NVIDIA GeForce GT 445M

NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 445M is a 40 nm Fermi-based mobile GPU aimed at the entry-level segment of the GeForce 400M generation. With a 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs, it sits squarely in the middle of the performance distribution, though its benchmark data is limited. The GT 445M offers 144 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs, paired with 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 40.00 GB/s of bandwidth. Its 35 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate a design focused on thin-and-light notebooks rather than high-performance gaming rigs. The data shows a GPU that was modest even at launch, and its end-of-life production status confirms it has been superseded by the GeForce 500M series.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals for the GeForce GT 445M, meaning direct comparative data against specific competing GPUs is unavailable. However, its 50th percentile ranking across all GPUs provides a general reference point: half of all GPUs in the database perform better, and half perform worse. This percentile places the GT 445M in the exact middle of the performance spectrum, which is consistent with its specification profile — a 40 nm chip with 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die, producing 328.3 GFLOPS of FP32 compute. Without rival names or deltaPct values, the analysis must rely on these absolute metrics.

Given the absence of nearestRivals data, the GT 445M’s position is best understood through its generational context. It succeeded the GeForce 300M series and was followed by the GeForce 500M series, both of which are named in the FACT PACK but lack performance figures. The 50th percentile suggests the GT 445M was neither a standout nor a laggard in its era — it occupied a mainstream niche. Its 16 ROPs and 3.420 GPixel/s pixel rate indicate it could handle basic 3D acceleration but would struggle with demanding titles even at lower resolutions.

The lack of benchmark scores (avgBenchmarkScore is 0) means no quantitative comparison to any specific card is possible. What the data does show is a GPU designed for portable devices, with display outputs described as "Portable Device Dependent" and no power connectors required. This positions it as an integrated-style solution for laptops, where the 35 W TDP was a key constraint. The 40 nm TSMC process, shared with the broader Fermi family, was not current-generation even at the time, and the 4.9M transistors per mm² density reflects that mature node.

Who Should Consider It

Based on the GT 445M’s specifications, this GPU is suited for users with modest graphical demands, primarily in legacy applications or light productivity workloads. The 1024 MB GDDR5 memory and 40.00 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 720p gaming at low-to-medium settings in older titles, but the 328.3 GFLOPS FP32 throughput and 13.68 GTexel/s texture rate limit its capability in modern software. The 3.420 GPixel/s fill rate further constrains performance at higher resolutions, making 1080p gaming impractical for anything beyond esports or very old games.

The 50th percentile ranking suggests the GT 445M could handle mainstream tasks from its 2010 release era, such as basic photo editing, video playback, and casual gaming. Users running Windows applications with DirectX 12 (11_0) support — the API list indicates partial DirectX 12 compatibility — might find it functional, but OpenGL 4.6 support is the more relevant API for legacy software. The lack of Vulkan support in the FACT PACK means modern cross-platform titles are out of reach. For anyone considering this GPU today, the data indicates it is best reserved for retro gaming or as a display output solution in a laptop, not for contemporary workloads.

Resolution-wise, the GT 445M’s 40.00 GB/s bandwidth and 128-bit bus width are the primary bottlenecks. At 1366x768 (common for notebooks of its era), the GPU might deliver playable frame rates in titles from 2010-2012, but the 16 ROPs will cap fill-rate-bound scenes. At 1600x900 or higher, the pixel rate of 3.420 GPixel/s becomes a hard limit, and the 328.3 GFLOPS compute is insufficient for modern shader-heavy effects. The data does not support recommending this GPU for any current AAA gaming, even at minimum settings.

Benchmark Performance

The FACT PACK provides no benchmark scores for the GT 445M (avgBenchmarkScore is 0), and the nearestRivals array is empty. Consequently, there are no deltaPct values to cite, and any percentage comparison against specific rivals is impossible. The only quantitative performance indicators are the raw specification-derived rates: FP32 at 328.3 GFLOPS, texture rate at 13.68 GTexel/s, and pixel rate at 3.420 GPixel/s. These figures, when compared to the GPU’s 50th percentile standing, suggest it delivered roughly average performance for its time — but without rivals, the percentile cannot be translated into concrete deltas.

The 144 shading units at a memory clock of 625 MHz (2.5 Gbps effective) suggest the GPU’s compute is balanced for its memory subsystem. The 40.00 GB/s bandwidth is modest, and the 128-bit bus width limits data throughput. In practice, the texture rate of 13.68 GTexel/s would be the limiting factor in texture-heavy scenes, while the pixel rate of 3.420 GPixel/s caps resolution scaling. The transistor count of 1,170 million on a 238 mm² die gives a density of 4.9M per mm², which is low by modern standards but typical for 40 nm Fermi.

Given the lack of benchmark data, the GT 445M’s performance must be inferred from its architecture. Fermi’s design, as seen in this chip, prioritized compute over efficiency, and the 35 W TDP reflects a heavily cut-down implementation. The 50th percentile ranking implies that in the database’s historical context, the GT 445M was not an outlier — it performed as expected for its class. Users should treat any performance expectation with caution, as the zero benchmark score means no validated results exist.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory configuration of the GeForce GT 445M?

