NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce GT 740M Specifications
GeForce GT 740M GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M 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 740M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce GT 740M'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 740M by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce GT 740M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce GT 740M'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 740M by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the GT 740M, 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 740M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M 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.
Kepler 2.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M is built on NVIDIA's Kepler 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 740M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GeForce GT 740M Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M 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 740M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce GT 740M by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M 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 740M. 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 740M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M 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 740M by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GeForce GT 740M Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M 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 Performersgeekbench_vulkanSource
Geekbench Vulkan tests GPU compute using the modern low-overhead Vulkan API. This shows how NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M performs with next-generation graphics and compute workloads. Vulkan offers better CPU efficiency than older APIs like OpenGL. Modern games and applications increasingly use Vulkan for cross-platform GPU acceleration.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
About NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M is a legacy mobile graphics solution built on the Kepler 2.0 architecture, and benchmark data places it at the 20th percentile of all GPUs, indicating a strictly entry-level position in the performance hierarchy. Its average benchmark score of 3683 positions it in a tight cluster of similarly aged parts, where the margin between it and its closest competitors is statistically negligible. This is a part designed for basic 3D acceleration and multimedia tasks, not for demanding contemporary gaming.
Benchmark Performance
The GeForce GT 740M delivers an average benchmark score of 3683, a figure that places it in the lower quintile of all GPUs (20th percentile). This score is derived from its performance in Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan tests, where it scored 3851 and 3514 respectively, showing a slight performance advantage in the compute-oriented OpenCL workload. The data indicates a GPU that is fundamentally limited by its 384 shading units and modest 793.3 GFLOPS of FP32 compute power.
When measured against its direct predecessor, the GeForce GT 735M (average score 3687), the GT 740M is essentially a lateral move, trailing by a negligible 0.1%. The performance delta is so small that it would be imperceptible in real-world usage. Similarly, the comparison with the GeForce 825M (average score 3694) shows the GT 740M lagging by 0.3%, a difference that falls well within standard run-to-run variance.
The only rival it manages to edge out is the older desktop-derived GeForce GT 545 (average score 3643), which it leads by a modest 1.1%. This suggests that the GT 740M's performance is roughly equivalent to a low-end desktop GPU from a previous generation. The most significant gap in its immediate competitive set is against the NVIDIA Quadro 3000M (average score 3752), where the GT 740M trails by 1.8%. This is the largest deficit in the group, yet it still represents a narrow margin, confirming that the GT 740M sits at the very bottom of the performance spectrum alongside these other aging parts.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GT 740M does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as these technologies were not part of the Kepler 2.0 architecture. Consequently, hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported, and any ray-traced workloads would be entirely unfeasible on this GPU. The absence of tensor cores also means that any AI-accelerated features, such as deep learning super sampling (DLSS), are not available.
The feature set is instead defined by its API support, which is surprisingly broad for its age. The GPU supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. While the DirectX 12 support is limited to the 11_0 feature level, this does allow the GPU to run modern titles that require DX12, albeit without the advanced features. The inclusion of Vulkan 1.2.175 support is notable, as it provides access to a modern, low-overhead graphics API. However, given the raw compute performance of the GPU, these APIs will only be useful for running older or less demanding titles at low settings. The pixel rate of 8.264 GPixel/s and texture rate of 33.06 GTexel/s further define its limits, indicating that even basic fill-rate requirements of modern games will strain the hardware.
Memory Subsystem
The memory configuration is a primary bottleneck for the GT 740M. It is equipped with 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, resulting in a total bandwidth of just 14.40 GB/s. This is an extremely low bandwidth figure for any GPU, even by 2013 standards. The 64-bit bus width severely limits the rate at which texture and geometry data can be transferred between the GPU core and the memory.
For high resolutions, this memory subsystem is wholly inadequate. At 1080p, the limited bandwidth will cause significant frame pacing issues and stuttering, particularly in scenes with high texture detail. The 2 GB capacity is also a limitation, as many modern titles exceed this allocation at medium to high settings. While the 2 GB frame buffer is sufficient for older games or eSports titles at low settings, the 14.40 GB/s bandwidth will choke performance before the capacity becomes the primary issue. This combination of low capacity and extremely low bandwidth effectively restricts the GT 740M to 720p or lower resolutions with reduced texture quality.
