NVIDIA GeForce 945M

The NVIDIA GeForce 945M is a mobile graphics solution built on the Maxwell architecture, utilizing the GM107 chip manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. With 1,870 million transistors packed into a 148 mm² die, this part represents a specific segment of the GeForce 900M generation. Benchmark results show it holding a 41st percentile position among all GPUs, with an average score of 8099 in Geekbench OpenCL testing. The data indicates a part that sits in a narrow performance band, with its nearest rivals all scoring between 8018 and 8094, making the competitive landscape exceptionally tight.

Memory Subsystem

The GeForce 945M comes equipped with 2 GB of DDR3 memory, a configuration that immediately signals its positioning as an entry-level mobile solution. The memory interface is a 128-bit bus, which when paired with the effective 1800 Mbps memory speed, yields a bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s. This figure is modest by any modern standard, and the data suggests that memory bandwidth could become a limiting factor in high-resolution scenarios.

For 1080p gaming, the 2 GB frame buffer is adequate for many titles at medium settings, but the bandwidth constraint of 28.80 GB/s means texture-heavy scenes or higher resolutions will likely cause performance to degrade. At 1440p or beyond, the combination of limited VRAM capacity and narrow bandwidth would force frequent texture swapping and reduced fill rates. The pixel rate of 16.32 GPixel/s and texture rate of 40.80 GTexel/s provide additional context; these figures indicate that the chip's compute capabilities outpace its ability to feed data quickly, a classic bottleneck in lower-tier mobile GPUs.

The memory runs at a base clock of 900 MHz, translating to the effective 1800 Mbps data rate. This is not a high-speed GDDR5 implementation, and the choice of DDR3 in this product reflects a cost-conscious design that prioritizes power efficiency over peak memory performance. For users targeting older titles or esports games with lower memory demands, the subsystem is workable, but the data clearly shows that this is not a solution designed for future-proofing or high-fidelity textures at high resolutions.

Power and Cooling

The GeForce 945M has a thermal design power of 75 W, which positions it as a relatively power-efficient part for a mobile GPU. This TDP figure is modest, suggesting that a capable air cooler within a laptop chassis should suffice to manage thermals under sustained load. The slot width is specified as an MXM Module, indicating that this GPU is designed for modular laptop implementations rather than desktop installations.

Notably, the power connector field is listed as "None," which implies that the GPU draws all its power through the MXM slot itself, without requiring auxiliary power cables. This simplifies integration and reduces the overall power delivery complexity within a laptop. The bus interface is MXM-B (3.0), a standard that supports the 75 W power envelope and provides adequate data throughput for this class of GPU.

There is no suggested PSU figure in the data, which is typical for mobile components where the entire system's power supply is designed around the laptop's total draw. The 75 W TDP means that a laptop's internal power delivery system must account for this alongside the CPU and other components, but it does not represent an extraordinary cooling challenge. The production status is listed as end-of-life, and the architecture's 28 nm process node is relatively mature, so thermal behavior is well understood. Users should expect that sustained gaming sessions will generate noticeable heat but remain within manageable limits for a properly designed laptop chassis.

Who Should Consider It

Given the benchmark percentile of 41 and the average Geekbench OpenCL score of 8099, the GeForce 945M is clearly aimed at entry-level mobile computing. The data suggests that users who primarily play esports titles, older games, or less demanding indie games at 720p or 1080p with lower settings would find this GPU serviceable. At 1080p, medium settings are the realistic ceiling for most modern titles, and even that may require disabling certain effects to maintain playable frame rates.

For high-resolution gaming at 1440p or 4K, this GPU is not a suitable choice. The 28.80 GB/s bandwidth and 2 GB VRAM would be severely strained, and the 16.32 GPixel/s pixel rate cannot keep pace with the fill demands of higher resolutions. Users who prioritize visual fidelity or play the latest AAA releases should look elsewhere in the product stack. The performance delta to the nearest rivals is under 1% in most cases, meaning there is no meaningful performance differentiation among this group of GPUs.

The GeForce 945M could also serve as a basic multimedia or productivity GPU, handling video playback and light content creation tasks without issue. Its DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6 support ensure compatibility with a wide range of software. For users with modest expectations who value portability and efficiency over raw performance, this GPU fits a narrow but real use case.

