NVIDIA Quadro 500M
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA Quadro 500M Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA Quadro 500M 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.
Quadro 500M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Quadro 500M'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 Quadro 500M by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's Quadro 500M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Quadro 500M'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.
Quadro 500M by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the Quadro 500M, 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.
Quadro 500M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA Quadro 500M 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.
Fermi Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA Quadro 500M is built on NVIDIA's Fermi 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 Quadro 500M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA Quadro 500M 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 Quadro 500M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Quadro 500M by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA Quadro 500M 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 Quadro 500M. 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.
Quadro 500M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA Quadro 500M 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 Quadro 500M by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About NVIDIA Quadro 500M
The NVIDIA Quadro 500M is a mobile workstation GPU built on the Fermi architecture with the GF108 chip, fabricated by TSMC on a 40 nm process. It carries 585 million transistors on a 116 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 5.0M / mm². The part is end-of-life, released on 2011-02-21, and sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the database, indicating a median performance position. However, the benchmark array is empty and the average benchmark score is 0, meaning no standardized performance results are available; analysis must rely on the specification-derived metrics provided.
Benchmark Performance
The Quadro 500M’s compute resources consist of 96 shading units, 16 texture mapping units, and 4 ROPs. Its single-precision floating-point throughput is rated at 215.0 GFLOPS, a figure that represents the theoretical peak for shader operations. The pixel fillrate is 2.240 GPixel/s, while the texture fillrate is 8.960 GTexel/s. The ratio between texture and pixel throughput is 4:1, consistent with the 16 TMUs and 4 ROPs. These numbers suggest a design optimized for texture-heavy workloads rather than high-resolution pixel pushing. The 4 ROPs are particularly few, which will constrain performance in scenarios that demand heavy fragment processing, such as high-resolution anti-aliasing or multi-sample rendering.
The 50th percentile ranking places this GPU at the exact median of the database’s performance distribution. Because no benchmark scores are listed, this percentile is the only performance-related comparative metric available. It indicates that, within the full set of GPUs tracked, the Quadro 500M is neither a standout nor a laggard. The absence of any benchmark entries means that real-world application performance cannot be directly quantified from the data. The theoretical peak of 215.0 GFLOPS is modest by modern standards, but for its 2011 release context, it would have been a mid-range offering. The lack of RT cores and tensor cores (both null) further clarifies that this is a pure rasterization GPU with no ray tracing or AI acceleration capabilities.
Memory Subsystem
The Quadro 500M is equipped with 1024 MB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus. The memory clock is 800 MHz, with an effective data rate of 1600 Mbps. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 25.60 GB/s. The bandwidth is a direct product of the 128-bit interface and the 1600 Mbps effective transfer rate; the narrow bus is the primary constraint. For a mobile workstation part, this level of bandwidth is adequate for low-to-mid resolution textures and moderate scene complexity, but it becomes a bottleneck when handling large framebuffers or high-resolution texture sets. The 1024 MB capacity also limits the amount of data that can be resident in VRAM, forcing frequent transfers over the 25.60 GB/s link. At resolutions beyond 1080p, the combination of limited capacity and bandwidth will likely cause noticeable stuttering or texture pop-in in applications that exceed the available memory.
The DDR3 type, as opposed to faster memory technologies, further underscores the budget-oriented positioning of this GPU. The 128-bit bus width is common for entry-level discrete GPUs, and the resulting bandwidth is roughly one-quarter of what high-end parts of the same era achieved, though no comparison numbers are provided. For the intended use case—portable workstations with modest 3D demands—the memory subsystem is sufficient for basic CAD, light photo editing, and older games at low settings. However, any workload that relies heavily on large textures, high-resolution shadow maps, or multi-sampled anti-aliasing will quickly expose the 25.60 GB/s ceiling.
Who Should Consider It
The Quadro 500M is a 35 W MXM module with no external power connectors, making it suitable for thin-and-light mobile workstations or embedded systems that require a discrete GPU without a large thermal and power budget. Its API support includes DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, so it can run modern applications that target these APIs, albeit with the feature level capped at 11_0. This means it supports many contemporary rendering features but lacks the full DirectX 12 Ultimate feature set. Users who need to run legacy productivity software, perform basic 3D modeling, or drive a display with light GPU acceleration will find the Quadro 500M adequate. The 1024 MB VRAM and 25.60 GB/s bandwidth are the primary constraints; they limit the GPU to 1080p or lower resolutions with conservative texture settings. For gaming, the 215.0 GFLOPS compute and 2.240 GPixel/s pixel rate will handle older titles or modern titles at low presets, but high-refresh-rate or high-detail scenarios are out of reach.
Given its end-of-life status and the fact that it is based on a 40 nm process, this GPU is not a candidate for new system builds. It is relevant primarily as a replacement part for existing MXM-A (3.0) laptops or as a reference point in legacy benchmarking. The 50th percentile ranking suggests that, among all GPUs tracked, it performs at the median—so it is not exceptionally weak, but it is far from the performance envelope of contemporary discrete parts. Users with workloads that fit within 1 GB of VRAM and do not require high fillrates or large memory bandwidth may still find it functional for basic tasks.
FAQ
Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the Quadro 500M?
A: The memory bandwidth is 25.60 GB/s, derived from a 128-bit bus and DDR3 memory running at 800 MHz (1600 Mbps effective).
Q: How many shading units does it have?
A: It has 96 shading units, 16 texture mapping units, and 4 ROPs.
Q: What is the FP32 compute performance?
A: The single-precision floating-point performance is 215.0 GFLOPS.
Q: What is the TDP and form factor?
A: The TDP is 35 W, and it is an MXM Module with an MXM-A (3.0) bus interface, requiring no external power connectors.
Q: What API support does it offer?
A: It supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6.
Q: When was it released and what is its production status?
A: It was released on 2011-02-21 and is now end-of-life.
How It Compares
The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals for the Quadro 500M, so a direct comparison against specific competing GPUs is not possible from the available data. The 50th percentile ranking, however, places it at the median of all GPUs in the database, meaning it outperforms half of the tracked parts and underperforms the other half. This is a purely positional statement, not a performance score. In the product lineage, the Quadro 500M succeeds the Quadro FX Mobile and is succeeded by the Quadro Kepler-M, but no benchmark scores are provided for either predecessor or successor. Without rival data, the only comparative insight is the percentile figure, which indicates a mid-pack position. Users seeking a more powerful mobile GPU would need to look at parts that rank higher in the database, but no such names or scores are supplied here. The absence of rival information limits the analysis to the Quadro 500M’s own specifications and its percentile standing.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA Quadro 500M are below.
Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
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