GeForce GTX 1650 with GDDR6 in the test : Test |CUP | Specs |Config

tl;dr: The GeForce GTX 1650 is now available with GDDR6 instead of GDDR5 memory because GDDR5 is a discontinued model. So that the new model stays in its class despite the faster memory, Nvidia has slightly trimmed the GPU clock. The test then also shows: Both generations perform very similarly.

At first, the GeForce GTX 1650 with GDDR6 appeared to be an exclusive model for Asia. A little later, however, it became clear that the GeForce GTX 1650 GDDR6 will also be available in Germany, as Nvidia confirmed to ComputerBase. And there is a simple reason for this: the old GDDR5 memory is no longer manufactured.

Since the graphics card should simply be called “GeForce GTX 1650” despite the automatically faster memory, Nvidia tried to adapt both variants. This is why the GDDR6 version offers 50 percent more memory bandwidth, but the TU117 GPU clocks a little lower to compensate. The test will clarify what effects this has on the new entry-level model of the Turing generation.

A model from Gigabyte in the test

The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 D6 WindForce OC has come to the editorial office for the article. It is very similar to the GeForce GTX 1650 WindForce OC that has already been tested, but only differs in terms of clock rates and memory type. ComputerBase highlights the differences on the following pages.

The GeForce GTX 1650 with some fine tuning

The GeForce GTX 1650 with GDDR6 is technically largely identical to the GeForce GTX 1650 with GDDR5 memory. The smallest Turing GPU, the TU117, is used again. 896 shader units are active; there is a 128-bit wide memory interface, a 4 GB memory and the maximum power consumption is 75 watts – accordingly there will be models with and without an additional 6-pin power plug.

Instead of GDDR5, however, GDDR6 memory is used, which no longer works at 4,000 MHz, but at 6,000 MHz. Accordingly, the memory bandwidth is 192 GB / s instead of 128 GB / s, which corresponds to an increase of 50 percent. To compensate for this, Nvidia has reduced the clock rate of the GPU. The chip manufacturer no longer specifies the average boost clock at 1,665 MHz, but at 1,590 MHz, so that the raw power of the new model is 5 percent lower. The base clock is 1,410 MHz instead of 1,485 MHz.

The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 D6 WindForce OC in detail

The GeForce GTX 1650 D6 WindForce OC is currently Gigabyte’s top model among the GDDR6 variants. It is not identical in construction to the GeForce GTX 1650 WindForce OC with GDDR5 – this is how the PCB and the monitor connections differ – but the two versions undoubtedly show a strong relationship. The graphics card is currently listed and available from 170 euros.

The GeForce GTX 1650 D6 WindForce OC is a rather short graphics card with a length of 19.5 cm, whereby the cooling system protrudes well beyond the board, which only measures 15 cm. Four voltage converter circuits are present on the card and a 6-pin power plug is required for operation.

The cooling system is kept simple: There is nothing more than a simple aluminum heat sink with a few coarse fins. Two 75 mm wide axial fans, which stop operating at low temperatures, are responsible for the fresh air. The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650 D6 WindForce OC is overclocked. The average Turbo is 1,710 MHz, which is 120 MHz higher than Nvidia’s reference information. The maximum power consumption, on the other hand, is the usual 75 watts.

The Gigabyte graphics card can be controlled using a DVI, DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.0b connection. In this respect, the GDDR6 model differs significantly from the GDDR5 variant, which was equipped with three HDMI and one DisplayPort but also a bit strange.

On the next page: clock rates, benchmarks, volume, temperature and power consumption