Nvidia GT 640 graphics card: specifications, test, reviews

Fortunately, long ago, those days when the 3D video accelerator was an object of luxury in the computer went into oblivion. Of course, video adapters existed then, otherwise the image would not simply be displayed on the monitor screen. However, none of their own graphics processor, RAM and other attributes of speech did not go. However, times have changed and the situation has also radically changed. There was a high-quality video card Nvidia GT 640.

Destination Nvidia GT 640

Like all other video cards, Nvidia Geforce GT 640 has a very important duty - to handle all processes that relate to working with video on the computer. This is not only the direct output of the picture to the screen, but also the processing of textures, working with 3D graphics (thanks to the presence of its own graphics processor), with partics (particles - snow, drops, sparks, etc.) and even game physics.

First of all, it was the central processor of the computer that had to answer for many other things like that. Now, Nvidia GT 640 takes on such tasks, releasing precious computing resources for the CPU.

This video card belongs to the entry-level devices, but it can successfully cope with a large range of tasks assigned to it, ranging from computer games, finishing with three-dimensional rendering and showing movies in high resolution. Yes, and the Nvidia GT 640 price today is more than democratic. So, as a budget option, the product from Nvidia can be considered quite worthy.

Technical specifications

The decision to buy any video card is made based on knowledge of its main technical characteristics. And in the latest modifications considered by us they are:

• GPU: NVIDIA GK208;
• Clock speed: 1046 MHz;
• Memory type: GDDR5;
• Video memory: 1 GB;
• Bit depth: 64 bits;
• Supported interfaces for connection: DVI-D, HDMI, D-Sub (there is also a version with mini HDMI), so that the user can connect the card to monitors and TVs of different models without having to use all kinds of adapters and adapters;
• DirectX version 11.1;
• The recommended power of the power supply is 300 watts.

128-bit version

The Nvidia Gforce GT 640 graphics card also has an earlier version of the release - with a 128-bit bus, but most of the characteristics presented here are slightly weaker. In particular, NVU GK107 is used as a GPU, and the memory type is GDDR3. Less and the clock frequency - it is only 900 MHz. But the amount of operative video memory is exactly equal to twice, but the power supply unit needed it more powerfully - by 350 watts.

For the successful operation of the video card, it is required that the computer on which it is supposed to be installed contains at least 2 GB of RAM and an operating system not lower than Windows XP, which today looks somewhat anachronistic.

Equipment

In its standard configuration, the Nvidia GT 640 comes in a pretty attractive cardboard box with Nvidia's signature colors.

In addition to the device itself, the user's guide and a CD with drivers and related software are also included.

Cooling system

In addition to the general technical specifications, when purchasing any video card, you should also pay attention to such an important detail as the cooling system. It depends on it and performance, and dimensions, and power consumption of the product.

The Nvidia GT 640 has an active air-cooling system. Painted in a bright color fan with a diameter of 55 mm immediately catches your eye. It is mounted on an aluminum radiator. In this case, the heat is taken away only directly from the graphics chip. On the one hand, this is not very good, but on the other hand it does not allow to increase the power consumption and the dimensions of the card.

Judging by the tests, during the intensive work the core of the accelerator warms up to 62 degrees. In this case, the cooler operates approximately 56% of its maximum power. Noisiness lies within the framework of comfortable use for a long time.

In idle mode, the cooler rotates at a speed of up to 30% of its maximum power, the core temperature drops to 31 degrees.

In addition, the cooler can be forced to be overclocked using the built-in or third-party software. However, even with a hundred percent of work, the temperature drops slightly - only up to 60 degrees. The noise level thus increases, but still keeps within the framework of a comfortable one.

In a word, the cooling system copes with its task unequivocally.

Testing

Of course, the behavior of any map in the field will depend on many factors that can not be reproduced in poster sessions. However, even from synthetic penchmarks, no one has yet refused. And here are the results shown by the Nvidia GT 640. The test was carried out at the stand: Intel Core i7-3770K, GIGABYTE G1.Sniper 3, 2 x DDR3-2400 8GB, Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit SP1:

• Futuremark 3D Mark Vantage - 10183 points for the overall performance and 7960 for the performance of the graphics processor.
• Futuremark 3D Mark 11 - 2640 points.
• The test in the game Metro 2033 gave the card 12 points.
• Futuremark 3D 2013 1.0 Basic, test Fire Strike - 2088 points overall performance, 2170 - graphics chip performance, 12078 points for processing physics.

As for the test for power consumption, then the map showed not the worst, though not outstanding results. In comparison with the older model - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650, it lags on average by 40-45%. The Nvidia GT 640 2Gb video card showed better results than the 1-gigabyte "colleague", but, of course, by no means 2 times.

