NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M in 2025: Is It Worth Noticing?
Overview of an Outdated Mobile Graphics Card for Laptops
Introduction
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M is a mobile graphics card released in 2014, based on Maxwell architecture. Despite its venerable age, it can still be found in used laptops and budget models from past years. In 2025, its relevance is questionable, but it may still be useful for specific scenarios. Let’s explore who might benefit from this GPU and what compromises will have to be made.
Architecture and Key Features
Architecture: Maxwell (1st generation).
Process Technology: 28 nm.
CUDA Cores: 640 (GM107 version) or 1152 (GM204, rare OEM models).
The GTX 860M was one of the first GPUs to bring Maxwell’s energy efficiency to the mobile segment. However, it lacks modern technologies:
- RTX (ray tracing) and DLSS (AI upscaling) — absent, as they only emerged with Turing and Ampere.
- FidelityFX (AMD technologies) — unsupported.
Unique Features for Its Time:
- Optimus (switching between integrated and discrete graphics for power saving).
- Support for DirectX 12 (Feature Level 11_0).
Memory: Modest Specs
Memory Type: GDDR5.
Capacity: 2 GB or 4 GB (depends on the version).
Bus: 128-bit.
Bandwidth: 80 GB/s (for the 4 GB version).
These specifications were sufficient for games from 2014 to 2016 at medium settings, but in 2025 even 4 GB is inadequate for modern titles. For instance, textures in games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield require a minimum of 6 GB of VRAM. The 128-bit bus and low bandwidth become bottlenecks when working at high resolutions.
Gaming Performance: Nostalgia for the Past
The GTX 860M was designed for 1080p, but today its capabilities are modest:
- CS:2 (1080p, low settings): 40–50 FPS.
- Fortnite (1080p, low settings, without Ray Tracing): 35–45 FPS.
- GTA V (1080p, medium settings): 30–40 FPS.
- Indie Projects (Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley): stable 60 FPS.
Supported Resolutions:
- 1080p — acceptable for undemanding games.
- 1440p and 4K — not recommended, with FPS dropping to 15–25 even in older titles.
Ray Tracing: impossible due to lack of hardware support for RT cores.
Professional Tasks: Minimal Suitability
Video Editing:
- NVENC support (video encoding) simplifies rendering in Premiere Pro, but processing speed is 4–5 times lower than that of modern RTX 4050s.
- Rendering a 4K video will take an unacceptably long time (for example, a 10-minute video in H.264 may take 30–40 minutes).
3D Modeling:
- In Blender or Maya, you can work with simple scenes, but rendering on CUDA will be extremely slow (lack of OptiX support).
Scientific Calculations:
- CUDA cores are suitable for training simple neural networks or performing calculations in MATLAB, but only for educational tasks.
Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
TDP: 45–60 W (depending on the version).
Cooling Recommendations:
- Laptops with GTX 860M often suffer from overheating due to worn thermal paste and dust-clogged fans.
- Use cooling pads and regularly clean the system.
Form Factor: The card is integrated into the laptop's motherboard, so upgrading is impossible.
Comparison with Competitors
In 2014–2015, the main competitors were:
- AMD Radeon R9 M290X (GCN 1.0): similar performance, but higher power consumption (TDP 75 W).
- NVIDIA GTX 850M: 15–20% weaker.
In 2025: even budget mobile GPUs like the AMD Radeon 760M (RDNA 3) or Intel Arc A350M outperform the GTX 860M by 3-4 times.
Practical Advice
1. Power Supply: A standard 90–120 W adapter is sufficient for laptops with GTX 860M.
2. Compatibility:
- Support only for Windows 10/11 (drivers updated until 2023).
- Linux: limited operation with proprietary Nouveau drivers.
3. Drivers: Use version 473.81 (the last for GTX 800M) — new games may not launch.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low power consumption for its time.
- Support for basic DirectX 12 features.
- Quiet operation for office tasks.
Cons:
- No support for modern technologies (DLSS, RTX).
- Insufficient memory for games and video editing after 2020.
- Limited compatibility with new software.
Final Conclusion: Who is GTX 860M Suitable for in 2025?
This graphics card is a relic of the past, but it may still be useful for:
- Owners of old laptops for running indie games, office tasks, and video playback.
- Students learning the basics of CUDA through simple projects.
- Retro hardware enthusiasts collecting tech from the 2010s.
Price: New laptops with GTX 860M have not been produced since 2016. Used models range from $150 to $250 (depending on condition).
Alternatives for 2025:
- Budget laptops with Intel Iris Xe or AMD Radeon 740M (starting at $500) offer better performance and support for modern standards.
If you are not ready to part with a device featuring the GTX 860M, use it for undemanding tasks. However, for gaming and professional work in 2025, it's wise to choose something newer.