NVIDIA Quadro K3100M
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA Quadro K3100M Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M 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 K3100M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Quadro K3100M'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 K3100M by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's Quadro K3100M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Quadro K3100M'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 K3100M by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the Quadro K3100M, 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 K3100M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M 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.
Kepler Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M is built on NVIDIA's Kepler 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 K3100M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M 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 K3100M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Quadro K3100M by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M 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 K3100M. 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 K3100M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M 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 K3100M 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 K3100M
The NVIDIA Quadro K3100M is a mobile workstation graphics solution built on the Kepler architecture, targeting the professional market segment with a specific feature set and performance profile. Based on the GK104 chip manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC, this end-of-life product occupies a particular niche in the benchmark database, with an average benchmark score of 4,937 points placing it in the 27th percentile of all GPUs. The card integrates 768 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, with a base and boost clock of 706 MHz, producing a peak FP32 throughput of 1,084.4 GFLOPS. Its memory subsystem consists of 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The Quadro K3100M does not include dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores, as these hardware units are absent from the specification sheet. This is characteristic of the Kepler generation, which predates the introduction of such specialized accelerators. Consequently, real-time ray tracing workloads that depend on hardware-accelerated BVH traversal or denoising are not supported through dedicated silicon, and any ray tracing operations would fall back to compute shaders running on the general-purpose CUDA cores.
The API support for this GPU is defined by its generation and architecture. DirectX support is listed as 12 (11_0), indicating that while the hardware is compatible with the DirectX 12 API, the feature level is capped at 11_0, which limits certain advanced DX12 features. OpenGL support extends to version 4.6, and Vulkan is supported at version 1.2.175, providing a reasonably modern foundation for cross-platform graphics development. The absence of tensor cores also means that AI-accelerated workloads such as DLSS or other tensor-based inference tasks cannot leverage dedicated hardware acceleration, relying instead on the standard compute pipelines.
The feature set is further defined by the display outputs being portable device dependent, which is typical for MXM modules used in laptops and mobile workstations. The bus interface is MXM-B (3.0), with the slot width specified as MXM Module and no power connectors required, given the 75 W TDP. The pixel rate is 11.30 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 45.18 GTexel/s, which are modest figures that reflect the mid-range positioning of this part.
Who Should Consider It
Given the benchmark results, the Quadro K3100M is suited for specific use cases rather than broad gaming or high-performance computing. The Geekbench Metal score of 3,720 and the Geekbench OpenCL score of 6,154 provide a concrete basis for assessing its capabilities. For users working with OpenCL-accelerated applications, the 6,154 score indicates a functional level of compute performance, but the 27th percentile ranking across all GPUs suggests it is not a top-tier compute device.
The data indicates that this GPU is appropriate for legacy professional workloads that are not heavily dependent on the latest graphics features. Given the DirectX 12 (11_0) feature level, gamers targeting modern titles with high settings at higher resolutions will likely find the performance inadequate. The 75 W TDP and MXM form factor suggest it is designed for mobile workstations where power efficiency is a consideration, and the 4 GB GDDR5 memory capacity is sufficient for moderate-resolution textures and professional applications that do not require massive frame buffers.
For resolution and settings recommendations based on the scores, the OpenCL score of 6,154 suggests that 1080p gaming at low to medium settings is the realistic ceiling for this GPU. At higher resolutions such as 1440p or 4K, the 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth and 1,084.4 GFLOPS FP32 throughput will likely become bottlenecks, leading to sub-optimal frame rates. The Metal score of 3,720 is notably lower, indicating that Apple’s Metal API may not be a strength for this part, so users on Metal-centric platforms should adjust expectations accordingly.
The 27th percentile ranking places this GPU below the median of all GPUs in the database, meaning it is outclassed by the majority of modern parts. However, for users with specific compatibility requirements or those who need a professional-grade mobile GPU for legacy software certification, the Quadro K3100M remains a functional option.
Benchmark Performance
The benchmark data shows an average score of 4,937, which is derived from the Geekbench Metal and OpenCL results. This places the Quadro K3100M in a tightly contested performance band, with rival GPUs clustered within a narrow margin. The closest rival is the Intel HD Graphics 630, which scores 4,977, representing a delta of -0.8% relative to the Quadro K3100M. This means the integrated Intel solution is slightly faster on average, a notable finding given that the Quadro is a discrete mobile workstation GPU.
