GeForce Laptop Roundup: GPU Performance Compared

Today nosotros return to the realm of laptop graphics hardware to talk about Nvidia'due south refreshed line of GeForce GPUs. We've already looked at 2 of the new GPUs: the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q and RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, but alongside these Nvidia has also updated the residual of the series with spec improvements.

The GeForce RTX 2060 which is plant in a broad range of gaming laptops was previously limited to 90W of power, with well-nigh manufacturers choosing the default 80W for their notebooks. With the 2022 GeForce refresh, Nvidia is increasing that limit to 115W, which tin can bring more performance out of the same GPU every bit long as a proper cooling design is used.

	GeForce RTX 2080 Super	GeForce RTX 2070 Super	GeForce RTX 2070	GeForce RTX 2060	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce GTX 1650 Ti	GeForce GTX 1650
CUDA Cores	3072	2560	2304	1920	1536	1024	1024 (max)
Boost Clock (MHz)	1080 - 1560 MHz	1155 - 1380 MHz	1125 - 1455 MHz	1185 - 1560 MHz	1335 - 1590 MHz	1200 - 1485 MHz	1125 - 1560 MHz
Retentiveness	8GB GDDR6	8GB GDDR6	8GB GDDR6	6GB GDDR6	6GB GDDR6	4GB GDDR6	4GB GDDR6 / GDDR5
Memory Jitney	256-fleck	256-bit	256-bit	192-bit	192-bit	192-flake	128-bit
Memory Bandwidth (max)	448 GB/s	448 GB/s	448 GB/south	336 GB/s	288 GB/s	192 GB/s	192 GB/s
TGP	eighty - 150+ W	80 - 115 W	80 - 115 Westward	65 - 115 Due west	60 - 80 Due west	35 - 55 W	30 - 50 Westward

The reason for this could be that Nvidia realized the RTX 2060 was not very compelling when limited at 80W. On average, the RTX 2060 at 80W performs on par to the GTX 1660 Ti which is supposed to exist a notch beneath the base of operations RTX. As seen on the graph below, in a best instance scenario like Control, the RTX 2060 is just five% faster, but in a worst case, the GTX 1660 Ti can be upwards to six% faster.

The boilerplate heir-apparent may not realize this, while RTX 2060 laptops usually command a higher price tag ($100 to $200 more), functioning betwixt those two GPUs is too shut to call at the aforementioned wattage. With the RTX 2060 you do get access to features like ray tracing and the Tensor cores (for DLSS), but the raw performance difference certainly did not make sense.

In terms of specifications, the new GPU ability limit ways you can raise clock speeds and improve performance. The RTX 2060 features a 960 MHz base of operations and 1200 MHz boost clock at 80W, or a 1110 MHz base of operations and 1335 MHz boost at 90W. At 115W, the boost clock increases a off-white flake, at present up to 1560 MHz, for a 17 pct rated increase over the 90W model.

At that place are other differences with the RTX 2060 as equipped in 2022 laptop models. Nvidia is moving to new low voltage GDDR6 retentivity across the line-upward, which drops the retentivity clock rate from fourteen Gbps to xi Gbps. While this reduces memory bandwidth, it allows Nvidia to allocate more power to the GPU, which is a good solution for the 2060 that tends non to exist memory express.

If this makes the RTX 2060 line-up highly confusing for you -- especially when y'all add the RTX 2060 Max-Q to the mix -- you're not alone, it'southward a real mess. For now we'll merely say, Nvidia appears to be improving the 2060 for new laptops, so it's not like nosotros're going backwards.

Benchmarks

Today's benchmarks are based on a long listing of laptops as detailed below. For testing the new 115W variant of the RTX 2060 we're using the MSI GL65 Leopard 10SEK which is the start laptop nosotros were able to source that comes equipped with that GPU. This is a upkeep oriented gaming laptop starting at $1,299 which was surprising to see. It does have a decent cooling solution that seems capable of treatment the power increase.

Laptops Tested

MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS
Asus TUF Gaming A15 FA506IV
MSI GL65 Leopard 10SEK
MSI GS66 Stealth 10SE
Asus TUF Gaming A15 FA506IU
Asus TUF Gaming A15 FA506II
Gigabyte Aorus 15G XB
Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV
Asus ZenBook Pro Duo UX481FL
Razer Bract Stealth 2022
MSI Prestige fourteen A10SC
Gigabyte Aorus fifteen
MSI GE75 Raider 9SF
Rader Blade Pro 17
Asus ROG Strix Scar Three G531G
Gigabyte Aorus 15 XA
Acer Predator Helios 300 (9750H)
HP Omen 15
HP Envy x360
Asus ZenBook UM433D
Asus ROG Zephyrus GA502D
Asus TUF Gaming FX505D
Dell XPS xv ii-in-1 Kaby Lake G Version
Asus ROG Strix Scar II
Asus ROG Strix Hero II
Gigabyte Aero 15 X9
MSI GS75 Stealth 8SG
Alienware m15
Acer Predator Helios 300 2022
Acer Predator Triton 700 2022
MSI GS65 Stealth Thin
Gigabyte Aero 15X

Our standard notes for laptop benchmarks utilise here. We attempt to maintain apples-to-apples comparisons where possible, so we test all laptops with acceptable cooling and dual channel memory. The numbers in the following charts are an boilerplate of systems with the same specs. We besides list the ability limits for all configurations equally that'due south an important factor to consider when looking GPU performance output.

