NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce GT 320M Specifications
GeForce GT 320M GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M 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.
GT 320M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce GT 320M'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 GT 320M by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce GT 320M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce GT 320M'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 GT 320M by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the GT 320M, 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.
GT 320M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M 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 2.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M is built on NVIDIA's Tesla 2.0 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 GT 320M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GeForce GT 320M Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M 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 GT 320M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce GT 320M by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M 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 GT 320M. 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 GT 320M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M 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 GT 320M by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GeForce GT 320M Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M
Benchmark Performance
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M presents a unique case in the benchmark database: its average benchmark score is listed as 0, and its percentile ranking against all GPUs sits at exactly 50. This places it in the dead center of the distribution, though the zero score indicates that no standardized benchmark runs have been recorded for this part. Consequently, the data available for analysis is primarily architectural and specification-based rather than derived from empirical performance testing.
The GT 320M's raw computational throughput is severely limited by modern standards. Its FP32 performance is measured at 52.80 GFLOPS, a figure that reflects its 24 shading units operating at relatively modest clocks. The pixel rate is 4.000 GPixel/s, and the texture rate matches at 4.000 GTexel/s. These figures are consistent with an entry-level mobile part from its era, designed for basic 3D acceleration rather than high-performance gaming or compute workloads.
Benchmark results indicate that the GT 320M's nearestRivals array is empty, meaning the database contains no direct competing products with recorded scores for comparison. This absence of comparative data makes percentage-based delta analysis impossible. However, the 50th percentile ranking suggests that when placed among all GPUs in the database—including desktop parts, workstation cards, and other mobile solutions—the GT 320M sits exactly at the midpoint. This is a statistical artifact of the zero score rather than a reflection of genuine performance parity with mid-range hardware.
The practical interpretation of these numbers is straightforward: with 52.80 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, the GT 320M delivers roughly one-twentieth the throughput of even low-end modern integrated graphics. Its 4.000 GTexel/s texture fill rate and 4.000 GPixel/s pixel fill rate are sufficient only for legacy titles at low resolutions and detail settings. The architecture, Tesla 2.0, was already one generation old at launch, and the 40 nm process node from TSMC limits clock headroom compared to later 28 nm and smaller parts.
How It Compares
Given the empty nearestRivals array, direct head-to-head comparisons against specific competitors cannot be made from the FACT PACK data. The GT 320M's predecessor is listed as the GeForce 200M series, and its successor is the GeForce 400M series. This positions it as a transitional product in NVIDIA's mobile lineup, bridging two generations.
The GeForce 200M predecessor would have offered similar architectural features, as both are based on Tesla 2.0. The GT 320M's 24 shading units, 8 TMUs, and 8 ROPs are characteristic of NVIDIA's entry-level mobile offerings during this period. The move to the GeForce 400M successor brought a shift to the Fermi architecture, which introduced significant changes in compute capabilities and DirectX 11 support.
Without benchmark scores for these adjacent generations in the FACT PACK, quantitative deltas cannot be calculated. What the data does show is that the GT 320M occupies a specific niche: it is a 40 nm part with 486 million transistors on a 100 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 4.9M per square millimeter. This density is modest, reflecting the simpler Tesla 2.0 design compared to later architectures.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GT 320M includes no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores, as these technologies were not part of NVIDIA's GPU designs until much later. The architecture is Tesla 2.0, which predates the RTX line by nearly a decade. Consequently, real-time ray tracing acceleration is entirely absent from this product.
The feature set is instead defined by its API support. The DirectX version listed is 11.1, but with a critical qualifier: the feature level is 10_1. This means the hardware supports DirectX 11.1 API calls but only implements the shader model and feature set of DirectX 10.1. In practice, games requiring DirectX 11 features such as tessellation or compute shaders will not run at full functionality on this GPU. OpenGL support is at version 3.3, which covers a range of titles from the late 2000s but excludes many modern OpenGL 4.x applications.
Vulkan support is listed as null, meaning the driver never received a Vulkan implementation. This further limits the GT 320M's compatibility with contemporary titles, as many engines now default to Vulkan or DirectX 12. The absence of tensor cores also precludes any DLSS or AI-based upscaling features, which are nonexistent in this era.
FAQ
Q: What is the GT 320M's DirectX feature level?
A: The GPU supports DirectX 11.1 at the API level, but its hardware feature level is limited to 10_1, meaning it cannot fully utilize DirectX 11 features like tessellation.
Q: Does the GT 320M support ray tracing?
