Nvidia Quadro

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The Nvidia Quadro series of AGP and PCI Express graphics-cards comes from the NVIDIA Corporation. Their designers aimed to accelerate CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and DCC (digital content creation), and the cards usually feature in workstations. (Compare the NVIDIA GeForce product-line, which specifically targets computer-gaming.) Competing products include the FireGL line of workstation graphics cards by the ATI Technologies, Inc.. Companies such as Matrox and Avid also focus on specialized hardware accelerated graphics cards intended primarily for DCC.

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[edit] History

The Quadro line of GPU cards resulted from negotiations between SGI, Nvidia and VA Linux Systems (known today as Sourceforge) in early 2000, as it became apparent that the new and rapidly-growing Intel/Linux platform would supplant the MIPS/IRIX machines.[1] Nvidia intended the Quadro card as a successor to the SGI VPro Graphics pipeline (the so-called "Pipeline on a chip" concept) in its Intel line of workstations (SGI Visual Workstation 230, 330, and 550), having drivers customized to the conventions of Linux (in particular, Redhat Linux 6.0) and Windows NT. Almost 11 months later, in December of 2000, SGI offered the Quadro 2 cards as upgrades to Visual Workstations, conveniently naming them the V7 series (the Quadro had used "V6").[2]

It remains unknown whether the NV10GL chip duplicated or modified the V6 GPU in the SGI Octane series. The Quadro2 offered the caveat of unifying both its framebuffers to appear as one (TwinView, now known as nView), a feat formerly only possible via the InfiniteReality Graphics Pipeline of the then current SGI Onyx Workstations (which could unify a maximum of 8 pipes to work as one).

To complement the Quadro's launch SGI had ported Maya (software) and the OpenGL Performer API to Linux (previously ported to Windows NT), while Open Inventor and some of IRIX's underpinnings (most prominently XFS) went open-source.

[edit] Quadro Plex

Quadro Plex consists of a line of external servers for rendering videos. A Quadro Plex contains multiple Quadro FX video cards. A client computer connects to Quadro Plex (using PCI Express x8 or x16 interface card with interconnect cable) to initiate rendering.

[edit] Video cards

[edit] GeForce

Many of these cards use the same chipset as the game- and action-oriented GeForce video cards by NVIDIA. Those cards that are identical to the desktop cards can be 'soft-modded' to emulate its equivalent Quadro card.[3]

The difference comes in the firmware controlling the card. Given the importance of speed in a game, a system used for gaming can shut down textures, shading, or rendering after only approximating a final output — in order to keep the overall frame-rate high. The algorithms on a CAD-oriented card tend rather to complete all rendering operations, even if that introduces delays or variations in the timing.

[edit] PCI Express

Quadro
Chip
Core Core Clock
(MHz)
Memory Clock
(MHz)
Memory Size
(MB (MiB))
Memory Type Memory
Bandwidth
(GB/s)
3-pin
Stereo
Connector
Notes
FX 330 NV37GL 250 200 64 64-bit DDR 3.2 No Chip also used in GeForce PCX 5300
FX 350 G72GL 550 405 128 64-bit GDDR2 6.48 No Chip also used in GeForce 7300LE
FX 370 G84GL 360 400 256 64-bit DDR2 6.4 No 2x Dual-link DVI-I, Shader Model 4.0 OpenGL 2.1/DirectX 10
FX 540 NV43GL 300 275 128 128-bit GDDR 8.8 No Chip also used in GeForce 6600
FX 550 NV43GL 360 400 128 128-bit GDDR3 12.8 No 2x Dual-link DVI
FX 560 G73GL 350 600 128 128-bit GDDR3 19.2 No Chip also used in GeForce 7600, 1x Dual-link DVI
FX 570 G84GL 460 400 256 128-bit DDR2 12.8 No 2x Dual-link DVI-I, Shader Model 4.0 OpenGL 2.1/DirectX 10
FX 1300 NV38GL 350 275 128 256-bit DDR 17.6 Yes Chip also used in GeForce PCX 5950, 2x Single-link DVI
FX 1400 NV42GL 350 300 128 256-bit DDR 19.2 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 6800, 2x Single-link DVI
FX 1500 G71GL 325 625 256 256-bit GDDR3 40.0 No Chip also used in GeForce 79xx, clocked down/pipe disabled (16 pixel, 6 vertex), 2x Dual-link DVI
FX 1700 G84GL 460 400 512 128-bit DDR2 12.8 No 2x Dual-link DVI-I/TV Out, Shader Model 4.0 OpenGL 2.1/DirectX 10
FX 3400 NV45GL 350 450 256 256-bit GDDR3 28.8 Yes 2x Dual-link DVI
FX 3450 NV42GL 425 500 256 256-bit GDDR3 32.0 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 6800, 1x Dual-link DVI
FX 3500 G71GL 450 660 256 256-bit GDDR3 42.2 Yes Based on same core as the Quadro 5500, but with only 20 pixel, 7 vertex units, and 256 MB RAM.
FX 3700 G92 600 900 512 256-bit GDDR3 51.2 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 8800GT, 112 streaming processors, PCI Express 2.0, Energy Star 4.0 compliant (consumes less than 80 watts of power)
FX 4000 SDI NV42GL 425 500 256 256-bit GDDR3 32.0 Yes FX 4000 with 2x SDI HDTV outputs + digital and analog genlock (using external controllers)
FX 4400 NV45GL 400 525 512 256-bit GDDR3 33.6 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 6800 PCI-E, 2x Dual-link DVI
FX 4500 G70GL 470 525 512 256-bit GDDR3 33.6 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 7800GTX, 2x Dual-link DVI
FX 4500 SDI G70GL 470 525 512 256-bit GDDR3 33.6 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 7800GTX, 1x Dual-link DVI, has 2x SDI HDTV outputs + analog and digital genlock
FX 4500 X2 G70GL 500 600 512x2 256-bit x2 GDDR3 33.6 x2 Yes Two Quadro FX 4500 GPU units on the same PCI-Express card, 4x Dual-link DVI.
FX 5500 G71GL 650 500 1024 256-bit GDDR2 32 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 7900GTX, 2x Dual-link DVI. 24 pixel units and 8 vertex units.
FX 5500 SDI G71GL 650 500 1024 256-bit GDDR2 32 Yes FX 5500 with SDI, Genlock/Frame Lock support (via external hardware)
FX 4600 G80GL 400 700 768 384-bit GDDR3 67.2 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 8800GTX, 2x Dual-link DVI.
FX 4600 SDI G80GL 400 700 768 384-bit GDDR3 67.2 Yes FX 4600 with SDI, Genlock/Frame Lock support (via external hardware)
FX 4700 X2 G92 600 900 512x2 256-bit x2 GDDR3 51.2 x2 Yes Two Quadro FX 3700 GPU units on the same PCI-Express card, 2x Dual-link DVI (DVI-I x4) and S-Video Output.
FX 5600 G80GL 600 800 1536 384-bit GDDR3 76.8 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 8800Ultra, requires two 6-pin supplementary power connectors.
FX 5600 SDI II G80GL 600 800 1536 384-bit GDDR3 76.8 Yes FX 5600 with New SDI, Genlock/Frame Lock support (via external hardware)