Information technology'south as well worth noting that considering of how laptop configurations piece of work, we cannot straight compare say, the RTX 2080 Super against the RTX 2060 with the same processor. Ordinarily manufacturers dictate how CPUs and GPUs are paired together, so for practical purposes these benchmarks will show you a realistic performance comparing of laptop models as they're usually sold.

Starting with a await at Red Expressionless Redemption ii, this is one of the best results for the new RTX 2060 at 115W. Nosotros're looking at effectually the same boilerplate performance equally the full RTX 2070 configuration for laptops, while outperforming the older RTX 2060 configurations also every bit the GTX 1660 Ti by over 15 percentage. The 80W configuration of the 2070 Super Max-Q is slower on boilerplate than an RTX 2070, but faster at 90W.

Borderlands three shows a overnice cadency of GPUs as nosotros go up the stack. While previously the 1660 Ti and RTX 2060 were nigh equal, with the 90W model providing a pocket-size performance advantage, the new 115W variant improves performance by at least 10 percent.

With the extra power, the RTX 2060 (115W) sits higher up the RTX 2070 Max-Q, and non far behind the RTX 2070 at 115W. Borderlands iii shows a strong issue for the 2080 Super Max-Q with a 17 percent atomic number 82 over the 2070 Super Max-Q and the standard 2070.

Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order is some other championship where the gap between the RTX 2060 and RTX 2070 has shrunk considerably thanks to the new power limit. The RTX 2060 delivers 11% more performance than the 2060's 80W configuration.

The next step up is to Nvidia's Super GPUs which occupy the top spots on the chart. Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order is mostly GPU limited in our criterion laissez passer on laptops, here the 2080 Super Max-Q ends up 10 per centum ahead of the 2070 Super Max-Q, and 14 percent alee of the RTX 2070.

Control is the most GPU demanding game in our test suite when played on the High preset (the highest available). We've tested without RTX features, if y'all choose to enable DLSS you will come across improve performance. The 2080 Super Max-Q comes out 11% ahead of the 2070 Super Max-Q when both GPUs are running at 90W. The lead is like over the RTX 2070 running at 115W, which goes to testify the efficiency advantage of the larger CUDA core blueprint.

Looking at the RTX 2060, this is some other game that benefits significantly from the increased power limit. The 115W config of the RTX 2060 comes in 15% ahead of the 90W configuration, and xix% alee of the 80W model. In highly GPU demanding games using Ultra-type settings, it's definitely worth beingness on the scout for the highest power model that Nvidia offers.

In Metro Exodus, with 115W of power at the helm, the RTX 2060 is able to move up a class in terms of performance, now delivering a pretty consistent 60 FPS feel in our benchmark run. Once again, this variant of the 2060 is a better choice than the RTX 2070 Max-Q, which is an 80W GPU.

The 80W numbers for the 2070 Super Max-Q aren't overly impressive, two% slower than the RTX 2070, however this does flip over to a performance lead at 90W.

Also in Metro Exodus we see the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q at 90W delivering around the performance of an RTX 2070 desktop PC, which is a great comparison if y'all want to know how these sorts of laptops fare when put up confronting their desktop counterparts.

Resident Evil two is an instance of a game that benefits from both CPU and GPU performance when using the Counterbalanced preset at 1080p. The RTX 2060 115W variant offers a college frame charge per unit than the 80W model when paired with an Intel GPU, however the combination of the Ryzen 7 4800H and 90W RTX 2060 is a bit amend for 1% depression performance while offering similar averages. Not every game is able to benefit solely from an increase in GPU ability, the CPU is also of import.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider shows one of the strongest results for RTX 2070 Super Max-Q versus RTX 2070 Max-Q, both running at 90W. The Super variant is 13% faster and impressively, even the 80W variant is faster. This allows the 2070 Super Max-Q to come in iv% faster than the 115W RTX 2070 despite consuming just 80W of power.

The performance lead the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q has over the 2070 Super Max-Q is more than pocket-size here than in other titles. Meanwhile, we see a more modest functioning gain for the 115W RTX 2060 over the 80W and 90W models, to the tune of ~vi to 8% on average.

In Battlefield V nosotros see an eleven% performance advantage comparison the 115W RTX 2060 to the 80W model, and a half-dozen% lead on the 90W variant. Yet, while in some titles the 2060 gets pretty close to the 2070 with the same power limit, that's not the case in this game, falling over x percentage behind, which is i of the largest differences we saw.