A: It has 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit bus width, providing 40.00 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Does the GT 445M support DirectX 12?

A: Yes, the API list includes DirectX 12 (11_0), meaning it supports the DirectX 12 feature set at the 11_0 level, along with OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What is the TDP of this GPU, and does it require external power?

A: The TDP is 35 W, and the power connectors field states "None," so it draws power solely from the motherboard or laptop socket.

Q: What manufacturing process is the GT 445M built on?

A: It uses a 40 nm process at TSMC, with 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die.

Q: Is the GT 445M still in production?

A: No, its production status is "End-of-life," and it was succeeded by the GeForce 500M series.

Q: What is the pixel fill rate of the GT 445M?

A: The pixel rate is 3.420 GPixel/s, derived from its 16 ROPs and clock speeds.

Memory Subsystem

The GeForce GT 445M is equipped with 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory, a size that was standard for mid-range mobile GPUs at its release. The memory type is GDDR5, which offered higher bandwidth than DDR3 alternatives, but the 128-bit bus width is narrow, capping bandwidth at 40.00 GB/s. The memory clock is 625 MHz, with an effective data rate of 2.5 Gbps. This configuration yields a bandwidth figure that is adequate for 720p gaming but becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions or with high-resolution textures.

For high-resolution workloads, the 40.00 GB/s bandwidth and 128-bit interface create a clear bottleneck. Modern games with large texture sets will exceed this bandwidth quickly, causing stuttering or reduced texture quality. The 1024 MB capacity is also low by today’s standards, though it was sufficient for 2010-era titles. The 3.420 GPixel/s pixel rate further constrains any attempt to push beyond 1600x900, as the ROPs cannot keep up with the fragment processing required. The memory subsystem is, therefore, best suited for 1366x768 or lower, where the 40.00 GB/s can be utilized more fully.

The GDDR5 type provides a slight advantage over DDR3 in latency-sensitive scenarios, but the narrow bus width negates much of that benefit. The 2.5 Gbps effective speed is modest, and the overall design prioritizes power efficiency over raw throughput. For users with legacy software that fits within 1024 MB of VRAM, the GT 445M can function, but the data does not support any claim of high-resolution capability.

Power and Cooling

The GeForce GT 445M has a TDP of 35 W, which is low for a discrete GPU, enabling its IGP (integrated graphics processor) slot width. This power envelope means the GPU can be cooled with a basic heatsink and fan, as no dedicated power connectors are required — the power connectors field is "None." The absence of a suggested PSU in the FACT PACK indicates that for laptops, the system’s existing power delivery is sufficient. For any desktop use (unlikely given the mobile design), a standard power supply would suffice, but no wattage recommendation is provided.

The 35 W TDP is a key design constraint, limiting clock speeds and core counts. The 144 shading units and 24 TMUs operate within this power budget, producing 328.3 GFLOPS of FP32 compute. The 40 nm process, while not efficient by modern standards, was acceptable for 2010 mobile GPUs. The low TDP also means less heat generation, which is critical for thin notebooks, but it caps performance under sustained load. The IGP slot width suggests the GPU is soldered to the motherboard, not replaceable, and cooling is passive or low-profile fan-based.

Given the 35 W TDP and no external power connectors, the GT 445M is not designed for overclocking or high-performance scenarios. The data indicates a thermally conservative design, prioritizing battery life and portability. Users should expect consistent, modest performance without thermal throttling in well-designed laptops, but there is no headroom for additional power draw.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The GT 445M is based on the Fermi architecture, which predates dedicated ray tracing hardware. The FACT PACK lists null values for both rtCores and tensorCores, confirming that this GPU has no hardware acceleration for ray tracing or AI-based features like DLSS. Ray tracing, if attempted, would run on the 144 shading units, but the 328.3 GFLOPS FP32 compute is far too low for real-time ray tracing in any practical sense. The GPU’s feature set is limited to conventional rasterization.

In terms of API support, the GT 445M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. The DirectX 12 (11_0) designation means it supports the DirectX 11 feature level within the DirectX 12 API, not the full DirectX 12 Ultimate feature set. Vulkan support is listed as null, so the GPU cannot use that API. These API limitations restrict modern game compatibility, as many titles require Vulkan or full DirectX 12 features. The texture rate of 13.68 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 3.420 GPixel/s are the practical limits for any rendering workload.

The Fermi architecture introduced some compute capabilities but lacked the specialized cores found in later generations. The 24 TMUs and 16 ROPs are standard for the era, but the absence of tensor cores means no AI acceleration, and the lack of RT cores means no hardware ray tracing. For users interested in ray tracing, the data clearly shows this GPU is unsuitable. Its feature set is firmly rooted in 2010-era gaming, making it a candidate only for very old titles or basic 2D workloads.