NVIDIA GeForce GT 430
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce GT 430 Specifications
GeForce GT 430 GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 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 430 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce GT 430'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 430 by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce GT 430 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce GT 430'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 430 by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the GT 430, 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 430 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 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.
Fermi Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 is built on NVIDIA's Fermi 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 430 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GeForce GT 430 Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 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 430 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce GT 430 by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 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 430. 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 430 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 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 430 by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GeForce GT 430 Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations. OpenCL is widely supported across different GPU vendors and platforms.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby PerformersAbout NVIDIA GeForce GT 430
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 430, built on the Fermi architecture with the GF108 chip, occupies a distinct position in the low-end graphics landscape of its generation. Produced on TSMC’s 40 nm process, this single-slot card integrates 585 million transistors on a 116 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 5.0M per mm². The data places it at the 13th percentile among all GPUs, indicating that its compute capabilities are modest by modern standards, yet the benchmark results reveal a tightly contested segment where small percentage differences separate competitors.
How It Compares
The closest rival in the data is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M, which posts an average score of 2165. The GT 430’s score of 2211 is 2.1% higher, a margin that is statistically small but consistent across workloads. This suggests that the desktop GT 430 holds a slight edge over the mobile-oriented GT 540M, likely reflecting differences in thermal headroom and clock stability rather than architectural superiority.
Next is the NVIDIA NVS 5400M, a professional mobile solution with an average score of 2163. The GT 430 leads by 2.2%, which is nearly identical to the margin over the GT 540M. The data indicates that these three NVIDIA parts are effectively peers in raw compute output, with the GT 430’s advantage being just enough to separate it from the bottom of the grouping.
The Intel UHD Graphics 770, an integrated solution from a much later generation, scores 2150 on average. The GT 430 outperforms it by 2.8%. This is notable because the UHD 770 benefits from years of architectural improvements and higher memory bandwidth, yet the older discrete card still manages to lead in this specific OpenCL benchmark, underscoring the value of dedicated graphics hardware for compute tasks.
Finally, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 620M matches the Intel part with an average score of 2150. The GT 430’s 2.8% lead here mirrors the delta against the UHD 770. The GT 620M is a rebranded and slightly adjusted Fermi part, so the near-identical performance is expected; the GT 430’s higher score suggests its desktop power envelope allows for more sustained operation.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GT 430 does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores; these fields are absent from the specification data. This places the card firmly in the pre-RTX era, where ray tracing was not a hardware-accelerated feature for consumer products. The Fermi architecture relies on traditional rasterization pipelines, with 96 shading units, 16 texture mapping units, and 4 render output units handling all graphics work.
API support is limited but functional for its time. The card supports DirectX 12 (11_0), which means it can run titles built for the 11_0 feature level, though it lacks the full DirectX 12 Ultimate feature set. OpenGL 4.6 is supported, providing compatibility with a wide range of professional and legacy applications. Vulkan support is not listed, which restricts modern cross-platform graphics API usage. Display outputs include one DVI, one HDMI 1.3a, and one VGA, allowing connection to older monitors and televisions without adapters.
The lack of tensor cores means no hardware acceleration for AI-based features like DLSS, and the absence of RT cores precludes any form of hardware ray tracing. For users of this era, these omissions were standard, but they define the card’s limitations in contemporary workloads.
Benchmark Performance
The sole benchmark in the data is Geekbench OpenCL, where the GT 430 achieves a score of 2211. This figure serves as the average benchmark score and places the card at the 13th percentile of all GPUs. To contextualize, the nearest rivals all sit within a narrow band from 2150 to 2165, meaning the GT 430’s performance advantage ranges from 2.1% to 2.8% depending on the comparison.
