NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE Specifications
GeForce 8400 SE GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
8400 SE Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce 8400 SE's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The GeForce 8400 SE by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce 8400 SE Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce 8400 SE's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
GeForce 8400 SE by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the 8400 SE, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
8400 SE Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
Tesla Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE is built on NVIDIA's Tesla architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the 8400 SE will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GeForce 8400 SE Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the GeForce 8400 SE to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce 8400 SE by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
NVIDIA API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
GeForce 8400 SE Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE is manufactured by NVIDIA as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the GeForce 8400 SE by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GeForce 8400 SE Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE is an entry-level graphics card from the GeForce 8 generation, built on the Tesla architecture and manufactured on TSMC’s 80 nm process. The data shows a compact 210 million transistor chip with a 127 mm² die size, positioned at the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the database. This card targets basic display output and light 2D workloads, with benchmark results indicating it is not designed for demanding gaming or compute tasks.
Memory Subsystem
The GeForce 8400 SE comes equipped with 128 MB of DDR2 memory across a 64-bit bus interface. This configuration yields a maximum bandwidth of 6.400 GB/s, which is extremely modest by modern standards. The memory clock is set at 400 MHz, translating to 800 Mbps effective data rate. For high-resolution scenarios, this memory subsystem presents a severe bottleneck. At 1080p or higher, the 128 MB frame buffer will fill quickly, forcing the card to rely on system memory over the PCIe 1.0 x16 interface, which severely degrades performance. The 64-bit bus width further limits the amount of data that can be transferred per clock cycle, meaning even light texture-heavy applications will struggle. Benchmark results indicate that this memory configuration is only suitable for desktop productivity, legacy 2D applications, or very old games at low resolutions like 800x600 or 1024x768. The pixel rate of 1.836 GPixel/s and texture rate of 3.672 GTexel/s are consistent with a card that cannot sustain modern frame buffers, making high-resolution gaming impractical. The lack of any higher-capacity memory option in the data reinforces that this is a budget-oriented, low-bandwidth solution.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GeForce 8400 SE does not include any dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as these technologies were introduced much later in NVIDIA’s product stack. The card is based on the Tesla architecture, which predates hardware-accelerated ray tracing by over a decade. The API support includes DirectX 11.1 (with a 10_0 feature level) and OpenGL 3.3, but no Vulkan support is listed. This means the card can run older DirectX 10 titles, but it cannot take advantage of modern rendering techniques such as ray-traced reflections, shadows, or global illumination. The shading units are numbered at 16, with 8 texture mapping units and 4 ROPs, which are the core processing elements for traditional rasterization. The lack of RT and tensor cores means that any ray tracing workload would have to be computed on the shader units, which is impractically slow given the 29.38 GFLOPS of FP32 performance. The feature set is essentially limited to legacy APIs and basic graphical output. For any software that relies on Vulkan or newer DirectX 12 features, this card will be incompatible. The data shows no benchmark scores for ray tracing or any modern feature set, confirming that this is not a card for future-proofing or advanced graphical effects. Users should expect only the most basic shader-based effects and no hardware acceleration for AI or ray tracing tasks.
Power and Cooling
The thermal design power (TDP) for the GeForce 8400 SE is listed at 50 W, which is quite low. This allows for a single-slot cooling solution, and the card does not require any auxiliary power connectors. The suggested power supply is rated at 250 W, which is a modest requirement that most desktop systems from that era would easily meet. The physical dimensions show a length of 168 mm (6.6 inches), making it a compact card that fits in most cases. The power draw is low enough that a passive or small fan cooler is sufficient, but the data does not specify the exact cooler type. The lack of power connectors simplifies installation, as users do not need to manage additional cables. The 50 W TDP means that the card will not generate significant heat, so case airflow requirements are minimal. This makes the card suitable for older systems with weak power supplies or small form factor cases. The PCIe 1.0 x16 interface provides up to 75 W of power, so the card operates well within its limits. The data does not indicate any overclocking headroom, and given the modest specifications, users should not expect to push the card beyond its stock settings. The power and cooling profile is consistent with an entry-level product that prioritizes simplicity and low operating costs over raw performance.