How It Compares

Against the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX, the 945M scores 8099 versus 8094, a delta of only 0.1%. This represents a statistical tie, with the 945M being marginally ahead. The data indicates that despite generational differences, these two mobile GPUs deliver equivalent performance in OpenCL workloads.

The NVIDIA GRID K2 presents a similar story, with a score of 8075 and a delta of 0.3% behind the 945M. The GRID K2 is a data-center oriented product, but in this benchmark, it lands within noise of the mobile part. The 945M's slight edge suggests that its architecture executes the tested workload with comparable efficiency.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 scores 8024, which is 0.9% below the 945M. This is surprising given the GTX 970's desktop positioning, but the benchmark results are clear: the 945M holds a small advantage in this specific test. The delta is larger than the previous rivals but still under one percentage point.

Finally, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti scores 8018, a 1% deficit against the 945M. This is the largest delta among the listed rivals, yet it remains minimal. The 945M leads this group, but the performance envelope is so tight that any real-world difference would be imperceptible.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The GeForce 945M does not include dedicated ray tracing cores, as indicated by the null value for rtCores in the data. Similarly, there are no tensor cores present, which means AI-accelerated features like DLSS are not supported by this hardware. The architecture is Maxwell, which predates these technologies, so the absence is expected.

The API support includes DirectX 12 (11_0), which is a feature level rather than full DirectX 12 Ultimate support. This means the GPU can run DirectX 12 titles but with the feature set of DirectX 11_0, lacking advanced features like mesh shaders or variable rate shading. OpenGL 4.6 is supported, providing solid compatibility with professional and creative applications that rely on this API. Vulkan 1.4 is also listed, which is a surprisingly modern API version for this older GPU, indicating that driver support has maintained some level of currency.

Display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning the specific ports vary by laptop manufacturer. The bus interface is MXM-B (3.0), which is a standard for modular mobile GPUs. There are no power connectors required, simplifying installation. The feature set is functional but dated, with no ray tracing or tensor-based enhancements, placing it firmly in the pre-RT era of GPU technology.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory configuration of the NVIDIA GeForce 945M?

A: The GPU features 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s.

Q: Does the GeForce 945M support ray tracing?

A: No, the GPU has no ray tracing cores, and its Maxwell architecture predates hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

Q: What is the thermal design power of this GPU?

A: The TDP is rated at 75 W, with no auxiliary power connectors required, drawing power solely through the MXM slot.

Q: What API versions are supported?

A: The GPU supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: How does the GeForce 945M compare to the GTX 675MX?

A: In Geekbench OpenCL, the 945M scores 8099 against the GTX 675MX's 8094, a delta of 0.1% in favor of the 945M.

Q: Is this GPU suitable for high-resolution gaming?

A: The 28.80 GB/s bandwidth and 2 GB VRAM make it unsuitable for 1440p or 4K gaming; it is best suited for 720p or 1080p at lower settings.

Benchmark Performance

The GeForce 945M's average benchmark score of 8099 in Geekbench OpenCL places it at the 41st percentile of all GPUs, indicating that roughly 59% of tested GPUs perform better. The nearest rivals form an extremely tight cluster: the GTX 675MX at 8094 is 0.1% behind, the GRID K2 at 8075 is 0.3% behind, the GTX 970 at 8024 is 0.9% behind, and the GTX 650 Ti at 8018 is 1% behind. These deltas are remarkably small, suggesting that the benchmark is not highly discriminating at this performance tier.

The data implies that the 945M's performance is essentially equivalent to that of the GTX 675MX, a GPU from an earlier generation. This indicates that architectural improvements in Maxwell were offset by the 945M's lower tier positioning. The 0.9% lead over the GTX 970 is notable because the GTX 970 is a desktop part with a larger memory interface, yet the OpenCL workload does not favor it. The 1% lead over the GTX 650 Ti reinforces the idea that the 945M sits at a performance plateau where several products converge.

The FP32 compute of 1,305.6 GFLOPS provides raw compute context, but the memory bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s is the clear limiting factor in this configuration. The pixel rate of 16.32 GPixel/s and texture rate of 40.80 GTexel/s are consistent with the GPU's modest specs. The transistor density of 12.6M per mm² reflects the 28 nm process and the GM107 chip's design. Overall, the benchmark data shows a GPU that performs within a narrow band of its direct competitors, with no single rival holding a decisive advantage in the tested workload.