14 DAY TRIAL // Nvidia has just the other day released a new Beta version of its graphics card driver and deep inside the documentation that accompanies this latest release lies mentioned a new low-end GPU that is dubbed the GeForce GT 405.
Despite being listed as an 400-series graphics card, the GeForce GT 405 isn't based on the Fermi architecture, but instead on the much older GT218 core that is also used for the GeForce GT 310, which in turn is identical to the GT 210.
This is a common practice for Nvidia in the OEM market, where a great number of graphics cards are actually just renamed version of older parts.
Since the GT 405 uses the GT218 GPU, the graphics card is limited at supporting DirectX 10.1 and doesn't include some of the more advanced features of its older brothers based on the Fermi architecture.
The GT218 core comprises of 16 shaders, 8 texture units and 4 ROP units, which are paired together with a 64-bit wide memory controller.
This can be connected to either 512MB or 1GB of DDR3 video buffer clocked at 701MHz (1402MHz data rate), while the GPU is working at 589MHz.
The low specs of the card have enabled Nvidia to lower the power requirements of the GeForce GT 405 to just 25W.
Another advantage of using such a low power GPU is that Nvidia was able to use a low-profile PCB for the reference design that includes a small fan for dissipating the heat produced, but the whole graphics card can be cooled just as well by a passive heatsink if desired.
According to Nvidia's website, its latest creation supports VGA, HDMI, DVI-I and DisplayPort video outputs.
No information about pricing is available, but this is normal considering the GT 405 is just an OEM solution that isn't supposed to make it into the retail market. (via ComputerBase)