NVIDIA GeForce 845M
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce 845M Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce 845M 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.
845M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce 845M'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 845M by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce 845M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce 845M'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 845M by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the 845M, 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.
845M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce 845M 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.
Maxwell Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce 845M is built on NVIDIA's Maxwell 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 845M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce 845M 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 845M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce 845M by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce 845M 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 845M. 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 845M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce 845M 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 845M by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About NVIDIA GeForce 845M
The NVIDIA GeForce 845M is a mobile graphics processor built on the Maxwell architecture, designed for laptops and portable devices. The benchmark data positions it at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, indicating a strictly mid-pack performer that offers a balanced, if unspectacular, level of capability for its generation. Its performance profile is defined by a modest set of specifications that prioritize efficiency over raw speed, making it a suitable choice for mainstream tasks rather than high-end gaming or professional workloads.
Benchmark Performance
The GeForce 845M’s performance, as indicated by its 50th percentile ranking, places it squarely in the middle of the GPU performance spectrum. This means that in a typical workload, it will outperform roughly half of all GPUs in the database while being outperformed by the other half. This is not a position of strength, but rather a clear indicator of a baseline-level product. The absolute performance is driven by its compute resources: 512 shading units operating at a fixed clock speed of 863 MHz for both base and boost. This configuration yields a peak FP32 performance of 883.7 GFLOPS, which is the primary metric for general-purpose and gaming compute.
This level of compute power translates into a texture fill rate of 27.62 GTexel/s and a pixel fill rate of 13.81 GPixel/s. These figures suggest that the 845M is capable of handling 1080p resolution in less demanding titles, but will struggle with the higher geometric complexity and shader loads of modern AAA games. The lack of any nearest rival data in the fact pack means we cannot provide specific percentage deltas against direct competitors. However, the 50th percentile score itself is the key comparative figure; it shows that this GPU is not a low-end part, but it is also far from being a performance leader. In practical terms, users should expect playable frame rates in esports and older titles, but will need to significantly lower graphical settings and resolution for more demanding games to maintain acceptable performance.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GeForce 845M does not include dedicated ray tracing (RT) or tensor cores, as these are features of later architectures. Its feature set is rooted in the Maxwell generation, which relies on traditional rasterization techniques. The GPU does support a range of modern APIs, including DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. This API support is crucial for software compatibility, ensuring that the GPU can run games and applications that use these modern interfaces. However, the "11_0" designation within the DirectX 12 support indicates a feature level that is more aligned with DirectX 11, meaning it may not fully utilize all the advanced features of DirectX 12, such as certain types of bindless resources or advanced pipeline states.
The absence of RT and tensor cores means that the 845M cannot accelerate real-time ray tracing effects or AI-based features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). This is a significant limitation for modern gaming, as these technologies are becoming increasingly common in new titles. The GPU's feature set is therefore best described as functional for its time, providing the necessary API hooks for broad compatibility but lacking the specialized hardware for state-of-the-art visual effects. The 28 nm process node from TSMC, with a die size of 148 mm² and 1,870 million transistors, further defines its capabilities, representing a mature manufacturing process that limits the efficiency and performance ceiling compared to newer, smaller node designs.
Who Should Consider It
Given its 50th percentile performance and the absence of modern features, the GeForce 845M is best suited for users with modest computing needs. The data suggests it is appropriate for light to moderate gaming at lower resolutions. In practical terms, it is a viable option for playing competitive titles like League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or Dota 2 at 1080p with medium to high settings. These games are not particularly demanding on the GPU, and the 845M's 883.7 GFLOPS of compute power should be sufficient to maintain smooth frame rates.
For users who wish to play more graphically intensive games, the 845M will require significant compromises. The 13.81 GPixel/s pixel rate and 27.62 GTexel/s texture rate will become bottlenecks at 1080p with high-detail settings. Users would need to lower the resolution to 720p and reduce graphical presets to "Low" or "Medium" to achieve playable performance. The GPU is not designed for 4K gaming or for driving multiple high-resolution displays. It is also not suitable for content creation tasks like 3D rendering or heavy video editing, where the lack of tensor cores and higher FP32 performance would be a major disadvantage. Ultimately, this is a GPU for the casual gamer or general user who prioritizes a balanced system over peak performance.
