S3 Graphics Chrome 440 GTX

The S3 Graphics Chrome 440 GTX is an end-of-life graphics card built on the Chrome architecture with the Destination 3 chip. Fabricated on TSMC's 65 nm process, it packs 196 million transistors into an 85 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 2.3M per mm². Released on September 3, 2008, this single-slot card carries a launch MSRP of 69 USD and draws a TDP of 131 W, with a suggested PSU of 300 W. It connects via PCIe 2.0 x16 and offers 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, and 1x VGA outputs. The card's production status is end-of-life, and it succeeds the GammaChrome predecessor.

How It Compares

The benchmark database lists no nearest rivals for the Chrome 440 GTX, so direct percentage deltas against specific competitors cannot be computed. The card's percentileVsAllGpus field places it at the 50th percentile, meaning it sits exactly at the median of all GPUs tracked in the database. This indicates a balanced, mid-pack position rather than a performance outlier. Because the benchmarks array is empty and the average benchmark score is 0, the data provides no validated frame-rate or synthetic scores to contrast against other cards. In the absence of rival data, the comparison must rely on the card's fixed hardware specifications: 32 shading units, 4 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. These figures suggest a part designed for basic 3D acceleration rather than high-end gaming. The 50th percentile ranking implies that in a broad field of GPUs, half are faster and half are slower, but without specific rival scores, a granular comparison is impossible. The lack of a listed successor means the card's position in the product stack is isolated, with only the GammaChrome as its predecessor. The absence of rival entries in the database means that any claims of superiority or inferiority would be unfounded based on the provided data. The 50th percentile is the only positional anchor, and it is a relative measure against all GPUs, not just contemporaries, so its meaning is broad. Without a deltaPct value, there is no way to express how much faster or slower it is than a specific competitor.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The Chrome 440 GTX does not include dedicated ray tracing cores; the rtCores field is null. Similarly, tensor cores are absent, with the tensorCores field also null. This means the card relies entirely on its 32 shading units for all graphics processing. In terms of API support, the card is limited to DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 2.1. Vulkan support is not listed, as the vulkan field is null. This API set places the card in an older software ecosystem, lacking the modern rendering paths found in later generations. The architecture is designated as 'Chrome', with the chip codenamed 'Destination 3'. Without RT or tensor hardware, features like ray-traced lighting and AI-accelerated upscaling are completely unavailable. The card's feature set is therefore defined by its fixed-function and shader-based pipeline, which is consistent with its 2008 release date. The absence of Vulkan is particularly notable, as it prevents the card from participating in modern cross-platform graphics workloads. The DirectX 10.1 support is a step above DirectX 10, but it still predates the DirectX 11 and 12 standards. OpenGL 2.1 is similarly dated, limiting compatibility with newer OpenGL applications.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the Chrome 440 GTX is notably sparse. The benchmarks array is empty, and the average benchmark score is recorded as 0. Consequently, there are no measured frame rates or synthetic scores to analyze, and no percentage deltas against rivals can be derived from the database. The only quantitative performance indicators are the theoretical throughput figures. The card delivers an FP32 compute rate of 70.40 GFLOPS, a pixel rate of 3.200 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 3.200 GTexel/s. These numbers are derived from the 32 shading units operating at the card's internal clocks, though base and boost clocks are not listed. The 3.200 GTexel/s texture rate, combined with the 3.200 GPixel/s pixel rate, indicates a fill-rate ceiling that will constrain performance in texture-heavy scenes. With 4 ROPs and 4 TMUs, the card's output stages are limited. The 50th percentile ranking suggests that, despite the lack of recorded scores, the card is positioned in the middle of the GPU population. However, without benchmark scores, the practical gaming performance cannot be quantified. The FP32 figure of 70.40 GFLOPS is the peak compute capability, and it is low for a card released in 2008, but it represents a basic entry-level throughput. The theoretical throughput figures are the only hard numbers available. The FP32 rate of 70.40 GFLOPS is calculated from the shading units, but the card's actual vertex and pixel processing is further limited by the 4 TMUs and 4 ROPs. The texture rate of 3.200 GTexel/s matches the pixel rate exactly, indicating a balanced fill-rate design, but both are low. The 50th percentile ranking, despite the zero average score, suggests that the database's internal weighting places this card in the middle, likely due to its feature set and memory configuration rather than raw compute.

