NVIDIA GeForce MX350
NVIDIA GeForce MX350: A Compact Graphics Card for Everyday Tasks and Light Gaming
Relevance Analysis in 2025
Introduction
The NVIDIA GeForce MX350, released in 2020, continues to be a popular choice for budget laptops and compact PCs even in 2025. Despite lacking support for modern technologies like ray tracing, this graphics card finds its audience due to its energy efficiency and affordable price. In this article, we'll explore who the MX350 is suitable for today and what tasks it can handle.
Architecture and Key Features
Architecture: The MX350 is based on the Pascal (GP107) architecture, introduced by NVIDIA in 2016. This means it lacks hardware support for RT and tensor cores, limiting compatibility with technologies like DLSS and ray tracing.
Process Technology: It is manufactured using a 14nm process by Samsung. By modern standards (where 5-7nm dominate), this is considered outdated, but for its intended tasks, the MX350 remains effective.
Unique Features:
- CUDA Cores: 640 CUDA cores for accelerated parallel computations.
- Optimus: Technology for automatic switching between integrated and discrete graphics to save power.
- NVENC: Hardware video encoding (H.264/H.265), useful for streamers and video editing.
Missing Features: No support for RTX, DLSS, or FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). These features are only available in newer NVIDIA GPUs (Ampere, Ada Lovelace) and AMD RDNA 2/3.
Memory: Type, Size, and Impact on Performance
- Memory Type: GDDR5 (not GDDR6).
- Size: 2GB is sufficient for working at 1080p, but in some games and applications, there may be limitations (for example, high-quality textures will require more VRAM).
- Bus Width: 64-bit, which is lower than the GTX 1650 (128-bit).
- Bandwidth: 48GB/s — a modest figure that impacts FPS in demanding projects.
Practical Tip: For gaming, choose "Medium" or "Low" texture settings to avoid buffer overflow.
Gaming Performance: What to Expect in 2025?
The MX350 is designed for 1080p/30-60 FPS in less demanding games and esports titles. Examples (at “Medium” settings):
- CS:GO — 90-110 FPS.
- Fortnite — 45-55 FPS (without shadows).
- Valorant — 70-80 FPS.
- GTA V — 50-60 FPS.
- Cyberpunk 2077 — 20-25 FPS (only on minimum settings).
1440p and 4K: Not recommended — even in lighter games, FPS will drop below 30.
Ray Tracing: Not supported. For RTX, a minimum of GTX 2060 or newer is required.
Professional Tasks: Editing, 3D Rendering, and Science
Video Editing:
- Premiere Pro: Render acceleration with CUDA. Recommended resolution is up to 1080p.
- DaVinci Resolve: Supports NVENC for encoding, but 2GB VRAM limits work with 4K footage.
3D Modeling:
- Blender: Basic work with simple scenes. For Cycles, it's better to use CPU or cloud solutions.
Scientific Calculations:
- CUDA/OpenCL: Suitable for training simple ML models (e.g., in TensorFlow), but not for complex tasks.
Advice: If professional tasks are your main objective, consider cards with 4GB+ VRAM (e.g., GTX 1650 or RTX 3050).
Power Consumption and Heat Output
- TDP: 25W. This allows the MX350 to be used in ultrabooks without a powerful cooling system.
- Temperatures: In laptops — 65-75°C under load. Overheating is rare due to low power consumption.
- Recommendations:
- For PCs: A case with at least one fan.
- For laptops: Use cooling pads during long gaming sessions.
Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Integrated):
- Advantages of MX350: +15-20% FPS in games, availability of dedicated memory.
- Disadvantages: Vega 8 is cheaper and does not require a separate chip.
NVIDIA GeForce MX550:
- Advantages of MX550: Turing architecture, GDDR6, +30% performance.
- Disadvantages: Laptops with MX550 are priced $100-150 higher.
Intel Arc A370M:
- Advantages of A370M: Support for XeSS, ray tracing.
- Disadvantages: Higher power consumption (35-50W).
Conclusion: The MX350 lags behind newer models but wins on price.
Practical Tips
- Power Supply: For laptops with MX350, the standard adapter (65W) is sufficient. For PCs, a PSU of at least 300W is needed.
- Compatibility: Only for devices with PCIe 3.0 x4. Check for drivers for your OS (Windows 10/11, Linux).
- Drivers: Regularly update via GeForce Experience, but don’t expect optimizations for the latest games.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low power consumption.
- Affordable price (laptops starting from $500).
- Quiet operation.
Cons:
- Only 2GB VRAM.
- No support for DLSS/FSR and RTX.
- Outdated architecture.
Final Conclusion: Who is the MX350 Suitable For?
This graphics card is a choice for those who:
1. Are looking for a budget laptop for work, study, and light gaming.
2. Do not require ultra settings in games — willing to play on "Medium".
3. Value battery life — the MX350 doesn’t drain the battery as quickly as gaming GPUs do.
In 2025, the MX350 remains a niche solution, but for its price ($500-700 for a laptop), it meets expectations. If you need modern technologies, consider the RTX 2050 or Arc A370M.