NVIDIA GeForce MX150
NVIDIA GeForce MX150: Review of an Outdated but Relevant Solution for Compact Systems (April 2025)
Introduction
The NVIDIA GeForce MX150, released in 2017, remains one of the most recognized mobile GPUs for budget laptops. Despite its age, devices featuring this graphics card are still available on the market, especially in the used segment. This article will explore who may find the MX150 useful in 2025 and the compromises that come with it.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Pascal Architecture: A Modest Legacy
The MX150 is based on the Pascal architecture (GP108), manufactured using Samsung/TSMC's 14nm process. This was NVIDIA's first generation optimized for energy efficiency, which explains the card's popularity in ultrabooks. However, the MX150 lacks modern features:
- RTX (ray tracing) and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) — absent, as these technologies emerged only in Turing and Ampere.
- FidelityFX (AMD technologies) — not supported, although some effects are compatible through drivers.
A key feature is its minimal power consumption and passive cooling in certain models.
2. Memory: Limitations of an Outdated Standard
- Type and Capacity: GDDR5, available in 2 or 4 GB (depending on the variant).
- Bus and Bandwidth: 64-bit bus provides up to 48 GB/s (40 GB/s for the 4 GB version).
- Impact on Performance: The narrow bus and slow memory become a 'bottleneck' in gaming and rendering. For example, high-resolution textures can cause FPS drops.
3. Gaming Performance: Only Basic Tasks
The MX150 is designed for less demanding projects. Examples of FPS (1080p, low settings):
- CS2: 45-60 FPS (with dynamic drops in intense scenes).
- Fortnite: 30-40 FPS (Performance mode).
- Genshin Impact: 25-35 FPS (720p).
- Cyberpunk 2077: 15-20 FPS (720p, minimum settings — nearly unplayable).
Resolution Support:
- 1080p: Comfortable only for indie games or older titles (e.g., The Witcher 3 on low — 25-30 FPS).
- 1440p/4K: Not recommended even for office tasks due to lack of memory.
4. Professional Tasks: Minimal Capabilities
- Video Editing: Basic editing in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro is possible, but rendering a 1080p video will take 2-3 times longer than on modern Intel Iris Xe iGPUs.
- 3D Modeling: Blender and AutoCAD work, but complex scenes require optimization. The CUDA cores (384) lag behind even the GTX 1650 (896 cores).
- Scientific Computations: Suitable for simple tasks on OpenCL/CUDA, but lacks sufficient VRAM and computing power for ML and neural networks.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Emission
- TDP: 10-25W (depending on the version: "Max-Q" or standard).
- Cooling: Passive systems or compact coolers. Overheating is rare, but under dusty conditions, throttling may occur.
- Case Recommendations: Ideal for thin laptops (e.g., ASUS ZenBook) or mini-PCs with ventilation holes.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon Vega 8 (Integrated):
- Lags behind the MX150 in games by 10-15% but consumes less power and is cheaper.
- Example: Rocket League — 50 FPS (Vega 8) vs 60 FPS (MX150).
Intel Iris Xe (2020+):
- Outperforms the MX150 in multitasking and supports AV1 decoding. Gaming performance is comparable (depends on optimization).
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile:
- 2-3 times more powerful, but requires active cooling and has a TDP of 35-50W.
7. Practical Tips
- Power Supply: A 65W standard adapter is sufficient for laptops with the MX150. For mini-PCs, a 300W PSU is recommended.
- Compatibility: Only PCIe 3.0 x4. Supports Windows 10/11 and Linux (Nouveau drivers are limited).
- Drivers: NVIDIA ceased official support in 2024. The last stable version is 474.30.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Energy efficiency.
- Quiet operation in passive systems.
- Availability in used laptops ($150-250).
Cons:
- No support for modern APIs (DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.3).
- Weak gaming performance after 2020.
- Limited memory capacity.
9. Final Conclusion: Who is the MX150 Suitable for in 2025?
Target Audience:
- Students: For studying, watching videos, and occasional gaming.
- Office Users: Work with browsers, documents, and light editors.
- Owners of Old Systems: Upgrading PCs with integrated graphics (via MX150 in PCIe form factor).
Alternatives: If the budget allows $300-400, consider laptops with Intel Arc A350M or AMD Radeon 780M — they offer 3-4 times more performance with comparable TDP.
The MX150 is an example of a "workhorse" that has become technologically outdated but has maintained a niche popularity due to its reliability and affordability. In 2025, it should only be considered as a temporary solution or a choice strictly for basic tasks.