GeForce 8600 GTS vs GeForce GTX 780

Full comparison of specs, performance and benchmarks

Aggregate performance score

We've compared 8600 GTS and GTX 780 across specs and all relevant benchmarks.

8600 GTS outperforms GTX 780 by ~5% on the catalog index; this is not a measured FPS gain.+5%

Scores are normalized on the Head to Head scale. Higher is better. How is this calculated?

H2HBench Data Quality

Low confidence
Specifications: Field verification not recordedVerified gaming results: 0Estimated / unverified results: 32Price record updated: Sep 6, 2026

Limited verified data

H2HBench Verdict

Higher catalog score: GeForce 8600 GTS (~63%)

The score difference is not a measured FPS improvement.

Reasons to consider 8600 GTS

  • Higher catalog performance index
  • Lower stated power consumption
  • Higher catalog value index
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 1.1, CUDA 1.1 · Not supported

Reasons to consider GTX 780

  • More graphics memory
  • Recorded feature support: OpenCL 3.0, CUDA 3.5 · Not supported
Low confidence

Catalog metrics radar

Axes with missing data are hidden; every value uses a fixed scale.

H2H
Performance
Efficiency
Price / performance
Memory capacity
Performance
3937
Efficiency
10049
Price / performance
10045
Memory capacity
1356
Missing values are never replaced with zero or an average.Model: H2H 2026.07 fixed scale.

Graphics card ranking

Full ranking →

The ranking is recalculated automatically from catalog data.

Positions 78–83of 321
8600 GTS#80position in the GPU ranking
GTX 780not in TOP100position in the GPU ranking

Which should you choose?

Two practical conclusions based on community votes and gaming value.

COMMUNITY CHOICE

GeForce GTX 780

118 likes

Head to Head visitors currently choose this model more often.

BEST PRICE / PERFORMANCE

GeForce 8600 GTS

Price $17.00

Based on catalog performance per unit of current market price, not measured FPS.

Overview

Scores are calculated from specifications, performance, and efficiency.

Category8600 GTSGTX 780
GamesDirectX, OpenCL, and Vulkan performance
39Better
37
Professional applications3D modeling, video editing, and rendering
34Better
33
AI and machine learningMachine-learning and AI capabilities
32Better
31
Power efficiencyPower consumption across workloads
100Better
49
Head to Head scoreOverall catalog score
57Better
35

Specifications

The better numeric value is highlighted in green, taking the metric direction into account.

Specification8600 GTSGTX 780
Device class
DirectX
OpenGL
TFLOPSBetter
Power consumptionBetter
Memory type
Power connector
Release date
Architecture
Thickness
Clock speedBetter
Base clockBetter
Boost clockBetter
VRAMBetter
Memory frequencyBetter
Memory busBetter
Memory bandwidthBetter
Interface
Power consumptionBetter
Process nodeBetter
Recommended PSUBetter
LengthBetter
Compute API
Launch priceBetter
Shader units / coresBetter
Die sizeBetter
Memory cacheBetter
Transistor countBetter
Max monitors
Max resolution
USB Type-C
Upscaling
Vulkan
DisplayPort
HDMI

Gaming FPS

Available results are shown separately; missing data is not treated as zero.

The Gaming FPS section compares 8600 GTS and GTX 780 across curated H2H Lab game presets. The useful signal is not only average FPS, but also how each device behaves at 1440p and 4K, how memory capacity and bus width affect heavy textures, and whether the game engine favors raster performance, ray tracing, or driver maturity.

8600 GTSGTX 780
Verified externalEstimatedSources ↗
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080p High
197 FPS
181 FPS
1080p Ultra
138 FPS
127 FPS
1440p Ultra
74 FPS
76 FPS
4K Ultra
27 FPS
26 FPS
Game1080p High1080p Ultra1440p Ultra4K Ultra
Counter-Strike 28600 GTS197 FPSGTX 780181 FPS8600 GTS138 FPSGTX 780127 FPS8600 GTS74 FPSGTX 78076 FPS8600 GTS27 FPSGTX 78026 FPS
Cyberpunk 20778600 GTS127 FPSGTX 780117 FPS8600 GTS109 FPSGTX 780100 FPS8600 GTS54 FPSGTX 78055 FPS8600 GTS18 FPSGTX 78018 FPS
Forza Horizon 58600 GTS160 FPSGTX 780147 FPS8600 GTS104 FPSGTX 78095 FPS8600 GTS67 FPSGTX 78069 FPS8600 GTS39 FPSGTX 78039 FPS
Hogwarts Legacy8600 GTS104 FPSGTX 78095 FPS8600 GTS87 FPSGTX 78080 FPS8600 GTS48 FPSGTX 78050 FPS8600 GTS18 FPSGTX 78018 FPS
Average FPS8600 GTS147 FPSGTX 780135 FPS8600 GTS110 FPSGTX 780101 FPS8600 GTS61 FPSGTX 78063 FPS8600 GTS26 FPSGTX 78025 FPS

H2H workload indices

Comparable internal indices on a fixed 0–100 scale.

Index8600 GTSGTX 780Difference
H2H Raster IndexH2H Index / 10039375%
H2H Compute IndexH2H Index / 100333917%
H2H Rendering IndexH2H Index / 100324227%
H2H Memory Workload IndexH2H Index / 1001356125%
H2H Efficiency IndexH2H Index / 1001004968%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

H2H AI workload indices

Estimated workload profiles based on available performance and memory data.