The flagship RTX 2080 Super Max-Q holds a performance lead in the 15 percent range over the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, when looking at boilerplate frame rates. The RTX 2070 Super Max-Q isn't as fast equally the 115W RTX 2070 in this exam either.

Far Cry 5 is some other game with a respectable performance pb over other RTX 2060 ability configurations betwixt 6 and xi% faster. This allows the GPU to occupy a more mid-table position. Looking at average frame rates, the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q in its 80W configuration is just barely ahead of the RTX 2070 at 115W, which we estimate is kind of impressive. In general the centre function of the graph is very close. The top-finish RTX 2080 Super Max-Q is ten per centum ahead of the 2070 Super Max-Q, and up to 15 per centum in forepart of the RTX 2070.

We accept a couple of older titles to round this one out. Star Wars Battlefront II is on the higher terminate of the performance gain table. This is a game where the GTX 1660 Ti is able to outperform the RTX 2060 at 80W and match it at 90W, but that's not the case with the new 115W power limit.

Star Wars Battlefront II is very favorable to the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, delivering double digit gains over the RTX 2070, 2070 Super Max-Q and RTX 2080 Max-Q.

The terminal game in our round-upward is Watch Dogs two. Still a great game for testing a combined CPU and GPU load, this title benefits nicely from the new RTX 2060 115W ability limit, pushing xiii percent alee of the 80W model and 9 percent ahead of the 90W variant. It still ends up 11 per centum behind the RTX 2070 just information technology's a good result. There's all the same a performance lead for the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, but it's not as substantial as in more GPU-limited titles.

Performance Breakdowns

Before nosotros saw that the RTX 2060 wasn't any faster than the GTX 1660 Ti with both GPUs configured at the same 80W power target. But when both GPUs are configured to their new maximum power limits – 115W for the 2060, and withal 80W for the 1660 Ti – it'southward a different story.

Beyond xviii games, the RTX 2060 115W is at present 13 percent faster on average, with some performance leads over 20 percent in the most GPU demanding games.

The new 115W power limit allows the RTX 2060 to close the gap significantly on the RTX 2070. Where previously the 2060 configured at 80W was 17% slower on average and sometimes more than that, when comparing the 115W 2060 to the 115W 2070, the 2060 is at present simply 7% slower. In some games the two GPUs perform very similarly, in others there's more of a operation gap.

The RTX 2070 Super Max-Q does provide considerably more performance than the RTX 2060 when both are configured to 80W. The new Super GPU is 18 per centum faster, which suggests it is by far the more efficient pattern.

When looking at the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q confronting the RTX 2070 Max-Q, both running at 90W, on average the Super GPU is seven% faster. This volition vary between titles, some games weren't faster by much, others were up to 15% faster. This will depend on how the game uses resources and whether the game prefers core frequency or core count.

The RTX 2070 Super Max-Q barbarous but 3% behind the RTX 2080 Max-Q. While we can't quite supercede last generation'southward higher-tier product with a lower tier design, information technology's very close.

Across xix games, the RTX 2080 Super Max-Q is eleven% faster on average than the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q.

Closing Thoughts

Nvidia choosing to increase the maximum power limit on the RTX 2060 solves one of the major bug with Nvidia's electric current-gen mobile graphics line. The RTX 2060 running at 80W is far too close to the GTX 1660 Ti in terms of gaming operation, which depending on your perspective could be seen every bit a positive. If you want the best possible operation, pay close attention to the power limits set on the RTX 2060 laptop you are looking into to brand sure paying more is really worth it.

With this refresh Nvidia is also promising reduced prices for RTX 2060 laptops, in line with GTX 1660 Ti models of last year. The GTX 1660 Ti is likewise cheaper at present, and while then far we haven't seen any laptops that hit Nvidia'southward promised $999 target price for the 2060, generally speaking whatever new RTX 2060 laptop volition be cheaper and mayhap faster than previous-gen models.

The RTX 2070 Super is replacing the RTX 2070 at roughly the same price betoken and delivering a ~seven% operation improvement. The standard RTX 2070 will keep to be in the market past replacing the RTX 2060 in that cost tier. Nvidia'southward revamped pricing structure for 2022 (below) doesn't solve the value disparity between Max-Q and not Max-Q GPUs, pregnant Max-Q is e'er worse value, but that's the premium you pay for a slimmer, nicer, and more than portable machine.

The RTX 2080 Super Max-Q is Nvidia's fastest laptop GPU for power/cooling constrained laptops. It's a great GPU for 1080p gaming and delivers a double-digit performance proceeds over the tier below it which is very impressive for a 90W bit. Nonetheless it should exist noted it's nowhere near as fast every bit the RTX 2080 Super for desktops. Every bit nosotros saw in some of our tests, the 2080 Super Max-Q is closer in performance to a desktop RTX 2070.