The GTX 950: overview, specifications and reviews

More recently, Nvidia has expanded its Arsenal another great video that purports to occupy a niche gaming devices of initial level. Reasonable price (10-15 thousand rubles) and high performance obviously allow it to make a new graphics chip GTX 950. The review presented in this article will acquaint the reader with the technical specifications of the graphics accelerator and with devices from different manufacturers on this chipset. Owner reviews and results of testing will help you to choose a gaming graphics card on the market of computer components.

Performance characteristics

Video Adapter Nvidia Geforce GTX 950 built on the platform of GM206 technical process 28 nanometers, has a die area of 228 mm² and places to 2.94 billion transistors. Clock the graphics core frequency is 1024 MHz, and the number of stream processors-768 pieces. The manufacturer installed on the chip 48 texture units and 32 ROPS.

Memory is based on GDDR5 technology and has on Board 2048 MB. Video card to transfer data uses a 128-bit bus and operates at a frequency of 6600 MHz. Memory bandwidth is of 105.4 GB per second. The entire system has a maximum power consumption of 90 Watts. It is easy to see that most of the characteristics, including the platform GM206, clearly indicates that the manufacturer has borrowed the chipset in the gaming adapter High-End, the Geforce GTX 960. Good or bad, the tests show.

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Plant performance

Original video card Geforce GTX 950 is externally indistinguishable from a conventional representative of the budget class 15-inch printed circuit Board with compactly located on it, the chips and memory modules and a small aluminum heatsink on the graphics core with a single fan. As such, the user hardly ever sees the video card, because Nvidia does not supply their products at retail factory performance.

It is Worth noting that the presence of a weak cooling system video card indicates a low power consumption and, consequently, about the lack of strong heating in the process. The manufacturer only supplied the printed circuit Board fully wired to connect to all possible digital devices. Everything else directly depends on the companies that will submit the video card in the world market.

Mobile devices

The popularity of the gaming video card can be judged not only by calculations of products sold in the computer market, and installing the modified chips in mobile technology. The GTX 950 obviously liked all manufacturers of laptops, once they undertook to build on its platform for their gaming solutions. Mobile graphics adapter supports all the necessary technologies that are required for the full operation of the notebook:

• Optimus – independent switch between discrete video card and integrated system when idle;
• PhysX – hardware acceleration aimed at creating a realistic picture of the world;
• Adaptive V-Sync – minimization of screen tearing at high frame rates;
• Battery Boost – automatically reduce power consumption when reducing the load on the graphics core;
• TXAA – the smooth mode static and dynamic images;
• SLI – possible performance of several video cards at once.

Presentation in the budget class

Well-Known Taiwanese manufacturer, Gigabyte, allowed himself the first to supply the market with the gaming device based on Nvidia GTX 950. Low cost, the appearance and dispersal of a small manufacturer does not carry the device to games class. Rather, it is a top device for a budget class. Video card Gigabyte GTX 950 OC is designed to meet the needs of the buyer with small requirements to productive games.

The standard cooling system Nvidia has been modified slightly: the radiator cowl covers the entire surface of the printed circuit Board, and in the area of the graphics core is fitted with a genuine fan. A slight heating, the manufacturer has allowed himself to carry out the acceleration of the crystal up to 1241 MHz (200 MHz higher than the factory version). Special performance in demanding games, the user should not be expected and, as shown by tests, the adapter is far from its "older brother" - the GTX 960.

An Alternative from the competition

To compete with the cheap solution, Gigabyte rushed almost all video card manufacturers in the world market, as a transitional niche from budget class to the game class, as it turned out, was unoccupied. Brands: EVGA, KFA2, MSI, Zotac, ASUS and many others presented their vision of an inexpensive chip on the basis of the GTX 950. Test conducted in independent laboratories enthusiasts, shows that the performance of the devices is poor compared to top-end graphics cards.

However, the one advantage to all of the video cards is still available: low price of 10,000 rubles is the limit for all manufacturers. Do not forget the support of all last technologies which are incorporated into the platform GM206 – there is no such game that does not start withuse of this card. Thus, when the vacuum screen full HD (max settings Ultra) in the game "Crysis 3" managed to achieve 26 FPS, “Battlefield 4” - 40 FPS. For comparison: gaming video card GTX 960 shows a slightly better characteristics – 10 FPS more devices participating in the review.

Conquest of the gaming market

As expected, the well-known manufacturers of video cards have its full potential in order to gain the attention of the buyer and the gaming market High-End. The first the world saw the video card Gigabyte GTX 950 Xtreme. Just the name already tells the owner that he has an extreme graphics card. The key to high performance is to increase the clock frequency of the graphics core (1203 MHz in normal mode and 1405 MHz Boost mode) and working memory (1750 MHz).

