NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS Specifications
GeForce 8400M GS GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS 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.
8400M GS Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce 8400M GS'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 8400M GS by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce 8400M GS Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce 8400M GS'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 8400M GS by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the 8400M GS, 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.
8400M GS Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS 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 8400M GS 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 8400M GS will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GeForce 8400M GS Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS 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 8400M GS to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce 8400M GS by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS 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 8400M GS. 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 8400M GS Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS 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 8400M GS by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GeForce 8400M GS Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS is a mobile graphics solution from the GeForce 8M generation, built on the 80 nm Tesla architecture with the G86S chip. Benchmark data places it at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 0, indicating it targets basic multimedia and light productivity tasks rather than high-performance computing. Its specifications reflect an entry-level position in the mobile market of its era, with modest memory and compute resources that define its capabilities.
Benchmark Performance
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS delivers a FP32 compute throughput of 25.60 GFLOPS, a figure that anchors its performance class. This translates to a pixel rate of 1.600 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 3.200 GTexel/s, which are consistent with a GPU designed for 2D desktop acceleration, video playback, and very light 3D workloads. The 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs suggests that, within the historical database of tested hardware, this model sits at the midpoint — not a complete outlier, but far from a performance leader.
Because the benchmark database lists no nearest rivals and no comparative deltaPct values for this specific SKU, the data provides no direct percentage deltas against competing mobile GPUs. However, the absolute numbers tell a clear story: 25.60 GFLOPS is a fraction of what contemporary discrete desktop parts offered, and even among mobile chips, this level of compute is suited only to older or less demanding titles. The 0 average benchmark score further indicates that no standardized benchmark runs have been recorded for this part, likely due to its age and limited gaming relevance.
In practical terms, the 8400M GS would struggle with any modern 3D application. The 16 shading units, 8 texture mapping units, and 4 ROPs create a pipeline that is heavily constrained by its 64-bit memory interface. The data shows a GPU that excels at nothing but can perform basic graphical output; it is not a gaming solution by any reasonable interpretation of the numbers.
How It Compares
The FACT PACK provides no nearestRivals entries for the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS, so a direct comparative analysis against specific named competitors is impossible from the given data. This absence is itself informative: the GPU sits in a segment where the database does not track or recognize meaningful performance rivals, likely because its benchmark scores are negligible or nonexistent.
Without rival scores, the only positional reference is the 50th percentile ranking. This indicates that, in the historical distribution of all GPUs, the 8400M GS lands exactly at the median — a statistical midpoint that suggests half of all GPUs ever tested performed worse, and half performed better. This is a neutral position, but for a mobile chip from 2007, it reflects the reality that many integrated and low-end solutions existed below it, while virtually all dedicated gaming GPUs outperformed it significantly.
The predecessor, GeForce Go 7, and the successor, GeForce 9M, bracket this part chronologically, but the FACT PACK offers no benchmark scores for either to compare. Consequently, the analysis must rely on the structural specifications: the 8400M GS uses the Tesla architecture, which was a significant architectural shift from the older GeForce Go 7, but the 80 nm process and 210 million transistors limit what that architecture can achieve at this low power envelope.
Memory Subsystem
The 8400M GS comes equipped with 256 MB of DDR2 memory, accessed via a 64-bit bus. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 6.400 GB/s, a figure that is critically low for high-resolution gaming. The memory clock runs at 400 MHz, with an effective data rate of 800 Mbps, which underscores the conservative nature of this design.
For high resolutions — such as 1080p or above — the 64-bit bus becomes a severe bottleneck. The 6.400 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient to feed even the modest 25.60 GFLOPS compute throughput in texture-heavy scenes, as the GPU would constantly stall waiting for data. The 256 MB VRAM capacity is also restrictive; modern textures and frame buffers easily exceed this, forcing the driver to swap data through the slow system memory interface, which further degrades performance.
In benchmark terms, this memory subsystem explains why the GPU is not suited to 3D gaming at any resolution above low settings. Even at 720p, the combination of low bandwidth and small VRAM would produce unplayable frame rates in anything beyond very old or lightweight titles. The 4 ROPs further limit fill-rate, meaning that even if memory were faster, the pixel output pipeline would cap performance.
FAQ
Q: What is the FP32 performance of the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS?
