NVIDIA GeForce2 MX
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GeForce2 MX Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 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.
GeForce2 MX Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GeForce2 MX'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 GeForce2 MX by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GeForce2 MX Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GeForce2 MX'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.
GeForce2 MX Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 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.
Celsius Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA GeForce2 MX is built on NVIDIA's Celsius 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 GeForce2 MX will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 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 GeForce2 MX to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GeForce2 MX by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 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 GeForce2 MX. 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.
GeForce2 MX Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 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 GeForce2 MX by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About NVIDIA GeForce2 MX
The NVIDIA GeForce2 MX is a legacy entry-level graphics card from the year 2000, built on the Celsius architecture and manufactured by TSMC on a 180 nm process. It was positioned as a mainstream alternative to the high-end GeForce 2 series, and the data reflects a product focused on affordability and broad compatibility rather than raw performance.
Memory Subsystem
The GeForce2 MX is equipped with 32 MB of SDR memory, a configuration that was standard for entry-level cards at the time of its release. The memory operates at a clock speed of 166 MHz and is connected via a 128-bit bus, yielding a total memory bandwidth of 2.656 GB/s. This bandwidth figure is modest by modern standards, but it was sufficient for the resolutions and texture loads common in games from the early 2000s.
The use of SDR (Single Data Rate) memory, rather than DDR, means that the card transfers data once per clock cycle. This is a significant limitation compared to cards that used DDR memory, effectively halving the potential data throughput for a given clock speed. For high resolutions, such as 1600x1200, the 2.656 GB/s bandwidth becomes a bottleneck. Benchmark results indicate that the card's performance degrades noticeably as resolution increases, with the memory subsystem unable to feed the GPU enough texture data to maintain frame rates.
The 128-bit bus width is a positive aspect, as it allows for a wider data path than 64-bit cards of the same era, but the low memory clock and SDR type cap the overall throughput. At 1024x768, a common resolution for the time, the memory bandwidth is adequate for older titles, but newer games with larger textures will cause the card to struggle. The 32 MB framebuffer also limits the maximum usable resolution and texture detail, as larger framebuffers were required for higher color depths and resolutions. The pixel rate of 350.0 MPixel/s and texture rate of 700.0 MTexel/s further indicate that the card's fillrate capabilities are closely tied to its memory performance, with the ROPs and TMUs waiting on data from the memory bus.
Who Should Consider It
The GeForce2 MX is not a card for modern gaming at any resolution. Its performance, as indicated by its 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs, places it squarely in the lower half of historical products. The data suggests that this card is best suited for legacy systems running operating systems and games from its release era, specifically around the turn of the millennium.
For users building a period-correct retro PC, the GeForce2 MX is a viable option for 800x600 or 1024x768 resolutions with reduced detail settings. Games released before 2000, such as Quake III Arena or Unreal Tournament, should run acceptably at these settings, as they were designed with hardware like this in mind. The card's support for DirectX 7.0 and OpenGL 1.2 APIs ensures compatibility with software from that period.
However, any attempt to run games from 2001 onward at higher resolutions, such as 1280x1024 or above, will likely result in poor performance. The 32 MB memory capacity is a hard limit for texture-heavy titles, and the 2.656 GB/s bandwidth will cause stuttering and low frame rates. The card is also unsuitable for any modern workload, including basic desktop usage, as its drivers and feature set are outdated. It should be considered strictly a collector's item or a functional piece of computing history, not a practical daily driver.
Benchmark Performance
The benchmark data for the GeForce2 MX is sparse, with an average benchmark score of 0 and no listed scores from standard test suites. The only performance indicator available is its percentile rank of 50, which is a relative measure against all other GPUs in the database. This rank indicates that the card is exactly average in performance compared to the entire historical catalog of graphics cards. Given that this catalog includes thousands of modern and high-end cards, a 50th percentile rank is surprisingly high for a card from 2000, but this is likely due to the fact that many older and less capable integrated graphics solutions are also in the database.
