Nvidia GeForce GT-730 graphics card: specifications, overclocking, reviews

After the market of budget video cards replenished with the product of Nvidia GeForce GT-730, it became clear that the manufacturer was busy with the devices of the cheapest segment. Historically, it turned out that this segment was always replenished with all sorts of rejections and unused technologies of the past decade. With the chip based on the GT-730 everything is different.

Market positioning

It should be noted right away that video cards based on the Nvidia GeForce GT-730 chip worth 5-6 thousand rubles are equated to the integrated solutions by the manufacturer. However, this fact does not affect the countries of the post-Soviet space. The fact is that not every buyer of the domestic market can afford the acquisition of a powerful processor line Core i5 / i7 with a productive integrated video core (it is at its performance and the manufacturer is oriented).

In fact, it is not customary in Russia to say that the GT-730 chip has performance similar to an integrated video adapter. After all, most computer owners are still happy owners of systems based on GMA450. Naturally, any discrete video adapter on the market in the budget segment will be more powerful several times.

Introduction to the chip for discrete graphics cards

In the computer parts market, a potential buyer can meet three modifications of the Nvidia GeForce GT-730 chip, the technical characteristics of which differ only in production technology. So, two graphics accelerators are built on the old GDDR3 memory bus and use the 64 and 128 bit bus width, and one representative belongs to the GDDR5 generation, although it works on a 64-bit bus. In any case, the last instance is still more productive than its counterparts on a graphics chip.

All modifications of video cards are equipped with memory of 1024 MB and 2048 MB. But on a printed circuit board at a detailed inspection, it is possible to find a pin for mounting 4 more memory modules (that is, the maximum amount of graphics accelerator can be 4 GB). The devices on the Nvidia GeForce GT-730 chip support all modern technologies (CUDA, PhysX, 3D Vision, FXXA, TXAA, DirectX 12, Blu Ray 3D and others). It will please consumers and the power consumption of video cards - it does not exceed 50 watts, which allows using the device in office system units.

Mobile market representative

As expected, Nvidia company presented a mobile graphics core with the same name marking GT-730M on the basis of the new chip. However, the manufacturer just said about the developments, but in practice the mobile chip of the previous generation GT-645M was overclocked. He was given a new marking. Naturally, such a marketing move did not go unnoticed and many buyers (who are free to navigate the computer industry) prefer to buy laptops with the old core, because their cost is slightly cheaper than new products.

Do not upset the owners of laptops with a mobile video adapter Nvidia GeForce GT-730. Its characteristics are slightly different from discrete devices. The laptop's video card can be equipped with a GDDR3 or GDDR5 memory type. On the 64-bit bus it is also necessary to forget, only 128 bits. And the amount of memory for a mobile chip is initially 4 GB (own memory, not from RAM). Differences only in technology: support for the old version of DirectX11, OpenGL 4.1 and problems in working with 3D-encoding video.

Motherboard of the video card and its equipment

Judging by its appearance, there is nothing to brag about the video adapter based on the Nvidia GeForce GT-730 chip. Comments of experts in the field of IT technologies assure that the printed circuit board does not differ from the representatives of the budget class of previous generations of video cards. All the same standard dimensions of the textolite are 50 mm by 150 mm. Even for placing all video outputs the manufacturer had to use an additional loop.

At first glance, the cooling system does not stand out against the budgetary system. But with a detailed inspection, the user will find that the aluminum radiator with a miniature fan covers not only the graphics core, but also captures some of the memory modules. And power elements, including capacitors and PWM controller, are located in close proximity to the cooling system. It is rather strange to contemplate such protection from overheating on the representative of Low-End.

Technical characteristics of the budget representative

As it turned out, not such a weak video card Nvidia GeForce GT-730. The characteristics of the graphics core, especially when it comes to a representative with a GDDR5 memory bus, are quite suitable for dynamic games, albeit at low settings. The clock speed of the graphics accelerator is 902 MHz, and the number of CUDA cores is 384 pieces. The memory runs at 5000 MHz (although, in chips with GDDR3, this parameter is limited to 1800 MHz).

