Today, laptops, in addition to the graphics accelerator built into the processor, receive discrete graphics cards. As a rule, mobile versions with the prefix "M" in the name are installed, which receive truncated functionality. In expensive models, full-fledged accelerators are increasingly found, but the user has to overpay for this. In the market of mobile video cards in 2013, a new product from Nvidia - GeForce GT 720M. Almost all laptop manufacturers began to install an updated 3D accelerator in their laptops. What's new in the GeForce GT 720M?
Review and reviews
The model appeared on the market in the spring of 2013. The first thing that caught my eye was compatibility with the 11th version of DirectX, which provided additional features in modern games. The GeForce GT 720M, whose characteristics are more attractive than the previous series of video cards, is based on the Fermi architecture. It uses a GF117 GPU and a 64-bit memory bus. The GeForce GT 720M operates at higher frequencies, unlike its predecessor.
Architecture
GT 720M, as already mentioned, is built on the GF117 GPU. It was based on the optimized GF108. I got 96 CUDA cores, 4 blocks of raster operations and 16 texture. Each CUDA core is capable of operating at a clock frequency exceeding that of the GPU itself. This mode is called the "hot frequency".
GF117, it is worth noting, did not get its own graphics ports. Therefore, it can only work together with the built-in accelerator.
The GeForce GT 720M is a graphics card capable of operating in Turbo mode. However, the stability of the mode depends on the quality of the laptop cooling system. In most cases, it is able to significantly increase the processing speed. This mode is supported by all laptop models based on 700M series video accelerators.
Performance
The GeForce GT 720M, the characteristics of which relate it to the budget segment, demonstrates good speed. Its performance directly depends on the clock frequency. The model is significantly superior to the GT 620M, but inferior to the GT 630M. The reason for this was the 64-bit bus, which seriously cuts throughput. She has 2 GB of video memory, which has become a good advantage. True, the outdated DDR3, which operates at a clock frequency of 1800-2000 MHz, is already used in order. The performance of the GeForce GT 720M is comparable to the Intel HD Graphics 4400. Games are going well until 2012. Even the most demanding ones run at maximum graphics settings. But the releases of 2013 and later are not going as well as we would like. Therefore, you will have to be content with low settings.
Opportunities
There are programming interfaces CUDA, OpenCL and DirectCompute 2.1. Their calculations occur through shader processors. Theoretically, the video card supports PhysX technology. However, its performance is hardly enough for processing graphics in the game and PhysX. The 3D accelerator did not acquire 3D image technology.
Energy consumption
The video card is quite energy intensive. The reason for this was the high clock frequency at which the accelerator works. The GeForce GT 720M requires 25 watts. Therefore, it is advisable to use it in large laptops, whose diagonal is 15-17 inches.
Games
So, now we will pass to the most interesting. The video card has been tested in new releases, which require a fairly powerful hardware.
- In Deus Ex Mankind Divided, which recently went to personal computers, the video card showed very poor results. With minimal graphics settings and HD resolution, Fraps produced less than 10 FPS. Of course, in such conditions it is almost impossible to play.
- In the new No Man's Sky game at minimum settings, it turned out about 12 frames per second.
- With Mirror's Edge Catalyst, things are a little better. Here, the video card was able to demonstrate 24 FPS at minimum settings and HD resolution.
- Doom at the minimum graphics settings goes to 20 FPS.
- Need for Speed 2016 produced only 17 frames per second at low settings.
- At low settings, I managed to achieve 32 frames per second in the game Rainbow Six Siege. Play pretty comfortable, despite the subsidence of the FPS in some moments.
- In the network shooter Star Wars Battlefront, the video card showed 25 FPS. You can play, but you need to get used to the twitchy picture.
- Fallout 4 launched at 20 FPS on the minimum graphics settings. Custom modes help to significantly increase the performance in the game.
- In FIFA 16, unexpectedly at minimum wages, the video card showed 77 FPS. At high - 44 frames per second.
- The popular World of Warships at minimum settings goes to 40 FPS. No subsidence and crashes during the game.
- Mad Max showed only 20 FPS at low graphics settings.
- It is impossible to play The Witcher 3 even at the minimum settings - only 14 FPS. You can, of course, disable the grass and additional effects by third-party programs, but then the beauty of the picture is significantly lost.
- GTA V at the minimum settings shows 50 FPS, at medium - 40.
Reviews
Users respond well to the GeForce GT 720M. The video card does not heat up and copes with most graphics programs. According to the owners, it behaves well in demanding games. A very small percentage of devices fail, and some of them are due to the fault of the users themselves. A significant disadvantage for many was the fact that the video card is soldered to the motherboard. This design does not allow the replacement of the accelerator.