NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M 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.
GTX 950M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce GTX 950M'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 GTX 950M by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 950M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce GTX 950M'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 GTX 950M by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the GTX 950M, 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.
GTX 950M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M 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.
Maxwell Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M is built on NVIDIA's Maxwell 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 GTX 950M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M 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 GTX 950M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce GTX 950M by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M 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 GTX 950M. 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 GTX 950M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M 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 GTX 950M by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M is a mobile graphics solution from the GeForce 900M generation, built on the Maxwell architecture with a 28 nm process at TSMC. The chip, designated GM107, contains 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.6 million per square millimeter. Its production status is end-of-life, with a release date of March 12, 2015, positioned between the GeForce 800M predecessor and the GeForce 10 Mobile successor.
Benchmark Performance
The GTX 950M’s aggregate benchmark data places it at the 41st percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 8,289 across tested workloads. In Geekbench OpenCL, the card scores 9,741, while the Vulkan test yields 6,837, showing a significant gap between the two API paths. The OpenCL result is notably stronger, suggesting compute-heavy applications may extract more performance than graphics-focused Vulkan workloads.
Comparing to its nearest rivals, the GTX 950M sits in a tight cluster. It is essentially tied with the AMD Radeon RX 6400, which averages 8,265 — a delta of just 0.3% in favor of the GTX 950M. The NVIDIA Quadro K1200 also matches at 8,265, again with the GTX 950M ahead by 0.3%. Against the AMD Radeon RX 550, the GTX 950M trails by 0.4%, as that card scores 8,324. The largest gap in this group is versus the AMD Radeon HD 8870M, which achieves 8,462, putting the GTX 950M 2% behind.
These deltas are small enough to be considered noise in real-world usage. The data indicates the GTX 950M performs within a narrow band of roughly ±2% of its four nearest competitors, meaning no decisive victory or defeat exists among them. The 41st percentile ranking reinforces this middling position — it is neither a standout performer nor a laggard, but rather a card that slots into the lower-middle tier of the GPU landscape.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GTX 950M has no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores, as these are absent from the FACT PACK specifications. This is expected for a Maxwell-era part, as hardware-accelerated ray tracing was not part of the architecture’s design. The feature set instead relies on more traditional rendering paths.
API support includes DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The DirectX 12 designation with the 11_0 feature level is worth noting — it means the hardware can run DX12 titles but is limited to the feature set of DirectX 11, which may restrict certain modern rendering techniques. Vulkan 1.4 support is comparatively robust, potentially offering better low-level access in titles that utilize it. OpenGL 4.6 is current and should handle legacy and cross-platform workloads adequately.
The absence of dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores means the GTX 950M will rely entirely on rasterization and compute shaders for visual effects. Users should not expect hardware-accelerated ray-traced lighting or DLSS-style upscaling, as neither tensor core functionality nor RT acceleration exists in this part.
Memory Subsystem
The GTX 950M comes with 4 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, producing a memory bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 900 MHz, which translates to 1,800 Mbps effective. This configuration is modest by modern standards, and the bandwidth figure is particularly low — a consequence of DDR3 rather than GDDR5 or newer memory types.
For high-resolution gaming, this memory subsystem presents a bottleneck. At 1080p, 4 GB of VRAM is adequate for many titles, but the 28.80 GB/s bandwidth may limit texture streaming and high-detail settings. At 1440p or above, the combination of limited bandwidth and relatively slow memory could cause stuttering or reduced texture quality. The 128-bit bus width further constrains data throughput, making the card better suited to 1080p or lower resolutions where memory pressure is less severe.
The pixel rate of 17.98 GPixel/s and texture rate of 44.96 GTexel/s are derived from the 16 ROPs and 40 TMUs, respectively. These figures suggest the card can handle basic rasterization tasks but will struggle with heavy fill-rate demands in modern games.