All cards support the connection of multiple displays (HDMI, DVI and VGA). The maximum resolution of the image output to the analog monitor is identical for all devices and is 2048x1536 dots per inch. With the maximum resolution of the digital format, there are some limitations. Theoretically, you can display a picture of 3840x2160 dots per inch, but the device should work at 30 MHz (this standard can only support TVs and plasma).

The battle for the market

It is believed that it was MSI who managed to take the lead in selling products based on the Nvidia GeForce GT-730 chip. Characteristics of the graphics accelerator had to be changed, but as it turned out, it was done for good. On the printed circuit board, the manufacturer did not replace anything, but only transferred the power elements to the back of the video card. In some reviews it is mentioned that in the MSI laboratory all the electrolytic capacitors have been replaced by solid state ones. However, this information is not confirmed in the owners' responses.

Cardinal changes have affected the cooling system. The manufacturer did not regret the non-ferrous metal and as a result created the Nvidia GeForce GT-730 with excellent heat dissipation. The aluminum radiator closes not only the graphic core, but also all memory modules with batteries. I got a video adapter and a decent fan that can pump air into the radiator, rather than disperse the dust on the system unit (as it was with the reference device).

Productivity of MSI products

As expected from the manufacturer, MSI overclocked the graphics card Nvidia GeForce GT-730. The graphics core shows stable performance at a frequency of 1005 MHz (an increase of 40%). But the video memory did not respond to the overclocking, although its cooling was improved at the factory. In their responses, many owners claim that the chips themselves video systems are a rejection of those in the production of gaming accelerators.

As evidence, any owner of a video card can independently increase the memory frequency. On the monitor artefacts (multi-colored squares) are immediately formed, but the memory chip does not heat up during overclocking. This clearly indicates a fault in the memory modules. As a result of the testing, it was found that an increase in the frequency of the graphics core by 40% led to a rise in performance in games by 12%, when compared with the reference device. It is good or bad, to solve the buyer, because the price of the product MSI has also been increased. It is important to understand that performance is measured at low quality settings, and moving to the middle class of the GT-730 chip will not help overclocking.

Designer's favorite

People who have to work with graphics applications note that the Nvidia GeForce GT-730 graphics card is the cheapest device on the market for budget devices, which has two important factors: 4 GB of RAM and a passive cooling system. So representatives of companies ASUS, Zotac, EVGA and Gainward became the best solution for assembling an office computer. The difference between them is insignificant - all manufacturers have considered that increasing the heatsink height will be enough, and the fan generally has no place in the cooling system.

In the reviews a lot of negativity towards Nvidia GeForce GT-730 from fans to play dynamic games in the workplace. However, as practice shows, this video adapter attracts many employers. Low cost, affordable technology, work with a large amount of data and no entertainment during business hours.

Savings should be economical

When it comes to video cards costing 4,000 rubles or less, many sellers start to spread their hands. After all, below the budget class, no devices are provided. So it was until the market saw the graphics accelerator Nvidia GeForce GT-730. Reviews in the media claim that the product under the brand Gigabyte was purchased for just four thousand rubles.

Strange in this there is nothing. The well-known manufacturer took an inexpensive chip based on GDDR3, installed its cooling system and provided the video card to the public. Many owners try to keep silent about the game capabilities of the graphics accelerator. But other advantages are described with enthusiasm: an affordable price, a large amount of video memory, no noise in operation and decent cooling.

Finally

Any potential buyer should understand that finding a decent product for dynamic games in a budget class will never succeed. The maximum that can be achieved is to run the application on minimum settings and to contemplate the picture at a speed of 5-10 frames per second. It is such an opportunity for all game lovers and provides a video card Nvidia GeForce GT-730. The owners' feedback in the media about the advantages of the video card and its high performance are likely to be embellished, because few users agree to admit that the quality of the purchased product is low.

On the other hand, when comparing a representative of a budget class with integrated solutions, the potential buyer understands that, from the economic point of view, it is better to spend 4000 rubles to buy a discrete video adapter rather than choosing an expensive processor. It's up to the user to decide what tasks he needs a video card from an accessible class and whether to spend money on it.