Index8600 GTSGTX 780Difference
H2H Image Generation IndexH2H Index / 100274550%
H2H ML Training IndexH2H Index / 100284444%
H2H Inference IndexH2H Index / 100324227%
H2H Local LLM IndexH2H Index / 100244765%
H2H Computer Vision IndexH2H Index / 100314332%

These are versioned H2H calculated indices derived from normalized catalog data. They are not results from a third-party benchmark.

Graphics APIs, SDKs and upscaling

Specifications8600 GTSGTX 780
DirectX10.011.0
VulkanNot supported1.2
OpenGL3.34.6
UpscalingNot supportedNot supported
Compute APIOpenCL 1.1, CUDA 1.1OpenCL 3.0, CUDA 3.5

Architecture and release

Specifications8600 GTSGTX 780
ArchitectureTeslaKepler
Process node80 nm28 nmBetter
Release date20072013
Device classDesktopDesktop

GPU cores, die and clocks

Specifications8600 GTSGTX 780
Transistor count289 million7080 millionBetter
Die size169 mm²Better561 mm²
Shader units / cores322304Better
Base clock675 MHz863 MHzBetter
Boost clock675 MHz900 MHzBetter

Board size, power and compatibility

Specifications8600 GTSGTX 780
InterfacePCIe 1x16PCIe 3x16
Length198 mmBetter267 mm
ThicknessSingle-slotDual-slot
Recommended PSU250 WBetter600 W
Power connector6 pin8+8 pin

Display outputs and limits

Specifications8600 GTSGTX 780
HDMIBoard dependentHDMI 1.4a
DisplayPortBoard dependentDisplayPort 1.2
USB Type-CNoNo
Max monitors34
Max resolution2560 × 16004096 × 2160

Memory and compute throughput

Specifications8600 GTSGTX 780
VRAM512 MB GDDR3Better3 GB GDDR5
Memory typeGDDR3GDDR5
Memory bus128 bit384 bitBetter
TFLOPS0.0934.156Better

Other comparisons

0

Reviews and questions

Explain this comparison

Beyond percentages: causes, relevant specifications, and practical impact behind every chart.

Device A8600 GTS57
Device BGTX 78035
What AI will explain

Overall score, radar, FPS, synthetic tests, specifications, efficiency, and value.

Evidence details

Data coverage

Verified gaming results
0
Verified synthetic results
0
Games with verified results
0
Verified community results
0
Estimated / unverified results
32
Specifications
0 / 70

Specification record updated:

Benchmarks updated:

Price record updated:

Comparison reviewed:

Calculated scores · How is this calculated?

Scores use the catalog model and may include estimated inputs. Open each score to see its origin and the methodology.

clamp(round(performance × 0.7 + (efficiency ?? 50) × 0.2 + (value is missing ? 0 : (value − 50) × 0.2)), 0, 100)
Price evidence · View sources (5)

Verified community results

No verified community benchmarks yet.

Reviewed by

No individual editorial review is recorded for this comparison.

Comparison history

Show recorded changes (5)
  1. · Record updated: products
  2. · Record updated: products
  3. · Record changed: product_prices
  4. · Record updated: products
  5. · Record updated: products

Why you can trust this comparison

Origin and confidence are evaluated from the evidence attached to each value. Unverified results are identified, and specification, benchmark and price dates remain separate.

Report incorrect data

Owner experiences

Real builds, results, and community feedback.

Moderator reviewedHelpful to the communityExpert badges

Frequently asked comparison questions

Short recommendations based on performance, memory, power consumption, and intended use.

01Which is better for gaming: 8600 GTS or GTX 780?

8600 GTS has the higher overall gaming score, while 8600 GTS offers the better price-to-performance ratio. The final choice depends on resolution and settings.

02Which is better for streaming?

8600 GTS is the stronger streaming choice thanks to performance, hardware encoding, and application support. Check AV1, H.264, and HEVC support before buying.

03Which is better for Blender?

8600 GTS is generally the better option for Blender and GPU rendering. Rendering-engine support and available VRAM also matter.

04Which is better for video editing?

8600 GTS offers more overall performance, while 8600 GTS offers more memory headroom. Codecs, hardware encoders, and editor optimization can change the result.

05Which is better for neural networks and AI?

8600 GTS is the more practical option for local AI workloads. VRAM capacity, compute libraries, and framework compatibility are especially important.

06Which is better for 1080p?

8600 GTS is the most rational 1080p choice, where high frame rates and cost per frame matter most.

07Which is better for 1440p?

8600 GTS leads in combined 1440p performance. 8600 GTS can be preferable for heavy textures and games with high VRAM usage.

08Which is better for 4K?

8600 GTS is preferable for 4K, where total performance, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity have the greatest impact.

09Which is better for a quiet PC?

8600 GTS is easier to use in a quiet build because of its lower estimated power and thermal load. Actual noise depends on the specific cooler.

10Which is better without replacing the power supply?

8600 GTS is the safer candidate because its stated power consumption is lower. Verify PSU wattage, age, and power connectors.

11Is it worth upgrading from the previous generation?

Consider upgrading to 8600 GTS if your current device no longer delivers the required FPS, memory capacity, or feature support. A gain below 15–20% is usually worth waiting for a price cut.