GeForce GTS 450 vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) with GeForce GTS 450, including specs and performance data.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
2015
1 GB GDDR5
3.69
+7.9%

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) outperforms GTS 450 by a small 8% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking712728
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data0.57
Power efficiencyno data2.25
ArchitectureMaxwell (2014−2017)Fermi (2010−2014)
GPU code nameSurface BookGF106
Market segmentLaptopDesktop
Release date1 October 2015 (9 years ago)13 September 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$129

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

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 cores384192
Core clock speed954 MHz783 MHz
Boost clock speed993 MHzno data
Number of transistorsno data1,170 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm40 nm
Power consumption (TDP)no data106 Watt
Maximum GPU temperatureno data100 °C
Texture fill rateno data25.06
Floating-point processing powerno data0.6013 TFLOPS
ROPsno data16
TMUsno data32

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).

Bus supportno dataPCI-E 2.0 x 16
Interfaceno dataPCIe 2.0 x16
Lengthno data210 mm
Heightno data4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm)
Widthno data2-slot
Supplementary power connectorsno data1x 6-pin
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 typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount1 GB1 GB
Memory bus width64 Bit128 Bit
Memory clock speed5012 MHz1804 (3608 data rate) MHz
Memory bandwidthno data57.7 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

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 Connectorsno dataMini HDMITwo Dual Link DVI
HDMI-+
Maximum VGA resolutionno data2048x1536
Audio input for HDMIno dataInternal

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

Optimus+-

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectXDirectX 12 (FL 11_0), Shader 5.012 (11_0)
Shader Modelno data5.1
OpenGLno data4.2
OpenCLno data1.1
Vulkan-N/A
CUDA++

Synthetic benchmark performance

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. 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.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) 3.69
+7.9%
GTS 450 3.42

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.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) 2577
+36.5%
GTS 450 1888

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.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) 2076
+34.3%
GTS 450 1545

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) 11380
GTS 450 12447
+9.4%

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:

900p30−35
+0%
30
+0%
Full HD28
−35.7%
38
+35.7%
1200p27−30
+0%
27
+0%

Cost per frame, $

1080pno data3.39

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+10%
10−11
−10%
Battlefield 5 8−9
+14.3%
7−8
−14.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Far Cry 5 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 10−11
+11.1%
9−10
−11.1%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
+10.5%
18−20
−10.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+10%
10−11
−10%
Battlefield 5 8−9
+14.3%
7−8
−14.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Far Cry 5 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 10−11
+11.1%
9−10
−11.1%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
+10.5%
18−20
−10.5%
Metro Exodus 6−7
+20%
5−6
−20%
Red Dead Redemption 2 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+10%
10−11
−10%
Battlefield 5 8−9
+14.3%
7−8
−14.3%
Far Cry 5 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 10−11
+11.1%
9−10
−11.1%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
+10.5%
18−20
−10.5%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%

1440p
High Preset

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Red Dead Redemption 2 7−8
+16.7%
6−7
−16.7%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Battlefield 5 6−7
+20%
5−6
−20%
Far Cry 5 4−5
+0%
4−5
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 6−7
+20%
5−6
−20%
Forza Horizon 4 2−3
+100%
1−2
−100%

4K
High Preset

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 1−2 0−1
Red Dead Redemption 2 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Battlefield 5 2−3
+100%
1−2
−100%
Far Cry 5 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 2−3
+100%
1−2
−100%
Forza Horizon 4 2−3
+100%
1−2
−100%

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Valhalla 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%
Hitman 3 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Metro Exodus 5−6
+0%
5−6
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Valhalla 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%
Hitman 3 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Valhalla 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%
Hitman 3 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 9−10
+0%
9−10
+0%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 5−6
+0%
5−6
+0%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Hitman 3 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Valhalla 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 0−1 0−1
Watch Dogs: Legion 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 4−5
+0%
4−5
+0%

This is how Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) and GTS 450 compete in popular games:

  • A tie in 900p
  • GTS 450 is 36% faster in 1080p
  • A tie in 1200p

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Forza Horizon 4, with 1440p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is 100% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is ahead in 13 tests (21%)
  • there's a draw in 50 tests (79%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.69 3.42
Recency 1 October 2015 13 September 2010
Chip lithography 28 nm 40 nm

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) has a 7.9% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, and a 42.9% more advanced lithography process.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) and GeForce GTS 450.

Be aware that Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is a notebook card while GeForce GTS 450 is a desktop 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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NVIDIA Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
GeForce GTS 450

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


3.6 5 votes

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3.6 2641 vote

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Questions & comments

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