NVIDIA GeForce 940M
NVIDIA GeForce 940M: Review of an Outdated Yet Still Viable Mobile Graphics Card
(Relevant as of April 2025)
Despite being a decade-old mobile graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce 940M is still found in older laptops and budget devices. In this article, we will explore what this GPU is capable of in 2025, whom it might suit, and what limitations should be considered.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Maxwell Architecture: A Modest Legacy
The GeForce 940M is built on the Maxwell (GM108) architecture, released in 2014. This was NVIDIA's first generation to place a strong emphasis on energy efficiency. The manufacturing process is 28 nm, which seems archaic by today's standards (where 4–5 nm processes dominate).
Unique Features: There Are Almost None
The card does not support modern technologies like RTX (ray tracing), DLSS (AI upscaling), or FidelityFX (AMD optimization). Its main feature is Optimus, which automatically switches between integrated and discrete graphics for power saving.
2. Memory: Modest Specs
Type and Amount
The 940M uses DDR3 or GDDR5 (depending on the version) with a capacity of 2–4 GB. The bus width is 128 bits, and the bandwidth reaches 40–80 GB/s (for GDDR5). For comparison, even a budget RTX 4050 (2023) has 96 GB/s thanks to GDDR6.
Impact on Performance
The memory capacity is sufficient for basic tasks (office, browser), but it becomes a bottleneck in gaming and professional applications. For instance, textures in modern projects (like Cyberpunk 2077) take up 4–6 GB, leading to FPS drops even at low settings.
3. Gaming Performance: Nostalgia for the 2010s
Average FPS in Popular Games
- CS2 (2023): 25–35 FPS on low settings at 720p.
- Fortnite: 20–30 FPS (720p, low detail).
- The Witcher 3 (2015): 22–28 FPS (720p, minimum settings).
- Dota 2: 40–50 FPS (1080p, medium settings).
Resolutions and Ray Tracing
The card is meant for 720p–1080p, but in 2025, comfortable gaming is only possible in older projects or indie games (Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley). There is no support for ray tracing—this is exclusively the domain of the RTX series.
4. Professional Tasks: Minimal Capabilities
Video Editing and 3D Modeling
With CUDA (384 cores), the 940M can handle simple edits in Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, but rendering 4K video will take hours. For Blender or AutoCAD, the card is only suitable for learning or working on small projects.
Scientific Calculations
Its use in scientific tasks (e.g., machine learning) is limited due to the small number of cores and lack of support for modern APIs.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
TDP and Cooling
The card has a TDP of 33–45 W, allowing it to be used in slim laptops with passive or compact active cooling. However, under prolonged loads, overheating is possible (up to 85–90°C), which can reduce the lifespan of the device.
Recommendations
- Regularly clean the cooling system from dust.
- Use cooling pads for laptops.
- Avoid gaming and rendering on your lap—this worsens ventilation.
6. Comparison with Competitors
Analogues from 2015–2017:
- AMD Radeon R7 M360: Falls behind the 940M in energy efficiency but has similar performance.
- Intel HD Graphics 620: Integrated graphics that are 30–40% weaker in games.
In 2025:
Even budget mobile GPUs like the AMD Radeon 780M (integrated in Ryzen 8000) or Intel Arc A350M outperform the 940M by 3–5 times.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply
For laptops with a 940M, a standard adapter (65–90 W) is sufficient. When upgrading other components (e.g., SSD), ensure that the power supply maintains a reserve capacity.
Compatibility
- Platforms: The card works only in laptops with Intel 4-8 generation chipsets or AMD A10–FX.
- Drivers: The latest NVIDIA driver versions for the 940M were released in 2023. Windows 11 may present conflicts—use compatibility mode.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low power consumption.
- Quiet operation in office scenarios.
- Support for DirectX 12 (without advanced features).
Cons:
- Not suitable for modern games and applications.
- Limited driver support.
- No RTX/DLSS technologies.
9. Final Conclusion: Who Is the GeForce 940M Suitable for in 2025?
This graphics card is suitable for:
1. Owners of old laptops who need to run office applications, a browser, or retro games.
2. Students for working with documents and simple software.
3. Enthusiasts building budget PCs from used components.
However, for gaming, video editing, or 3D modeling in 2025, the 940M is hopelessly outdated. If your budget is limited to $300–400, consider laptops with integrated graphics like the Ryzen 5 8600G or Intel Core Ultra 5—since their performance is significantly higher.
Conclusion
The GeForce 940M is an example of a "workhorse" that has outlived its prime but can still be useful in specific scenarios. However, in an era of AI accelerators and 4K gaming, its time has irretrievably passed.