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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£130
  • VRAM: 1 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 150 W

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

4.0

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.6

Technical Score

10.0%

7.5

User score

Poor
3.6

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

3.2

Memory

12.0%

7.2

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.5

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.6

Design

4.0%

4.8

Connectivity & Media

Poor
7.5

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.6

User reviews

30.0%

4.8

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(54)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(60)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Very good
  • 6.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.5
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 7.1
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.8
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.2
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

Released in May 2011, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 is a mid-range Fermi-based graphics card built on a 40nm process with the GF114-325-A1 GPU. It features 336 CUDA cores, a base clock of 810 MHz, and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit interface, delivering 128.1 GB/s of bandwidth. Its main strengths include solid 1080p performance for older titles and legacy DirectX 11 support, along with significant overclocking headroom and SLI support for dual-GPU configurations. However, the card is held back by a high power consumption of 150W TDP requiring two 6-pin connectors, limited driver support that prevents it from running modern AAA titles, and a lack of native support for newer DirectX 12 feature levels.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

3.2

Memory

12.0%

7.2

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.5

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.6

Design

4.0%

4.8

Connectivity & Media

3.6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a technical score of 3.58 points, which is lower than that of 93.2% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.6

User reviews

30.0%

4.8

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(54)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(60)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

7.5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a user score of 7.46 points, which is lower than that of 84.1% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
4.8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a popularity of 4.8 points, which is higher than 60.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.0

Overall score

40.0%

9.8

Price

5.7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.7 points, which is lower than 87.7% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

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3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

3,073 points
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 scores 3073 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 81.9% of graphics cards.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

1,202 points
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 scores 1202 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 85.5% of graphics cards.
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

1,088.6 TFLOPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 delivers 1088.6 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is higher than that of 100% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

1 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has 1 GB of VRAM, which is less than 98.5% of graphics cards and equal to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

256 bit
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 uses a 256 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 49.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 36.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

128.2 GB/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 reaches 128.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 92.5% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

2.0
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports PCIe 2.0, which is older than on 98.4% of graphics cards and equal to 1.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

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Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

N/A
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports up to 2 displays, which is fewer than 98.1% of graphics cards and equal to 1.9% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

2560x1600
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports a maximum digital resolution of 2560x1600, which is lower than that of 59.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.1% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

0
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 offers 0 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 98.1% of graphics cards and equal to 1.9% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.1a
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports DisplayPort 1.1a, which is older than on 98.4% of graphics cards and equal to 0.1% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

150 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a TDP of 150 W, which is lower than that of 73% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.5% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

150 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 draws 150 W under peak load, which is lower than 74.2% of graphics cards and equal to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

500 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 76.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 9.6% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

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PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

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Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

210 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is 210 mm long, which is shorter than 86.8% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

111 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is 111 mm tall, which is shorter than 89.6% of graphics cards and equal in height to 5.6% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 vs the average graphics card

  • 16x larger L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
    What it is: Total size of the GPU’s L2 cache memory
    When it matters: When cache size can help the GPU feed data faster in demanding scenes.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.512 MB vs 32 MB
  • 75.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is shorter than the average graphics card (210 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is shorter than the average graphics card (210 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.210 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.500 W vs 650 W
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
    When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.111 mm vs 127 mm
  • 30.2% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (150 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (150 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.150 W vs 215 W
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • 4.08x cheaper
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£130 vs £530).
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£130 vs £530).£130 vs £530
  • Better FP64 ratio
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:12 vs 1:64).
    What it is: Ratio of double-precision (FP64) to single-precision (FP32) performance
    When it matters: When you need to know whether FP64 is merely present or genuinely useful.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:12 vs 1:64).1:12 vs 1:64
  • Better FP64 ratio
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:12 vs 1:64).
  • 47.12x higher compute throughput
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a higher compute throughput than the average graphics card (1,088.6 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 16x larger L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 30.2% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (150 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 75.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is shorter than the average graphics card (210 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.

Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 33 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (7 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 57.8% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (810 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 128 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (56 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 88% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (45.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 93.2% lower pixel rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (11.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 95.2% lower FP32 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (1.1 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 73.1% lower PassMark score
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (3,073 points vs 11,411 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 11,411 points.
  • 74.7% lower compute score
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower compute score than the average graphics card (1,202 points vs 4,745 points). The average graphics card has a compute score of 4,745 points.
  • 80.5% lower FP64 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower FP64 performance than the average graphics card (0.1 TFLOPS vs 0.4651 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP64 performance of 0.4651 TFLOPS.
  • 4,016 fewer FP32 units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (336 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 78.9% slower memory speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (4,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 71.4% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (128.2 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 42.9% slower VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,000 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 50% smaller L1 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (64 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • No DLSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • Older PCIe version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (2 vs 4.0).
  • 12 older
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,011 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older OpenCL version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.1 vs 3.0).
  • Older shader model
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (5.1 vs 6.8).
  • 91.1% fewer transistors
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (1,950 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • 3 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (0 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 encoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 2 fewer displays supported
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • No AV1 decoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.4a vs 2.1).
  • Older DisplayPort version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.1a vs 1.4a).
  • No VRR support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • 2 fewer monitors per output type
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Not VR ready
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • Lower display resolution
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (2560x1600 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 8 dB noisier under load
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (43 dB vs 35 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35 dB.
  • 6 °C lower thermal ceiling
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (99 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • No backplate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.40 nm vs 5 nm
  • 33 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (7 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (7 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.7 vs 40
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.1 GB vs 12 GB
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 57.8% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (810 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (810 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.810 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 128 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (56 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (56 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.56 vs 184
  • 88% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (45.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (45.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.45.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 93.2% lower pixel rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (11.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
    What it is: Number of pixels the GPU can render per second
    When it matters: When you play at high resolutions or care about older raster-heavy games.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (11.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.11.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
54 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
60 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560?