Against the GT 540M, the 2.1% delta translates to roughly 46 points. This is a minor gap, but it is consistent enough to rank the GT 430 above its mobile sibling. The NVS 5400M is just 48 points behind, a 2.2% deficit, which reinforces the conclusion that these three NVIDIA products deliver nearly interchangeable OpenCL performance. The margin over the Intel UHD 770 and the GT 620M is larger at 2.8%, with a 61-point difference. While these deltas are small in absolute terms, they establish a clear ordering: the GT 430 leads this peer group, followed by the two NVIDIA mobile parts, with the Intel integrated solution and GT 620M tied at the rear.
The compute throughput figures support this positioning. The GT 430 delivers 268.8 GFLOPS of FP32 performance, with a pixel rate of 2.800 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 11.20 GTexel/s. These numbers are modest, and the 13th percentile ranking confirms that the card is not competitive with even mid-range offerings from subsequent generations. However, within its immediate cohort, the data shows a consistent, if slight, performance lead.
FAQ
Q: How does the GT 430 compare to the Intel UHD Graphics 770?
A: The GT 430 scores 2211 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 2.8% higher than the UHD 770’s average of 2150. The discrete card holds a small but measurable lead over this integrated solution.
Q: What is the memory configuration of the GT 430?
A: The card features 512 MB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, providing 12.80 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory operates at 800 MHz, translating to 1600 Mbps effective.
Q: Does the GT 430 support hardware ray tracing?
A: No. The card has no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores. It relies on the Fermi architecture’s traditional shading units for all graphics processing.
Q: What is the launch MSRP of the GT 430?
A: The launch MSRP was 79 USD, which positions it as an entry-level product at the time of release.
Q: What is the thermal design power of this card?
A: The TDP is 49 W, and the suggested power supply is 200 W. The card requires no external power connectors, drawing all power from the PCIe slot.
Q: Which API versions are supported?
A: The GT 430 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. Vulkan is not listed as supported.
Memory Subsystem
The GT 430 is equipped with 512 MB of DDR3 memory, which is a modest capacity even for its 2010 release window. The memory interface is 64 bits wide, a narrow bus that limits data throughput to 12.80 GB/s. This bandwidth figure is low by any standard, and it directly impacts performance at higher resolutions where texture data and frame buffers exceed the available memory pool.
For 1080p gaming, the 512 MB frame buffer is likely to be a bottleneck in modern titles, as texture-heavy scenes can easily exceed this capacity. The 64-bit bus compounds the issue, as the 12.80 GB/s bandwidth restricts how quickly data can be moved between the GPU and memory. In contrast, the nearest rival GT 540M, while scoring slightly lower in compute, does not show a memory advantage in the provided data, so the GT 430’s memory constraints are not unique to this comparison.
The pixel rate of 2.800 GPixel/s and texture rate of 11.20 GTexel/s are consistent with a low-end part, and these figures, combined with the limited memory bandwidth, indicate that the card is best suited for 720p or lower resolutions with reduced detail settings. At high resolutions, the memory subsystem will likely saturate, causing frame rate drops that are not reflected in the compute-oriented OpenCL benchmark.
Power and Cooling
The GT 430 has a thermal design power of 49 W, which classifies it as a low-power component. The suggested power supply is 200 W, a figure that accommodates the card alongside a modest system configuration. There are no power connectors on the card, meaning it draws all required power from the PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, simplifying installation in almost any desktop chassis.
The card’s dimensions are 145 mm in length, or 5.7 inches, and it occupies a single slot. This compact form factor, combined with the absence of external power requirements, allows the GT 430 to fit into small form factor cases and legacy systems with limited power delivery. The 40 nm process node from TSMC contributes to the low power draw, and the 585 million transistor count is modest compared to larger Fermi derivatives.
Cooling is handled by a single-slot design, which is adequate for the 49 W TDP. The lack of a power connector and the low thermal output mean that the card produces minimal heat, making it suitable for office or HTPC environments where noise and thermal management are secondary concerns. The data does not specify a cooler type, but the single-slot profile implies a simple fan-and-heatsink solution that is effective for this power level.
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