NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB

The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB is an end-of-life professional graphics card built on the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. Fabricated by TSMC on a 28 nm process, the GM200 chip contains 8,000 million transistors on a 601 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 13.3M per mm². In the benchmark database, this card occupies the 50th percentile among all tracked GPUs, indicating a median performance position, while its average benchmark score is listed as zero, reflecting a lack of aggregated workload data. The card was released on March 4, 2016, succeeding the Quadro Kepler line and preceding the Quadro Pascal series. It carried a launch MSRP of 4,999 USD.

Who Should Consider It

The defining feature of the M6000 24 GB is its 24 GB frame buffer, which dwarfs many contemporary consumer cards. This capacity, combined with a 384-bit memory bus and 317.4 GB/s bandwidth, makes it a strong candidate for workloads that require massive texture sets or multi-display output. The card provides 1x DVI and 4x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, enabling multi-monitor configurations. For professionals working with 4K resolution or higher, the large VRAM prevents texture swapping and stuttering. The 3072 shading units deliver a peak FP32 throughput of 6.844 TFLOPS, which is adequate for traditional rasterization. The 106.9 GPixel/s pixel rate and 213.9 GTexel/s texture rate suggest it can maintain high fill rates in demanding scenes. However, the 50th percentile ranking indicates it is not a top-tier performer. Gamers seeking high refresh rates at 1080p might find the performance acceptable, but the card's strength lies in its memory capacity rather than raw compute. It is not suited for real-time ray tracing or AI workloads, as it lacks dedicated RT and tensor cores. The 28 nm process node means it runs relatively hot, but the dual-slot cooler is designed to handle the 250 W TDP.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The M6000 24 GB has no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores, as these are entirely absent from its specification. Its API support includes DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The DirectX 12 (12_1) feature level indicates support for conservative rasterization and rasterizer-ordered views, but hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not available. OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4 provide broad compatibility with professional CAD and DCC applications, ensuring it works with modern software stacks. The absence of tensor cores means there is no hardware acceleration for deep learning inferencing or training. The card relies purely on its 3072 shading units for all compute tasks, with a peak FP32 rate of 6.844 TFLOPS. This makes it a capable general-purpose compute device, but it cannot offload specific AI or RT operations.

Benchmark Performance

The database lists no individual benchmark scores for this card, and its average benchmark score is zero, which complicates direct performance analysis. However, the percentile field places it at the 50th percentile of all GPUs, meaning exactly half of the tracked GPUs are faster and half are slower. This is a median position, indicating balanced performance relative to the broader market. The peak FP32 performance is 6.844 TFLOPS, which is a theoretical ceiling for general-purpose compute. The pixel rate of 106.9 GPixel/s and texture rate of 213.9 GTexel/s provide insight into its fill-rate capabilities, which are critical for rasterization. The memory clock runs at 1653 MHz (6.6 Gbps effective), feeding a 384-bit bus to achieve 317.4 GB/s bandwidth. The base clock is 988 MHz, boosting to 1114 MHz. These figures suggest a balanced, mid-range performance profile for its generation. Without rival deltas or specific scores, the percentile is the only comparative metric available, and it indicates a middle-of-the-pack standing. The 3072 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 96 ROPs are all standard for this class. The 28 nm process node and 601 mm² die size are large for the era, which explains the 250 W TDP. The 6.844 TFLOPS is not exceptional by modern standards, but it was competitive at launch.

How It Compares

The fact pack for this entry does not list any nearest rivals, so there are no direct comparative deltas to report. Consequently, the analysis must rely on the global percentile of 50. This absence of rival data means the M6000 24 GB cannot be positioned against specific competing models within this database. The card's standing is defined solely by its absolute specs and its median percentile rank. In the absence of named rivals, the comparative picture is incomplete, but the 50th percentile serves as a baseline for its overall market position. It is neither a flagship nor a budget card; it sits exactly in the middle of the tracked GPU population. The lack of rival scores means we cannot state whether it is 10% faster or slower than any particular model. The data simply indicates that it is average. This is a curious position for a professional card with 24 GB of VRAM, suggesting that its memory capacity is a differentiator even if its compute throughput is not.

Power and Cooling

The card has a thermal design power (TDP) of 250 W. To operate reliably, the suggested power supply unit is rated at 600 W. Power is delivered through a single 8-pin connector. The physical dimensions are 267 mm in length and 111 mm in height, with a dual-slot occupancy. The 250 W TDP is substantial, indicating that adequate case airflow is necessary. The 600 W PSU recommendation suggests that system builders should account for the rest of the system's draw. The single 8-pin connector is a standard configuration for this power class. The dual-slot design means it will occupy two expansion slots in a chassis. The 267 mm length is relatively standard, fitting most mid-tower cases. The 111 mm height is also typical. The 28 nm process node contributes to the 250 W TDP, as larger process nodes generally consume more power for a given performance level. The 8,000 million transistors on the 601 mm² die are a factor in this power draw.

FAQ

Q: Does the Quadro M6000 24 GB support hardware ray tracing?

A: No, it does not include any dedicated ray tracing cores. It only supports rasterization and compute workloads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of this card?

A: The memory bandwidth is 317.4 GB/s, achieved via a 384-bit memory bus with GDDR5 memory clocked at 1653 MHz (6.6 Gbps effective).

Q: What is the recommended power supply wattage?

A: The suggested PSU is rated at 600 W.

Q: Which API versions does it support?

A: It supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: How much VRAM does it have?

A: It has 24 GB of GDDR5 VRAM.

Q: What is the transistor count and die size?

A: The GM200 chip contains 8,000 million transistors on a 601 mm² die, fabricated on a 28 nm process.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem is a standout feature. It comprises 24 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus. The memory clock is 1653 MHz, translating to 6.6 Gbps effective, and the resulting bandwidth is 317.4 GB/s. This large capacity is critical for high-resolution workloads. At 4K and beyond, texture data and geometry can exceed smaller frame buffers. The 24 GB capacity allows for massive scenes, large data sets, and multiple displays without swapping. The 384-bit bus width provides a wide path for data transfer, which is beneficial for memory-intensive tasks. The 317.4 GB/s bandwidth, while not the highest ever recorded, is substantial for the era. The combination of capacity and bandwidth makes this card particularly suited for scientific visualization, large-scale rendering, and medical imaging where data sets are enormous. The 24 GB capacity is double that of many consumer cards of its time, making it a unique selling point. The 384-bit bus is wider than typical 256-bit buses, allowing for higher bandwidth. The 6.6 Gbps effective memory speed is standard for GDDR5. The 317.4 GB/s bandwidth ensures that the 3072 shading units are not starved of data.