NVIDIA GeForce 320M Mac Edition

The NVIDIA GeForce 320M Mac Edition is an integrated graphics processor built on the Tesla 2.0 architecture, using the C89 chip fabricated on a 40 nm process. It was released on 2010-03-31, positioned as an end-of-life product within the GeForce 300M generation, succeeding the GeForce 200M and preceding the GeForce 400M. The GPU integrates 486 million transistors on a 100 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 4.9M / mm². Its benchmark scores place it at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, though it holds no entries in the benchmark database and has no nearest rivals listed for direct comparison.

Benchmark Performance

The GeForce 320M Mac Edition presents a unique case in the benchmark database: its avgBenchmarkScore is 0, and the nearestRivals array is empty. This absence of comparative data does not mean the GPU is incapable; rather, it reflects that no standardized benchmark results were captured for this integrated part. The 50th percentile ranking, however, suggests that when positioned against all GPUs ever recorded, it sits exactly in the middle — an unusual spot for an integrated solution from 2010, as most IGP parts rank far lower historically.

The raw compute figures provide context for this percentile. The GPU delivers a pixel rate of 3.600 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 7.200 GTexel/s. Its FP32 performance is rated at 91.20 GFLOPS. These numbers indicate a part designed for basic rendering tasks rather than heavy compute workloads. The 48 shading units, 16 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs form a small but balanced pipeline. When interpreting the 50th percentile, the data implies that while this GPU lacks the muscle of discrete parts, its modest specifications still placed it above many older or lower-tier integrated graphics in the broader historical database — likely due to the efficiency of the 40 nm process and the Tesla 2.0 architecture's maturity.

Without rival scores, the benchmark analysis must rely on internal consistency: the ratio of texture rate to pixel rate (7.200 / 3.600 = 2:1) aligns with the 16 TMUs to 8 ROPs configuration, confirming no bottleneck in that pipeline stage. The FP32 to texture rate ratio (91.20 / 7.200 = 12.67) suggests each texture unit processes roughly 12.67 GFLOPS of shading work, which is low by modern standards but typical for the era. The data shows a GPU that was adequate for its intended role, but the absence of benchmark entries means percentile ranking should be viewed cautiously — it may reflect a sparse dataset rather than true performance parity.

Memory Subsystem

The memory configuration for the GeForce 320M Mac Edition is entirely system-shared, with no dedicated VRAM. The FACT PACK lists memory size, type, and bus width all as "System Shared," and bandwidth as "System Dependent." This means the GPU borrows from the host Mac's main memory, with performance scaling directly with the system's RAM speed and architecture. This is a critical design choice for an integrated part, as it eliminates the cost and power of dedicated VRAM but introduces contention with the CPU for memory bandwidth.

For high-resolution workloads, this architecture has immediate implications. Without a dedicated bus width or bandwidth figure, the GPU's memory throughput cannot be quantified independently — it is purely a function of the host system's memory subsystem. In practice, this means a Mac with slower or narrower memory channels will cripple the GPU, while a system with fast dual-channel memory could provide acceptable bandwidth for 720p or lower resolutions. The lack of a fixed bandwidth number also means that game settings that demand high texture throughput will scale unpredictably across different Mac models. The 8 ROPs and 48 shading units are modest, so even with optimal system memory, the GPU will saturate its compute limits before memory becomes the primary bottleneck at typical resolutions. However, at resolutions above 1080p, the system-shared memory will likely become the limiting factor, as the CPU and GPU compete for the same bandwidth, causing stutter and reduced frame pacing.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The GeForce 320M Mac Edition does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores — both fields are null in the FACT PACK. This is consistent with its Tesla 2.0 architecture, which predates the RTX-focused designs by nearly a decade. The API support is limited to DirectX 11.1 (with a feature level of 10_1) and OpenGL 3.3; there is no Vulkan support listed. This means the GPU cannot accelerate ray-traced effects in any meaningful way, and any ray tracing workloads would fall back to compute shaders on the 48 shading units, which would yield extremely poor performance given the 91.20 GFLOPS FP32 ceiling.

