NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 OEM

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 OEM is an entry-level graphics card from the Fermi generation, built on TSMC’s 40 nm process node with 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die. It targets basic desktop workloads and light gaming, with a benchmark percentile of 50 among all GPUs, indicating it sits exactly in the middle of the database’s performance distribution. The card carries no average benchmark score, meaning the following analysis relies on its architectural specifications and position relative to its generation.

Benchmark Performance

The GeForce GT 440 OEM delivers a FP32 compute throughput of 466.6 GFLOPS, a figure that places it firmly in the entry-level segment of its 2010 release era. Its pixel rate stands at 4.860 GPixel/s, while texture rate reaches 19.44 GTexel/s, both derived from 24 ROPs and 24 TMUs respectively. These numbers translate into practical performance that is adequate for older titles at low resolutions, but the data shows no direct benchmark scores to compare against rivals — the nearestRivals list is empty in the fact pack.

Given the absence of measured scores, the card’s relative standing must be inferred from its hardware configuration. With 144 shading units and a 40 nm Fermi architecture, the GT 440 OEM operates at a memory clock of 900 MHz, yielding 1800 Mbps effective data rate. This is paired with 1536 MB of DDR3 memory across a 192-bit bus, producing a bandwidth of 43.20 GB/s. In synthetic workloads, such bandwidth typically limits performance at resolutions above 1080p, but the card’s compute ceiling is the more binding constraint in most modern scenarios.

The percentile rank of 50 is telling — half of all GPUs in the database outperform it, and half underperform it. That places the GT 440 OEM at the midpoint of historical graphics hardware, which is consistent with its role as an OEM-focused product rather than a retail enthusiast card. The 65 W TDP and lack of power connectors further confirm its low-power design, and the suggested PSU of 250 W underscores its modest appetite. Benchmark results, if they existed, would likely show the card trailing every discrete GPU from the subsequent GeForce 500 series, but without numeric scores, the analysis must rely on these architectural indicators.

How It Compares

The fact pack lists no nearest rivals for the GeForce GT 440 OEM, so direct percentage deltas cannot be quantified. However, its position relative to its own generation and predecessors is clear from the production timeline. The card succeeds the GeForce 200 series and precedes the GeForce 500 series, placing it as a bridge between two architectural iterations. Against the GeForce 200 line, the GT 440 OEM benefits from Fermi’s improved geometry processing and higher shading-unit count per transistor, though the older series often had wider memory buses that could offset bandwidth deficits.

Within the GeForce 400 generation, the GT 440 OEM sits at the lower end of the stack. Cards higher in that lineup typically featured more shading units and faster GDDR5 memory, whereas this OEM variant uses DDR3. The 192-bit bus is wider than some entry-level parts but narrower than the 256-bit interfaces found on higher-tier Fermi cards. This configuration suggests it competes with integrated graphics of its era more than with dedicated gaming GPUs, as the 43.20 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for desktop use but not for demanding textures.

Compared to the GeForce 500 series successor, the GT 440 OEM would likely lag in both compute and memory efficiency, as the later generation refined Fermi’s design. The 500 series introduced higher clock speeds and better power efficiency on the same 40 nm node, so the GT 440 OEM’s 466.6 GFLOPS would be eclipsed by even the entry-level 500-series parts. Without benchmark scores, these comparisons remain qualitative, but the architectural gaps are evident from the spec sheet.

Memory Subsystem

The GT 440 OEM features 1536 MB of DDR3 memory, a capacity that was generous for its launch period but modest by modern standards. The memory operates at 900 MHz, translating to 1800 Mbps effective data rate, which is standard for DDR3 of that era. The 192-bit memory bus width is unusual for an entry-level card — many rivals used 128-bit interfaces — and it directly contributes to the 43.20 GB/s bandwidth figure.

This bandwidth is the card’s most notable memory characteristic. At 43.20 GB/s, the GT 440 OEM can handle 1080p textures in lighter titles, but it will struggle with high-resolution assets or anti-aliasing, which demand more data per frame. The pixel rate of 4.860 GPixel/s further limits how much data the ROPs can push to the framebuffer, meaning that even with sufficient bandwidth, the card cannot fill large buffers quickly.

For high resolutions like 1440p or 4K, the 1536 MB VRAM capacity is a hard constraint. Modern games often exceed 2 GB at those resolutions, and the DDR3 type lacks the latency advantages of GDDR5. The 192-bit bus helps mitigate the bandwidth shortfall relative to 128-bit cards, but it cannot overcome the fundamental throughput limits of DDR3. The data indicates that the memory subsystem is balanced for 720p to 1080p gaming at low to medium settings, where the 43.20 GB/s bandwidth and 24 ROPs can keep up with the shading units’ output.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory capacity and type of the GT 440 OEM?

A: The card comes with 1536 MB of DDR3 memory, operating at 900 MHz with an effective data rate of 1800 Mbps.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does the GT 440 OEM provide?

A: The 192-bit memory bus delivers a bandwidth of 43.20 GB/s, which is moderate for its generation but limits high-resolution texture loading.

Q: What is the card’s compute performance in GFLOPS?

A: The FP32 performance is rated at 466.6 GFLOPS, derived from 144 shading units running on the Fermi architecture.

Q: Does the GT 440 OEM require external power connectors?

A: No, it uses none, and the total board power is 65 W, with a suggested power supply of 250 W.

Q: What display outputs are available?

A: The card offers 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.3a, and 1x VGA, supporting legacy and digital displays.

Q: What is the card’s production status and release date?

A: It is end-of-life, having been released on October 10, 2010, and it is positioned between the GeForce 200 and GeForce 500 series.

Who Should Consider It

The GT 440 OEM is suitable for users who need a discrete GPU for basic desktop tasks, legacy software, or very light gaming at 720p. Its 466.6 GFLOPS compute and 43.20 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 2D applications, video playback, and older 3D titles from before 2010, but the data shows it lacks the headroom for modern games at 1080p with high settings.

At 720p and low settings, the card’s 24 ROPs and 24 TMUs can sustain playable framerates in undemanding titles like indie games or classic esports. The 1536 MB VRAM is adequate for that resolution, and the 192-bit bus ensures textures load without severe stutter — provided the game’s total memory footprint stays under the card’s capacity. Users who target 1080p should expect to drop settings to minimum and accept reduced draw distances.

For 1440p or higher, the GT 440 OEM is not recommended. The 43.20 GB/s bandwidth becomes a bottleneck, and the pixel rate of 4.860 GPixel/s cannot fill large framebuffers efficiently. The lack of Vulkan support in the API list, combined with DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, further limits compatibility with modern titles that rely on newer APIs. Given its 65 W TDP and single-slot design, it fits into small form factor or office PCs where power draw is a concern, and the absence of power connectors simplifies installation. However, as an end-of-life product with no average benchmark score, it is best reserved for systems where GPU acceleration is a secondary feature rather than a gaming focus.