NVIDIA launches GeForce GTX 960

Today is January 22nd, which means NVIDIA launches GeForce GTX 960.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960

The new GeForce GTX 960 is equipped with Maxwell GM206-300 GPU, which is in fact, the full chip. The GM206 is pretty much GM204 cut in half, thus it has only two Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs), each with four Streaming Multiprocessors Maxwell (SMMs). Most importantly I can now confirm GM206 has 64 Texture Mapping Units (TMUs) and 32 Raster Operations Pipelines (ROPs).

GeForce GTX 960 features 2GB GDDR5 memory across 128-bit interface. The reference card is equipped with one 6-pin power connector and the TDP is measured at 120W. Now let me remind you, TDP is not maximum power consumption, but thermal power design. These cards can easily reach higher consumption, especially with non-reference with 8pin or dual 6pin connectors.

GeForce GTX 960 power consumption is somewhat disappointing. We have a new card with 640 CUDA cores less than GTX 970 and TDP rated just 25W lower.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 will be available with reference design as well. However due to the cost of NVTTM cooler, GTX 960 will feature older GTX 670-style plastic blower-type cooler. It’s nothing special, but GTX 960 will be compatible with some of the previous GeForce GTX models, so those who already bought aftermarket coolers, can easily upgrade to newer card at lower cost.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 is priced at 199 USD. Custom models are available starting from 209 USD.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 Specifications
	GeForce GTX 960	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce GTX 980
Picture
GPU	28nm GM206-300	28nm GM204-200	28nm GM204-400
CUDA Cores	1024	1664	2048
TMUs	64	104	128
ROPs	32	64	64
Core clock	1127 MHz	1050 MHz	1127 MHz
Boost Clock	1178 MHz	1178 MHz	1216 MHz
Memory Clock	1753 MHz	1753 MHz	1753 MHz
Memory Bus	128-bit	256-bit	256-bit
Memory Size	2GB	4GB	4GB
Bandwidth	112 GB/s	224 GB/s	224 GB/s
DirectX	11.3/12	11.3/12	11.3/12
TDP	120W	145W	165W
Power Connectors	1x 6-pin	2x 6-pin	2x 6pin
Display Outputs	2x DL-DVI,HDMI 2.0, DP	1x DVI-I, 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DP	1x DVI-I, 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DP
MSRP	199 USD	329 USD	549 USD

NVIDIA GTX 960 is overclockers dream

While this statement may come as a surprise to some of you, it is actually true. Of course not all sample will clock at 1.5 GHz, but for models like MSI GTX 960 GAMING can reach 1558/1800 MHz (core/mem) without much trouble.

Maxwell GM206 block diagram

Here is GM206 block diagram, which confirms our predictions about TMUs and ROPs.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 performance preview

Testing platform configuration:

• Intel Core i7 3960X @ 4.5 GHz, ASUS X79, Kingston 16GB @ 2400 MHz
• MSI GTX 960 GAMING (non-reference clocks 1216 / 1279 / 7010 MHz)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 graphics cards roundup

