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NVIDIA Tesla C2050

NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores

3 GB
VRAM
MHz Boost
238W
TDP
384
Bus Width

At a Glance

NVIDIA
VRAM 3 GB
Shaders 448
Bus Width 384-bit
TDP 238W
Memory Type GDDR5
Architecture Fermi
nm
Process 40 nm
Released Jul 2011

NVIDIA Tesla C2050 Specifications

Tesla C2050 GPU Core

Shader units and compute resources

The NVIDIA Tesla C2050 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.

Shading Units
448
Shaders
448
TMUs
56
ROPs
48
SM Count
14

Tesla C2050 Clock Speeds

GPU and memory frequencies

Clock speeds directly impact the Tesla C2050'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 Tesla C2050 by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.

GPU Clock
574 MHz
Memory Clock
750 MHz 3 Gbps effective
Shader Clock
1147 MHz
GDDR GDDR 6X 6X

NVIDIA's Tesla C2050 Memory

VRAM capacity and bandwidth

VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Tesla C2050'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.

Memory Size
3 GB
VRAM
3,072 MB
Memory Type
GDDR5
VRAM Type
GDDR5
Memory Bus
384 bit
Bus Width
384-bit
Bandwidth
144.0 GB/s

Tesla C2050 by NVIDIA Cache

On-chip cache hierarchy

On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the Tesla C2050, 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.

L1 Cache
64 KB (per SM)
L2 Cache
768 KB

Tesla C2050 Theoretical Performance

Compute and fill rates

Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA Tesla C2050 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.

FP32 (Float)
1,027.7 GFLOPS
FP64 (Double)
513.9 GFLOPS (1:2)
Pixel Rate
16.07 GPixel/s
Texture Rate
32.14 GTexel/s

Fermi Architecture & Process

Manufacturing and design details

The NVIDIA Tesla C2050 is built on NVIDIA's Fermi 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 Tesla C2050 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.

Architecture
Fermi
GPU Name
GF100
Process Node
40 nm
Foundry
TSMC
Transistors
3,100 million
Die Size
529 mm²
Density
5.9M / mm²

NVIDIA's Tesla C2050 Power & Thermal

TDP and power requirements

Power specifications for the NVIDIA Tesla C2050 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 Tesla C2050 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.

TDP
238 W
TDP
238W
Power Connectors
1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
Suggested PSU
550 W

Tesla C2050 by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity

Dimensions and outputs

Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA Tesla C2050 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.

Slot Width
Dual-slot
Length
248 mm 9.8 inches
Bus Interface
PCIe 2.0 x16
Display Outputs
1x DVI
Display Outputs
1x DVI

NVIDIA API Support

Graphics and compute APIs

API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the NVIDIA Tesla C2050. 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.

DirectX
12 (11_0)
DirectX
12 (11_0)
OpenGL
4.6
OpenGL
4.6
OpenCL
1.1
CUDA
2.0
Shader Model
5.1

Tesla C2050 Product Information

Release and pricing details

The NVIDIA Tesla C2050 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 Tesla C2050 by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.

Manufacturer
NVIDIA
Release Date
Jul 2011
Production
End-of-life
Predecessor
Tesla
Successor
Tesla Kepler

Tesla C2050 Benchmark Scores

No benchmark data available for this GPU.

About NVIDIA Tesla C2050

The NVIDIA Tesla C2050 is a Fermi-generation compute card built around the GF100 chip. TSMC fabricates the die on a 40 nm process, packing 3,100 million transistors into 529 mm² for a density of 5.9M/mm². The card belongs to the Tesla Fermi (x20xx) generation, was released on 2011-07-24, and is now end-of-life. The database lists its predecessor as Tesla and its successor as Tesla Kepler. No base, boost, or game clocks are specified; only the memory clock is given, at 750 MHz. With a 50th percentile rank and an average benchmark score of 0, the C2050 sits at the midpoint of the database's GPU field.

