Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU vs Quadro NVS 280 AGP

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the rankingnot ratednot rated
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
ArchitectureRankine (2003−2005)no data
GPU code nameNV34 A1no data
Market segmentWorkstationLaptop
Release date25 May 2004 (20 years ago)31 October 2023 (1 year ago)

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA coresno data40
Core clock speed275 MHzno data
Number of transistors45 millionno data
Manufacturing process technology150 nm5 nm
Power consumption (TDP)13 Watt53 Watt
Texture fill rate1.100no data
ROPs4no data
TMUs4no data

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizeno datamedium sized
InterfaceAGP 8xno data
Length168 mmno data
Width1-slotno data
Supplementary power connectorsNoneno data

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeDDRLPDDR5-6400
Maximum RAM amount64 MBno data
Memory bus width128 Bitno data
Memory clock speed250 MHzno data
Memory bandwidth8 GB/sno data
Shared memoryno data-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors1x DMS-59no data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX9.0ano data
OpenGL1.5 (2.1)no data
OpenCLN/Ano data
VulkanN/A-

Pros & cons summary


Recency 25 May 2004 31 October 2023
Chip lithography 150 nm 5 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 13 Watt 53 Watt

NVS 280 AGP has 307.7% lower power consumption.

Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 19 years, and a 2900% more advanced lithography process.

We couldn't decide between Quadro NVS 280 AGP and Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU. We've got no test results to judge.

Be aware that Quadro NVS 280 AGP is a workstation card while Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 AGP
Quadro NVS 280 AGP
Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
M3 Max 40-Core GPU

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Community ratings

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