GeForce GT 720M: overview of the video card

Today, laptops have become, in addition to the graphics accelerator built into the processor, to obtain discrete video cards. As a rule, mobile versions are installed with the prefix "M" in the name, which receive a reduced functionality. In expensive models, full-fledged accelerators are increasingly encountered, but for this the user has to overpay. In the market of mobile video cards in 2013 there was a novelty from Nvidia - GeForce GT 720M. Almost all notebook manufacturers began installing an updated 3D accelerator in their laptops. What's new in the GeForce GT 720M?

Review and Feedback

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. GeForce GT 720M, whose characteristics are more attractive than the previous series of video cards, is built on the Fermi architecture. The GF117 graphics processor and the 64-bit memory bus are used. The GeForce GT 720M works at higher frequencies, unlike its predecessor.

Architecture

The GT 720M, as already mentioned, is built on the GF117 GPU. It was based on the optimized GF108. I received 96 CUDA cores, 4 blocks of raster operations and 16 textures. Each core of CUDA is capable of operating at a clock frequency that exceeds the frequency of the GPU itself. This mode is usually called "hot frequency".

GF117, it is worth noting, has not acquired its own graphics ports. Therefore, it can only work together with an integrated accelerator.

GeForce GT 720M - a video card that can work in Turbo mode. However, the stability of the mode depends on the quality of the cooling system of the laptop. In most cases, it can significantly improve the processing speed. This mode supports all notebook models based on the 700M series video accelerators.

Performance

GeForce GT 720M, whose characteristics include it to the budget segment, demonstrates a good speed. Its performance directly depends on the clock frequency. The model significantly exceeds the GT 620M, but is inferior to the GT 630M. This was due to the 64-bit bus, which severely cuts throughput. Video memory it has 2 GB, which became a good value. True, the old DDR3, which operates at a clock speed of 1800-2000 MHz, is already used. The performance of the GeForce GT 720M is comparable to the Intel HD Graphics 4400. The games are not bad until 2012 release. Even the most demanding ones are launched at the maximum graphics settings. But the releases of 2013 and later are not going as well as we would like. So you have to be content with low settings.

Capabilities

There are programming interfaces CUDA, OpenCL and DirectCompute 2.1. Their calculations are performed by means of shader processors. Theoretically, the video card supports PhysX technology. However, its performance is hardly enough to handle graphics in the game and PhysX. I did not have a 3D accelerator with 3D technology.

Energy consumption

The video card is quite energy-intensive. The reason for this was the high clock speed at which the accelerator operates. The GeForce GT 720M requires 25 volts. Therefore, it is advisable to use it in large laptops, whose diagonal is 15-17 inches.

Games

So, now let's move on 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 game No Man's Sky on the minimum settings 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 on the minimum graphics settings goes to 20 FPS.
• Need for Speed 2016 produced only 17 frames per second at low settings.
• At low settings it was possible to achieve 32 frames per second in the game Rainbow Six Siege. Play quite comfortable, despite the sagging 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 jerky picture.
• Fallout 4 launched in 20 FPS on the minimum graphics settings. A significant increase in productivity in the game helps the user's fashion.
• In FIFA 16, unexpectedly on the minimum, the graphics 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 sorties during the game.
• Mad Max showed only 20 FPS on low graphics settings.
• In The Witcher 3 it is impossible to play even at the minimum settings - only 14 FPS. You can, of course, turn off the grass and additional effects by third-party programs, but then the beauty of the image is significantly lost.
• GTA V at minimum settings shows 50 FPS, at medium settings - 40.

Reviews

The 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 come out of operation, some of them due to the users themselves. A significant disadvantage for many was that the video card is soldered on the motherboard. This design does not allow the replacement of the accelerator.