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NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M

NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M is a fast mid-range laptop graphics card presented in 2010. It is based on the GF108 core, which is related to the Fermi architecture. Therefore, it supports DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.0. In contrast to the GT 415M, the card features the full 96 shader cores. Compared to the GT425M and GT435M, the 420M offers lower clock rates.

GF108 architecture

The GF108 core of the GT 420M is related to the GF100 core of the GeFore GTX 480M and offers 96 shaders and a 128 Bit memory bus for DDR3. Except for the memory controllers the GF108 can basically be considered a halved GF106. Therefore, the architecture is not comparable to the old GT215 (e.g., GeForce GTS 350M) or GT216 (e.g., GeForce GT 330M) cores. Unlike the GF100 the smaller GF104, GF106, and GF108 core were not only shortened, but also considerably modified. In contrast to the GF100, which was designed for professional applications, these chips target the consumer market. They feature more shaders (3x16 instead of 2x16), more texture units (8 instead of 4) and SFUs per streaming multi-processor (SM). As there are still only 2 warp schedulers (versus 3 shader groups), Nvidia now uses superscalar execution to use the higher amount of shaders per SM more efficiently. In theory, the shaders can thereby be utilized more efficiently and the performance per core is improved. However, in worst case scenarios the performance can also be worse than of the GF100 (and its predecessors). The ECC memory protection, which is important for professional applications, was completely omitted and the FP64 hardware shortened (only 1/3 of the shader are FP64-capable and therewith only 1/12 of the FP32’s performance). Because of these cutbacks, the size of the SM  grew only by 25% despite the higher number of shaders and larger warp schedulers with superscalar dispatch capabilities. Due to the different shader architectures and the higher clock rate of the shader domain, the core count can not be directly compared to AMD cores of the Radeon 5000 series (e.g. HD 5650).

Detailed information on the GF104 architecture (and therewith also the GF106 and GF108) can be found in the desktop GTX 460 article by Anandtech.

Performance

Because the GeForce GT 420M features a new architecture, the performance is not comparable to older chips with a similar core count. The DDR3 graphics memory combined with the 128 Bit bus should be the bottleneck of the GT 420M. In our tests with an Acer Aspire 5745PG pre-sample, the GT 420M performed on average between a GeForce GT 330M and GT 335M. Due to the higher shader count of the GT 420M, the performance could improve with future driver releases.

The gaming performance of the GT 420M is sufficient for medium detail settings in modern games like Battlefield Bad Company 2. Less demanding games should run in high detail settings. The best resolution to choose is about 1360x768 due to the limited performance. Benchmarks and comparison charts on the 3D performance can be found below.

Features

A novelty of the GF104/106/108 chips is the support of Bitstream HD Audio (Blu-Ray) output via HDMI. Alike the Radeon HD 5650, the GT 420M can transfer Dolby True HD and DTS-HD bitstream-wise without quality loss to a HiFi receiver.

The GT420M offers the PureVideo HD technology for video decoding. The included Video Processor 4 (VP4) supports feature set C and therefore the GPU is able to fully decode MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Part 2 (MPEG-4 ASP - e.g., DivX or Xvid), VC-1/WMV9, and H.264 (VLD, IDCT, Motion Compensation, and Deblocking).

Furthermore, the GPU is able to decode two 1080p streams simultaneously (e.g. for Blu-Ray Picture-in-Picture).

Through CUDA, OpenCL, and DirectCompute 2.1 support, the GeForce GT 420M can be of help in general calculations. For example, the stream processor can considerably faster encode videos than a fast CPU can. Furthermore, physics calculations can be done by the GPU using PhysX (e.g. supported by Mafia 2 or Metro 2033).

According to rumors, the power consumption of the GeForce GT 420M should be about 35 Watt (TDP including the MXM board and memory), and therefore suited for 15” laptops. Our Aspire 5745PG review unit was equipped with Optimus and the GT 420M needed 10.7-12.3 Watt more than the GMA HD alone in idle mode, 15.6-17.5 Watt during 3DMark06 and 23.2 Watt more during Furmark. 

Without load, the chip is clocked at 50/100/135 MHz (chip/shader/memory) in 2D respectively 200/400/325 in 3D mode to save power. Furthermore, the 400M series supports Optimus to automatically switch between the integrated graphics card from Intel and the Nvidia GPU. However, the laptop manufacturers need to implement it and it cannot be upgraded.