A: No, it has no ray tracing cores. The Tesla 2.0 architecture predates NVIDIA's RTX technology entirely.
Q: What is the FP32 compute performance of this GPU?
A: The FP32 throughput is 52.80 GFLOPS, derived from 24 shading units operating at the listed clock configuration.
Q: Can this GPU run Vulkan applications?
A: No, Vulkan support is listed as null. The driver stack does not include a Vulkan implementation.
Q: What is the transistor count and die size?
A: The GT 320M contains 486 million transistors on a 100 mm² die, manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC.
Q: Is this product still in production?
A: No, its production status is listed as "End-of-life." It was released on March 2, 2010, and has been succeeded by the GeForce 400M series.
Memory Subsystem
The GT 320M is equipped with 1024 MB of DDR3 memory, connected via a 128-bit bus. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 25.28 GB/s, which is derived from the memory clock of 790 MHz running at 1580 Mbps effective. The 128-bit bus width is a key differentiator from lower-end parts that often used 64-bit interfaces, and it provides double the theoretical bandwidth of such designs.
For high-resolution rendering, this memory subsystem is a significant bottleneck. The 25.28 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient for 1080p gaming with modern texture-heavy titles. At the time of its release, 1024 MB of VRAM was considered a mid-range allocation, but the bandwidth constraint means that even at 1366x768 (common for laptops of that era), texture streaming and high-detail settings would cause noticeable stuttering.
The DDR3 memory type, as opposed to GDDR5 found in higher-end parts, further limits the memory clock potential. The 1580 Mbps effective data rate is roughly half what GDDR5 could achieve at similar clock speeds. This makes the GT 320M more suited to 720p or lower resolutions with reduced texture quality. At higher resolutions, the pixel rate of 4.000 GPixel/s also becomes a limiting factor, as the ROPs cannot fill frames fast enough for smooth gameplay.
Power and Cooling
The GT 320M has a thermal design power (TDP) of 23 W, which is relatively low for a discrete mobile GPU. This figure places it in the ultra-portable laptop segment, where power efficiency is critical for battery life and thermal management. The slot width is listed as "IGP," indicating that this is an integrated graphics processor mounted directly on the motherboard or chipset, rather than a discrete MXM module.
Power connectors are listed as "None," which is consistent with an IGP solution that draws power from the motherboard's standard supply rails. There is no suggested PSU recommendation in the FACT PACK, which is typical for integrated graphics that do not require an external power supply upgrade. The absence of a dedicated power connector means that the 23 W TDP is entirely drawn through the motherboard's existing power delivery circuitry.
Cooling for this part would be handled by the laptop's shared thermal solution, typically a single heat pipe and fan assembly that also cools the CPU. Given the 23 W TDP, a passive heatsink might suffice in some chassis, but most manufacturers would include active cooling to maintain stable clocks. The 40 nm process node helps keep heat generation moderate, though the Tesla 2.0 architecture is not particularly efficient by modern standards.
Who Should Consider It
The GT 320M is not suitable for any modern gaming or graphics-intensive workload. Its 52.80 GFLOPS FP32 performance and 4.000 GPixel/s pixel rate are orders of magnitude below the requirements for contemporary titles. Benchmark data shows a zero average score, and the 50th percentile ranking is a statistical placeholder rather than an indication of real-world capability.
For 720p gaming at low settings, the GT 320M could handle titles from the mid-2000s era, such as early Source engine games or older DirectX 9 titles. The DirectX 10_1 feature level limits compatibility with games that require DirectX 10.0 or 10.1 features, but many games from 2007-2009 were still primarily DirectX 9 based. OpenGL 3.3 support extends compatibility to some Linux-native titles from that period.
At 1080p resolution, the GT 320M is outclassed entirely. The memory bandwidth of 25.28 GB/s cannot sustain the texture data required for modern game assets, and the pixel fill rate of 4.000 GPixel/s means even simple 2D desktop compositing at high resolution may feel sluggish. Users would be restricted to 720p or lower with all detail settings minimized.
This GPU is best suited for a retro computing enthusiast who needs to run legacy software from the late 2000s on original hardware. For office productivity, web browsing, and video playback, the GT 320M can handle these tasks, though modern video codecs may not be hardware-accelerated given the lack of dedicated video decode engines beyond the era's standards. The 1024 MB VRAM is sufficient for 2D desktop use and basic photo editing, but any 3D work or gaming beyond casual titles will be frustratingly slow.
The AMD Equivalent of GeForce GT 320M
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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