FAQ
Q: What is the NVIDIA GeForce 845M's position in the overall GPU market?
A: The GeForce 845M is positioned at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, meaning it is a mid-pack performer, offering average performance relative to all other graphics cards in the database.
Q: Does the GeForce 845M support ray tracing?
A: No, the GeForce 845M does not feature dedicated ray tracing (RT) cores, and is therefore not capable of hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Q: What modern APIs does the GeForce 845M support?
A: The GPU supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, providing compatibility with a wide range of modern games and applications.
Q: How much memory does the GeForce 845M have and what type is it?
A: It comes with 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 16.02 GB/s.
Q: What is the power consumption of the GeForce 845M?
A: The GPU has a thermal design power (TDP) of 45 W, making it a low-power component suitable for laptop integration.
Q: What is the architecture of the GeForce 845M?
A: The GeForce 845M is based on the Maxwell architecture and uses the GM107 chip, which is manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC.
Memory Subsystem
The memory subsystem of the GeForce 845M is a significant factor in its performance limitations. The GPU is equipped with 2 GB of DDR3 memory, which is a common but slower type of memory compared to the GDDR5 used in higher-performance parts of the same era. This is paired with a narrow 64-bit memory bus, which is a major constraint. The combination of DDR3 memory and a 64-bit bus results in a total memory bandwidth of just 16.02 GB/s. This figure is quite low by modern standards and represents a significant bottleneck for the GPU's processing power.
The low memory bandwidth means that the 845M will struggle to feed its 512 shading units with data quickly enough, particularly at higher resolutions and with high-resolution textures. For 1080p gaming, this can manifest as texture pop-in or stuttering in games with large, detailed environments. The 2 GB VRAM capacity is also a limiting factor; while sufficient for older games, it is inadequate for many modern titles that require 3 GB or more at high settings. At resolutions above 1080p, the 16.02 GB/s bandwidth becomes a severe bottleneck, causing a significant drop in frame rates. The effective memory clock speed of 2 Gbps, derived from a 1001 MHz base clock, further illustrates the memory's modest capabilities. This subsystem is adequate for basic tasks and older games but is a clear weak point when compared to the GPU's other specifications.
Power and Cooling
The GeForce 845M has a thermal design power (TDP) of 45 W, classifying it as a low-power component. This is a crucial specification for mobile devices, as it directly impacts the laptop's cooling requirements and battery life. The low TDP means that the GPU can be cooled by a simple, quiet cooling solution, and it generates a relatively small amount of heat. This makes it an excellent fit for thin and light laptops where space and thermal headroom are at a premium.
The fact pack lists the slot width as "IGP" (Integrated Graphics Processor), which indicates that the GPU is typically soldered directly onto the motherboard rather than being a removable MXM module. This design is common for low-power mobile GPUs and means that it is not user-upgradeable. Furthermore, the fact pack does not list any power connectors or a suggested PSU (Power Supply Unit), which is expected for a mobile part. The power is drawn directly from the motherboard's power delivery system. The lack of external power connectors and a suggested PSU recommendation underscores that this GPU is not intended for desktop use or for systems with high power demands. The 45 W TDP is the primary figure to consider for system design, ensuring that the laptop's overall power budget remains within reasonable limits.
How It Compares
The fact pack does not include a list of nearest rivals with specific performance scores and delta percentages. Therefore, a direct quantitative comparison against named competitors is not possible based on the provided data. The only available benchmark context is the 50th percentile ranking, which serves as a general indicator of its standing in the market.
Without specific rival data, we can infer its position from its specifications. Its 512 shading units and 883.7 GFLOPS of FP32 performance place it in a category that is a step above entry-level parts but significantly below mainstream and high-performance GPUs of its generation. Its predecessor, the GeForce 700M, would have had similar or lower performance numbers, while its successor, the GeForce 900M, likely offered a substantial increase in both performance and efficiency due to architectural improvements. The 845M's position is therefore that of a dependable, mid-range mobile solution that offers a balanced feature set for its time, but it is not a standout performer in any single metric. The lack of specific rival data means that any further comparison would rely on speculation, which is outside the scope of this analysis.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA GeForce 845M are below.
Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
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