GeForce GT 400M Series

GeForce GT 445M compare 144 @ 0.59 GHz192 / 128 Bit @ 1250 MHz
GeForce GT 435M compare 96 @ 0.65 GHz128 Bit @ 800 MHz
GeForce GT 425M compare 96 @ 0.56 GHz128 Bit @ 800 MHz
GeForce GT 420M 96 @ 0.5 GHz128 Bit @ 800 MHz
GeForce GT 415M compare 48 @ 0.5 GHz128 Bit @ 800 MHz
CodenameN11P-GE
ArchitectureFermi
Pipelines96 - unified
Core Speed500 MHz
Shader Speed1000 MHz
Memory Speed800 MHz
Memory Bus Width128 Bit
Memory Type(G)DDR3
Shared Memoryno
APIDirectX 11, Shader 5.0
technology40 nm
Notebook Sizemedium sized
Date of Announcement03.09.2010
Information
Optimus Support, PureVideo HD VP4, Blu-Ray 3D, Bitstream HD Audio, CUDA, DirectCompute, OpenCL, OpenGL 4.0, DirectX 11
Link to Manufacturer Pagewww.nvidia.com

Benchmarks

3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total +
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX +
3DMark 2001SE - 3DMark 2001 - Standard
min: 16559     avg: 18904     median: 18904 (20%)     max: 21249 Points
3DMark 03 - 3DMark 03 - Standard
min: 14473     avg: 15344     median: 15464.5 (8%)     max: 15972 Points
3DMark 05 - 3DMark 05 - Standard
min: 10788     avg: 11125     median: 11124.5 (12%)     max: 11461 Points
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 +
3DMark 06
min: 5988     avg: 6101     median: 6148 (8%)     max: 6168 Points
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x768 +
SPECviewperf 11
specvp11 snx-01 +
specvp11 tcvis-02 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 tcvis-02
min: 0.56     avg: 0.6     median: 0.6 (0%)     max: 0.58 fps
specvp11 sw-02 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 sw-02
min: 3.4     avg: 3.7     median: 3.7 (3%)     max: 3.98 fps
specvp11 proe-05 +
specvp11 maya-03 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 maya-03
min: 2.13     avg: 3.3     median: 3.3 (2%)     max: 4.41 fps
specvp11 lightwave-01 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 lightwave-01
min: 5.19     avg: 6.2     median: 6.2 (7%)     max: 7.15 fps
specvp11 ensight-04 +
specvp11 catia-03 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 catia-03
min: 2.34     avg: 2.5     median: 2.5 (1%)     max: 2.61 fps
Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) +
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit)
min: 3023     avg: 3529     median: 3464 (2%)     max: 4166 points
Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit +
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit
min: 0.92     avg: 14.3     median: 18.7 (6%)     max: 18.93 fps
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

low 800x600
med. 1024x768
high 1360x768
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Fifa 11

Fifa 11

2010
low 800x600
184.1 307.5 ~ 246 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1024x768
102.6 148.8 ~ 126 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1360x768
74.1 94.6 ~ 84 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Mafia 2

Mafia 2

2010
low 800x600
47.3  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
31.6  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
25.1  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
14.9  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
low 1024x768
med. 1360x768
high 1360x768
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
low 800x600
36 40 ~ 38 fps    + Compare
med. 1360x768
23 24.1 ~ 24 fps    + Compare
high 1600x900
12  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
4  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
low 1024x768
med. 1366x768
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
med. 1024x768
high 1366x768
ultra 1920x1080
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
Risen

Risen

2009
low 800x600
58 67.5 ~ 63 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
27 28.2 ~ 28 fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
20 21 ~ 21 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
11  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5

2009
low 800x600
81.7  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
34.8  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
19.5  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
Need for Speed Shift

Need for Speed Shift

2009
low 800x600
43  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
28 34.2 ~ 31 fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
28 29.6 ~ 29 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
16  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
Colin McRae: DIRT 2

Colin McRae: DIRT 2

2009
low 800x600
63.6 64.7 ~ 64 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
32.7 51.1 ~ 42 fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
24.1 25 ~ 25 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
12.8  fps    + Compare
» With most tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Anno 1404

Anno 1404

2009
low 1024x768
57.6 70 ~ 64 fps    + Compare
ultra 1280x1024
12  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
F.E.A.R. 2

F.E.A.R. 2

2009
Far Cry 2

Far Cry 2

2008
low 640x480
79  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
37.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
19  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Trackmania Nations Forever

