Horizon 4 | 30−33
−43.3%
|
40−45
+43.3%
|
Hitman 3 | 21−24
−50%
|
30−35
+50%
|
Horizon Zero Dawn | 16−18
−47.1%
|
24−27
+47.1%
|
Metro Exodus | 12−14
−46.2%
|
18−20
+46.2%
|
Red Dead Redemption 2 | 14−16
−40%
|
21−24
+40%
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 18−20
−36.8%
|
24−27
+36.8%
|
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 18−20
−38.9%
|
24−27
+38.9%
|
Watch Dogs: Legion | 14−16
−53.3%
|
21−24
+53.3%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 18−20
−44.4%
|
24−27
+44.4%
|
Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 12−14
−66.7%
|
20−22
+66.7%
|
Battlefield 5 | 27−30
−44.8%
|
40−45
+44.8%
|
Cyberpunk 2077 | 14−16
−35.7%
|
18−20
+35.7%
|
Far Cry 5 | 21−24
−52.4%
|
30−35
+52.4%
|
Far Cry New Dawn | 21−24
−50%
|
30−35
+50%
|
Forza Horizon 4 | 30−33
−43.3%
|
40−45
+43.3%
|
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 18−20
−38.9%
|
24−27
+38.9%
|
Watch Dogs: Legion | 14−16
−53.3%
|
21−24
+53.3%
|
1440p
High Preset
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 12−14
−38.5%
|
18−20
+38.5%
|
Hitman 3 | 14−16
−35.7%
|
18−20
+35.7%
|
Horizon Zero Dawn | 14−16
−28.6%
|
18−20
+28.6%
|
Metro Exodus | 7−8
−57.1%
|
10−12
+57.1%
|
Red Dead Redemption 2 | 6−7
−50%
|
9−10
+50%
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 12−14
−33.3%
|
16−18
+33.3%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 8−9
−50%
|
12−14
+50%
|
Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 4−5
−125%
|
9−10
+125%
|
Battlefield 5 | 12−14
−84.6%
|
24−27
+84.6%
|
Cyberpunk 2077 | 4−5
−50%
|
6−7
+50%
|
Far Cry 5 | 14−16
−42.9%
|
20−22
+42.9%
|
Far Cry New Dawn | 12−14
−61.5%
|
21−24
+61.5%
|
Forza Horizon 4 | 14−16
−53.3%
|
21−24
+53.3%
|
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 8−9
−50%
|
12−14
+50%
|
Watch Dogs: Legion | 4−5
−75%
|
7−8
+75%
|
4K
High Preset
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 6−7
−33.3%
|
8−9
+33.3%
|
Hitman 3 | 8−9
−37.5%
|
10−12
+37.5%
|
Horizon Zero Dawn | 8−9
−12.5%
|
9−10
+12.5%
|
Metro Exodus | 2−3
−150%
|
5−6
+150%
|
Red Dead Redemption 2 | 5−6
−40%
|
7−8
+40%
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 4−5
−75%
|
7−8
+75%
|
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 6−7
−83.3%
|
10−12
+83.3%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 5−6
−40%
|
7−8
+40%
|
Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 4−5
−50%
|
6−7
+50%
|
Battlefield 5 | 6−7
−100%
|
12−14
+100%
|
Cyberpunk 2077 | 1−2
−100%
|
2−3
+100%
|
Far Cry 5 | 7−8
−42.9%
|
10−11
+42.9%
|
Far Cry New Dawn | 10−11
−20%
|
12−14
+20%
|
Forza Horizon 4 | 10−11
−60%
|
16−18
+60%
|
Watch Dogs: Legion | 2−3
−100%
|
4−5
+100%
|
This is how GTX 590 and GTX 860M SLI compete in popular games:
900p resolution:
- GTX 860M SLI is 38.3% faster than GTX 590
1080p resolution:
- GTX 590 is 137% faster than GTX 860M SLI
1200p resolution:
- GTX 860M SLI is 33.9% faster than GTX 590
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Metro Exodus, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 860M SLI is 150% faster than the GTX 590.
All in all, in popular games:
- Without exception, GTX 860M SLI surpassed GTX 590 in all 68 of our tests.
Advantages and disadvantages
Performance score | 8.62 | 12.28 |
Recency | 24 March 2011 | 12 March 2014 |
Chip lithography | 40 nm | 28 nm |
Power consumption (TDP) | 365 Watt | 120 Watt |
The GeForce GTX 860M SLI is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 590 in performance tests.
Be aware that GeForce GTX 590 is a desktop card while GeForce GTX 860M SLI is a notebook one.
Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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