Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M CUDA: A Power-Efficient Graphics Card for Laptops

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M CUDA is a powerful and efficient graphics card designed specifically for laptops. Unveiled in March 2014, it marks the beginning of a new era in laptop graphics processing with its Maxwell architecture (GM107 chip). In this article, we'll delve into the features and capabilities that make the GTX 860M a standout in the world of mobile graphics.

One of the key innovations behind the GTX 860M is its Smaller Streaming Multiprocessors (SMM) design. Unlike its predecessors, which boasted 192 ALUs per Kepler SMX, the Maxwell SMM has only 128 ALUs. However, Nvidia promises that this reduced configuration can still offer 90 percent of the performance of a Kepler SMX with 192 ALUs. This optimized scheduler and shader utilization enable better power management, resulting in improved efficiency.

The GTX 860M features five Smaller Streaming Multiprocessors (SMMs), which translates to 640 shader cores, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs (128-bit interface). This configuration provides a significant boost in graphics processing capabilities while maintaining power consumption. Furthermore, the massively enlarged L2 cache of 2 MB allows for faster data transfer and improved performance.

In terms of memory, the GTX 860M comes equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, clocked at an impressive 1029 MHz (+ Boost). This ensures that demanding games and applications can run smoothly on even the most demanding laptops. Additionally, there's a version based on the Kepler chip GK104, which offers 1152 shader units clocked at 797 MHz for those who require even more processing power.

One of the primary advantages of the GTX 860M is its power efficiency. Compared to Kepler, Maxwell has been optimized in several details to reduce power consumption while maintaining performance. This makes it an ideal choice for laptops that require long battery life without compromising on graphics quality.

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M CUDA is an upper mid-range, DirectX 12-compatible graphics card designed specifically for laptops. Its unique combination of Smaller Streaming Multiprocessors, optimized scheduler, and enlarged L2 cache make it a powerhouse in the world of mobile graphics processing. Whether you're a gamer, graphic designer, or simply looking for a powerful laptop graphics solution, the GTX 860M is definitely worth considering.

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