Against the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, the Quadro K3100M scores 4,937 versus 4,934, a delta of 0.1%, placing them statistically tied. This is surprising given the significant architectural differences, but the benchmark average smooths out variations across different tests. The GeForce 930M scores 4,927, which is 0.2% lower than the Quadro, again a negligible difference. The AMD FirePro W5130M rounds out the rivals with a score of 4,904, showing a 0.7% deficit relative to the Quadro.
These deltas are remarkably small, all within 1% of each other. The data indicates that the Quadro K3100M is not a performance outlier in either direction; it is firmly entrenched in a mid-range cluster where the average scores are nearly indistinguishable. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 6,154 is the stronger of the two benchmarks, while the Metal score of 3,720 drags the average down, suggesting that the GPU’s compute performance in OpenCL is more competitive than its Metal performance.
The 0.1% lead over the GTX 980M is essentially a tie, and the -0.8% deficit against the Intel HD Graphics 630 is also within noise. From a purely numerical standpoint, the Quadro K3100M delivers performance that is comparable to these rivals, but the context matters: the GTX 980M is a consumer gaming GPU, while the Intel HD Graphics 630 is an integrated solution. The Quadro’s workstation pedigree may justify its existence despite the similar scores, as driver optimizations and certification for professional applications are not captured in raw benchmark averages.
FAQ
Q: What is the average benchmark score for the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M?
A: The average benchmark score is 4,937, which places it in the 27th percentile of all GPUs in the database.
Q: How does the Quadro K3100M compare to the GeForce GTX 980M?
A: The Quadro K3100M scores 4,937, while the GTX 980M scores 4,934, resulting in a delta of 0.1% in favor of the Quadro, effectively a statistical tie.
Q: What are the specific Geekbench results for this GPU?
A: The Geekbench Metal score is 3,720, and the Geekbench OpenCL score is 6,154.
Q: Does the Quadro K3100M support ray tracing?
A: No, the specification lists no RT cores or tensor cores, so hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported.
Q: What is the memory configuration of the Quadro K3100M?
A: It features 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.
Q: What is the DirectX feature level supported by this GPU?
A: The DirectX support is listed as 12 (11_0), meaning the API version is 12 but the feature level is capped at 11_0.
How It Compares
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M: The quadros scores 4,937 against 4,934 for the GTX 980M, a delta of 0.1%. This near-identical average performance is notable because the GTX 980M is a high-end consumer part, whereas the Quadro is a mid-range workstation solution. The data suggests that for general compute benchmarks, the two are interchangeable, though professional driver support may differentiate them in real-world applications.
NVIDIA GeForce 930M: The GeForce 930M scores 4,927, which is 0.2% lower than the Quadro’s 4,937. This delta is minimal, placing the two GPUs in the same performance tier. The 930M is a low-end consumer mobile part, so the Quadro’s slight edge in average score does not translate into a meaningful advantage, but it does indicate that the Quadro is not drastically slower than a dedicated entry-level GPU.
AMD FirePro W5130M: The FirePro W5130M scores 4,904, representing a 0.7% deficit relative to the Quadro. This is the largest gap among the nearest rivals, though it remains under 1%. Both are professional mobile GPUs, so the comparison is more apples-to-apples, and the Quadro holds a small but consistent lead in average benchmark performance.
Intel HD Graphics 630: The integrated Intel HD Graphics 630 scores 4,977, which is 0.8% higher than the Quadro’s 4,937. This means the integrated solution is slightly faster on average, a surprising result given that the Quadro is a discrete GPU with dedicated memory. The data indicates that for the specific workloads captured in the average benchmark, the integrated part keeps pace with the discrete Quadro, though the Quadro’s 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and driver certification may still provide advantages in professional contexts.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA Quadro K3100M are below.
Benchmark Scores
geekbench_metalSource
Geekbench Metal tests GPU compute using Apple's Metal API. This shows how NVIDIA Quadro K3100M performs in macOS and iOS applications that leverage GPU acceleration. Metal provides low-overhead access to Apple silicon GPUs.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performersgeekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how NVIDIA Quadro K3100M handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
geekbench_vulkanSource
Geekbench Vulkan tests GPU compute using the modern low-overhead Vulkan API. This shows how NVIDIA Quadro K3100M performs with next-generation graphics and compute workloads. Vulkan offers better CPU efficiency than older APIs like OpenGL.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
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