Meant to replace the aging GTX 750 Ti graphics card based on the first generation Maxwell GM107 GPU, the Geforce GTX 950 is based on the same second generation Maxwell GPU as the Geforce GTX 960, the GM206.
Unlike the GTX 960, where GM206 GPU was running with 8 SMMs, for a total of 1024 CUDA cores, 64 Texture Units and 32 ROPs, the GM206 behind the Geforce GTX 950 has been cut-down to 6 SMMs, for a total of 768 CUDA cores, 48 Texture Units and 32 ROPs. The GM206 on the GTX 950 is paired up with 2GB of GDDR5 memory running on a 128-bit memory interface.
Although these won't matter much since most Nvidia partners will do custom versions of the graphics card, the reference clocks provided by Nvidia, are set at 1024MHz for the GPU base and 1188MHz for the GPU Boost clocks while memory is clocked at 6.6GHz.
Meant to replace the Geforce GTX 750 Ti, the new Geforce GTX 950 is mostly meant for MOBA gaming. Nvidia markets the Geforce GTX 950 as the card that can provide 60FPS gaming, be super responsive with low latency and provide DirectX 12 and MFAA support in MOBA gaming.
While it might be mostly suited for MOBA games, the Geforce GTX 950 can, according to Nvidia, run plenty of games at 1080p resolution, including the Witcher 3 : Wild hunt, GTA V, Battlefield: Hardline, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and FarCry 4, although we do not expect that you will be able to crank the level to ultra-high. It should be able to give you playable frame-rate even at high detail settings, though.
While it might have more CUDA cores, higher GPU clocks and faster memory compared to the GTX 750 Ti, the Geforce GTX 950 also has a higher 90W TDP, compared to 60W on the GTX 750 Ti. This also means that some HTPC users will not be happy to hear that it needs a single 6-pin PCI-Express power connector.
MOBA games are probably the most popular gaming market now and with a US $159.99 priced graphics card that can run all MOBA games and even provide an edge, according to Nvidia, the Geforce GTX 950 should do quite well.
The direct competition to the Geforce GTX 950 is AMD's Radeon R7 370. Priced at US $149.99, the Radeon R7 370 goes head to head with Geforce GTX 950, depending on which games you check out, but it does show a bit of age as it is based on a rather old Pitcairn GPU, or simply, it is a rebrand of the Radeon HD 7850.
There are plenty of Geforce GTX 950 to choose from as most partners will have a couple of different versions with different level of factory-overclock and different custom cooling solutions.
Most published reviews online agree that Nvidia made a solid entry-level graphics card and that MOBA angle on the story will give Nvidia an edge as AMD simply has no answer in that part of the market, at least unless you consider the rebranded R7 370.
You can check out some of the reviews below and our review of the EVGA GTX 950 FTW with ACX 2.0 cooler should be up shortly.
our review of the EVGA GTX 950 FTW with ACX 2.0 cooler should be up shortly
our review of the EVGA GTX 950 FTW with ACX 2.0 cooler should be up shortly
our review of the EVGA GTX 950 FTW with ACX 2.0 cooler should be up shortly
