NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI Specifications
Quadro NVS 280 PCI GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI 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 NVS 280 PCI Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Quadro NVS 280 PCI'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 NVS 280 PCI by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's Quadro NVS 280 PCI Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Quadro NVS 280 PCI'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 NVS 280 PCI Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI 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.
Rankine Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI is built on NVIDIA's Rankine 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 NVS 280 PCI will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
NVIDIA's Quadro NVS 280 PCI Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI 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 NVS 280 PCI to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Quadro NVS 280 PCI by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI 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 NVS 280 PCI. 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 NVS 280 PCI Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI 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 NVS 280 PCI by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Quadro NVS 280 PCI Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI
The NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 PCI is a professional-grade graphics card built on the Rankine architecture, featuring the NV34B chip manufactured on TSMC's 150 nm process. Released in October 2003, this single-slot, PCI-based solution targets multi-display business and workstation environments. With 45 million transistors on a 91 mm² die, the card packs modest but clearly defined specifications: 64 MB of DDR memory on a 64-bit bus, 4 TMUs, 4 ROPs, and a peak pixel rate of 1.100 GPixel/s. Its 13 W thermal design power and lack of auxiliary power connectors underscore a low-power footprint designed for broad compatibility.
Power and Cooling
The Quadro NVS 280 PCI draws a maximum of 13 W, making it one of the most power-frugal graphics cards in the database. This low TDP enables a single-slot form factor without any power connectors, as the card relies entirely on the host PCI slot for its electrical needs. The suggested PSU rating is 200 W, which is a conservative figure that accommodates even modest desktop power supplies. The absence of auxiliary connectors means installation is straightforward—no additional cabling is required, and the card can be placed in any system with a free PCI slot and a 200 W or greater power supply. The compact 168 mm (6.6 inches) length further simplifies chassis integration, allowing it to fit into small form-factor cases. Because the power draw is minimal, cooling is handled by a passive heatsink or a low-profile fan, though the fact pack does not specify the cooling solution. The single-slot design ensures it does not obstruct adjacent slots, a practical advantage for systems with multiple expansion cards.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The Quadro NVS 280 PCI does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as those technologies were not part of the Rankine architecture. Consequently, hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI-based features are entirely absent. The card's API support reflects its 2003 vintage: it offers DirectX 9.0a and OpenGL 1.5 (full) with partial OpenGL 2.0 support. Vulkan is not supported. For professional workloads of the era, this meant compatibility with legacy OpenGL applications and early DirectX 9 titles, but no forward-looking feature set. The 64 MB DDR frame buffer, while small by modern standards, was sufficient for the 2D and light 3D tasks typical of business graphics, multi-monitor setups, and CAD viewport rendering at the time. The DMS-59 output connector provides a single physical port that can be split into two DVI or VGA outputs via an adapter, enabling dual-display functionality—a key feature for the Quadro NVS line. The lack of modern API support limits the card's utility in contemporary applications, but for its intended era, it delivered the necessary feature set for professional 2D and entry-level 3D workloads.
Benchmark Performance
The database records no benchmark scores for the Quadro NVS 280 PCI, with an average benchmark score of 0. However, its percentile ranking among all GPUs is 50, placing it exactly at the median of the entire performance distribution. This indicates that, within the historical spectrum of graphics cards, this model sits in the middle—neither a performance outlier nor a bottom-tier part. The card's raw throughput figures are modest: a pixel rate of 1.100 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 1.100 GTexel/s, driven by 4 TMUs and 4 ROPs. Memory bandwidth is 4.000 GB/s, derived from a 64-bit bus operating at 250 MHz (500 Mbps effective). These numbers suggest that the card can handle basic 2D acceleration and light 3D rendering, but it will struggle with anything beyond early-2000s game titles or complex CAD models. The 50th percentile ranking is consistent with a card that was positioned as a mainstream professional solution, not a high-end workstation accelerator. In the absence of direct benchmark comparisons, the specification sheet and percentile placement provide the only quantitative basis for evaluating its performance. The 64 MB frame buffer, while small, is sufficient for dual-display output at modest resolutions, and the 4.000 GB/s bandwidth ensures that texture and pixel data can flow without severe bottlenecks for the targeted workload class.
FAQ
Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) of the Quadro NVS 280 PCI?
A: The TDP is 13 W, which allows for a single-slot design without any auxiliary power connectors.
Q: How much memory does the card have, and what is its bus width?
A: It has 64 MB of DDR memory on a 64-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 4.000 GB/s.
Q: What APIs are supported?
A: The card supports DirectX 9.0a and OpenGL 1.5 (full) with partial OpenGL 2.0 support. Vulkan is not supported.
Q: What is the bus interface and how many display outputs does it have?
A: It uses a PCI bus interface (not PCIe) and has one DMS-59 display output, which can be adapted for dual displays.
Q: What is the suggested power supply rating for a system using this card?
A: The suggested PSU rating is 200 W.
Q: When was the card released?
A: It was released on October 27, 2003, and is now end-of-life.
How It Compares
The Quadro NVS 280 PCI holds a 50th percentile position in the database's ranking of all GPUs. This means it performs better than exactly half of the graphics cards tracked, and worse than the other half. Its specification set—64 MB DDR memory, 64-bit bus, 4 TMUs, 4 ROPs, and a 13 W TDP—places it in a segment that prioritizes low power and multi-display capability over raw 3D throughput. Compared to the broader GPU landscape, the card's pixel rate of 1.100 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1.100 GTexel/s are far below contemporary high-end parts, but they are sufficient for the 2D and light 3D tasks that define its professional niche. The absence of dedicated ray tracing and tensor cores further distinguishes it from modern accelerators, which incorporate such hardware for real-time ray tracing and AI workloads. In the context of its release era, the card's DirectX 9.0a and OpenGL 1.5 support were standard, but its partial OpenGL 2.0 compliance indicates a forward-looking but incomplete implementation. The 64-bit memory interface and 4.000 GB/s bandwidth are modest, yet they align with the card's intended use as a low-cost, multi-monitor solution for office productivity and basic CAD. The single-slot, passive-cooling-friendly design and lack of power connectors make it an easy drop-in for legacy systems, and its 50th percentile ranking underscores a balanced, middle-of-the-road performance profile that was competitive for its target market but not designed to lead any performance charts.
The AMD Equivalent of Quadro NVS 280 PCI
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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