NVIDIA launches GeForce GTX 960

Published: Jan 20th 2015, 15:49 GMT

NV GeForce GTX 960 header

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

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960

NVIDIA GM206 GPUThe 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 960GeForce GTX 970GeForce GTX 980
PictureNVIDIA GeForce GTX 960NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-970-angleNVIDIA_GeForce_GTX_980_3Qtr
GPU28nm GM206-30028nm GM204-20028nm GM204-400
CUDA Cores102416642048
TMUs64104128
ROPs326464
Core clock1127 MHz1050 MHz1127 MHz
Boost Clock1178 MHz1178 MHz1216 MHz
Memory Clock1753 MHz1753 MHz1753 MHz
Memory Bus128-bit256-bit256-bit
Memory Size2GB4GB4GB
Bandwidth112 GB/s224 GB/s224 GB/s
DirectX11.3/1211.3/1211.3/12
TDP120W145W165W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin2x 6-pin2x 6pin
Display Outputs2x DL-DVI,HDMI 2.0, DP1x DVI-I, 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DP1x DVI-I, 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DP
MSRP199 USD329 USD549 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.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 specificatinsNVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 Power EfficiencyNVIDIA GTX 960 OverclockiingNVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 1080p gaming

Maxwell GM206 block diagram

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

NVIDIA GM206 Block Diagram

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 GTX 960 3DMark FireStrikeNVIDIA GTX 960 System Power Consumption
NVIDIA GTX 960 Battlefield 4NVIDIA GTX 960 BioShock Infinite NVIDIA GTX 960 Metro Last LightNVIDIA GTX 960 CRYSIS 3

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
PictureNameClocksComments
ASL
 ASL GTX 960ASL GeForce GTX 960 – / – / 7010 MHz1x 6pin (GTX 960 2G D5)
ASUS
 ASUS GTX 960 STRIXASUS GeForce GTX 960 STRIX1253 / 1317 / 7010 MHz1x 6pin, backplate,
DVI 2x, HDMI 1x, DP 1x (STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-2GD5, 90YV07N0-M0NA00)ASUS-GTX-960-Strix-Specifications
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 (GTX960-DC2OC-2GD5-PRO)
COLORFUL
Colorful iGame GeForce GTX 960
Colorful GTX 960Colorful GeForce GTX 960 (GTX960 CH-2GD5)
EVGA
EVGA GTX 960 SSC (1)EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SSC1279 / 1342 / 7010 MHz 1x 8pin (02G-P4-2966-KR)
EVGA GTX 960 SC Mini (4)EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SC Mini1216 / 1279 / 7010 MHz 1x 6pin (02G-P4-2962-KR)
EVGA GTX 960 FTW (7)EVGA GeForce GTX 960 FTW1304 / 1367 / 7010 MHz 1x 8pin (02G-P4-2968-KR)
EVGA GTX 960 ReferenceEVGA GeForce GTX 960 (Ref.) 1127 / 1178 / 7010 MHz 1x 8pin (02G-P4-2963-KR)
GAINWARD
Gainward GTX 960Gainward GTX 960
Gainward GTX 960 PhantomGainward GeForce GTX 960 Phantom
GALAX/KFA2
Galax GeForce GTX 960NVTTM cooler (GTX 960-2GD5)
GALAX-GTX960_2GB-SOC-BOX-CardGalax GeForce GTX 960 SOC (GAMER) (GTX 960-2GD5 OC), backplate
KFA2-GeForce-GTX-960_3KFA2 GeForce GTX 960 (Ref.)  – / – / 7010 MHz
KFA2-GeForce-GTX-9600-OC_1KFA2 GeForce GTX 960 OC  – / – / 7010 MHz
KFA2-GeForce-GTX-960-EXOC_4KFA2 GeForce GTX 960 EXOC  – / – / 7010 MHz Backplate
Gigabyte
Gigabyte-GeForce-GTX-960-Mini (1)Gigabyte GeForce GTX 960 Mini-ITX 1165 / 1228 / 7010 MHz The first GTX960 Mini-ITX model (GV-N960IXOC-2GD)
Gigabyte GTX 960 G1 GAMING boxGigabyte GeForce GTX 960 G1.Gaming1241 / 1307 / 7010 MHz2x 6-pin, backplate (GV-N960G1 GAMING-2GD)
Gigabyte-GeForce-GTX-960-WindForce-2XGigabyte GeForce GTX 960 WindForce 2X OC 1216 / 1279 / 7010 MHz New WindForce 2X cooler (GV-N960WF2OC-2GD)
INNO3D
Inno3d GTX 960 Herculez X2 (3)Inno3D Geforce GTX 960 HerculeZ X2 OC1178 / – / 7010 MHzHerculez 3X AIR Boss (no 40mm fan) (N960-1DDV-E5CNX)
Inno3d GTX 960 Herculez X1 (3)Inno3D Geforce GTX 960 HerculeZ X11127 / 1178 / 7010 MHz(N960-1SDV-E5CN)
Inno3d GTX 960 Herculez X3 (2)Inno3D iChill GeForce GTX 960 Ultra1329 / 1393 / 7010 MHz (C960-2SDN-E5CNX)
MSI
MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 2G (1)MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 2G1216 / 1279 / 7010 MHz 1x 8pin, 4+1 phase VRM, Twin Frozr V
MSI GeForce GTX 960 100 MILLION Edition (2)MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 100ME1216 / 1279 / 7010 MHz 1x 8pin, 4+1 phase VRM, backplate, Twin Frozr V
MSI GeForce GTX 960 2GD5 (box)MSI GeForce GTX 960 OC (Armor 2X)1178 / 1241 / 7010 MHz 1x 6pin, 3+1 phase PWM, Armor 2X
MSI GTX 960 reference (2)MSI GeForce GTX 960 (Ref.)1127 / 1178 / 7010 MHz
PALIT/MAXSUN
PALIT GTX 960 referencePalit GeForce GTX 960 OC
PALIT GTX 960 Super JetStream (2)Palit GeForce GTX 960 JetStream1203 / – / 7200 MHz
PALIT GTX 960 Super JetStream (1)Palit GeForce GTX 960 Super JetStream1279 / 1343 / 7200 MHz
MAXSUN GeForce GTX 960 JetStream1203 / – / 7200 MHz
 maxsun gtx 960 superjetstreamMAXSUN GeForce GTX 960 Super JetStream 2G1279 / 1343 / 7200 MHz
PNY
PNY GTX 960PNY GeForce GTX 960  (GF960GTX2GEPB)
Point-of-View
POV GTX 960POV GeForce GTX 960  – / – / 7010 MHz
POV GTX 960 AMMOPOV GeForce GTX 960 AMMO  – / – / 7010 MHz
ZOTAC
ZOTAC GTX 960 (1)ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960  1177 / 1240 / 7010 MHz (ZT-90301-10M)
ZOTAC GTX 960 (1)ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 OC  1177 / 1240 / 7010 MHz (ZT-90302-10M)
ZOTAC GTX 960 AMP (1)ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP!  1266 / 1329 / 7010 MHz (ZT-90303-10M)
ZOTAC GTX 960 AMP (1)ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP!   1266 / 1329 / 7010 MHz (ZT-90304-10M)
ZOTAC GTX 960 AMP (1)ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP!1266 / 1329 / 7010 MHzFree Metal Gear Solid V (ZT-90307-10M)
ZOTAC GTX 960 (1)ZOTAC GeForce GTX 9601177 / 1240 / 7010 MHzFree Metal Gear Solid V (ZT-90306-10M)



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