The DirectX 11.1 (10_1) feature level is notable — it indicates the GPU supports DirectX 11-era API calls but only with the feature set of DirectX 10.1, meaning tessellation and other DX11-specific features are unavailable. OpenGL 3.3 support allows for modern (for 2010) shader models and framebuffer objects, but lacks later extensions. For users, this means the GPU is suited for games and applications from roughly 2009-2011 era, with DirectX 10-class effects. The absence of Vulkan eliminates any possibility of using modern cross-platform APIs that could optimize draw calls. The pixel rate of 3.600 GPixel/s and texture rate of 7.200 GTexel/s further underscore that this is a rasterization-focused part, with no hardware acceleration for complex lighting or geometry processing beyond what the fixed-function pipeline and unified shaders provide.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals array is empty, so there are no direct comparative paragraphs to write against specific competitors. However, the 50th percentile vs all GPUs provides a broad reference point. This percentile implies that the GeForce 320M Mac Edition outperforms roughly half of all GPUs ever benchmarked on this database — a surprisingly strong showing for an integrated part, likely because the database includes many older or extremely low-end mobile chips. Against its predecessor, the GeForce 200M, the 320M likely benefits from the 40 nm process shrink, which improves efficiency and allows higher clocks within the same 23 W TDP, though no specific clock data is provided. Against its successor, the GeForce 400M, the 320M would fall behind in feature support, as the 400M generation introduced DirectX 11 support with proper feature level 11_0, whereas the 320M is limited to 10_1. The empty rivals list also means no deltaPct values exist, so any percentage-based comparisons are impossible; the analysis must rely on architectural generational knowledge and the percentile rank alone. The data indicates a GPU that was mid-tier for its time, not a flagship but not an entry-level embarrassment.

Power and Cooling

The GeForce 320M Mac Edition has a TDP of 23 W, which is exceptionally low for a GPU, even by 2010 standards. This power envelope is enabled by the 40 nm process and the modest 48 shading units. The slot width is listed as "IGP," meaning it is an integrated graphics processor that resides on the motherboard or chipset, not a separate expansion card. Consequently, there are no power connectors listed, and no suggested PSU is provided — the GPU draws its power from the motherboard's integrated power delivery, which is designed to handle the 23 W load alongside the CPU. The bus interface is PCIe 2.0 x16, but this is for the integrated graphics' connection to the rest of the system, not for a physical slot.

The thermal implications of 23 W are minimal. A passive heatsink or a small fan is sufficient to cool this GPU, and in a Mac laptop or desktop, it shares the system's cooling solution. The absence of a suggested PSU means users do not need to factor power supply upgrades; any Mac that supports this IGP will have adequate power delivery. The "Portable Device Dependent" display outputs further confirm that this is a mobile-oriented part, designed for laptops where power efficiency is paramount. The low TDP also means that sustained gaming or compute loads will not cause thermal throttling, provided the host system's cooling is functional. The data shows a part that is easy to cool and power, with no additional requirements beyond what the host platform provides.

Who Should Consider It

Given the benchmark data — a 50th percentile ranking, 91.20 GFLOPS FP32, 3.600 GPixel/s pixel rate, and 7.200 GTexel/s texture rate — the GeForce 320M Mac Edition is suitable for users running older or lightweight applications. The system-shared memory and lack of dedicated VRAM mean it is best paired with modest resolutions; 720p gaming with low to medium settings on titles from the late 2000s would be within reach, while 1080p would strain the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth. The DirectX 11.1 (10_1) and OpenGL 3.3 support restrict modern titles, so users should target games released before 2012 or indie games with low graphical demands. The 23 W TDP makes it ideal for basic productivity tasks, video playback, and 2D desktop acceleration, where its 48 shading units are more than sufficient.

Users who require ray tracing, Vulkan support, or high-resolution gaming should look elsewhere, as the absence of RT cores, tensor cores, and Vulkan eliminates those paths entirely. The 50th percentile suggests that for a 2010 integrated GPU, it was a capable performer — but "capable" in this context means playable frame rates at 1366x768 or lower in older titles, not competitive esports or AAA gaming. The GPU's end-of-life status and 40 nm process indicate it is obsolete for modern workloads, but for retro gaming or legacy Mac applications, it remains functional. The data does not support any recommendation for modern gaming, but it does suggest a niche for users with undemanding software needs or those running vintage Mac OS versions.

FAQ

Q: What is the performance percentile of the GeForce 320M Mac Edition?

A: It ranks at the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 0 due to no recorded benchmark entries.

Q: How much VRAM does this GPU have?

A: It has no dedicated VRAM; memory size, type, and bus width are all "System Shared," with bandwidth listed as "System Dependent."

Q: Does the GeForce 320M support ray tracing?

A: No, it has no ray tracing cores or tensor cores, and its DirectX 11.1 (10_1) and OpenGL 3.3 API support predates any hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

Q: What is the TDP and what power connectors are required?

A: The TDP is 23 W, and it requires no power connectors because it is an integrated GPU (IGP slot width) that draws power from the motherboard.

Q: Can this GPU handle modern games?

A: No, with 91.20 GFLOPS FP32 performance and DirectX 11.1 (10_1) feature level, it is only suitable for older titles or low-resolution settings on games from its era.

Q: What is the manufacturing process and die size?

A: It is fabricated on a 40 nm process with a die size of 100 mm², containing 486 million transistors.