Radeon Steam Deck 8CU vs GeForce GTX 965M
Aggregate performance score
We've compared GeForce GTX 965M and Radeon Steam Deck 8CU, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Steam Deck 8CU outperforms 965M by a moderate 10% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Contents
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in the ranking | 511 | 483 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Power efficiency | 14.25 | no data |
| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) | RDNA 2 (2022−2023) |
| GPU code name | GM206S | RDNA 2 Sephiroth |
| Market segment | Laptop | Laptop |
| Release date | 2016 (10 years ago) | 9 November 2023 (2 years ago) |
Detailed specifications
General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
| Pipelines / CUDA cores | 1024 | 512 |
| Core clock speed | 944 MHz | no data |
| Boost clock speed | 1150 MHz | 1900 MHz |
| Number of transistors | 2,940 million | no data |
| Manufacturing process technology | 28 nm | 6 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | unknown | no data |
| Texture fill rate | 73.60 | no data |
| Floating-point processing power | 2.355 TFLOPS | no data |
| ROPs | 32 | no data |
| TMUs | 64 | no data |
| L1 Cache | 384 KB | 512 KB |
| L2 Cache | 1024 KB | 1 MB |
Form factor & compatibility
Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).
| Laptop size | large | no data |
| Bus support | PCI Express 3.0 | no data |
| Interface | MXM-A (3.0) | no data |
| Supplementary power connectors | None | no data |
| SLI options | + | - |
VRAM capacity and type
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 | no data |
| Maximum RAM amount | 2 GB | no data |
| Memory bus width | 128 Bit | no data |
| Memory clock speed | 2500 MHz | no data |
| Memory bandwidth | 80 GB/s | no data |
| Shared memory | - | + |
Connectivity and outputs
This section shows the types and number of video connectors on each GPU. The data applies specifically to desktop reference models (for example, NVIDIA’s Founders Edition). OEM partners often modify both the number and types of ports. On notebook GPUs, video‐output options are determined by the laptop’s design rather than the graphics chip itself.
| Display Connectors | Portable Device Dependent | no data |
| VGA аnalog display support | + | no data |
| DisplayPort Multimode (DP++) support | + | no data |
| HDMI | + | - |
| G-SYNC support | + | - |
Supported technologies
Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.
| GameStream | + | - |
| GeForce ShadowPlay | + | - |
| GPU Boost | 2.0 | no data |
| GameWorks | + | - |
| H.264, VC1, MPEG2 1080p video decoder | + | - |
| Optimus | + | - |
| BatteryBoost | + | - |
| Ansel | + | - |
API and SDK support
List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 12 (12_1) | 12_1 |
| Shader Model | 6.7 | no data |
| OpenGL | 4.5 | no data |
| OpenCL | 1.1 | no data |
| Vulkan | 1.3 | - |
| CUDA | + | - |
Synthetic benchmarks
Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark score.
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.
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.
