NVIDIA GRID M3-3020
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GRID M3-3020 Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GRID M3-3020 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.
GRID M3-3020 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GRID M3-3020'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 GRID M3-3020 by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GRID M3-3020 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GRID M3-3020'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.
GRID M3-3020 by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the GRID M3-3020, 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.
GRID M3-3020 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GRID M3-3020 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 GRID M3-3020 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 GRID M3-3020 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GRID M3-3020 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 GRID M3-3020 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GRID M3-3020 by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GRID M3-3020 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 GRID M3-3020. 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.
GRID M3-3020 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GRID M3-3020 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 GRID M3-3020 by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About NVIDIA GRID M3-3020
NVIDIA GRID M3-3020 is a professional virtualization-focused GPU built on the 28 nm Maxwell architecture, using the GM107 chip with 1,870 million transistors on a 148 mm² die. It operates at a base clock of 1033 MHz with a boost of 1306 MHz, and its benchmark profile places it at the 50th percentile among all GPUs tracked in the database, indicating a mid-pack positioning for its era.
Benchmark Performance
The GRID M3-3020’s compute specifications define its performance envelope. With 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs, the card delivers a peak FP32 throughput of 1.672 TFLOPS. This translates to a texture rate of 52.24 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 20.90 GPixel/s. These figures are characteristic of an entry-level discrete GPU from the Maxwell generation, designed primarily for virtual desktop infrastructure rather than raw frame rendering.
The 4 GB GDDR5 memory runs at 1300 MHz (5.2 Gbps effective) across a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 83.20 GB/s. This memory subsystem is modest by modern standards but adequate for the card’s intended workload of hosting multiple virtualized sessions with moderate graphics demands. In synthetic benchmarks, the GRID M3-3020 achieves an average benchmark score of 0, which is an artifact of the database lacking direct measurement data for this SKU. Instead, its percentile rank of 50 against all GPUs suggests that, when compared to the full historical dataset, it sits exactly at the median — outperforming roughly half of all tracked graphics processors while trailing the other half.
The FP32 rate of 1.672 TFLOPS is the primary indicator of raw compute capability. For context, this places the card in a performance class where it can handle basic 3D acceleration and video decode but will struggle with modern high-fidelity gaming or intensive compute workloads. The pixel and texture rates reinforce this: 20.90 GPixel/s and 52.24 GTexel/s respectively are sufficient for 1080p-class desktop composition and light 3D applications, but not for high-resolution rendering or complex shader workloads.
How It Compares
The FACT PACK provides no nearestRivals entries for the GRID M3-3020, meaning the database does not currently list any directly comparable GPUs with associated score deltas. Consequently, quantitative comparisons against specific competitor models cannot be made from the available data. The percentile rank of 50 serves as the sole relative metric, indicating that this GPU sits at the median of the entire database population.
Without rival scores, the analysis relies on architectural context. The Maxwell generation, represented here by the GM107 chip, was NVIDIA’s efficient mid-range design. Compared to later Pascal or Turing architectures, the GRID M3-3020 lacks the dedicated hardware features those generations introduced. Its position in the database’s percentile distribution suggests that, among all GPUs ever tracked, it is neither a standout performer nor a laggard — a typical result for a card aimed at virtualization rather than enthusiast gaming.
The absence of benchmark scores or rival deltas means the card’s performance ranking is best understood through its silicon specifications. The 1.672 TFLOPS FP32 figure places it below the performance threshold of most dedicated gaming GPUs from its release era, but above integrated graphics solutions of the same period. For its intended use case — remote desktop acceleration — this level of compute is adequate.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GRID M3-3020 does not include any ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as these hardware units were not part of the Maxwell architecture. The GM107 chip relies entirely on traditional shader-based rendering through its 640 shading units. This means the card has no dedicated hardware acceleration for real-time ray tracing or AI-based features such as DLSS.
API support is limited to the capabilities of the Maxwell generation. The card supports DirectX 12 (11_0) — note the parenthetical, which indicates that while the driver exposes DirectX 12, the hardware feature level is capped at 11_0. This is a critical distinction: the card cannot take advantage of DirectX 12’s advanced features like bindless resources or asynchronous compute. OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4 are also supported, providing broad compatibility with modern graphics APIs on Linux and Windows virtualized environments.
The display outputs field lists "No outputs," which is expected for a GRID product. This card is designed for server deployment where the GPU renders frames that are encoded and streamed to remote clients, rather than driving a physical display. As such, the feature set is oriented toward compute and encode workloads, not local output. The lack of tensor cores further limits its utility for modern AI-accelerated workloads, confining it to traditional rasterization tasks.
FAQ
Q: What is the GRID M3-3020’s primary intended use case?
A: The card has no display outputs, indicating it is designed for virtual desktop infrastructure, where it renders frames for remote streaming rather than local display.
Q: Does the GRID M3-3020 support hardware ray tracing?
A: No. The card has no ray tracing cores, as it is based on the Maxwell architecture, which predates NVIDIA’s RTX hardware.
Q: What is the significance of the DirectX 12 (11_0) designation?
A: While the card exposes DirectX 12 in its driver, the hardware feature level is limited to 11_0, meaning it cannot use DirectX 12’s advanced features such as bindless resources.
Q: How much memory bandwidth does the card provide?
A: The 4 GB GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus delivers 83.20 GB/s of bandwidth, running at an effective speed of 5.2 Gbps.
Q: What is the card’s position in the overall GPU performance distribution?
A: The GRID M3-3020 ranks at the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the database, placing it exactly at the median of tracked graphics processors.
Q: Which graphics APIs are supported?
A: The card supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, covering both legacy and modern graphics interfaces.
Power and Cooling
The GRID M3-3020 has no TDP listed in the FACT PACK, but its power delivery requirements are specified. The card requires a single 8-pin power connector, and the suggested PSU rating is 200 W. This relatively low PSU recommendation reflects the card’s modest compute capabilities and its design for dense server deployments where power efficiency is paramount.
The card occupies a dual-slot form factor with a length of 267 mm (10.5 inches). This physical profile is standard for a mid-range GPU of its generation, though the dual-slot design is notable for a card without display outputs — the extra height likely accommodates a passive heatsink or a low-profile active cooler suitable for server chassis.
The absence of a TDP figure makes exact thermal output unknown, but the 200 W PSU suggestion and single 8-pin connector imply a board power draw well under 200 W, likely in the 75–150 W range based on the architecture’s efficiency. The Maxwell generation was known for favorable performance-per-watt, and this card’s virtualization focus would prioritize low idle power for always-on server operation. Cooling requirements are modest; a capable air cooler within the dual-slot envelope should suffice, as the card’s compute density is low by modern standards. The production status is end-of-life, and the release date is May 17, 2016, meaning this hardware is now several generations old and not intended for new deployments.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA GRID M3-3020 are below.
Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
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