NVIDIA GRID M40
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA GRID M40 Specifications
GRID M40 GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA GRID M40 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 M40 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the GRID M40'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 M40 by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's GRID M40 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The GRID M40'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 M40 by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the GRID M40, 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 M40 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA GRID M40 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 M40 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 M40 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's GRID M40 Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA GRID M40 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 M40 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
GRID M40 by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA GRID M40 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 M40. 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 M40 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA GRID M40 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 M40 by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
GRID M40 Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA GRID M40
How It Compares
The NVIDIA GRID M40 occupies a peculiar spot in the GPU landscape. It is a Maxwell-generation part built on the GM107 chip, and the benchmark data shows it sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs. With no nearest rivals listed in the database, its position is defined by its absolute capabilities rather than direct head-to-head matchups. This is a card designed for virtual desktop infrastructure, not gaming, and its performance profile reflects that specialization.
The absence of rival data means comparisons must be drawn against the broader field. The GRID M40's 50th percentile ranking places it squarely in the middle of the pack, but that statistic masks a critical detail: this is a compute-oriented board with no display outputs. The data shows a pixel rate of 16.53 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 33.06 GTexel/s, which are modest figures that align with its 384 shading units. Against modern gaming cards, this would be considered entry-level, but for its intended workload of remote desktop acceleration, the metrics tell a different story.
Looking at the raw compute figures, the FP32 performance of 793.3 GFLOPS positions the card below most mainstream gaming GPUs from its era. The 50th percentile ranking suggests it outperforms half of all GPUs ever benchmarked in the database, which is notable given its age and end-of-life status. The card was released in 2016, and its Maxwell architecture lacks the dedicated ray tracing and tensor hardware found in newer NVIDIA parts. For someone building a comparison chart, the GRID M40 is best understood as a specialized appliance rather than a general-purpose graphics card.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The GRID M40 has no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores. The FACT PACK is explicit on this point: both fields are null. This is a direct consequence of its Maxwell architecture, which predates NVIDIA's RTX line and its dedicated hardware for real-time ray tracing. The card's API support confirms its limitations in this area. DirectX is listed as 12 (11_0), which means it supports the DirectX 12 API but only at the 11_0 feature level. That distinction is crucial: the card can run DirectX 12 titles, but it lacks the feature set required for the advanced rendering techniques that newer APIs enable.
OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4 support are both present, which is respectable for a card of this vintage. The Vulkan 1.4 support is particularly interesting, as it suggests the driver stack has received ongoing updates to maintain compatibility with modern compute and graphics workloads. However, without tensor cores, any AI-accelerated features common in modern games—such as DLSS or neural network-based denoising—are completely unavailable. The card's feature set is strictly classic rasterization, with no path tracing, no mesh shaders, and no variable rate shading.
For virtual desktop use cases, this feature set is entirely adequate. The card is not designed to render cutting-edge game visuals; it is designed to stream a desktop environment to remote clients. The lack of display outputs reinforces this: the GRID M40 is a compute board meant to be paired with a separate display controller. The API support ensures compatibility with a wide range of enterprise applications, but gamers should look elsewhere. The absence of RT and tensor cores is a hard limitation that cannot be overcome through drivers or software updates.
Benchmark Performance
The benchmark data for the GRID M40 is sparse—the avgBenchmarkScore is 0, and the benchmarks array is empty. This is an unusual situation, as most GPUs have at least some recorded scores. The 0 score likely indicates that no standardized benchmarks have been run on this card in the database, or that its workload is not captured by typical gaming benchmarks. The percentileVsAllGpus of 50 is the only quantitative performance indicator available, and it suggests that when the card is tested, it lands in the middle of the pack.
Given the lack of direct performance scores, analysis must rely on the card's theoretical specifications. The FP32 throughput of 793.3 GFLOPS is the headline compute figure. To put that in perspective, a typical mid-range gaming GPU from 2016 would offer several times that amount. The texture rate of 33.06 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 16.53 GPixel/s are similarly modest. These figures translate to playable frame rates at 1080p for esports titles from the card's era, but modern AAA games would strain the hardware significantly.
The memory clock is listed as 1300 MHz with an effective data rate of 5.2 Gbps, which is standard for GDDR5. The 8 GB capacity is generous for the card's class, but the 128-bit memory bus width is narrow, capping bandwidth at 83.20 GB/s. This bandwidth figure is the key bottleneck for any compute workload that requires frequent memory access. For the GRID M40's intended use case of remote desktop and virtualized workloads, this is less of a concern, as those tasks typically have lower memory pressure than gaming. The data indicates a card that is balanced for its purpose, not for pushing high frame rates.