To reduce heat dissipation manufacturer was involved in a proprietary cooling system, which is installed on top of the gaming device: aluminum radiator over the entire surface of the printed circuit Board, copper pipe and two huge fan. Bottom Board with aluminium pad for efficient heat dissipation. As noted by the owners in their reviews, the power system has undergone change – all the force was transferred to the front edge of the adapter as well as cheap capacitors has been changed for solid state drives. The potential for further dispersal clearly there is, and competitors can choose not only the GTX 960, and the device a class above.

Player extreme video

Powerful cooling system and change the system of power has led to the fact that the device 950 GTX Xtreme Gaming from Gigabyte perfectly amenable to overclocking, the GPU temperature does not exceed 80 degrees Celsius. The maximum acceleration, which could reach the users, judging by their reviews, is 1572 MHz graphic core and 7800 MHz memory. In games at high resolutions (2560x1440) it looks like this:

• “Tomb Raider” vs. 50.6 FPS;
• “The Witcher 3" - 32,7 FPS;
• “Battlefield Hardline” and 36.2 FPS.

The List goes on to infinity, however, in comparison with the top device GTX 960, which is operating normally, the performance of new GTX 950, a test which is higher by 1-3%. This is a serious figure considering that the representative of the High-End is 30% more expensive. The main thing to remember is the fact that the potential for dispersal of interesting devices in the future, when modern games are beyond the power of the GTX 950 chip.

The Main Taiwanese competitor

The Leader of sales of computer equipment on the Russian market, ASUS did not leave their fans without new products from Nvidia. This is one of the few products in the market acceleration which allows to achieve a performance of "big brother" - GTX 960, running at standard frequencies. Graphics card ASUS GTX 950 has undergone significant transformations in the food system. The manufacturer is completely rebuilt distribution system phases and installed ferrite cores and solid capacitors.

The Changes were made and the cooling system. Aluminum radiator located on the power supply components, memory modules and the crystal. Copper pipes run through the radiator around the perimeter and are reduced at the site of contact with the graphics core. On top there is a casing with two large fans running at lower rpm.

The Potential of graphics card ASUS

When it comes to gaming entry-level devices Low-End, priorities are given to the user in favor of the potential for dispersal. Accordingly, the power distribution system and cooling of the video card should be at the best level. Device GTX 950 Gaming ASUS STRIX is a great example of this. Initially, the manufacturer submits a device with a small acceleration (the graphics core is clocked at 1165 MHz), but its enough to overtake in the tests of all competitors on the same core in the budget class.

Using proprietary utilities ASUS owner can increase the performance to meet your needs. Excellent operational stability is plotted on the graphics core frequency 1355 MHz. This increase brings the device at the same level of performance with top-end devices. Here it should be noted that some devices are High-End, being in the market for more than five years (4-6 generations) may lose the novelty in high resolutions (4K). It's all in the technology that was used in the manufacture of the chip of the GTX 950.

Exception

Who would have thought that the manufacturer ASUS will refuse branding of the cards in black and red livery and introduced the world to a completely new design for a graphics accelerator GTX 950! Review of the device in blue and white design initially raises doubts about the originality of the product. However, on closer acquaintance it dissipates: the ASUS logo is present on the radiator, a protective casing and even the fans.

Do Not become a producer to upset their fans and the gaming performance. The graphics core of the device operates at a frequency of 1202 MHz (Boost mode - 1279 MHz). The potential for overclocking is there, but it is undesirable, as the beautiful appearance of the cooling system is in no way affiliated with decent performance – increase the frequency of the GPU by a few percent immediatelycauses the heating of the crystal (up to 90 degrees Celsius – it's obvious overheating). As noted by the customers in their reviews, the ASUS solution is beautiful, but impractical, because the video card will be installed inside the system unit, and what color it is, is not important, unlike the gaming performance that you can actually see.

Silent player in the market

A Gaming platform with passive cooling on the core Geforce GTX 950 presented by the plant HP. As noted by the owners in their reviews, the device is unlikely to be able to compete with their competitors in Low-End niche, but the use of new technologies in production and complete with quiet operation will appeal to all designers and videographers.

On the panel card contains all the necessary in the operation of the digital video outputs (DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-I, DVI-D), and the maximum resolution that can display adapter is 4096x2160 pixels per inch. The device has a length of 17 inches, so it can be installed in any system unit. With the volume of operative RAM 2 GB novelty definitely will appeal to all creative individuals who prefer to work without extraneous noise. Leisure and a break from work at any time you can spend usefully in a high-performance game, because the GTX 950, which review is conducted in this article still has great potential.

In conclusion

Specifications and testing in games clearly indicate the fact that many video cards on the market has some serious competition – the video card on the basis of the GTX 950. The review shows that the device intended to occupy multiple niches and, as practice shows, successfully reach their goals. Low power, potential for overclocking, modern technology and affordable price on the market of computer accessories are everything.