Trackmania Nations Forever

2008
low 640x480
201  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
53.3  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
28.7  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare

Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare

2007
high 1280x1024
30 59.8 ~ 45 fps    + Compare
» With most tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Supreme Commander - FA Bench

Supreme Commander - FA Bench

2007
low 1024x768
48.2  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
32.9  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
27.1  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
14.9  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings low.
Crysis - GPU Benchmark

Crysis - GPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
65.7  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
37.7  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
22.7  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
5.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Crysis - CPU Benchmark

Crysis - CPU Benchmark

2007
med. 1024x768
37.3  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
20.6  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
5  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
World in Conflict - Benchmark

World in Conflict - Benchmark

2007
low 800x600
113  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
53  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
29  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
12  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Call of Juarez Benchmark

Call of Juarez Benchmark

2006
high 1024x768
51.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

2005
high 1024x768
115  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Quake 4

Quake 4

2005
ultra 1024x768
62  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Doom 3

Doom 3

2004
low 640x480
187  fps    + Compare
ultra 1024x768
133  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo

Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo

1999
lowmed.highultraQHD4K
Call of Duty: Black Ops63.642.734.320.9
Fifa 112461268452.3
Mafia 247.331.625.114.9
StarCraft 2112342514
Metro 20333824124
Battlefield: Bad Company 241312311
CoD Modern Warfare 2332918
Risen63282111
Resident Evil 581.734.819.5
Need for Speed Shift43312916
Colin McRae: DIRT 264422512.8
Anno 14046412
Sims 332
F.E.A.R. 23919
Left 4 Dead74
Far Cry 27937.419
Crysis Warhead4711
Trackmania Nations Forever20153.328.7
Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare45
Supreme Commander - FA Bench48.232.927.114.9
Crysis - GPU Benchmark65.737.722.75.3
Crysis - CPU Benchmark37.320.65
World in Conflict - Benchmark113532912
Call of Juarez Benchmark51.3
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark115
Quake 462
World of Warcraft38
Doom 3187133
Quake 3 Arena - Timedemo436
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps

6
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3
2
11

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12
9
3
1
19
1
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Notebook reviews with NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M graphics card

 

Review Samsung RF710 Notebook

Sophisticated entertainer. Looking for a 17-inch multimedia notebook which not only looks stunning but also has some power under the hood? Look no further than ...
Intel Core i7-720QM | NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M | 17.30" | 2.9 kg
 

Review Acer Aspire 5745PG Notebook

Touch me. Touch is in, not only for tablets. The Aspire 5745PG is a 15 inch multimedia machine with the brand-new Nvidia GeForce GT 420M graphics (Optimus), whi...
Intel Core i5-460M | NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M | 15.60" | 2.7 kg

Medion Akoya P6627-MD97679: Intel Core i5-460M, 15.60", 2.7 kg
  External Review » Medion Akoya P6627-MD97679

Samsung RF510-S05PL: Intel Core i7-720QM, 15.00", 2.6 kg
  External Review » Samsung RF510-S05PL

Samsung QX510-S02: Intel Core i5-460M, 15.60", 2.5 kg
  External Review » Samsung QX510-S02

Samsung NP-RF710-S06DE: Intel Core i7-720QM, 17.30", 2.9 kg
  External Review » Samsung NP-RF710-S06DE

Dell XPS 15-L501x: Intel Core i5-460M, 15.60", 2.7 kg
  External Review » Dell XPS 15-L501x

Packard Bell EasyNote TX86-JN-300RU: Intel Core i3-370M, 15.60", 2.5 kg
  External Review » Packard Bell EasyNote TX86-JN-300RU

Samsung QX510-S01HU: Intel Core i5-560M, 15.60", 2.4 kg
  External Review » Samsung QX510-S01HU

Acer Aspire 5745G-5464G50Miks: Intel Core i5-460M, 15.60", 2.6 kg
  External Review » Acer Aspire 5745G-5464G50Miks

Dell XPS 14: Intel Core i5-460M, 14.00", 2.5 kg
  External Review » Dell XPS 14

Acer Aspire 5742G-7200: Intel Core i5-460M, 15.60", 2.6 kg
  External Review » Acer Aspire 5742G-7200

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Class 0

Arc A380

Class 1

Class 2

Radeon PRO W6600M *

Class 3

UHD Graphics 32EUs
UHD Graphics 750

Class 4

Class 5

* Approximate position of the graphics adapter