Specs for Dell #061p37 (Nvidia NVS 510 2GB Video Graphics Card) with GDDR5?

Me | 1/6/2023 | Paul R.

[kingu]

If somewhere is advertising GDDR3 for this card, you’ve got an item not as described case; it tickled something in the back of my mind, so went digging. PNY had a card they advertised as being GDDR3, it was actually DDR3, but that incorrect spec seems to have lived on.

[logi_cal869]

What on Earth are you talking about?

-----------------------------

Well, now...not nice to shoot the messenger. I was merely stating that I'm a geek when it comes to specs and tech, but NOT on obsolete hardware: You post was about published specs, not technical details regarding compatibility.

Recapping, you wrote:

Does anyone know if the Dell p/n: 061p37 (Dell Nvidia NVS 510 2GB Video Graphics Card ) was ever made with GDDR5 RAM)? And if so, what are the performance specs? I ran across a seller hawking just such ( p/n: 061p37 with 2GB GDDR5 ) but I can't find specs on it. All I can find is the old GDDR3 version.

and

I've tried asking this on a couple computer forums including Dell's forum - no luck. Nvidia's website is no help.

To parrot you, what on Earth are YOU talking about? I answered the question.

You later wrote,

Oh - haha - I just went back to the listing and it’s been revised to “GDDR3”. I guess that answers THAT question!

AFTER another FReeper posted the following:

I get the sense you’re talking about low-risk expenditures, and you’re interested in some technical guidance....If you’re spending less than $100, I wouldn’t worry about making a potentially bad purchase.

Why give me grief? (that's rhetorical; I care not, but merely responding)

You asked a question and I gave you the answer, right off Nvidia's website which, by the way, you stated "was no help." It's clear the seller is either wrong or lying. Smart not to trust the sale specs and make an inquiry, but holy hell.

In either event, it renders the post moot now, unless your post has devolved into semantics about inaccurate specs published on the card by Nvidia and secondhand sellers (that's never happened before /s). I've found reference elsewhere (in under 2 minutes) which BOTH states DDR3 and GDDR3 for the NVS510...a citation ALSO noted by others responding to your post. Holy hell: It's an OBSOLETE card (listed as low as $25 on ebay, ironically described as GDDR3 & DDR3 on multiple listings) and you're giving me flack for helping you find a direct answer to your direct question in less than 2 minutes?

Not a kind awakening on a Saturday.

I get it that a $30-100 expenditure is a big deal, but c'mon, man. Drinking & posting???

(again, rhetorical. Best of luck. Seriously.)

[mware]

That you Elon???

[Gene Eric]

I hear ya. Love the i7s

[Paul R.]

Oh, good grief. My question was because you attacked me for supposed disinterest in “why”, when DDR3 vs. GDDR3 would be the “why” in regard to the spec you posted:

The card spec you provided is for a Dell card with DDR3 — Unless Dell left off the “G” on paper, then it’s the spec for the wrong card. (Apparently.)

No drinking here, BTW. Just a big pile of computer headaches. Maybe I SHOULD be drinking. :-(

Anyway, not looking for some big dustup - thanks for trying to help.

[Paul R.]

Well, that’s interesting too. I wonder how they got the performance out of it? (Ok, yeah, the details of that are above my pay grade!)

I can’t blame the seller, no one not truly “in” to it would know about a spec sheet having lived on incorrectly — and I really wonder why it would not get corrected?

Geez, where are the Tylenol...

Any guess as to whether that incorrect spec was THIS card?

[Paul R.]

Hahaha - unfortunately not, especially from the wealth perspective!

Thanks for the laugh - needed one, fighting these computers...

[Paul R.]

“Apparently” because another poster has posited that NVidia may have been the source of the erroneous spec, but in the other direction.

Sheesh...

[logi_cal869]

“Sheesh” is right, dude.

[kingu]

I’m not sure what you’re asking here.

There were no NVS 510 video cards with GDDR3, only DDR3. Get the performance out of it? These were workstation cards, designed to push to multiple monitors up to 2560x1440 at up to 144Hz. Most common use was 1920x1080 at 144Hz. DisplayPort 1.2.