Summarizing, we can say that the brainchild of NVIDIA will allow gamers to get acquainted and enjoy a lot of modern games, but not at the best settings.

Overclocking

For the NVIDIA GT 640, overclocking was performed using MSI Afterburner 3.0.0 Beta 18. At the same time, the frequency of the graphics chip was raised from 1046 to 1226 MHz, and this is a remarkable indicator. Therefore, the video card is overclocked very willingly. The increase in productivity in this case was 17.2%, and this is also impressive.

The memory frequency could be overclocked from 1253 to 1423 MHz. The increase was 13.6%. With manual overclocking of NVIDIA GeForce GT 640, the FPS gain was 16.1%. The cooler worked at all one hundred per cent power, the temperature did not rise above 63 degrees.

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In the complete set with the card, except for a disk with drivers, also very functional software under the name Thunder Master is delivered.

Main features of the program:

• Monitor the heating temperature of the video card;
• Artificially increase the speed of rotation of the cooler;
• There is the possibility of recording special scenarios of the video card operation - depending on the work done;
• You can save backup BIOS configurations;
• You can overclock the video card by such parameters as increasing the frequency of the graphics chip, memory gain, and minimum voltage.

In addition, the user can specify how many frames he wants to see in the game, and the video card will choose the parameters necessary for this.

Pros of NVIDIA GeForce GT 640

So, having analyzed such a device as NVIDIA GT 640, the characteristics, you can conclude that this budget video card has many advantages:

• Minimum power consumption;
• Low profile of landing in the motherboard;
• Support for DirectX 11.1, Open GL 4.3;
• Excellent cooling system;
• Good overclocking potential;
• There is an opportunity to use advanced fast FDDR5 memory;
• Support for PCI Express 2.0 x16 interface in x8 mode;
• A large set of video outputs;
• Good firmware.

Reviews about the video card

Of course, not a single synthetic test or review will give such a complete picture of the Nvidia GT 640 as a real user. And here are just some of them.

Many users say that for their money the card is not bad. Enough video memory, especially if you buy a 2 GB version with GDDR 5. The low price and the fact that the card does not require additional power can also be attributed to the undoubted advantages. Yes, it also weakly heats up with it. It is possible to disperse, but it is not recommended to get involved, especially to those who are not familiar with the process of overclocking such devices thoroughly. If there is not enough money for more expensive models - this option is the most optimal. There are no shortcomings in the process of operation.

Some say that the main advantage is, of course, a low price. This is an excellent option for replacing video cards in old computers, which all are dusting at home due to lack of power. This component, definitely, will cheer him up and give a second life.

Many even do not realize that the video card has an excellent internal program, which can optimally and qualitatively adjust the settings of the game parameters. Do not have to endlessly change and restart the game in order to find the parameters for a quality gameplay. For example, Nvidia GT 640 in GTA4 advises you to unscrew all settings to maximum, but disable shadows. Users claim that after installing these settings, everything does not just go, but flies. Nothing at the same time does not heat up, the cooler practically does not make any noise. In principle, if you overclock the card, you can play at full settings and with shadows.

It so happens that in the "Eight" after the update drivers fly. Native, who were on the disk, they absolutely do not want to be installed. The problem is solved by simply downloading drivers from the Internet. The card is almost not heated, and the films on large monitors lose remarkably well. When you run on a Nvidia GT 640 game, which requires a lot of resources, at maximum resolution, you may experience problems with FPS subsidence. The only way out is to lower the settings, but for this price it's forgivable. In any case, the price fully justifies the purchase.

Summarizing

Nvidia GT 640, first of all, should be used as part of home multimedia tests. It is here that this video card shows the best results.

Unfortunately, many modern games, it just does not pull because of its not too high power. However, as a good workhorse for every day is quite go. For most daily tasks, its resources are quite enough, and this confirms the Nvidia GT 640 reviews of numerous real users.

Of course, Nvidia takes into account all the shortcomings of previous models and tries not to repeat them in its innovations, although it does not do without it. Using the example of this video card, you can see that since the device was in high demand, the company decided to repeat the success by improving the video card in some parameters. It must be that the user feedback was taken into account. For example, regarding the types of video outputs: they are different in the 1 GB version and 2 GB version. However, the ability to connect some analog devices to the video output of the computer will surely please many users.

Given the variety of modern Toy Library, users want to try out new games that have, I must say, not the weakest technical requirements. To graphics pleased you and while the game is well loaded, without brakes and hangs, you need to purchase a good graphics card. However, few people want to overpay for such pleasure. As a rule, all buyers strive to find the optimal ratio of price and quality. In this case, the video card, which was reviewed in this article, is an acceptable solution, as it itself shows good results. At the same time, it can also be subject to overclocking, and its price should pleasantly surprise even the most demanding buyer.