  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio for mid-range gaming
  • Strong overclocking headroom, often reaching near GTX 560 Ti levels
  • Compact physical size fits easily into most standard PC cases
  • Reliable cooling on most custom models (e.g., MSI Twin Frozr) keeping temps under 70°C
  • Smooth performance in titles like Battlefield 3 and Skyrim at release
  • Quiet operation even under heavy load on many non-reference designs

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560?

  • Lacks longevity for modern AAA gaming due to limited 1GB VRAM and older Fermi architecture
  • Reported driver stability issues, including crashes during web browsing or high-load gaming
  • High power requirements (minimum 450W-500W PSU) compared to modern entry-level cards
  • Requires two 6-pin power connectors, which may be a hurdle for older power supplies
  • Frequent failure of fans on certain aftermarket models reported after several months
  • Limited feature support for newer APIs, with a DirectX 12 feature level only at 11_0

Expert reviews

T
tomshardware.com
18/01/2012
Five Overclocked GeForce GTX 560 Cards, Rounded-Up If you need help exploring the benchmark results, overclocking limitations, or how this specific mo...

The Tom’s Hardware review evaluates five overclocked GeForce GTX 560 graphics cards from Asus, ECS, Galaxy, MSI, and Zotac to determine which vendor offers the best overall package in the $200 price range. While the initial goal was to isolate the efficiency of individual cooling solutions, the article instead provides a comprehensive comparison of factory overclocks, software...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
17/05/2011
ASUS GeForce GTX 560Go to product viewer dialogue for this item. TOP Direct Cu II 1 GB Review

The ASUS GeForce GTX 560 TOP DirectCU II is a heavily modified, non-reference card featuring a significant 925 MHz factory overclock on the 40nm GF114 architecture, enabling performance that rivals the higher-end GTX 560 Ti. Key strengths include the exceptionally quiet and effective DirectCU II thermal solution—keeping load temperatures around 70°C—and, while memory overclocking is...Read more

G
guru3d.com
16/05/2011
ECS GeForce GTX 560

The ECS GeForce GTX 560, as reviewed by Guru3D, is a solid, reference-based mid-range card utilizing the GF114 GPU with 336 CUDA cores and 1GB GDDR5, offering great value for DirectX 11 gaming at 1920x1200. Key advantages include its extremely quiet operation, excellent value, and significant overclocking potential, with the core reaching up to 980 MHz. Conversely, the card's...Read more

H
hardwareluxx.de
17/05/2011
Test: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560

The Hardwareluxx review provides a detailed evaluation of NVIDIA's mid-range entry, the GeForce GTX 560 (non-Ti), specifically analyzing the custom Palit GeForce GTX 560 Sonic Platinum version. Based on the 40 nm GF114 architecture, this GPU features 336 shader units, 56 texture units, 32 ROPs, and a 256-bit memory interface carrying 1024 MB of GDDR5 VRAM. While reference models...Read more

(Translated)Show original
C
comptoir-hardware.com
10/06/2011
Test • nVIDIA GeFORCE GTX 560

Based on the provided review document, the GeForce GTX 560 was released by NVIDIA as a mid-range, DirectX 11 graphics card designed to succeed the highly successful GTX 460. It utilizes a fully unlocked and revised version of the mid-range GPU architecture, designated as the GF114 silicon. While the hardware configuration features a streamlined core structure compared to its premium...Read more

(Translated)Show original
M
madboxpc.com
09/06/2011
Review ECS GTX 560Go to product viewer dialogue for this item. [ahora con MOAR benchmarks]

The ECS GTX 560 CoolFast is presented as a budget-friendly graphics card for mainstream gaming, offering roughly 40% higher performance than the GTX 460, particularly when utilizing post-processing filters and anti-aliasing. Key advantages highlighted include excellent overclocking potential, a practical accessory bundle with dual Molex-to-PCIe adapters, and an aluminum heat pipe...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
tomshw.it
17/05/2011
Consumi, temperature e rumorosità

The Tom's Hardware Italy review of the GeForce GTX 560 focuses on factory-overclocked partner models, noting that power consumption, temperatures, and noise vary significantly depending on the manufacturer's cooling solution. Specifically, the Zotac AMP! card requires higher voltage for its aggressive clocks, resulting in higher power draw and operating temperatures compared to...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
tweakers.net
14/04/2012
Zotac GeForce GTX 560 AMP! Edition - Verwijderd - Product reviews If you need help digging into the specific performance metrics from these tests or w...

The user review on Tweakers provides a highly positive evaluation of the Zotac GeForce GTX 560 AMP! Edition graphics card, which features a max clock speed of 950MHz and 1GB of GDDR5 memory. The reviewer expresses high satisfaction, noting that the card successfully runs all games on maximum settings without any issues and offers a great price-to-quality ratio. Additionally, the...Read more

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