NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M Specifications
GeForce GTS 250M GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M 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.
GTS 250M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce GTS 250M'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 GTS 250M by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce GTS 250M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce GTS 250M'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 GTS 250M by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the GTS 250M, 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.
GTS 250M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M 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 GTS 250M 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 GTS 250M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GeForce GTS 250M Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M 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 GTS 250M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce GTS 250M by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M 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 GTS 250M. 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 GTS 250M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M 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 GTS 250M by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GeForce GTS 250M Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M
The NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M is a mobile graphics processor built on the GT215 chip, fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC. It belongs to the GeForce 200M generation, was released on 2009-06-14, and is now end-of-life. The GPU packs 727 million transistors on a 144 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 5.0M per mm². It is positioned as the successor to the GeForce 100M and the predecessor to the GeForce 300M. With a 28 W TDP and a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, this chip was designed for portable devices, as indicated by its display output being "Portable Device Dependent."
Power and Cooling
The GTS 250M has a TDP of 28 W. This is a very low power envelope, typical for a mobile GPU of its era. The fact pack lists no suggested PSU rating and no power connector requirements, which suggests that power delivery is handled entirely by the host system—likely a laptop or a small form-factor device. The PCIe 2.0 x16 bus interface can supply up to 75 W, so the 28 W draw is well within the slot's capability. The low TDP also means that cooling solutions can be modest; a simple heat sink or a small fan is sufficient to keep the chip within operating temperatures. The 40 nm process node and the transistor density of 5.0M per mm² contribute to this efficiency. The 144 mm² die size is relatively small, which further reduces thermal output. In practice, the GPU's power consumption is a key enabler for thin-and-light laptop designs. The absence of a dedicated power connector in the fact pack implies that the GPU does not require external power beyond the PCIe slot. For system integrators, the 28 W TDP is a critical specification, as it allows for compact thermal solutions and longer battery life in portable devices.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GTS 250M does not include RT cores or tensor cores. This is a pre-ray tracing architecture, so hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported. The API support is limited to DirectX 11.1 (10_1) and OpenGL 3.3. The DirectX 11.1 feature level 10_1 means the GPU supports a subset of DirectX 11 features, but not the full 11_1 feature set. This restricts the GPU to older graphics APIs and prevents it from running modern titles that require DirectX 12 or Vulkan. There is no Vulkan support listed, which further limits its compatibility with current game engines. The shading units are 96, with 32 texture mapping units and 8 ROPs. These are modest numbers, indicating a GPU aimed at basic 3D acceleration rather than high-end gaming. The pixel rate is 3.600 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 14.40 GTexel/s, which are low by modern standards. The FP32 compute throughput is 207.4 GFLOPS, a figure that reflects the GPU's limited shader processing power. The absence of tensor cores also means that AI-based features like DLSS are not available. The feature set is further constrained by the lack of a Vulkan entry, which would have allowed for lower-level access to the hardware. The GPU's API support is a clear indicator of its age and its intended use case: it is a product from the pre-DirectX 12 era, designed for the software of its time.
Benchmark Performance
The benchmark data for the GTS 250M is empty. The average benchmark score is 0, and the percentile vs all GPUs is 50. The 50th percentile suggests that the GPU sits at the median of all GPUs in the database, but the zero average score indicates that no actual benchmark results are recorded. Without benchmark scores, we must rely on theoretical performance metrics. The pixel rate of 3.600 GPixel/s means the GPU can fill 3.6 billion pixels per second. This is sufficient for 1080p at low frame rates, but not for high refresh rates or 1440p. The texture rate of 14.40 GTexel/s allows for texture mapping in games, but it is a limiting factor for high-detail textures. The FP32 compute of 207.4 GFLOPS is a measure of the GPU's shader processing capability; this is low compared to modern GPUs, but it was typical for a mid-range mobile GPU in 2009. The memory bandwidth of 50.56 GB/s is a bottleneck for high-resolution textures. The 128-bit memory bus and the 50.56 GB/s bandwidth restrict the amount of data that can be transferred between the GPU and memory. The 96 shading units and 8 ROPs further cap the performance. The data shows that the GPU is not designed for high-end gaming or compute-intensive workloads. Instead, it is a basic 3D accelerator for everyday tasks and older games. The lack of benchmark scores means we cannot compare it to specific rivals, but the theoretical numbers give a clear picture of its capabilities.
