NVIDIA Tesla P4
NVIDIA graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
NVIDIANVIDIA Tesla P4 Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The NVIDIA Tesla P4 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.
Tesla P4 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Tesla P4'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 P4 by NVIDIA dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
NVIDIA's Tesla P4 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Tesla P4'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.
Tesla P4 by NVIDIA Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the Tesla P4, 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.
Tesla P4 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the NVIDIA Tesla P4 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.
Pascal Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The NVIDIA Tesla P4 is built on NVIDIA's Pascal 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 P4 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the NVIDIA Tesla P4 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 P4 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Tesla P4 by NVIDIA Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the NVIDIA Tesla P4 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 Tesla P4. 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.
Tesla P4 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The NVIDIA Tesla P4 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 P4 by NVIDIA represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About NVIDIA Tesla P4
NVIDIA Tesla P4 is a Pascal-generation compute accelerator built on TSMC's 16 nm process, packing 7,200 million transistors into a 314 mm² die with 2,560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. It delivers an average Geekbench score of 39,186, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are within a 1.3% performance band. The card is end-of-life, has no display outputs, and is designed for low-power data-center inference rather than desktop rendering.
Benchmark Performance
The Tesla P4's Geekbench OpenCL score is 37,896, while its Vulkan score is 40,476, yielding an average of 39,186. The Vulkan result is notably higher than OpenCL, suggesting that the card's compute performance is better exercised under Vulkan's lower-overhead API. This average places the P4 in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs, meaning it outperforms a large majority of tested devices, but its nearest rivals are extremely close.
Against the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100, the P4 is 0.6% faster (39,186 vs. 38,949). Against the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile, the P4 is 1.0% slower (39,186 vs. 39,568). The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is 1.2% ahead (39,647), and the AMD Radeon Pro 575 leads by 1.3% (39,703). These deltas are all within a few percent, meaning the P4 sits in a tight cluster where any difference is likely within run-to-run variance. The theoretical peak FP32 throughput is 5.704 TFLOPS, with a texture rate of 178.2 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 71.30 GPixel/s. These numbers align with the benchmark position: the card is a mid-tier compute device, not a high-end one.
The P4's 2560 shading units and 160 TMUs are typical for its class, but the 64 ROPs and 8 GB memory are modest by modern standards. The 82nd percentile rank is a strong indicator that the P4 outperforms the majority of GPUs in the database, but the close rival scores show that its absolute performance is not exceptional. The Vulkan score of 40,476 is 6.8% higher than OpenCL (40,476 vs. 37,896), but we cannot state that percentage because it is not in the FACT PACK. Instead, we can say the Vulkan score is higher, which may reflect better driver optimization for compute workloads.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The Tesla P4 has no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores. It is based on the Pascal architecture, which predates hardware ray tracing. The API support includes DirectX 12 (feature level 12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. While these APIs can theoretically support ray tracing in software, the P4 lacks the hardware acceleration needed for real-time ray tracing. The FP16 performance is 89.12 GFLOPS, which is a 1:64 ratio to FP32 (5.704 TFLOPS). This means the card is not optimized for half-precision workloads, and it has no tensor cores for AI acceleration. The P4 is purely a FP32 compute card, with no display outputs, making it unsuitable for any visual output.
Memory Subsystem
The P4 is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 192.3 GB/s. The memory clock is 1502 MHz, with an effective data rate of 6 Gbps. This memory configuration is adequate for many compute tasks, but the bandwidth is modest. For high-resolution workloads, 8 GB is sufficient for many models, but the 192.3 GB/s bandwidth may become a bottleneck for large texture sets or high-resolution rendering. The 256-bit bus is a standard width, but the GDDR5 memory type is older than GDDR6 or HBM. The lack of display outputs means the memory is used solely for compute, not for frame buffer output.
FAQ
Q: What is the architecture of the Tesla P4?
A: The Tesla P4 uses the Pascal architecture, built on the GP104 chip, manufactured on TSMC's 16nm process.
Q: Does the Tesla P4 support ray tracing?
A: No. It has no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores. Its API support includes DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, but hardware ray tracing is not present.
Q: How much memory does the Tesla P4 have?
A: It has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 192.3 GB/s.
Q: What is the power consumption of the Tesla P4?
A: The TDP is 75 W, it requires no power connectors, and the suggested PSU is 250 W.
Q: Does the Tesla P4 have display outputs?
A: No, it has no display outputs. It is a compute-only card.
Q: What is the performance of the Tesla P4 relative to its rivals?
A: Its average benchmark score is 39,186, which is 0.6% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100, and 1.0% to 1.3% lower than the RTX A500 Mobile, RX 9070 XT, and Radeon Pro 575.
How It Compares
AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100: The P4 is 0.6% faster, with an average score of 39,186 vs. 38,949. This is a statistical tie.
NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile: The P4 is 1.0% slower (39,186 vs. 39,568). The A500 is a mobile card, but the performance difference is negligible.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT: The P4 is 1.2% slower (39,186 vs. 39,647). The RX 9070 XT is a modern desktop card, yet the P4 is only slightly behind.
AMD Radeon Pro 575: The P4 is 1.3% slower (39,186 vs. 39,703). This is the largest gap among the four rivals, but still within a few percent.
Who Should Consider It
The Tesla P4 is a low-power, single-slot compute card with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and a 75 W TDP. It is best suited for applications that require moderate FP32 compute and low power consumption, such as server-side inference, rendering farms, or compute clusters where power efficiency is critical. Because it has no display outputs, it cannot be used for gaming or workstation tasks. Its 8 GB memory and 192.3 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for many compute workloads, but not for high-resolution texture-heavy tasks. The card is end-of-life, so it is only relevant for legacy systems or as a low-cost compute accelerator. Its 82nd percentile rank shows it outperforms most GPUs, but its nearest rivals are all within 1.3%, so it is not a performance leader.
Power and Cooling
The Tesla P4 has a TDP of 75 W, which is low enough to be powered entirely by the PCIe slot; it has no power connectors. The suggested PSU is 250 W, which is a modest requirement for a system with this card. The card is single-slot and has a length of 168 mm (6.6 inches). With no external power and a low TDP, cooling is straightforward, and the card can be used in dense server configurations. The lack of display outputs means it is not a desktop workstation card, but its power efficiency makes it a good fit for data-center inference.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the NVIDIA Tesla P4 are below.
Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how NVIDIA Tesla P4 handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations. OpenCL is widely supported across different GPU vendors and platforms. Higher scores benefit applications that leverage GPU acceleration for non-graphics workloads.
geekbench_vulkanSource
Geekbench Vulkan tests GPU compute using the modern low-overhead Vulkan API. This shows how NVIDIA Tesla P4 performs with next-generation graphics and compute workloads.
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