Power and Cooling
The GeForce GT 740M has a thermal design power (TDP) of 33 W, which is very low and makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops. This modest power envelope is a direct result of its small die size (87 mm²) and the 28 nm manufacturing process from TSMC. The chip contains 1,020 million transistors, a relatively small count that contributes to its efficiency.
The GPU is designed as an MXM Module, indicating it was intended for upgradeable laptop designs. It requires no external power connectors, drawing all its power from the MXM slot itself. The system has no suggested PSU requirement, as it is entirely dependent on the laptop's power delivery design. The low TDP means that a capable air cooler, even a slim one, is sufficient to manage thermals. Given its end-of-life production status, any system using this GPU today is likely older, and users should ensure that the laptop's cooling system is clean and functional to prevent thermal throttling.
How It Compares
vs. NVIDIA GeForce GT 735M: The GT 740M and GT 735M are effectively identical in performance. The benchmark data shows the GT 740M trailing by only 0.1%, a difference that is entirely negligible. Users should view these as the same GPU for all practical purposes, with any perceived performance differences being due to system-level variations rather than the GPU itself.
vs. NVIDIA GeForce 825M: The GeForce 825M holds a marginal 0.3% lead over the GT 740M. This is a similarly insignificant margin, positioning both as entry-level parts with nearly interchangeable performance. The 825M's slight edge does not translate into a meaningful gameplay advantage in any scenario.
vs. NVIDIA GeForce GT 545: This is the only rival in the group that the GT 740M outperforms, taking a 1.1% lead. The GT 545 is an older desktop part, and while the GT 740M's mobile variant edges it out, the difference is so small that it confirms the GT 740M's performance is roughly on par with a low-end desktop GPU from a prior generation.
vs. NVIDIA Quadro 3000M: The Quadro 3000M, a professional mobile workstation GPU, leads the GT 740M by 1.8%. This is the largest performance gap in the GT 740M's immediate competitive set, yet it remains a narrow margin. The result shows that the GT 740M's gaming-oriented design does not provide any compute advantage over this professional part.
Who Should Consider It
The benchmark data clearly indicates that the GeForce GT 740M is not suited for modern gaming. Given its 20th percentile ranking and 793.3 GFLOPS of compute power, it is only viable for esports titles and older games from its 2013 release era. Users should target 720p resolution with low to medium settings to achieve playable frame rates in such titles. At 1080p, the 14.40 GB/s bandwidth and 8 ROPs will cause significant performance degradation, making most games unplayable.
This GPU is best considered a basic multimedia accelerator for legacy laptops. It is capable of hardware-accelerated video playback and general desktop use, but any task involving 3D rendering will be challenging. Users who require GPU acceleration for light photo editing or older software will find it sufficient. For anyone seeking to play games released after 2015, this GPU will not provide an acceptable experience, and the data suggests that even the most demanding titles of its era would need substantial settings reductions.
FAQ
Q: Does the GeForce GT 740M support hardware ray tracing?
A: No. The GPU does not include any dedicated ray tracing cores, as it is based on the older Kepler 2.0 architecture. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported.
Q: Can the GeForce GT 740M run games at 1080p resolution?
A: Technically yes, but the benchmark data and memory bandwidth of 14.40 GB/s indicate that performance will be very poor. The GPU is only realistically suitable for 720p gaming with low settings in older or less demanding titles.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the GeForce GT 740M?
A: The GPU has a 64-bit memory bus paired with DDR3 memory, delivering a total bandwidth of 14.40 GB/s. This is a key limiting factor for its overall performance.
Q: How much power does the GeForce GT 740M consume?
A: The GT 740M has a TDP of 33 W, making it a low-power part suitable for thin-and-light laptops. It does not require any external power connectors and draws power solely from the MXM slot.
Q: What is the performance difference between the GT 740M and the GT 735M?
A: Benchmark results show the GT 740M trailing the GT 735M by a negligible 0.1%. The two GPUs are effectively identical in real-world performance.
Q: Which modern graphics APIs are supported by the GT 740M?
A: The GPU supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. While this allows it to run applications using these APIs, its raw performance will severely limit usability.
The AMD Equivalent of GeForce GT 740M
Looking for a similar graphics card from AMD? The AMD Radeon RX 480 offers comparable performance and features in the AMD lineup.
Popular NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M Comparisons
See how the GeForce GT 740M stacks up against similar graphics cards from the same generation and competing brands.
Compare GeForce GT 740M with Other GPUs
Select another GPU to compare specifications and benchmarks side-by-side.
Browse GPUs