Without direct benchmark scores, a quantitative comparison to rivals is impossible from the provided data. The `nearestRivals` field is empty, and there are no deltaPct values to reference. Qualitatively, the card's specifications suggest it is significantly slower than its successor, the GeForce 3, which introduced programmable shaders and higher fillrates. Compared to its predecessor, the GeForce 256, the GeForce2 MX offers a similar feature set but with a lower memory bandwidth, which would likely result in lower performance in memory-bound scenarios.
The card's process node of 180 nm and transistor count of 20 million are indicative of its low complexity. It has 4 TMUs and 2 ROPs, which are low numbers even for its time. The texture rate of 700.0 MTexel/s and pixel rate of 350.0 MPixel/s are derived from these unit counts and the core clock, but the core clock is not specified in the data. The lack of a defined core clock makes it difficult to estimate performance relative to other cards with known clocks, but the overall data points to a product that was designed for basic 3D acceleration, not high-end gaming.
How It Compares
The GeForce2 MX has no direct rivals listed in the data, which means a formal comparison using scores and deltas is not possible. However, its position in the market can be inferred from the provided specifications and release date.
GeForce 256: As the predecessor, the GeForce 256 was a higher-end card with more features. The GeForce2 MX uses the same architecture generation but is cut down. The GeForce2 MX has a smaller die size (64 mm² vs. the GeForce 256's larger die) and likely a lower core clock. The memory bandwidth is lower, and the pixel rate is lower, indicating that the GeForce2 MX is a slower product. The GeForce2 MX does support the same DirectX 7.0 API, but its reduced fillrate will result in lower frame rates at any given resolution.
GeForce 3: The successor to the GeForce2 MX, the GeForce 3, is a significant step up. It introduces a new architecture with programmable shaders, which the GeForce2 MX lacks entirely. The GeForce 3 also has higher memory bandwidth and fillrates. The GeForce2 MX is fundamentally a fixed-function card, while the GeForce 3 is a programmable card. This makes the GeForce2 MX obsolete for any game that requires pixel or vertex shaders, as it cannot execute them in hardware and would fail to run or run with severe software emulation penalties.
AGP 4x Interface: The bus interface is AGP 4x, which is a standard for the era. The card has a single VGA output, which limits it to one display. It requires no power connectors and has a suggested PSU of 200 W, making it very easy to install in any system from that period with an AGP slot.
Power and Cooling
The GeForce2 MX has no specified TDP in the data, but its modest specifications suggest a low power draw. The card has a single-slot design and requires no external power connectors, drawing all its power from the AGP slot. The suggested PSU is 200 W, which is a very low requirement and indicates that the card is power-efficient for its era. This makes it suitable for older or lower-wattage power supplies that would not be able to handle more demanding cards.
The cooling solution is not described in detail, but given the low power draw, a simple passive heatsink or a small fan is likely sufficient. The card's process node of 180 nm is relatively large, but the transistor count of 20 million is low, meaning that heat generation is minimal. The card's dimensions are not listed, but it is a single-slot card, so it will fit in most standard cases. The absence of power connectors simplifies installation, as there is no need to route cables from the power supply. The card's low power requirements also mean that it will not stress the motherboard's AGP slot or the system's overall power delivery.
FAQ
Q: What is the memory size and type of the GeForce2 MX?
A: The GeForce2 MX has 32 MB of SDR memory, operating on a 128-bit bus with a bandwidth of 2.656 GB/s.
Q: Does the GeForce2 MX support DirectX 8.0 or higher?
A: No, the card supports only DirectX 7.0 and OpenGL 1.2. It does not support any newer API versions.
Q: What power supply is recommended for this card?
A: The suggested PSU is 200 W. The card requires no external power connectors and draws power solely from the AGP 4x slot.
Q: What is the production status of the GeForce2 MX?
A: The production status is listed as "End-of-life," and it was released on June 27, 2000.
Q: How many texture mapping units and ROPs does the card have?
A: The GeForce2 MX has 4 TMUs and 2 ROPs, resulting in a texture rate of 700.0 MTexel/s and a pixel rate of 350.0 MPixel/s.
Q: What display outputs are available on this card?
A: The card has a single VGA output, which limits it to connecting one monitor via an analog connection.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA GeForce2 MX are below.
Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
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