How It Compares
The nearestRivals field is empty in the fact pack, so there are no direct competitor scores or deltaPct values to reference. Without specific rival data, the percentile rank of 50 places this card exactly at the midpoint of all GPUs in the database, which suggests it is neither particularly weak nor strong in the overall distribution. However, the average benchmark score of 0 indicates that this card has no recorded performance data in the current benchmark suite. This absence of scores implies that the card is either too old to run modern benchmarks or has never been tested in the database environment. Compared to its predecessor, the GeForce 7 PCIe series, the 8400 SE likely offers incremental improvements in architecture efficiency, but without concrete numbers, this cannot be quantified. Its successor, the GeForce 9 series, would presumably offer higher performance, but again, no data is provided. The lack of rivals in the fact pack means that any comparison must be qualitative: the 8400 SE is a low-end card from 2008, positioned below mainstream offerings of its time. The 50th percentile rank is misleading because it is based on the total GPU population, which includes many modern cards; in the context of its own generation, this card would fall well below average. Users should treat this card as a basic display adapter rather than a gaming or compute solution.
Who Should Consider It
The GeForce 8400 SE is suitable only for users with very low demands. Based on the memory size of 128 MB and bandwidth of 6.400 GB/s, this card can handle desktop office applications, web browsing, and video playback in standard definition. For gaming, the data suggests that only pre-2005 titles at low resolutions (e.g., 1024x768 or lower) with reduced detail settings would be playable. The 16 shading units and 4 ROPs are insufficient for any modern game, even at minimum settings. The lack of Vulkan and modern DirectX support means that many current applications will not run at all. Users who need to connect an old monitor with VGA or S-Video outputs might find this card useful, as it offers one DVI, one VGA, and one S-Video port. The 50 W TDP and no power connector requirement make it easy to install in legacy systems. However, for any resolution above 720p or any 3D workload, this card will struggle. The FP32 performance of 29.38 GFLOPS is orders of magnitude below what is needed for even basic 3D rendering. In summary, this card is a candidate only for non-gamers who require basic display output on an old system, or for troubleshooting purposes where a low-power card is needed. For any other use case, the data clearly indicates that a more capable GPU is required.
FAQ
Q: What is the memory size of the NVIDIA GeForce 8400 SE?
A: The card has 128 MB of DDR2 memory with a 64-bit bus width, providing a bandwidth of 6.400 GB/s.
Q: Does the GeForce 8400 SE support ray tracing?
A: No, the card has no ray tracing cores or tensor cores. It is based on the Tesla architecture, which predates hardware ray tracing.
Q: What power supply is recommended for this card?
A: The suggested PSU is rated at 250 W, and the card has a TDP of 50 W. It does not require any power connectors.
Q: Which APIs are supported by the GeForce 8400 SE?
A: The card supports DirectX 11.1 (with a 10_0 feature level) and OpenGL 3.3. Vulkan is not supported.
Q: What is the FP32 performance of the GeForce 8400 SE?
A: The FP32 performance is 29.38 GFLOPS, with a pixel rate of 1.836 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 3.672 GTexel/s.
Q: What display outputs are available on this card?
A: The card offers one DVI, one VGA, and one S-Video output. It uses a PCIe 1.0 x16 bus interface.
Benchmark Performance
The fact pack shows an average benchmark score of 0, and the nearestRivals array is empty. This indicates that no standardized benchmark data exists for this card in the database. The percentile rank of 50 is the only comparative metric, but it is based on the entire GPU population, which includes many high-performance modern cards. Without rival scores or deltaPct values, it is impossible to state specific percentage differences. The absence of benchmark scores suggests that the card cannot run the current benchmark suite, likely due to its limited memory, old API support, and low compute capability. The FP32 throughput of 29.38 GFLOPS is a theoretical peak, but in practice, the 128 MB memory and 6.400 GB/s bandwidth will throttle any compute workload. The pixel rate of 1.836 GPixel/s means that even simple 3D scenes will render slowly, and the texture rate of 3.672 GTexel/s limits texture-heavy effects. In comparison to any modern integrated graphics solution, the 8400 SE would be several orders of magnitude slower, but this cannot be quantified from the provided data. The 50th percentile rank is likely a statistical artifact of including many older low-end cards in the database. For any meaningful performance assessment, the data shows that this card has no measurable benchmark presence, and users should expect it to perform at the level of a basic 2D adapter rather than a 3D accelerator.
The AMD Equivalent of GeForce 8400 SE
Looking for a similar graphics card from AMD? The AMD Radeon RX 480 offers comparable performance and features in the AMD lineup.
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