NVIDIA Quadro K6000 SDI
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA Quadro K6000 SDI Specifications
Quadro K6000 SDI GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA Quadro K6000 SDI 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 K6000 SDI Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Quadro K6000 SDI'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 K6000 SDI by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's Quadro K6000 SDI Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Quadro K6000 SDI'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 K6000 SDI by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the Quadro K6000 SDI, 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 K6000 SDI Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 SDI 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 K6000 SDI 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 K6000 SDI will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's Quadro K6000 SDI Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 SDI 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 K6000 SDI to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Quadro K6000 SDI by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 SDI 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 K6000 SDI. 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 K6000 SDI Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA Quadro K6000 SDI 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 K6000 SDI by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Quadro K6000 SDI Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA Quadro K6000 SDI
The NVIDIA Quadro K6000 SDI is a professional workstation card from the Kepler generation, built on TSMC's 28 nm process with 7,080 million transistors on a 561 mm² die. Its launch MSRP is 8,599 USD. With a production status of end-of-life and a release date of 2013-07-22, this card occupies a specific niche in the professional visualization market, offering a unique combination of compute and broadcast-oriented output capabilities. The data shows a 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs, placing it squarely in the mid-range of historical performance.
Benchmark Performance
The Quadro K6000 SDI delivers a FP32 compute throughput of 5.196 TFLOPS, a figure that positions it as a competent performer for its era. This raw compute power is supported by 2,880 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs, yielding a texture rate of 216.5 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 54.12 GPixel/s. These numbers indicate a balanced architecture where geometry processing, texture fill, and pixel output are all proportionally scaled to avoid bottlenecks in typical professional workloads.
The benchmark data does not include specific scores from rival cards, so direct percentage comparisons are impossible from the provided facts. However, the 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs suggests that this card sits at the median of the performance distribution. This means that while it is not a top-tier performer by modern standards, it also does not fall into the lower quartile of historical hardware. The absence of nearest rival data in the fact pack means the analysis must rely on the internal consistency of the specifications to infer relative standing.
The pixel rate of 54.12 GPixel/s and texture rate of 216.5 GTexel/s are the key indicators of rasterization throughput. These figures would have been substantial for 2013, allowing for smooth manipulation of complex 3D models and high-resolution textures in professional applications like CAD and DCC. The FP32 performance of 5.196 TFLOPS is particularly relevant for simulation and scientific computing tasks, where double-precision is not required but single-precision throughput is heavily utilized. The data implies that this card was designed to handle compute-heavy visualization workloads without sacrificing rendering fidelity.
Who Should Consider It
Based on the memory configuration of 12 GB GDDR5 and the compute capabilities, this card is suited for professionals working with large datasets and high-resolution displays. The 12 GB VRAM is substantial, suggesting it can handle multiple 4K monitors or a single 8K canvas without exhausting memory resources. For users working in video post-production, the presence of 3x SDI outputs alongside the standard display outputs indicates a specific target audience: broadcast and film professionals who need direct SDI connectivity for monitoring on reference-grade displays.
The 5.196 TFLOPS FP32 performance suggests that this card can handle real-time rendering of moderately complex scenes at 1440p or 4K resolutions, provided the software is optimized for Kepler architecture. For GPU-accelerated rendering in applications like Blender or Maya, the 2,880 shading units would provide a noticeable speedup over consumer-grade cards of the same generation. However, the 48 ROPs may become a limiting factor at very high resolutions with heavy overdraw, so users pushing 8K textures or multi-viewport setups might see diminishing returns.
The 288.4 GB/s memory bandwidth is adequate for feeding the shading units in most professional workloads, but users working with extremely large point clouds or 3D scans may find that memory bandwidth becomes a bottleneck before compute power does. The card is best suited for users who need a reliable, certified workstation GPU for software like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or Nuke, where driver stability and certified performance are more critical than raw gaming benchmarks. The triple-slot design and 239 W TDP indicate it requires a workstation chassis with adequate space and airflow.
Memory Subsystem
The memory subsystem is one of the most defining aspects of the Quadro K6000 SDI. It comes equipped with 12 GB of GDDR5 memory operating at an effective speed of 6 Gbps, which is driven across a 384-bit bus. This configuration yields a total memory bandwidth of 288.4 GB/s. The 384-bit bus width is a critical factor here, as it allows the memory controller to move large blocks of data in parallel, which is essential for handling the large textures and frame buffers used in professional visualization.
The 12 GB capacity is noteworthy, especially considering the card's 2013 release date. This amount of VRAM allows for loading entire high-resolution texture sets and complex 3D scenes into memory, reducing the need for constant data streaming from system RAM. For high-resolution output, the bandwidth of 288.4 GB/s is sufficient to drive multiple 4K displays or a single 8K display with realistic shading and post-processing effects. The data suggests that the memory subsystem was designed with a focus on capacity and bandwidth parity, ensuring that neither becomes a bottleneck in typical usage.
