GeForce GT 240: characteristics, review, reviews and photos

The debut of the video card took a long time, but its significance was very significant for the manufacturer Nvidia. First of all, with the development of the GT line, a number of technological innovations are associated, which were taken into account in the representatives of this model range. Secondly, the GeForce GT 240 card switched to the DirectX10.1 API support, and also got a built-in audio decoder for broadcasting over HDMI. We can name a lot of changes that came to the lower class of graphics accelerators Nvidia, but most of them became a necessity largely due to the presence of similar solutions from competitors. Nevertheless, the desire of the manufacturer to increase the chances against AMD models in the end made it possible to create a good entry-level graphics card with a high-quality component base. However, here much depends on the manufacturer.

General information about the model

The video card is a bright and distinctive representative of the budget segment. The creation was carried out on the platform of the graphic core of the 8th generation. It is important to understand that the GeForce GT 240 appeared in 2010, so tasks that require high performance are not available for it. Although the developers do not completely reject its application for running games. Usually, the device is used as an additional means of accelerating graphics support. In addition, to the indisputable advantages of the device can be attributed well-implemented support for HD. As a result, HDMI 1.3a technology coupled with the HD-Audio audio codec provides high-quality video playback in various formats.

To date, several companies are engaged in direct production of this card, among them Elitegroup, Zotac, Palit and others. The differences in these versions are many, but the fundamental difference is due to the type and size of video memory. For example, in the base version, customers can upgrade the GeForce GT 240 512Mb, but you can also purchase a version for 1024 Mb. By the type of cards it is possible to select devices with low-power DDR3 slats, and high-speed solutions in the form of GDDR3 or even GDDR5

Characteristics of the video card

Again, there are many variations of the model, but most manufacturers seek to comply with the recommendations of Nvidia. The average technical characteristics of this card can be represented thus:

• Memory type: options are available with DDR3, GDDR3, GDDR5 chips.
• Clock frequency: 550 MHz.
• Bit depth of video memory: 128 Bit.
• Memory size: from 512 to 1024 Mb.
• Shared memory: none.
• DirectX: version 10.1 with shaders 4.1.
• Power consumption: 23W.

Compared with other entry-level options, the Nvidia GeForce GT 240 looks decent. And although in practice it is not necessary to solve complex and exacting tasks with its help, the model will cope with a whole range of functions that other public sector employees can not afford.

Version from Elitegroup

On the example of the Elitegroup version, the aesthetic, and in a certain sense constructive advantage of this map becomes more obvious - its compactness. By the way, the length of the device is 17.5 cm, which is convenient when working with cases like Lian-Li and mini-ITX. In comparison with the Palit manufacturers Elitegroup developers did not form a double bar, again making the calculation for the case with one output. Another significant feature, due to which the video card GeForce GT 240 from Elitegroup differs, is the presence of the cooler of the Swiss brand Arctic Cooling. The products of this company are valued not only by users, but also by specialists. The AC ventilation systems are reliable, which extends the life of the video cards themselves.

Version from Zotac

Considering the model GT 240 from different manufacturers, it is possible to draw a disappointing conclusion about the poverty of the equipment. And just the company Zotac does not allow to make such radical judgments. In particular, in addition to the disc and instructions, the buyer receives an adapter for HDMI-DVI cables, 3D Vision glasses and a Boost booklet from Zotac. But in the rest the GeForce GT 240 of this brand is also inclined to minimalism. This is confirmed by the characteristic feature of its analogue from Elitegroup in terms of requirements for the number of slots for installation.

The cooling system is made on the basis of aluminum elements, supplemented by fans. The developers did not have any obstacles to the implementation of the passive cooling system, but they probably chose this scheme based on originality considerations. If we summarize the opinion on this version, then the advantage will be in favor of the design and, as already noted, the extended equipment. But again, only against the background of analogues of the same family. With regard to overclocking, due to which manufacturers attract attention of customers, the impressions are not so rosy. In this modification GT 240 one of the weakest acceleration.

Palit version

Palit is different in that it uses the full potential of memory. This option GeForce GT 240 is equipped with 1024 Mb, although, of course, it is not the only one. In the same lineup there is a 512 Mb version. Palit uses an unusually large cooling system. This is surprising, since a low-power card is not particularly strong protection against overheating is not required. On the other hand, the heat of this version is the highest. There can be two explanations for this: either a hard thermal paste affects, or a high acceleration, which is worth talking about separately. In Palit, not stingy to allocate to users the maximum of what this accelerator could provide. Therefore, in terms of performance, this card can be considered as the most powerful option. On the other hand, it is necessary to sacrifice aesthetically unpleasant nuances. This is primarily noise and the presence of an indelible thermal paste.

Positive feedback about the video card

If we talk about the advantages that were revealed in the process of using this video card, then undoubtedly, the broad possibilities of working with video come to the fore. And the owners note not only the quality of the picture transmission, but also the speed in the process of video processing provided by the GeForce GT 240. The reviews confirm that in the budget segment this graphics accelerator will be able to completely arrange those who mostly work with video editors. The pluses include the ability to connect a PC to modern TVs, as well as other video equipment without the need for adapters. Not for nothing, some manufacturers are completing this card with wires for HDMI. Actually, the advantages in working with video are due to one significant difference of the device - an addition in the form of the PhysX accelerator, which at a minimum potential still gives some speed to the system.

Negative feedback about the video card

The main drawback, which, however, expect from an inexpensive entry-level card, is the inability to work with demanding modern games. On the availability of a stock for more powerful future toys and does not have to say. Further, with all the advantages of working with video broadcasts, there were also no restrictions in connection to the TV-sockets. In particular, there is no analog S-Video input. In fairness, I must say that in expensive graphics accelerator models analog connections are increasingly not supported, which is the minimal geForce GT 240, whose price is 3000-3500 rubles. But even more users were disappointed by the lack of SLI support. This means that you can not use one more card to improve the computer's performance.

Who will do?

The model can arrange users of low-cost home PCs. By and large this budget solution, which is simple in all respects. If experienced gamers may want to overclock the device by their own, increasing performance, then for ordinary users it's enough to install the driver for the GeForce GT 240 video card from the disk in the kit and start using the computer. The newly installed card will allow you to solve office tasks for editing documents, provide ease in working with photos, and also allow you to watch movies with all the advantages in the form of transferring high-quality pictures. For specialists, this option will be convenient in working with compact media centers such as HTPC. If we return to the games, then this potential of the graphics accelerator can be realized only as an auxiliary element of the system.

Conclusion

The model is a rather specific representative of entry-level video cards. For the Nvidia GeForce GT 240 all typical drawbacks of such devices are typical, but in some aspects there are pleasant surprises and disappointing disappointments. It is unambiguous that you should not count on average productivity: it is minimal, and this will have to be reconciled. From the pleasant it is worth highlighting the wide and even rare opportunities for video processing, not to mention the possibility of watching HD movies. By the same disadvantages, which are unusual for low-cost state employees, is the limitation on the use of SLI technology, which usually allows to increase the graphic potential of the system.