[edit] AGP

Quadro
Chip
Core Core Clock
(MHz)
Memory Clock
(effective) (MHz)
Memory Size
(MB)
Memory Type Memory
Bandwidth
(GB\s)
Interface 3-pin
Stereo
Connector
Notes
NV10GL 135 166 64 128-bit SDR 2.66 4x  ? chip also used in GeForce 256
2 MXR NV11GL 200 183 128-bit SDR 2.93 4x  ? chip also used in GeForce 2 MX
2 EX NV11GL 175 166  ?  ?  ?  ? chip also used in GeForce 2 MX
2 PRO NV15GL 250 400  ? 6.4 4x  ? chip also used in GeForce 2 GTS
DCC NV20GL  ?  ? 128-bit DDR 7.3 4x  ? chip also used in GeForce 3/Ti
4 380 XGL NV18GL 275 513 64 128-bit DDR 8.2 8x  ? -
4 500 XGL NV17GL  ?  ? 128-bit SDR  ?  ?  ? -
4 550 XGL NV17GL 270 400 64 128-bit DDR 6.4 4x no
4 580 XGL NV18GL  ?  ? 64 128-bit DDR  ? 8x  ? chip also used in GeForce 4 MX 440
4 700 XGL NV25 275 550 64 128-bit DDR  ? 4x  ? chip also used in GeForce 4 Ti 4200
4 750 XGL NV25 275 550 128 128-bit DDR  ? 4x yes chip also used in GeForce 4 Ti 4400
4 780 XGL NV28GL  ?  ?  ?  ?  ? yes chip also used in GeForce 4 Ti 4200 (AGP 8x)
4 900 XGL NV25 300 650 128 128-bit DDR 10.4 4x Yes chip also used in GeForce 4 Ti 4600
4 980 XGL NV28GL 300 650 128 128-bit DDR 10.4 8x yes chip also used in GeForce 4 Ti 4800
FX 500 NV34GL 270 243 128 128-bit DDR  ? 8x no chip also used in GeForce FX 5200
FX 700 NV35GL 275 275 128 256-bit DDR 17.6 8x no -
FX 1000 NV30GL 300 300 128 128-bit GDDR2 9.6 8x yes chip also used in GeForce FX 5800
FX 1100 NV36GL 425 325 128 128-bit DDR 10.4 8x yes chip also used in GeForce FX 5700
FX 2000 NV30GL 400 400 128 128-bit GDDR2 12.8 8x yes chip also used in GeForce FX 5800, One Dual-Link DVI
FX 3000 NV35GL 400 425 256 256-bit DDR 27.2 8x yes chip also used in GeForce FX 5900, 1x Dual-link DVI (via external controller)
FX 3000G NV35GL 400 425 256 256-bit DDR 27.2 8x yes has external stereo frame sync connector, 1x Dual-link DVI (via external controller)
FX 4000 NV40GL 375 500 256 256-bit GDDR3 32.0 8x yes chip also used in GeForce 6800, 2x Dual-link DVI (2nd link using external TMDS transmitter)
FX 4000 SDI NV40GL 375 500 256 256-bit GDDR3 32.0 8x yes FX 4000 with 2x SDI HDTV outputs + digital and analog genlock (using external controllers)