FAQ

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the S3 Graphics Chrome 440 GTX?

A: The launch MSRP is 69 USD.

Q: What memory configuration does the card use?

A: It uses 256 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 64-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 12.80 GB/s and a memory clock of 800 MHz (1600 Mbps effective).

Q: Does the card support ray tracing?

A: No. The rtCores field is null, indicating no ray tracing cores are present.

Q: What is the power requirement?

A: The card has a TDP of 131 W and a suggested PSU of 300 W.

Q: What display outputs are available?

A: The card provides 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, and 1x VGA outputs.

Q: What is the production status and release date?

A: The production status is end-of-life, and the release date is September 3, 2008.

Who Should Consider It

Given the 50th percentile ranking and the lack of recorded benchmark scores, the Chrome 440 GTX is best suited for users who need a basic display output rather than high-performance gaming. The 256 MB VRAM and 12.80 GB/s bandwidth limit its ability to handle high-resolution textures or large frame buffers. The card's 70.40 GFLOPS FP32 compute and 3.200 GPixel/s pixel rate suggest it can handle older or less demanding 3D applications at lower resolutions and settings. For a system requiring a single-slot card with DVI, HDMI, and VGA outputs, this card provides connectivity without the bulk of a multi-slot cooler. The 131 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU indicate a modest power draw, making it suitable for systems with a standard power supply. However, gamers seeking modern API features will be disappointed, as DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 2.1 are the only supported APIs. The card is end-of-life, so it is not a candidate for new builds, but for retro systems or as a basic output card, it fits a specific niche. The 64-bit memory bus and 12.80 GB/s bandwidth are the primary constraints, meaning any task that relies heavily on memory throughput will be severely limited. The card's single-slot design and 131 W TDP make it a low-profile option for compact systems. The suggested PSU of 300 W is modest, allowing installation in systems with limited power delivery. The display outputs, including VGA, provide compatibility with older monitors. For users running legacy operating systems or software that rely on DirectX 10.1, this card offers a compatible pathway. However, the lack of Vulkan support and the null tensor cores mean it cannot accelerate modern AI workloads. The end-of-life status indicates that driver support may be limited, so it is not recommended for daily use in a primary machine.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem of the Chrome 440 GTX is a key limiting factor. It is equipped with 256 MB of GDDR3 memory, which is a small capacity for any demanding workload. The memory bus is 64 bits wide, which is narrow compared to higher-end cards of the era. This narrow bus, combined with the 800 MHz memory clock (1600 Mbps effective), yields a total bandwidth of 12.80 GB/s. This bandwidth figure is modest and will be a bottleneck when moving textures or geometry data. For high resolutions, the 256 MB capacity is insufficient to hold large framebuffers and texture sets, leading to potential stuttering or reduced texture quality. The 64-bit bus further compounds this, as it limits the amount of data that can be transferred per clock cycle. The pixel rate of 3.200 GPixel/s is directly tied to the ROP count and memory bandwidth, so the constrained bandwidth will cap the card's ability to output pixels at higher resolutions. In summary, the memory subsystem is designed for low-resolution, low-detail workloads, and the 12.80 GB/s bandwidth is the ceiling for data throughput. The 256 MB capacity is a hard limit on texture detail and framebuffer size, making high-resolution gaming impractical. The memory clock of 800 MHz is the base for the 1600 Mbps effective rate, which is a standard DDR3 transfer. The 64-bit bus width is the primary determinant of the 12.80 GB/s bandwidth. To put this in perspective, the bandwidth is sufficient for lower-resolution workloads but will choke on higher resolutions. The 256 MB capacity is also a limiting factor for workloads that demand large texture sets. The pixel rate of 3.200 GPixel/s is the maximum output rate, and it is directly capped by the memory bandwidth. In practice, the memory subsystem is the most significant bottleneck for this card.