NVIDIA Quadro K420
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA Quadro K420 Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA Quadro K420 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 K420 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Quadro K420'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 K420 by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's Quadro K420 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Quadro K420'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 K420 by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the Quadro K420, 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 K420 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA Quadro K420 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 K420 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 K420 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA Quadro K420 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 K420 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Quadro K420 by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA Quadro K420 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 K420. 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 K420 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA Quadro K420 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 K420 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 K420
The NVIDIA Quadro K420 is a 28nm Kepler professional card built on the GK107 chip, with 1,270 million transistors packed into a 118 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 10.8M per mm². Benchmark results show an average score of 1846, placing it at the 10th percentile of all GPUs—a clear indicator of entry-level performance. The data reveals a card that is now end-of-life, succeeded by Quadro Maxwell, and designed for basic compute and display duties rather than demanding workloads.
Benchmark Performance
The K420 achieves an average Geekbench score of 1846, with an OpenCL score of 1840 and a Vulkan score of 1851. This narrow spread indicates consistent performance across different compute APIs. At the 10th percentile, the K420 sits in the bottom tier of all GPUs, but its nearest rivals show how tightly grouped this segment is. The K420 is exactly matched with the GeForce GT 525M, showing a 0% delta. It trails the ATI Radeon HD 5870 by 0.1% (1846 vs 1848) and the GeForce GT 425M by 1.2% (1846 vs 1869). Conversely, it leads the GeForce RTX 2060 12 GB by 2.6% (1846 vs 1799). These deltas are small, but they establish a clear hierarchy: the K420 is a mid-low performer in synthetic compute, with FP32 throughput of 336.4 GFLOPS, a pixel rate of 3.504 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 14.02 GTexel/s. The 2.6% lead over the RTX 2060 12 GB is notable but should be interpreted cautiously—it reflects the specific Geekbench workload, not real-world gaming or rendering performance. The data indicates that the K420's compute capabilities are sufficient for light tasks but will bottleneck under heavy 3D loads.
Power and Cooling
The K420's TDP is just 41 W, making it one of the most power-efficient cards in its class. The suggested PSU is 200 W, and the card requires no external power connectors, drawing power entirely from the PCIe 2.0 x16 slot. This low power draw is a direct result of the 28nm process node from TSMC, which also contributes to the card's compact single-slot design. The physical dimensions are 160 mm (6.3 inches) in length and 69 mm (2.7 inches) in height, allowing it to fit in tight chassis. With a 41 W TDP, a simple air cooler suffices; the data does not indicate any need for liquid cooling or oversized heatsinks. This makes the K420 an excellent candidate for silent or low-power workstation builds, as it can be installed without additional power cabling and runs cool under typical workloads.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The K420 is based on the Kepler architecture and the GK107 chip, but it contains no RT cores and no tensor cores. Consequently, it lacks dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI acceleration. In terms of software support, the card offers DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175, which are modern API versions that ensure compatibility with contemporary applications, even if the hardware cannot leverage advanced features. The display outputs consist of one DVI port and one DisplayPort 1.2 connector, enabling dual-monitor setups. The generation is listed as "Quadro Kepler (Kx200)", and the card's predecessor is Quadro Fermi, with Quadro Maxwell as its successor. This places the K420 in a specific lineage of professional cards focused on reliability rather than high-end features. The absence of RT and tensor cores categorizes this card as a pure compute and display adapter, not a ray-tracing capable GPU.
How It Compares
- vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M: The K420 shows a 0% delta, meaning the two cards have identical average scores of 1846. This indicates that the K420 offers no performance advantage over this older mobile GPU in synthetic benchmarks.
- vs ATI Radeon HD 5870: The K420 trails the HD 5870 by a negligible 0.1%, with scores of 1846 versus 1848. This near-parity suggests the K420 is effectively on par with a much older desktop card in compute tasks.
- vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M: The K420 falls 1.2% behind the GT 425M, which scores 1869. This is the largest deficit among the rivals, but it remains a small margin, indicating similar performance tiers.
- vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 12 GB: The K420 leads the RTX 2060 12 GB by 2.6%, with the K420 at 1846 and the RTX card at 1799. This surprising result in Geekbench compute does not reflect the RTX card's superiority in gaming or ray tracing, but it does highlight the K420's efficiency in specific compute workloads.
Memory Subsystem
The K420 is equipped with 1024 MB of DDR3 memory, connected via a 128-bit bus. The memory clock runs at 891 MHz, with an effective data rate of 1782 Mbps, resulting in a bandwidth of 28.51 GB/s. This memory configuration is modest and directly impacts performance at high resolutions. With only 1 GB of VRAM, the K420 will struggle with modern textures and large frame buffers at 1440p or 4K. The 28.51 GB/s bandwidth further limits data throughput, making the card unsuitable for memory-intensive tasks. For 1080p and lower resolutions, the memory subsystem is adequate for basic 2D and light 3D workloads, but users seeking high-resolution gaming or rendering will find it insufficient. The effective memory clock of 1782 Mbps is a clear bottleneck when compared to the demands of contemporary applications.
Who Should Consider It
The K420 is aimed at users who need a low-power, single-slot display adapter for professional environments. Its 10th percentile ranking and average score of 1846 indicate that it is not designed for demanding 3D workloads. Instead, it excels in basic office productivity, legacy application support, and as a secondary display output. The card's low TDP and lack of power connectors make it easy to install in existing systems. However, for users planning to play modern games or run ray-traced applications, the data clearly shows this card is inadequate. Its 1 GB memory and 28.51 GB/s bandwidth are bottlenecks, and the absence of RT/tensor cores eliminates any ray tracing or AI capabilities. The K420 is best suited for 1080p or lower resolutions with minimal graphical demands. Given its end-of-life status, buyers should consider it only for specific legacy use cases where its 41 W power draw and compact form factor are advantages.
FAQ
Q: Does the NVIDIA Quadro K420 have ray tracing cores?
A: No, the K420 has no RT cores, so it does not support hardware ray tracing.
Q: What is the average benchmark score of the K420?
A: The average benchmark score is 1846, from Geekbench OpenCL (1840) and Vulkan (1851) tests.
Q: What power supply is recommended for the K420?
A: The suggested PSU is 200 W, and the card has a TDP of 41 W with no external power connectors.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the K420?
A: The memory bandwidth is 28.51 GB/s, using 1024 MB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus.
Q: What is the production status of the K420?
A: The production status is end-of-life.
Q: What is the release date of the K420?
A: The release date is July 21, 2014.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA Quadro K420 are below.
Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how NVIDIA Quadro K420 handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performersgeekbench_vulkanSource
Geekbench Vulkan tests GPU compute using the modern low-overhead Vulkan API. This shows how NVIDIA Quadro K420 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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