This roundup will also cover few cards you have not seen so far, including: Gigabyte GTX 960 WF2, Gigabyte GTX 960 Mini-ITX, MSI GTX 960 (ref.), POV GTX 960 (ref.), POV GTX 960 AMMO and some others.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 Roundup
Picture	Name	Clocks	Comments
ASL
	ASL GeForce GTX 960	– / – / 7010 MHz	1x 6pin (GTX 960 2G D5)
ASUS
	ASUS GeForce GTX 960 STRIX	1253 / 1317 / 7010 MHz	1x 6pin, backplate, DVI 2x, HDMI 1x, DP 1x (STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-2GD5, 90YV07N0-M0NA00)
	ASUS GeForce GTX 960		(GTX960-DC2OC-2GD5-PRO)
COLORFUL
	Colorful iGame GeForce GTX 960
	Colorful GeForce GTX 960		(GTX960 CH-2GD5)
EVGA
	EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SSC	1279 / 1342 / 7010 MHz	1x 8pin (02G-P4-2966-KR)
	EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SC Mini	1216 / 1279 / 7010 MHz	1x 6pin (02G-P4-2962-KR)
	EVGA GeForce GTX 960 FTW	1304 / 1367 / 7010 MHz	1x 8pin (02G-P4-2968-KR)
	EVGA GeForce GTX 960 (Ref.)	1127 / 1178 / 7010 MHz	1x 8pin (02G-P4-2963-KR)
GAINWARD
	Gainward GTX 960
	Gainward GeForce GTX 960 Phantom
GALAX/KFA2
	Galax GeForce GTX 960		NVTTM cooler (GTX 960-2GD5)
	Galax GeForce GTX 960 SOC (GAMER)		(GTX 960-2GD5 OC), backplate
	KFA2 GeForce GTX 960 (Ref.)	– / – / 7010 MHz
	KFA2 GeForce GTX 960 OC	– / – / 7010 MHz
	KFA2 GeForce GTX 960 EXOC	– / – / 7010 MHz	Backplate
Gigabyte
	Gigabyte GeForce GTX 960 Mini-ITX	1165 / 1228 / 7010 MHz	The first GTX960 Mini-ITX model (GV-N960IXOC-2GD)
	Gigabyte GeForce GTX 960 G1.Gaming	1241 / 1307 / 7010 MHz	2x 6-pin, backplate (GV-N960G1 GAMING-2GD)
	Gigabyte GeForce GTX 960 WindForce 2X OC	1216 / 1279 / 7010 MHz	New WindForce 2X cooler (GV-N960WF2OC-2GD)
INNO3D
	Inno3D Geforce GTX 960 HerculeZ X2 OC	1178 / – / 7010 MHz	Herculez 3X AIR Boss (no 40mm fan) (N960-1DDV-E5CNX)
	Inno3D Geforce GTX 960 HerculeZ X1	1127 / 1178 / 7010 MHz	(N960-1SDV-E5CN)
	Inno3D iChill GeForce GTX 960 Ultra	1329 / 1393 / 7010 MHz	(C960-2SDN-E5CNX)
MSI
	MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 2G	1216 / 1279 / 7010 MHz	1x 8pin, 4+1 phase VRM, Twin Frozr V
	MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 100ME	1216 / 1279 / 7010 MHz	1x 8pin, 4+1 phase VRM, backplate, Twin Frozr V
	MSI GeForce GTX 960 OC (Armor 2X)	1178 / 1241 / 7010 MHz	1x 6pin, 3+1 phase PWM, Armor 2X
	MSI GeForce GTX 960 (Ref.)	1127 / 1178 / 7010 MHz
PALIT/MAXSUN
	Palit GeForce GTX 960 OC
	Palit GeForce GTX 960 JetStream	1203 / – / 7200 MHz
	Palit GeForce GTX 960 Super JetStream	1279 / 1343 / 7200 MHz
	MAXSUN GeForce GTX 960 JetStream	1203 / – / 7200 MHz
	MAXSUN GeForce GTX 960 Super JetStream 2G	1279 / 1343 / 7200 MHz
PNY
	PNY GeForce GTX 960		(GF960GTX2GEPB)
Point-of-View
	POV GeForce GTX 960	– / – / 7010 MHz
	POV GeForce GTX 960 AMMO	– / – / 7010 MHz
ZOTAC
	ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960	1177 / 1240 / 7010 MHz	(ZT-90301-10M)
	ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 OC	1177 / 1240 / 7010 MHz	(ZT-90302-10M)
	ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP!	1266 / 1329 / 7010 MHz	(ZT-90303-10M)
	ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP!	1266 / 1329 / 7010 MHz	(ZT-90304-10M)
	ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP!	1266 / 1329 / 7010 MHz	Free Metal Gear Solid V (ZT-90307-10M)
	ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960	1177 / 1240 / 7010 MHz	Free Metal Gear Solid V (ZT-90306-10M)