NVIDIA NVS 3100M
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA NVS 3100M Specifications
NVS 3100M GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA NVS 3100M 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.
NVS 3100M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the NVS 3100M'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 NVS 3100M by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's NVS 3100M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The NVS 3100M'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.
NVS 3100M by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the NVS 3100M, 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.
NVS 3100M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA NVS 3100M 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 NVS 3100M 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 NVS 3100M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's NVS 3100M Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA NVS 3100M 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 NVS 3100M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
NVS 3100M by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA NVS 3100M 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 NVS 3100M. 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.
NVS 3100M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA NVS 3100M 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 NVS 3100M by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
NVS 3100M Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA NVS 3100M
The NVIDIA NVS 3100M is a mobile graphics processor built on the Tesla 2.0 architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 40 nm process. It integrates 260 million transistors on a 57 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 4.6 million per square millimeter. The part is classified as end-of-life and holds a 50th percentile rank in the database's GPU population, though no benchmark scores are recorded for it. It connects via a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface, and its display outputs are described as "Portable Device Dependent."
Benchmark Performance
The NVS 3100M's theoretical peak performance is defined by its 16 shading units, 8 texture mapping units, and 4 raster output units. The GPU achieves a pixel fill rate of 2.424 GPixel/s and a texture fill rate of 4.848 GTexel/s. The FP32 compute throughput is 46.98 GFLOPS. These numbers describe a part that is firmly in the entry-level segment of its era. The pixel rate of 2.424 GPixel/s is a hard ceiling for any resolution; higher resolutions will proportionally reduce the achievable frame rate, and even at modest settings the fill rate limits the complexity of scenes. The texture rate of 4.848 GTexel/s indicates that the GPU can handle only simple texture-heavy workloads, such as those found in early DirectX 9 titles or basic 2D applications. The FP32 performance of 46.98 GFLOPS is very low, making compute tasks impractical.
The absence of recorded benchmark scores in the database means that real-world comparisons with other GPUs cannot be drawn from this record. The 50th percentile rank suggests that within the entire GPU database, which includes many legacy and low-end parts, the NVS 3100M sits at the median. That position is likely a reflection of its very low absolute performance rather than any competitive strength, given that the database's population is heavily weighted toward older integrated and discrete parts. The theoretical rates, while not directly comparable to any rival, place this GPU at a level that would struggle with any workload beyond basic 2D rendering or video playback.
Memory Subsystem
The memory subsystem of the NVS 3100M consists of 512 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus. The memory clock runs at 790 MHz, which translates to an effective data rate of 1580 Mbps, yielding a total bandwidth of 12.64 GB/s. This bandwidth is exceptionally low; it will cause bottlenecks in any texture-heavy scene, as the 64-bit bus width halves the throughput compared to a 128-bit interface at the same clock. The 512 MB capacity is also limiting, as modern operating systems and applications often require more than 512 MB for frame buffers alone. For high-resolution rendering, the bandwidth and capacity are insufficient; the GPU is best suited for resolutions of 1280x1024 or lower, where the memory is adequate for simple 2D and early 3D applications. The GDDR3 memory type is an older standard, lacking the higher densities and efficiencies of later memory types. The effective data rate of 1580 Mbps is modest, and the 12.64 GB/s bandwidth is a fraction of what even entry-level parts from the same era might offer, though no specific rival numbers are available in the record.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The NVS 3100M does not include any dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as those features were not part of the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The API support is limited to DirectX 11.1 (with a feature level of 10_1) and OpenGL 3.3. The DirectX 11.1 specification is listed with a parenthetical "10_1", indicating that the hardware only supports the Direct3D 10.1 feature set, not the full Direct3D 11 pipeline. This means that many modern effects, tessellation, compute shaders, and advanced geometry shaders, are not available. OpenGL 3.3 is also a relatively old specification, lacking support for newer extensions like ARB_bindless_texture or ARB_shader_image_load_store. Vulkan is not supported at all, which is expected for a 2010-era part. Consequently, the NVS 3100M cannot accelerate ray tracing in any form; any ray-traced workload would fall back to software, which is impractical given the low compute throughput. The absence of tensor cores also means no hardware acceleration for machine learning inference. The feature set is therefore confined to legacy APIs and basic fixed-function operations, making the GPU incompatible with modern graphics requirements.
Who Should Consider It
Given the benchmark data, or lack thereof, and the hardware specifications, the NVS 3100M is appropriate only for users with very low demands. It could serve as a basic display adapter for office productivity, web browsing, and video playback of legacy codecs. For 3D applications, it would handle early 2000s titles at low resolutions and detail settings, but it would struggle with anything released after 2010. The 512 MB memory and 12.64 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for modern game textures, and the pixel rate of 2.424 GPixel/s limits frame rates even at low resolutions. The 46.98 GFLOPS of FP32 performance is very low, making compute tasks impractical. The 50th percentile rank in the database suggests that it is not the absolute worst part, but it is far below the median for any meaningful workload. The GPU's end-of-life status further reduces its appeal, as driver support is likely discontinued and security updates are no longer provided. Users who require a mobile GPU for basic Windows 7-era tasks might find it adequate, but those expecting to run any modern 3D application should look elsewhere. The lack of Vulkan support and the limited DirectX feature level make it incompatible with current game engines, which typically require at least Direct3D 11 with full feature level 11_0 or Vulkan 1.0.
Power and Cooling
The NVS 3100M has a thermal design power (TDP) of 14 W, which is very low for a discrete GPU. This low TDP allows for passive cooling in many portable device implementations, as the display outputs are described as "Portable Device Dependent." The GPU does not require any external power connectors, drawing all its power from the motherboard or laptop board. The absence of a suggested PSU in the specification sheet is consistent with its mobile, low-power nature. The 14 W TDP means that thermal management is straightforward; a small heatsink or even a thin heatpipe would suffice. However, because the GPU is integrated into a laptop or portable device, the actual cooling solution depends on the system design. The lack of a power connector also implies that the GPU is not designed for desktop use or overclocking. The 40 nm process node contributes to the low power draw, as smaller transistors reduce switching energy. In summary, the power and cooling requirements are minimal, making it a suitable component for thin-and-light laptops of its era. The 14 W figure is a key differentiator, as it allows for fanless designs in many cases, though the actual thermal solution is system-dependent.
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