Memory Subsystem

Memory capacity is 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus. The memory clock is 750 MHz, which produces a 3 Gbps effective data rate, and total bandwidth is 144.0 GB/s. For high resolutions, capacity matters as much as throughput. A 3 GB frame buffer lets large render targets, texture sets, or compute buffers stay resident on the card rather than being swapped through system memory. The 384-bit bus is the channel that feeds the GPU's rendering and compute units; at 750 MHz it still sustains 144.0 GB/s. That figure is the bandwidth budget for the 56 TMUs and 48 ROPs, which work at a texture rate of 32.14 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 16.07 GPixel/s. In practice, the memory subsystem is balanced around sustained throughput for large data. The 448 shading units on the compute side rely on that same 144.0 GB/s path when fetching operands. The combination of 3 GB capacity, a 384-bit bus, and 144.0 GB/s bandwidth points to a design philosophy that favors wide, steady data movement over raw memory clock speed. High-resolution workloads that are capacity-bound, holding large textures, render targets, or multi-sample buffers, fit this profile better than latency-sensitive tasks.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The C2050 has no RT cores and no tensor cores; the fact pack lists both as absent. The chip is GF100, part of the Fermi generation, so there is no dedicated ray-intersection hardware and no tensor execution path. API coverage is DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, with Vulkan not listed. The DirectX 12 support is at feature level 11_0, meaning the hardware's capabilities map to the DirectX 11 feature set. OpenGL 4.6 is the longest-lived API option available in the data, which matters for professional compute and visualization applications. The lack of Vulkan support rules out applications that rely exclusively on that API. Feature-wise, this is a compute-first card: all processing falls on the 448 shading units, 56 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. Any ray-traced effect would have to be implemented in shader code without hardware acceleration, and any tensor-style operation would run through general-purpose ALU paths. These limitations are fixed by the Fermi architecture and do not change with driver updates.

Benchmark Performance

The database shows an average benchmark score of 0 for the C2050, with no benchmark entries stored behind that number. The card's percentile rank is 50th among all GPUs. Because there are no recorded runs, the 0 average is a data placeholder rather than a measured performance result; the percentile is the only comparative rank provided. The 50th percentile places the card at the exact midpoint of the database's GPU distribution, not among the fastest, but not at the bottom either.

The theoretical throughput figures in the data support that mid-pack position. FP32 compute is 1,027.7 GFLOPS. Pixel fill is 16.07 GPixel/s, and texture fill is 32.14 GTexel/s, driven by 448 shading units, 56 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. These are the raw numbers that place the card in the middle of the database. No nearest rivals are listed, so exact percentage deltas to specific cards cannot be quoted from the data. The available facts are the 50th percentile, the 0 average score, and the throughput rates. A card with this FP32, pixel-fill, and texture-fill profile belongs in the middle of the field, which is exactly what the percentile shows.

FAQ

Q: What memory configuration does the Tesla C2050 use?

A: It uses 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus, with a 750 MHz memory clock (3 Gbps effective) and 144.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Does it support ray tracing or tensor acceleration?

A: No. The fact pack lists no RT cores and no tensor cores; the card is GF100 Fermi, so those specialized units do not exist.

Q: Which APIs are supported?

A: DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. Vulkan is not listed in the fact pack.

Q: What power connectors and PSU are required?

A: The TDP is 238 W. Power comes from one 6-pin and one 8-pin connector, and the suggested power supply is 550 W.

Q: Is the card still in production?

A: No. The release date is 2011-07-24, production status is end-of-life, and the database lists Tesla Kepler as its successor.

Q: How does the C2050 rank in the database?

A: It sits at the 50th percentile of all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 0 because there are no recorded benchmark entries for this card.

Who Should Consider It

The C2050 is a candidate for workloads where 3 GB of GDDR5 is the deciding factor. High-resolution rendering tasks that fill large frame buffers, or compute jobs that process big texture sets, benefit from that capacity without needing more than 144.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its 50th percentile position means it is not a performance leader; workloads that are strictly compute-throughput-bound should look at faster cards in the database. The absence of RT cores and tensor cores excludes ray-traced and AI-accelerated workloads from serious consideration. The single DVI display output limits it to one monitor, reinforcing that this is a compute card rather than a display-oriented product. The Fermi architecture and end-of-life production status mean the feature set is fixed and will not gain new capabilities. A user with a Tesla-generation system, or an application that specifically needs a 384-bit bus and 3 GB capacity with a 144.0 GB/s ceiling, is the realistic audience. For anything else, modern gaming, ray tracing, or high-percentile compute, the data suggests the C2050 would be a compromise.

Power and Cooling

The C2050 has a TDP of 238 W and uses a dual-slot cooler. Two power connectors are required: one 6-pin and one 8-pin PCIe power connector. The database recommends a 550 W power supply for a system containing this card. Physical clearance is defined by the 248 mm (9.8 inches) length. The board uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface. The dual-slot design occupies two expansion slots, so any adjacent slot is consumed by the cooler. These are the only power and cooling figures on record; the data lists no cooler noise or temperature specifications.

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