If someone somehow repopulated the board with GDDR3, it wouldn’t make any difference, as the clock speeds on the board in 128 lanes wouldn’t transfer the data any faster.

Modern use of these outdated GPUs are for use as home media centers. In ‘gaming’ applications, you’re talking about a card that benchmarks in the 3-4 frames per second category. It’s a GT 640 that’s been crippled by having half of the shaders disabled. You can run up to 8 monitors with text, 4 monitors with (mostly) static displays, 2 monitors with video feed up to Blu-ray spec, and I’ve heard, but personally never seen one drive a 4k monitor at 3840x2160 60Hz.

So suitability entirely depends on what you’re using them for. If you’re driving 4 menu boards at a restaurant, great choice. One 2k home HTPC for mostly driving streaming services? Again, great choice. 4k video, not a good choice.

[Paul R.]

So, I took the (modest) leap and purchased a Dell p/n: 061p37. Maybe(?) the apparent incorrect performance spec is Dell's, but, then, the p/n on the spec sheet you linked to IS different. OTOH, this card I have is definitely a Nvidia NVS 510 2GB Video Graphics Card. While the RAM is 2 GB DDR3 (confirming Dell's hardware spec for, evidently, both p/n's), installed, the card (running Port 1 to my 4k / 60 Hz TV / monitor, no other outputs connected) will only crank out 4k @ 30 Hz. All other items in the "chain" (like the cable) have good reviews regarding bandwidth and should handle 60 Hz, so, I'm mildly disappointed. (I was hoping that Dell spec was right!) However, for my primary uses, the 30 Hz is sufficient.

Best guess is that 4k @ 30 Hz is the most the 2 GB of DDR3 can get ya' in any similar architecture card.

I did stumble into Nvidia specs indicating the "consumer" version, NVS 640, has been made with both DDR3 and (later obviously) with GDDR5, with the "GDDR5" tacked onto the end of the model number. So if 60 Hz becomes useful, maybe I'll look for one of those... (I can also drop to 2k @ 60 Hz if not working with small text or speadsheets.)

:-)

[Paul R.]

Thanks, yeah, the problem was that some spec sheets actually did specify GDDR3, and that really threw me for a curve.

As noted just above, I can only get the GT 510 to drive my 4k monitor at 3840x2160 / 30Hz.* But, that’s sufficient. And, should I want to watch a movie, Blu-Ray quality on a 43” screen is ok.

*Maybe the “60 Hz” came from Dell’s spec sheet only - Hahaha.

[Paul R.]

Thanks. See my posts 31 and 32 for “final” results. :-)

[logi_cal869]

Interesting.

As another FReeper pointed out, unless it’s your job, it’s almost impossible to stay abreast of all the tech specs.

Even though IT is part of my own, I only delve into specs when it’s pertinent to either troubleshooting or procurement pursuant to a goal.

Your experience is just another level of 4k troubles I’ve read about anecdotally, my own video problems knowingly rooted in a laptop with now-known wholly inadequate video ability (a hand-me-down).

It was a point of humor when I recently observed an IT dept dealing with vexing hardware and video issues pertaining to an IP based security camera system.

Ironically, it all comes back to KISS.

[Paul R.]

No disagreement with any of that. Esp. the difficulty keeping up with the tech — even old tech if spec sheets are muddled or in some cases incomplete (such as some Nvidia specs that state maximum resolution but not the refresh rate @ that resolution.)

Ah, well, there did turn out to be one bonus: I was assured (not by you!) that upon installation of the NVS 510 card that the motherboard video outputs of my HP6300 would shut down and only the outputs of the graphics card would be available. And that the BIOS might not allow parallel operation. As it turns out, the MB video outputs DO still work without me mucking around in the BIOS. Since 1920 x 1200 from the MB works great on my smaller monitor, and I can’t detect any useful difference in MB processor speed regardless of the smaller monitor’s source, I’ve left said smaller monitor on the MB video (DP) output, which saves me an adapter or an adapter cable, and gives the NVS 510 card it’s full capacity to run the big monitor.

“KISS”, as you said. :-)

[Paul R.]

Update on that last: My HP6300 with 3 year older BIOS (HP Version K01 v02.05, to be precise) does not allow me to keep running the motherboard graphics alongside the new card. It’s one or the other.