How It Compares
The fact pack does not list any nearest rivals for the GTS 250M. Therefore, a direct comparison to other GPUs is not possible. However, the GPU's position within the GeForce 200M series is clear: it is the successor to the GeForce 100M and the predecessor to the GeForce 300M. This indicates a generational progression. The architecture is Tesla 2.0, which is an older architecture that predates the Fermi and Kepler generations. The 40 nm process node is a step forward from the previous generation, but it is still a mature node. The transistor count of 727 million and die size of 144 mm² are typical for a mid-range chip of that era. The 50th percentile ranking suggests that the GPU is an average performer among all GPUs, but without benchmark scores, this is a neutral indicator. The GPU's feature set—no RT cores, no tensor cores, limited API support—places it in a category that is now obsolete. It cannot compete with modern GPUs that support DirectX 12 and Vulkan. The lack of a Vulkan driver is a significant disadvantage, as many current games require Vulkan for optimal performance. In summary, the GTS 250M is a legacy product that sits in the middle of its own generation, but it is not a high-performance part.
Who Should Consider It
The GTS 250M is a mobile GPU with a 28 W TDP, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems. Its pixel rate of 3.60 GPixel/s and texture rate of 14.40 GTexel/s indicate that it can handle basic 3D applications and older games at modest resolutions. The 1024 MB GDDR5 memory is adequate for lower resolutions, but it is not enough for high-resolution textures. The 50th percentile ranking suggests that it is an average GPU, but the zero average score means that no real-world benchmark data is available. Users who have older games or who use the GPU for productivity tasks will find it acceptable. The GPU is not suitable for modern gaming titles that require DirectX 12 or Vulkan, as it only supports DirectX 11.1 (10_1) and OpenGL 3.3. The lack of ray tracing and tensor cores further limits its appeal. The GPU is end-of-life, so it is only found in legacy systems. The 28 W TDP makes it a good choice for battery-powered devices, but its performance is limited. In summary, the GTS 250M is for users who need a basic GPU for everyday tasks and older software, not for gamers or content creators.
FAQ
Q: What is the TDP of the GeForce GTS 250M?
A: The TDP is 28 W.
Q: Does it support ray tracing?
A: No, it has no RT cores or tensor cores.
Q: What is the memory configuration?
A: It has 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 50.56 GB/s.
Q: What API versions does it support?
A: It supports DirectX 11.1 (10_1) and OpenGL 3.3, with no Vulkan.
Q: What is the process node?
A: The process node is 40 nm.
Q: When was it released?
A: It was released on 2009-06-14.
Memory Subsystem
The GTS 250M is equipped with 1024 MB of GDDR5 memory. The memory clock is 790 MHz, with an effective data rate of 3.2 Gbps. The bus width is 128 bits, which yields a memory bandwidth of 50.56 GB/s. This bandwidth is a critical factor for performance, especially at high resolutions. A 128-bit bus is relatively narrow, and the 50.56 GB/s bandwidth is low compared to modern GPUs, which often exceed 500 GB/s. The 1024 MB capacity is sufficient for 1080p textures, but it may be a limiting factor for high-resolution texture packs. The GDDR5 type is a fast memory, but the narrow bus constrains the data throughput. The effective 3.2 Gbps per pin is standard for GDDR5, but the 128-bit width means the total bandwidth is modest. The memory subsystem is a bottleneck for the GPU's compute capabilities. The pixel rate of 3.60 GPixel/s and texture rate of 14.40 GTexel/s are lower than the memory bandwidth would allow, but the memory bandwidth still limits performance when textures are large. For high-resolution gaming, the 50.56 GB/s bandwidth can cause stuttering or lower frame rates. The 8 ROPs also limit the memory throughput. The memory subsystem is adequate for its intended use, but it is not designed for heavy workloads. The 1024 MB capacity and 128-bit bus are typical for a mid-range mobile GPU of its time, but they are insufficient for modern high-resolution gaming.
The AMD Equivalent of GeForce GTS 250M
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