NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Specifications
GeForce 8800 GT GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 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.
8800 GT Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce 8800 GT'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 8800 GT by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce 8800 GT Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce 8800 GT'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 8800 GT by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the 8800 GT, 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.
8800 GT Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 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 8800 GT 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 8800 GT will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GeForce 8800 GT Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 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 8800 GT to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce 8800 GT by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 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 8800 GT. 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 8800 GT Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 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 8800 GT by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GeForce 8800 GT Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
When considering the raw compute performance of the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, one must ask, what did its groundbreaking unified shader architecture truly enable? Built on the Tesla design, this card brought the power of 112 stream processors to the mainstream, a feature previously reserved for far more expensive enthusiast models. This shift allowed for more generalized processing power, accelerating physics calculations and early GPGPU tasks in ways that left older, fixed-function pipelines in the dust. For its time, the 8800 GT offered a tantalizing glimpse into a future where the GPU could be more than just a graphics renderer. Gamers might wonder how this translated to real-world use; it meant smoother frame rates in complex scenes where lighting and particle effects were handled with unprecedented efficiency. The card's 512 MB of GDDR3 memory, while modest by today's standards, was a solid foundation for the shader-heavy DirectX 10 titles of the era. Ultimately, this GPU from NVIDIA set a new expectation for what a mid-range card could achieve in parallel processing tasks.
How did the GeForce 8800 GT fare for video editing, a task that was becoming increasingly popular on the desktop? While not explicitly designed as a workstation card, its enhanced compute capabilities through CUDA, which launched shortly after, began to unlock GPU acceleration in early supporting applications. Editors working with standard-definition or early HD content might have noticed a welcome boost in rendering and filter application speeds compared to CPU-only processing. However, the 512 MB frame buffer could quickly become a limiting factor for high-resolution projects or complex compositing, begging the question of how much multi-tasking it could truly handle. The architecture's strengths were more apparent in specific, optimized effects rather than in wholesale timeline playback. For the hobbyist or prosumer of 2007, this NVIDIA graphics card provided a cost-effective taste of accelerated creativity, though professionals would still lean on Quadro solutions. It served as a crucial stepping stone in demonstrating the GPU's potential beyond gaming.
Software compatibility is always a concern; so how did this relic from 2007 manage the transition into new APIs and operating systems? At launch, the 8800 GT was a champion of Windows Vista and DirectX 10, offering full support for the then-cutting-edge Shader Model 4.0. But as time marched on, driver support became the critical question, with NVIDIA eventually ending official updates, leaving the card stranded on older API versions. Can you still use this card today? Technically, yes, but you'll be locked out of modern features like DirectX 12 and Vulkan, making it a non-starter for contemporary games. For legacy systems or specific retro gaming builds, it retains a certain utility, a testament to its solid foundational design. The lack of current drivers also raises security and stability questions for any online use. This particular GeForce model stands as a monument to a specific, transformative period in graphics technology, now frozen in time.
Were there any enterprise features hidden within the consumer-focused GeForce 8800 GT? Officially, NVIDIA reserved its professional-grade technologies like certified drivers, ECC memory, and multi-display synchronization for its Quadro line. However, the underlying Tesla architecture shared between the product lines meant this consumer card possessed the raw horsepower for certain parallel compute tasks. Enthusiasts and researchers often asked if they could harness this power for scientific computing or cryptocurrency mining in its earliest days, and the answer was a cautious yes, thanks to CUDA. Its 125-watt TDP made it relatively efficient for its performance class, a consideration for anyone building a small-scale compute cluster on a budget. The 8800 GT from NVIDIA thus occupied a unique, unofficial niche, blurring the line between consumer entertainment and entry-level enterprise experimentation. It proved that the architectural foundation was capable, even if the software and support were tailored for a different audience entirely.
The AMD Equivalent of GeForce 8800 GT
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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