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:
| Full HD | 46
+64.3%
| 28
−64.3%
|
| 1440p | 25
−8%
| 27−30
+8%
|
| 4K | 21
+0%
| 21−24
+0%
|
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Low
| Counter-Strike 2 | 50−55
−12%
|
55−60
+12%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 18−20
−10.5%
|
21−24
+10.5%
|
| Hogwarts Legacy | 16−18
−11.8%
|
18−20
+11.8%
|
Full HD
Medium
| Battlefield 5 | 52
+13%
|
45−50
−13%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 50−55
−12%
|
55−60
+12%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 18−20
−10.5%
|
21−24
+10.5%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 38
+11.8%
|
30−35
−11.8%
|
| Fortnite | 55−60
−8.8%
|
60−65
+8.8%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 47
+4.4%
|
45−50
−4.4%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 27−30
−10.3%
|
30−35
+10.3%
|
| Hogwarts Legacy | 16−18
−11.8%
|
18−20
+11.8%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 46
+24.3%
|
35−40
−24.3%
|
| Valorant | 90−95
−6.6%
|
95−100
+6.6%
|
Full HD
High
| Battlefield 5 | 43
−7%
|
45−50
+7%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 50−55
−12%
|
55−60
+12%
|
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 140−150
−7.7%
|
150−160
+7.7%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 18−20
−10.5%
|
21−24
+10.5%
|
| Dota 2 | 84
−7.1%
|
90−95
+7.1%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 35
+29.6%
|
27
−29.6%
|
| Fortnite | 34
−82.4%
|
60−65
+82.4%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 41
−9.8%
|
45−50
+9.8%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 27−30
−10.3%
|
30−35
+10.3%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 35−40
+250%
|
10
−250%
|
| Hogwarts Legacy | 16−18
−11.8%
|
18−20
+11.8%
|
| Metro Exodus | 15
−40%
|
21−24
+40%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 38
+2.7%
|
35−40
−2.7%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 31
+14.8%
|
27−30
−14.8%
|
| Valorant | 90−95
−6.6%
|
95−100
+6.6%
|
Full HD
Ultra
| Battlefield 5 | 35
−31.4%
|
45−50
+31.4%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 18−20
−10.5%
|
21−24
+10.5%
|
| Dota 2 | 77
−3.9%
|
80−85
+3.9%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 32
+39.1%
|
23
−39.1%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 28
−60.7%
|
45−50
+60.7%
|
| Hogwarts Legacy | 16−18
−11.8%
|
18−20
+11.8%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 26
−42.3%
|
35−40
+42.3%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 18
−50%
|
27−30
+50%
|
| Valorant | 90−95
−6.6%
|
95−100
+6.6%
|
Full HD
Epic
| Fortnite | 34
−82.4%
|
60−65
+82.4%
|
1440p
High
| Counter-Strike 2 | 18−20
−5.6%
|
18−20
+5.6%
|
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 70−75
−9.9%
|
75−80
+9.9%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 12−14
−7.7%
|
14−16
+7.7%
|
| Metro Exodus | 10−11
−20%
|
12−14
+20%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 45−50
−12.2%
|
55−60
+12.2%
|
| Valorant | 100−110
−8.7%
|
110−120
+8.7%
|
1440p
Ultra
| Battlefield 5 | 21−24
−13%
|
24−27
+13%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 8−9
−12.5%
|
9−10
+12.5%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 22
+0%
|
21−24
+0%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 21−24
−13.6%
|
24−27
+13.6%
|
| Hogwarts Legacy | 10−11
−10%
|
10−12
+10%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 12−14
−15.4%
|
14−16
+15.4%
|
1440p
Epic
| Fortnite | 19
−15.8%
|
21−24
+15.8%
|
4K
High
| Counter-Strike 2 | 4−5
−25%
|
5−6
+25%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 20−22
−5%
|
21−24
+5%
|
| Hogwarts Legacy | 4−5
−25%
|
5−6
+25%
|
| Metro Exodus | 5−6
−20%
|
6−7
+20%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 13
+8.3%
|
12−14
−8.3%
|
| Valorant | 45−50
−12.2%
|
55−60
+12.2%
|
4K
Ultra
| Battlefield 5 | 10−12
−18.2%
|
12−14
+18.2%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 4−5
−25%
|
5−6
+25%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 3−4
+0%
|
3−4
+0%
|
| Dota 2 | 44
−2.3%
|
45−50
+2.3%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 10
+0%
|
10−11
+0%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 14
−28.6%
|
18−20
+28.6%
|
| Hogwarts Legacy | 4−5
−25%
|
5−6
+25%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 9−10
−11.1%
|
10−11
+11.1%
|
4K
Epic
| Fortnite | 4
−150%
|
10−11
+150%
|
This is how GTX 965M and Steam Deck 8CU compete in popular games:
- GTX 965M is 64% faster in 1080p
- Steam Deck 8CU is 8% faster in 1440p
- A tie in 4K
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Grand Theft Auto V, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 965M is 250% faster.
- in Fortnite, with 4K resolution and the Epic Preset, the Steam Deck 8CU is 150% faster.
All in all, in popular games:
- GTX 965M performs better in 10 tests (16%)
- Steam Deck 8CU performs better in 50 tests (79%)
- there's a draw in 3 tests (5%)
Other comparisons
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