The effective memory clock of 6 Gbps is modest by modern standards, but the wide 384-bit bus compensates for the lower clock speed. This trade-off is typical of professional cards, where stability and error correction are prioritized over raw speed. For users rendering at 4K or above, the 288.4 GB/s bandwidth allows for smooth panning and zooming in high-resolution image viewers, while the 12 GB frame buffer prevents out-of-memory errors when compositing multiple layers in software like After Effects or Fusion.
FAQ
Q: What is the memory size and type of the Quadro K6000 SDI?
A: The card features 12 GB of GDDR5 memory.
Q: What is the bus width and memory bandwidth?
A: It has a 384-bit memory bus, providing 288.4 GB/s of bandwidth.
Q: What is the FP32 compute performance?
A: The card delivers 5.196 TFLOPS of single-precision floating-point performance.
Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) and recommended PSU?
A: The TDP is 239 W, and the suggested power supply is 550 W.
Q: What are the display outputs available on this card?
A: It includes 3x DVI, 2x DisplayPort 1.2, and 3x SDI outputs.
Q: What is the manufacturing process node?
A: The chip is fabricated on a 28 nm process by TSMC.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
This card does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as indicated by the null values in the fact pack. Its architecture is purely based on the Kepler design, which relies on traditional rasterization and compute shaders. Consequently, any ray tracing workloads would have to be handled via compute shaders in software, which would be significantly slower than on hardware-accelerated RTX cards. The API support includes DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175, which provides a modern software foundation for compatibility with current professional applications.
The DirectX 12 (11_0) support is a feature level designation, not full DirectX 12 Ultimate support, which means it can run DX12 titles but with a feature set limited to DirectX 11-level hardware capabilities. The OpenGL 4.6 support is crucial for many professional CAD and DCC applications that rely heavily on this API. Vulkan 1.2.175 support allows for low-overhead access to the GPU, which can be beneficial in specialized compute and rendering engines. The absence of tensor cores means that AI-based features like DLSS are not available, but for professional visualization, this is less critical than raw compute and memory bandwidth.
The display output configuration is unique, featuring 3x SDI outputs in addition to the standard DVI and DisplayPort connections. This makes the card particularly well-suited for broadcast environments where SDI is the standard interface for video monitoring and signal routing. The DisplayPort 1.2 outputs support high resolutions and refresh rates, while the DVI outputs provide compatibility with legacy monitors.
Power and Cooling
The Quadro K6000 SDI has a TDP of 239 W, which is a modest power draw for the performance on offer. The recommended power supply is 550 W, which is a reasonable requirement for a workstation with a single high-end GPU. The card does not list specific power connector requirements in the fact pack, but the TDP suggests it would require at least one 8-pin PCIe power connector. The triple-slot cooling design indicates that it uses a substantial heatsink and fan assembly to dissipate the 239 W of heat.
The triple-slot width is a significant consideration for system builders, as it will occupy a large amount of space in the chassis and may block adjacent PCIe slots. The physical dimensions are 267 mm in length and 111 mm in height, making it a standard-length card but with a taller than usual profile due to the cooling solution. The card should be installed in a chassis with good airflow, particularly if other high-heat components are present.
The 239 W TDP is lower than some competing professional cards from the same era, which often exceeded 250 W. This suggests that the Kepler architecture was relatively power-efficient for its time, delivering a high compute density per watt. The 550 W PSU recommendation provides sufficient headroom for the card's peak power draw and accounts for the rest of the system's components. Users with high-core-count CPUs or multiple storage drives should ensure their power supply has adequate amperage on the +12V rail.
How It Compares
The fact pack does not include any nearest rival data, so a direct comparison to specific competing cards cannot be made.
This absence of comparative data means that its position in the market must be inferred from its internal specifications alone. The 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs provides a general reference point, indicating that it is an average performer in the historical GPU landscape.
Without rival names or scores, the analysis is limited to contextualizing the card's capabilities based on its own specs. The 12 GB VRAM and 384-bit bus are strong indicators of a high-end professional card, while the 5.196 TFLOPS FP32 performance is solid but not exceptional for the Kepler generation. The unique SDI outputs are a differentiator that sets it apart from standard Quadro cards, suggesting a specialized broadcast-oriented variant.
The 28 nm process node and 7,080 million transistors place it in the same generation as other Kepler-based professional cards, but the specific configuration of the K6000 SDI is tailored for video and broadcast workflows. The lack of direct rivals in the data prevents a quantitative comparison, but the qualitative assessment is that it sits in the upper-middle tier of professional GPUs from its era, with a niche feature set that justifies its premium positioning.
The AMD Equivalent of Quadro K6000 SDI
Looking for a similar graphics card from AMD? The AMD Radeon RX 480 offers comparable performance and features in the AMD lineup.
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