NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT

The NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GT is a mobile graphics solution built on the Tesla architecture, utilizing the G92 chip fabricated on a 65 nm process at TSMC. It packs 754 million transistors on a 324 mm² die, which results in a transistor density of 2.3M per mm². This part is positioned as an end-of-life product from the GeForce 9M generation, released in mid-2008, and serves as a bridge between the GeForce 8M and GeForce 100M families. The data indicates a 50th percentile standing against all GPUs, placing it squarely in the mid-range of the performance spectrum for its era.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK provides no nearest rival data for this GPU, meaning there are no direct comparison points available from the benchmark database. Without named competitors or deltaPct values, the analysis must rely on its absolute specifications and architectural position within the GeForce 9M lineup. The absence of rival scores prevents a relative performance ranking, but its 50th percentile suggests it was a median performer among all graphics cards tracked by the database.

The GPU's position is defined by its specifications rather than head-to-head measurements. With 96 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs, it represents a specific balance of compute, texturing, and pixel output that was typical for mid-range mobile parts in its generation. The 65 nm process node, while mature for its time, limited the achievable clock speeds and efficiency compared to later shrinks. Its PCIe 2.0 x16 interface was current for laptops of that period, ensuring adequate bandwidth for data transfer.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

This GPU does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as those technologies were not part of the Tesla architecture. The hardware is designed around traditional rasterization pipelines, with fixed-function units handling geometry, texturing, and pixel output. The API support reflects its generation: DirectX 11.1 is listed, but with a 10_0 feature level, meaning it can run DirectX 11.1 applications but only with DirectX 10-class hardware features. OpenGL 3.3 is supported, which was a standard version for the late-2000s era. No Vulkan support is present, as that API was introduced years after this product's release.

The feature set is defined by the G92 chip's capabilities, which include 96 unified shaders operating at a peak FP32 throughput of 240.0 GFLOPS. This compute capacity is modest by modern standards but was competitive for mobile gaming in 2008. The texture rate of 24.00 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 8.000 GPixel/s indicate balanced output between texturing and rasterization, which is important for maintaining consistent frame rates in games that rely heavily on texture detail. The lack of RT and tensor cores means no hardware acceleration for ray-traced lighting or AI-based features like DLSS, but these were not available in any consumer GPU at the time.

Benchmark Performance

The FACT PACK lists no benchmark scores for the 9800M GT, and the average benchmark score is recorded as zero. This absence of numerical performance data means the analysis must rely on architectural specifications to infer relative capability. The FP32 throughput of 240.0 GFLOPS, combined with the 51.20 GB/s memory bandwidth, defines the theoretical ceiling for compute and data movement. The pixel rate of 8.000 GPixel/s and texture rate of 24.00 GTexel/s are the key metrics for fill-rate-bound scenarios.

Without rival deltaPct values, it is impossible to state exact performance deltas against other cards. However, the 50th percentile ranking indicates that, among all GPUs tracked by the database, half performed better and half performed worse. This places the 9800M GT in a middle tier, likely adequate for 720p gaming at medium settings in its era, but not competitive with high-end desktop parts. The 256-bit memory bus and GDDR3 type suggest that memory bandwidth was not a severe bottleneck for the shading unit count. The effective memory speed of 1600 Mbps yields the 51.20 GB/s bandwidth figure, which is sufficient for the 96 shaders to operate without frequent stalls in most workloads.

Power and Cooling

The 9800M GT has a thermal design power of 65 W, which is modest for a mobile GPU of its performance class. This TDP figure indicates the maximum heat output the cooling solution must dissipate under sustained load. The GPU uses an MXM module form factor, meaning it is a replaceable graphics module in laptops that support the MXM standard. No power connectors are required, as the card draws power exclusively through the MXM slot interface. The FACT PACK does not provide a suggested PSU wattage, which is typical for mobile parts since the laptop's power brick and internal power delivery determine the available budget.

Cooling this GPU requires a laptop heatsink and fan assembly designed for the MXM module footprint. The 65 W TDP is within the range that a well-designed laptop cooling system can handle, though sustained gaming loads would likely produce noticeable fan noise. The absence of a power connector simplifies installation, but the actual power draw is limited by what the MXM slot can supply. Users should ensure their laptop's power adapter can handle the combined draw of the CPU and this GPU under load, though the exact system power requirements are not specified in the data.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory configuration of this GPU?

A: The 9800M GT comes with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 51.20 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory operates at an effective speed of 1600 Mbps.

Q: Does this GPU support modern APIs like Vulkan or DirectX 12?

A: No. The API support is limited to DirectX 11.1 with a 10_0 feature level and OpenGL 3.3. Vulkan is not supported, and DirectX 12 feature levels are absent from the specification.

Q: What is the power consumption of this card?

A: The TDP is rated at 65 W. It uses an MXM module form factor and does not require additional power connectors, drawing power solely from the MXM slot.

Q: What is the manufacturing process and chip size?

A: The GPU uses a 65 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 324 mm². It contains 754 million transistors, yielding a density of 2.3M transistors per square millimeter.

Q: Does this GPU have ray tracing or tensor cores?

A: No. The Tesla architecture does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores. It relies on traditional rasterization hardware with 96 shading units.

Q: What is the peak compute performance?

A: The FP32 performance is rated at 240.0 GFLOPS. The texture fill rate is 24.00 GTexel/s, and the pixel fill rate is 8.000 GPixel/s.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem consists of 512 MB of GDDR3 memory connected via a 256-bit bus. This bus width is wide enough to provide substantial bandwidth for the era, achieving 51.20 GB/s at the effective memory speed of 1600 Mbps. The 512 MB capacity is a limiting factor for high-resolution textures, as larger frame buffers allow more texture data to be stored locally. At resolutions above 1080p, the 512 MB capacity would likely cause texture thrashing and reduced performance in modern titles, but for games from its release period, it was sufficient.

The 256-bit bus width is a critical specification, as it directly impacts memory bandwidth efficiency. A wider bus allows more data to be transferred per clock cycle, which is particularly important for fill-rate-intensive workloads like high-resolution anti-aliasing. The 51.20 GB/s bandwidth is balanced relative to the 96 shading units and 24.00 GTexel/s texture rate, meaning the memory subsystem is unlikely to be a severe bottleneck in most scenarios. However, the 512 MB capacity is the more significant constraint, especially for games that use large texture sets or require high dynamic range rendering. For 720p gaming, the memory size is adequate, but for 1080p with high-quality textures, it would be tight. The GDDR3 type, while slower than later GDDR5 or GDDR6, matches the GPU's compute capabilities, ensuring the memory clock does not outpace the shader throughput. The effective 1600 Mbps data rate is a product of the 800 MHz base memory clock, and this configuration provides a consistent data pipeline for the GPU's fixed-function units.