FAQ
Q: Does the NVIDIA GRID M40 support ray tracing?
A: No. The FACT PACK lists no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores, and the DirectX support is 12 (11_0), which lacks the feature level required for hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Q: What is the VRAM capacity and type?
A: The card comes with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory. This is a substantial amount for a compute-oriented board, though the 128-bit bus width limits the practical bandwidth.
Q: Can this card be used for gaming?
A: The card has no display outputs, so it cannot be connected directly to a monitor. It could theoretically be used for compute workloads in a gaming context, but its 793.3 GFLOPS FP32 performance and 83.20 GB/s bandwidth would limit it to older or less demanding titles.
Q: What is the power consumption?
A: The TDP is listed as 50 W, with a suggested PSU rating of 250 W. This makes it a very low-power card by modern standards, suitable for systems with modest power supplies.
Q: What API levels does the card support?
A: It supports DirectX 12 (11_0 feature level), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The DirectX support is limited to the 11_0 feature set, which means some newer DirectX 12 features are unavailable.
Q: Is this card still in production?
A: No, the production status is listed as "End-of-life." It was released in May 2016, and its Maxwell architecture is now several generations old.
Who Should Consider It
The GRID M40 is not a card for gamers. Its lack of display outputs alone disqualifies it from any direct-attach gaming scenario. The performance metrics—793.3 GFLOPS FP32, 16.53 GPixel/s pixel rate, and 33.06 GTexel/s texture rate—are sufficient for 1080p gaming at low to medium settings in titles from around its 2016 release, but modern games would be a struggle. The 8 GB VRAM is a positive for texture-heavy workloads, but the 83.20 GB/s bandwidth would create bottlenecks at higher resolutions.
The intended audience is enterprise IT departments deploying virtual desktop infrastructure. The card's 50 W TDP makes it ideal for dense server environments where power and cooling are at a premium. The 250 W suggested PSU rating indicates it can be paired with low-wattage power supplies, further reducing operational costs. The dual-slot design and PCIe 3.0 x16 interface are standard, ensuring broad compatibility with existing server platforms. The lack of display outputs is a feature, not a bug, in this context—the card is meant to be managed remotely and does not need to drive a physical display.
For anyone considering this card for a home server or homelab, the 50th percentile ranking suggests it will handle basic compute tasks competently. Video transcoding, if supported by the driver, would be a plausible use case given the Maxwell architecture's hardware encode capabilities. However, the absence of tensor cores means no AI acceleration, and the 128-bit memory bus limits any memory-intensive workloads. This is a card for a specific niche, and outside that niche, its usefulness is limited.
Memory Subsystem
The memory subsystem is a study in trade-offs. The GRID M40 offers 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, which is a generous capacity for a card with only 384 shading units. The memory clock is 1300 MHz, translating to a 5.2 Gbps effective data rate. Combined with the 128-bit bus width, this yields a total bandwidth of 83.20 GB/s. This is a modest figure by modern standards—many contemporary cards offer four to eight times that bandwidth—but it is consistent with the card's low-power design.
The 8 GB capacity is the standout feature here. For virtual desktop workloads, where multiple users may be assigned to a single GPU, the larger memory pool allows for more concurrent sessions with reasonable per-user allocations. The bandwidth, however, is the limiting factor. At 83.20 GB/s, the card would struggle with high-resolution textures or large datasets that require rapid memory access. The pixel rate of 16.53 GPixel/s and texture rate of 33.06 GTexel/s are similarly constrained, meaning the memory subsystem is balanced to support the compute throughput without being a bottleneck for the card's intended tasks.
The 128-bit bus width is narrow, which is typical for low-power cards. The transistor count of 1,870 million on a 148 mm² die, fabricated on TSMC's 28 nm process, results in a transistor density of 12.6M per mm². This is an efficient design for its era, but the small die size and narrow bus reflect a focus on power efficiency rather than raw performance. For high-resolution compute tasks, the bandwidth would be the first constraint hit. The data indicates that the memory subsystem is adequate for the card's designed purpose but not for pushing large data sets or high-resolution rendering.
The AMD Equivalent of GRID M40
Looking for a similar graphics card from AMD? The AMD Radeon RX 480 offers comparable performance and features in the AMD lineup.
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