Who Should Consider It
Benchmark scores place the GTX 950M at the 41st percentile, indicating it outperforms roughly two-fifths of all GPUs. For gaming, this translates to 1080p at medium to low settings in most contemporary titles, with older or less demanding games potentially running at high settings. The Vulkan score of 6,837 suggests Vulkan-based games may run slower than those using OpenCL-style compute, though this metric is not directly equivalent to gaming performance.
The 4 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p, but the bandwidth limitation means users should avoid high-resolution texture packs or ultra settings. At 720p, the card would be more comfortable, potentially handling higher detail levels without hitting memory bottlenecks. Users targeting 1440p or 4K should look elsewhere, as the data does not support playable performance at those resolutions.
The GTX 950M is best suited for lightweight gaming laptops or budget-oriented systems where power efficiency is prioritized over raw performance. Its 75 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate it is designed for thin-and-light chassis rather than high-performance gaming rigs.
How It Compares
AMD Radeon RX 6400: The GTX 950M edges out the RX 6400 by 0.3% in average benchmark score, with 8,289 versus 8,265. This is a statistical tie, meaning neither card offers a meaningful performance advantage. Users choosing between them should base decisions on other factors, such as driver support or feature compatibility.
NVIDIA Quadro K1200: The K1200 matches the RX 6400 at 8,265, leaving the GTX 950M ahead by 0.3%. As a workstation-oriented card, the K1200 may have different driver optimizations, but raw compute performance is effectively identical to the GTX 950M.
AMD Radeon RX 550: The RX 550 scores 8,324, putting it 0.4% ahead of the GTX 950M. This is the tightest margin in the rival group, with the two cards behaving nearly identically in benchmark terms. The delta is so small that game-specific optimizations would likely outweigh the aggregate difference.
AMD Radeon HD 8870M: The HD 8870M leads the group with 8,462, placing it 2% ahead of the GTX 950M. While this is the largest gap among the rivals, 2% is still within the range of run-to-run variance. The HD 8870M is an older mobile part, yet it manages to outperform the GTX 950M in aggregate benchmarks.
Power and Cooling
The GTX 950M carries a TDP of 75 W, which is modest for a discrete GPU. It uses no power connectors, drawing all power from the PCIe slot or motherboard connection. The slot width is listed as IGP, indicating it is integrated into the motherboard or soldered onto the board, rather than occupying a standard expansion slot.
The bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x8, which is half the bandwidth of a full x16 link. For a card of this performance level, the x8 interface is unlikely to be a bottleneck, as the 28.80 GB/s memory bandwidth is far lower than what the PCIe link can provide. No suggested PSU is listed, but the 75 W TDP and lack of power connectors imply that a standard laptop or small-form-factor system power supply would suffice.
Cooling requirements are minimal given the 75 W TDP. The IGP form factor suggests passive or low-profile cooling solutions may be adequate, depending on chassis airflow. Users should ensure adequate ventilation, but the data does not indicate any special cooling demands beyond what a typical laptop chassis provides.
FAQ
Q: What is the average benchmark score of the GTX 950M?
A: The average benchmark score is 8,289, with Geekbench OpenCL at 9,741 and Vulkan at 6,837.
Q: How does the GTX 950M compare to the AMD Radeon RX 550?
A: The RX 550 scores 8,324, which is 0.4% higher than the GTX 950M’s average score.
Q: Does the GTX 950M support hardware ray tracing?
A: No, the GTX 950M has no ray tracing cores or tensor cores, so hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported.
Q: What memory type and bandwidth does the GTX 950M use?
A: It uses 4 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 28.80 GB/s of bandwidth.
Q: What is the TDP of the GTX 950M?
A: The TDP is 75 W, and it requires no external power connectors.
Q: Which API versions does the GTX 950M support?
A: It supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M are below.
Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations. OpenCL is widely supported across different GPU vendors and platforms. Higher scores benefit applications that leverage GPU acceleration for non-graphics workloads.
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 GTX 950M performs with next-generation graphics and compute workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
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