A: The GPU delivers 25.60 GFLOPS of FP32 compute throughput, which is its peak single-precision floating-point performance.
Q: How much memory does the 8400M GS have, and what type?
A: It has 256 MB of DDR2 memory, connected via a 64-bit bus, providing a total bandwidth of 6.400 GB/s.
Q: What is the transistor count and die size of this chip?
A: The G86S chip contains 210 million transistors on a die size of 127 mm², manufactured on an 80 nm process by TSMC.
Q: What DirectX and OpenGL versions does the 8400M GS support?
A: It supports DirectX 11.1 (with a feature level of 10_0) and OpenGL 3.3, as listed in the API specifications.
Q: What is the power consumption of this mobile GPU?
A: The TDP is rated at 11 W, which is a low figure typical of entry-level mobile parts from that era.
Q: Is the 8400M GS still in production?
A: No, its production status is listed as end-of-life, and it was released on 2007-05-08.
Who Should Consider It
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS is not a GPU for any modern gaming workload. Its 25.60 GFLOPS of compute and 6.400 GB/s memory bandwidth place it firmly in the realm of basic desktop use, video playback, and legacy 2D applications. For users running Windows XP-era software, such as office suites, web browsing on old pages, or DVD playback, this GPU can handle those tasks without issue, as its 1.600 GPixel/s pixel rate is adequate for static or low-motion content.
At 720p resolution, the 8400M GS might manage very old or extremely lightweight 3D games — think titles from the early 2000s with low polygon counts and simple textures — but even then, frame rates would be marginal. The 256 MB VRAM is insufficient for any game that uses more than a few hundred megabytes of texture data, and the 64-bit bus will throttle any attempt to increase resolution or detail settings. For 1080p, the GPU is effectively non-functional for 3D; the bandwidth alone eliminates any chance of playable performance.
Given the 50th percentile ranking, this GPU is not even a standout among its own contemporaries. It is a solution for users who need a display output and hardware acceleration for video, not for gamers or creative professionals. If the intended use is modern computing, any integrated graphics from the last decade would outperform it; the data unequivocally shows that this is a legacy component with no current use case beyond basic display output.
Power and Cooling
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS has a TDP of 11 W, which is exceptionally low and reflects its modest specifications. This power draw means that cooling requirements are minimal; a simple heat sink or passive cooling solution is sufficient in most laptop chassis designs. The slot width is listed as MXM Module, and the bus interface is MXM-I, indicating that this is a removable mobile graphics module rather than a soldered chip.
The power connectors are listed as "None," meaning the GPU draws all its power from the MXM slot itself, without requiring auxiliary power cables. No suggested PSU is provided in the FACT PACK, which is typical for mobile parts where the system power supply is fixed. The 11 W figure is so low that it does not meaningfully impact battery life or thermal design compared to the rest of a laptop's components.
In a desktop context, this GPU would not exist; it is exclusively a mobile part. The absence of power connectors and the low TDP simplify integration into thin-and-light laptops of the era. For any user considering this GPU in a legacy laptop, the thermal and power characteristics are non-issues — the limiting factors are purely performance-related, not power-related.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS has no RT cores and no tensor cores, as listed in the FACT PACK, which means it cannot perform hardware-accelerated ray tracing or any AI-based features such as DLSS. These technologies did not exist in the Tesla architecture era, and the GPU's feature set is limited to the APIs it supports: DirectX 11.1 (with a feature level of 10_0) and OpenGL 3.3. Vulkan is not supported, and no ray tracing APIs are available.
The 16 shading units and 8 TMUs provide basic shader model support that aligns with DirectX 10-level features, but the 10_0 feature level in DirectX 11.1 means that many modern effects are unavailable. The GPU is effectively a DirectX 10 part, and its OpenGL 3.3 support is similarly dated for modern applications. There are no tensor or RT features to discuss further; the silicon simply predates these innovations.
For users, this means the 8400M GS offers no modern graphical enhancements. No ray tracing, no variable rate shading, no mesh shaders, and no upscaling technologies. The display outputs are "Portable Device Dependent," meaning the actual connectors vary by laptop model, and no fixed set of outputs is defined in the data. The GPU's feature set is a snapshot of 2007-era mobile graphics, and any modern application that requires DirectX 12 or Vulkan will not run on this hardware.
The AMD Equivalent of GeForce 8400M GS
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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