[edit] PCI

Quadro
Chip
Core Core Clock
(MHz)
Memory Clock
(effective) (MHz)
Memory Size
(MB)
Memory Type Memory
Bandwidth
(GB\s)
3-pin
Stereo
connector
Notes
FX 600 PCI NV34GL 270 243 256 128-bit DDR 7.8 Yes Chip also used in GeForce 5200 Ultra

[edit] For business

The NVIDIA Quadro NVS graphics processing units (GPUs) provide business-graphics solutions for small, medium, and enterprise-level businesses. The NVIDIA Quadro NVS desktop solutions enable multi-display graphics for businesses such as financial traders.

Quadro
Chip
Max. Resolution
(digital)
Interface Output Type Displays
Supported
Notes
NVS 50 1600x1200 AGP 8x / PCI DVI-I, S-Video 1 Uses NV18
NVS 100 2048x1536 AGP 4x / PCI 2x DVI-I, VGA, S-Video 2 Uses NV17(A5)?
NVS 200 1280x1024 AGP 4x / PCI LFH-60 2 Uses NV17
NVS 280 1600x1200 PCI-Express x16 / AGP 8x / PCI DMS-59 2 Uses NV34
NVS 285 1920x1200 PCI-Express x1 / x16 DMS-59 2 Uses NV44
NVS 290 1920x1200 PCI-Express x1 / x16 DMS-59 2 Uses G86
NVS 400 1280x1024 PCI LFH-60 4 Uses 2x NV17
NVS 440 1920x1200 PCI-Express x1 / x16 2x DMS-59 4 Uses 2x NV43

[edit] Mobile applications

Quadro
Chip
Core Core Clock speed (MHz) Memory Clock speed (MHz) Memory Size Memory
Type
Memory
Bandwidth
Interface 3-pin
Stereo
connector
Note
FX 350M G72GLM 350 450 Up to 256 MB 64-bit 6.4 GB/s PCI Express varies Go 7400-based
FX 360M G86M  ?  ? Up to 256 MB 64-bit 9.6 GB/s PCI Express varies 8400M-GS based
FX 570M G84M 475 700 Up to 256 MB 128-bit 22.4 GB/s PCI Express varies 8600M-GT based
FX 1500M G71GLM 375 500 Up to 512 MB 256-bit 38.4 GB/s PCI Express varies Go 7900 GS-based
FX 1600M G84M 625 800 Up to 512 MB 128-bit 25.6 GB/s PCI Express varies 8700M-GT based
FX 2500M G71GLM 500 600 Up to 512 MB 256-bit 38.4 GB/s PCI Express varies Go 7900 GTX-based
FX 3500M G71GLM 575 600 Up to 512 MB 256-bit 38.4 GB/s PCI Express varies Go 7950 GTX-based
FX 3600M G92M  ?  ? Up to 512 MB 256-bit 51.2 GB/s PCI Express varies 8800M based
NVS 110M G72M 300 600 128 MB/256 MB/512 MB 64-bit DDR  ? PCI Express varies Go 7300-based
NVS 120M G72GLM 450? 350? 128 MB/256 MB/512 MB 64-bit GDDR2  ? PCI Express varies Also recognized as QuadroFX 350M / Go 7400
NVS 130M G86M  ?  ? 128 MB/256 MB 64-bit ?  ? PCI Express varies 8400M-G based
NVS 135M G86M  ?  ? 128 MB/256 MB 64-bit  ? PCI Express varies 8400M-GS based
NVS 140M G86M 400 600 128 MB/256 MB 64-bit 9.6GB/s PCI Express varies 8400M-GS based[citation needed]
NVS 300M G72GLM 450 500 128 MB/256 MB/512 MB 128-bit GDDR3 16 GB/s PCI Express varies Go 7600-based
NVS 320M G84M 575 700 128 MB/256 MB/512 MB 128-bit GDDR3 22.5 GB/s PCI Express varies 8700M-GT based
NVS 510M G72GLM  ?  ? 256 MB/512 MB/1 GB (1 GiB) 256-bit ?  ? PCI Express varies Go 7950-based?

[edit] See also

  • ATI FireGL - ATI workstation graphics solution
  • Sun Visualization System - uses NVIDIA Quadro FX for 3D rendering and graphics acceleration
  • IrisVision - A forerunner of the quadro back in the heady days of MS-DOS and IrisGL

[edit] References

  1. ^ Press Release
  2. ^ Perez, Derek. Press Release: "NVIDIA Graphics Empower SGI Workstations". NVIDIA Corporation. Retrieved on 04 April 2008.
  3. ^ NVIDIA GeForce To Quadro Soft-Mod Guide

[edit] External links