NVIDIA Quadro K5200

The NVIDIA Quadro K5200 is a professional-grade graphics card built on the Kepler architecture, targeting workstation workloads rather than consumer gaming. Its benchmark profile places it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 19623 across OpenCL and Vulkan tests. The data reveals a card that, while aged, still holds a competitive position against several newer and older counterparts, though its feature set and memory configuration tell a nuanced story for modern applications.

Memory Subsystem

The Quadro K5200 is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, a substantial capacity for its 2014 release period. This is paired with a 256-bit memory bus, which yields a peak bandwidth of 192.3 GB/s. The memory operates at 1502 MHz, translating to 6 Gbps effective speed. For high-resolution workloads, the 8 GB frame buffer is the standout specification; it allows the card to hold large datasets, textures, and rendering buffers that would exhaust cards with smaller memory pools. However, the 192.3 GB/s bandwidth is a limiting factor in scenarios demanding rapid data movement, such as 4K texture streaming or complex compute tasks. Benchmark results indicate that in OpenCL, the card scores 19180, while Vulkan performance reaches 20066, suggesting that memory bandwidth constraints may affect compute-heavy tasks more than graphics-centric ones. The 256-bit bus width is moderate by modern standards, but the 8 GB capacity provides a clear advantage for multi-monitor setups or high-resolution compositing where capacity outweighs raw throughput.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The Quadro K5200 does not include dedicated ray tracing (RT) cores or tensor cores, as these are absent from the FACT PACK specifications. Its architecture is based on the GK110B chip, which relies on standard shading units for all graphics and compute operations. The card supports DirectX 12 (feature level 11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175, providing compatibility with contemporary APIs. Notably, the Vulkan score of 20066 is higher than the OpenCL score of 19180, indicating that the card’s driver and hardware handle Vulkan’s compute and graphics pipeline efficiently. The absence of RT cores means that hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not available; any ray tracing effects would fall back to software implementations, which are impractical for real-time workloads. Similarly, no tensor cores mean no AI-accelerated features like DLSS. The card’s feature set is thus anchored in traditional rasterization and compute, with API support that is current enough for modern software but without the specialized hardware found in newer generations.

Benchmark Performance

The average benchmark score for the Quadro K5200 is 19623, derived from its OpenCL (19180) and Vulkan (20066) results. This places it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating it outperforms a majority of the field but is not a top-tier performer. Comparing to its nearest rivals, the data shows a tight cluster of performance. The Quadro K5200 trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 by a negligible 0.3%, with the RTX 2070 scoring 19680. Similarly, it is 0.4% behind the GeForce GTX TITAN, which scores 19706. Against the Tesla K40m, the Quadro K5200 leads by 0.5%, as the Tesla scores 19519. The largest gap is with the GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER, where the Quadro K5200 is 0.8% slower, given the RTX 2060 SUPER’s score of 19774. These deltas are minimal, all under a single percentage point, meaning the Quadro K5200 performs essentially on par with these rivals in aggregate benchmarks. The Vulkan score of 20066 is notably higher than the OpenCL score, suggesting that the card’s performance is workload-dependent; in Vulkan-optimized applications, it could outpace its OpenCL results by roughly 4.6%. This variance implies that the card’s real-world performance will vary significantly based on the API used and the specific compute or rendering tasks.

FAQ

Q: How much VRAM does the Quadro K5200 have, and what type is it?

A: It has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: What is the effective memory speed of the Quadro K5200?

A: The memory operates at 1502 MHz, translating to 6 Gbps effective speed.

Q: Does the Quadro K5200 support hardware ray tracing?

A: No, it does not have dedicated RT cores, so hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not available.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for this card?

A: The average score is 19623, based on OpenCL (19180) and Vulkan (20066) results.

Q: How does the Quadro K5200 compare to the GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER?

A: The Quadro K5200 is 0.8% slower, with the RTX 2060 SUPER scoring 19774 versus 19623 for the Quadro.

Q: What is the card’s production status?

A: It is marked as end-of-life.

How It Compares

vs. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070: The Quadro K5200 is virtually tied with the RTX 2070, trailing by only 0.3%. The RTX 2070 scores 19680, while the Quadro K5200 achieves 19623. This near-parity is notable given the architectural differences, with the Quadro’s older Kepler design holding its own against a newer consumer card in aggregate benchmarks. However, the RTX 2070 likely offers superior features like ray tracing, which the Quadro lacks.

vs. NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN: The GTX TITAN edges out the Quadro K5200 by 0.4%, scoring 19706. Both cards share the Kepler architecture, and the TITAN’s slightly higher score suggests a marginal performance advantage. The Quadro K5200 compensates with 8 GB of VRAM versus the TITAN’s unspecified capacity, making it a better fit for memory-intensive professional tasks.

vs. NVIDIA Tesla K40m: The Quadro K5200 leads the Tesla K40m by 0.5%, with scores of 19623 and 19519, respectively. Both are professional-grade cards, but the Quadro’s advantage in this benchmark is small. The Tesla K40m is a compute-focused card, while the Quadro K5200 balances compute and graphics, which may explain the slight edge in these mixed workload tests.

vs. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER: The RTX 2060 SUPER is the fastest rival listed, outpacing the Quadro K5200 by 0.8% with a score of 19774. This gap is still minor, but the RTX 2060 SUPER brings modern features like RT cores and tensor cores to the table, which the Quadro K5200 cannot match. The benchmark scores indicate comparable raw compute, but the feature sets diverge sharply.

Who Should Consider It

The Quadro K5200 is suited for users running professional applications that benefit from its 8 GB VRAM capacity, particularly at high resolutions like 4K or multi-display configurations. Its benchmark scores, roughly on par with the GeForce RTX 2070 and GTX TITAN, suggest it can handle demanding workloads, but the specific API matters. For Vulkan-based software, the card’s score of 20066 indicates strong performance, making it viable for modern compute tasks. However, those relying on OpenCL will see slightly lower results at 19180, though still competitive. The lack of RT and tensor cores disqualifies it for ray-traced rendering or AI-accelerated workflows; for those tasks, a newer card with dedicated hardware is necessary. Given its end-of-life status, this card is best considered for legacy systems or applications that require large memory buffers without needing high-end features. Users targeting 1080p or 1440p professional workloads will find it adequate, but at 4K, the 192.3 GB/s bandwidth may become a bottleneck for texture-heavy scenes. The card’s 150 W TDP and dual-slot design make it a manageable addition to workstations, but its performance is firmly anchored in the past, so it should be chosen only when its specific memory capacity and API support align with the software in use.