Nvidia GeForce MX150 Gaming Review and Benchmark Scores

The successor of GeForce 940MX is finally here and OEMs have already started bringing Laptops with Nvidia GeForce MX150 GPU.

MX150 is the Notebook variant of Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 and it aims to improve the gaming experience on budget segment Laptops.

According to Nvidia, MX150 is four times faster than the current Integrated GPUs. Intel’s 8th Generation (Coffee Lake) Notebook Processors will make a great pair with the MX150 for a better gaming experience.

HP Envy 13 and Xiaomi’s Mi Notebook Air (2017) were some of the first laptops that had this GPU. Some other popular Laptops that have this GPU are MSI GV62 7RC, Aspire 5 A515-51G, and Asus Vivobook N705UN.

A Gameplay Video is the best way to understand a GPU’s Gaming capabilities and so here’s it.

Gameplay Video

The configuration of the Notebook used in the above video is Intel Core i5-7300HQ Processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 2GB GeForce MX150, and Samsung 850 Evo SSD. Almost all the games are well playable at 1080p. For a better FPS, one can always switch to (1366×768) HD resolution.

On Witcher 3, the average FPS is 30 on Medium Settings at 1080p while on Mafia 3 you can get the same FPS at 768p and Low Graphics Settings. On Doom and Watch Dogs 2 at Full HD Resolution and Medium Preset, the average FPS is around 40 and 31 respectively.

This Graphics Processor is going to be a popular choice for the mid-tier Notebooks this year.

The performance of this GPU is comparable to the GTX 950M. In the upcoming months, a lot of 8th Gen Laptops are launching that are expected to have the MX150 GPU.  It will also be interesting to see the performance of Intel’s 8th gen Integrated Graphics as the previous-generation Intel HD Graphics 620 did quite well.

Let’s first start by checking out the specification and new features of this GPU and then we will move onto benchmark scores. Then, we will check out the real-world gaming performance and the average FPS that you can expect in popular PC Games at different Graphics Settings and Screen Resolutions.

    GeForce MX150 Specification

GeForce MX150 is a dedicated Laptop Graphics Processing Unit by Nvidia which arrived on 25th May 2017. It is the latest addition to the GeForce 10 Series by Nvidia. Its codename is GP108-300 and it is based on the Pascal Architecture. This GPU is the Laptop variant of the GT 1030 has the same specification apart from the clock speeds. It uses the 14nm Manufacturing Process with FinFET technology that makes it extra power efficient. The thermal design power of this Graphic Card is just 25W and this will ensure good battery backup.

It has 2GB GDDR5 Dedicated Memory (VRAM). While its predecessor (940MX) is available in both DDR3 and GDDR5 variants. The base clock rate is 1,468 MHz and it can go up to 1,532 MHz. The processing power of GeForce MX150 is 1,127 GFLOPS and it can reach 1,177 GFLOPS with Nvidia GPU Boost. Some of the technologies it supports are Nvidia CUDA, Optimus, GPU Boost 3.0, Nvidia GameWorks and PhysX. We will talk more about these in the next section.

Please note that the above specification may vary as per the OEM.

    Features/Technologies Used

Here are some of the important technologies that are supported by Nvidia GeForce MX150.

• CUDA

It is a computation platform by Nvidia which enables Parallel computing and enhances the GPU Performance.

• Nvidia Pascal

It is based on the latest Pascal micro-architecture by Nvidia. It is the successor of Maxwell Architecture and has some significant performance improvements over the previous generations.

• Optimus

Optimus Technology makes the Laptop power efficient by automatically switching from Dedicated GPU to Integrated GPU and vice versa. In other words, it switches to the dedicated GPU when high performance is required (such as gaming) and switches back to Integrated GPU when no heavy task is being performed on the Laptop.

• Nvidia GPU Boost 3.0

When the base clock speeds of the Graphics Processor isn’t enough for the task, the GPU frequency is automatically boosted to the Max with the help of Nvidia GPU Boost 3.0.

• DirectX 12

The latest version of DirectX delivers better performance in newer games which are optimized for DirectX 12.

• PhysX

PhysX is a physics simulation engine by Nvidia that delivers incredible animation and effects.

• Nvidia GameWorks

Nvidia GameWorks delivers a more interactive and enhanced gaming experience.

    GeForce MX150 Benchmark

The best way to judge MX150’s performance will be by comparing it with its predecessor and the current generation Integrated Graphics. Let’s first see what Nvidia says about this GPU and then we will check out its PassMark score.

Gaming:

According to Nvidia, MX150 is four times faster than the Intel’s 6th (HD 520) and 7th Gen (HD 620) Integrated Graphics. While the previous generation 940MX is 3 times as powerful as Integrated Graphics.

Video Rendering:

Just like Gaming, MX150 is again 4 times faster than the Intel HD 520 when we talk of video rendering/editing. Applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, Sony Vegas Pro, and Corel VideoStudio will do a better job with a dedicated Graphics Processor.

PassMark Score:

The above scores are obtained using PassMark Software. There is a significant improvement in the PassMark score when compared to the 940MX. These scores are close enough to its Desktop variant (GT 1030) and this gives a hint that the gaming performance will be a lot similar. This GPU will be able to handle every game at 720p High Settings or at 1080p with Low/Medium Settings.

    Comparison with Similar GPUs

Let’s now compare some of the popular and similar GPUs with MX150 based on their PassMark scores.

Nvidia GeForce MX150 vs Intel HD Graphics 620

It outperforms the HD 620 and gives a clear message of its performance in PassMark Scores. So, there’s a significant performance difference between Integrated and Dedicated Graphics Cards.

Nvidia GeForce MX150 vs GeForce 940MX

Once again, there’s a clear difference between the MX150 and its predecessor 940MX. Though GeForce 940MX is a great GPU for 720p Gaming, it struggles with new games at 1080p.

Nvidia GeForce MX150 vs GeForce 950M vs  GTX 1050

This chart should explain the difference between a Gaming Laptop and a mid-range Laptop. Nvidia GTX 1050 is a lot powerful and perfect for Gaming at 1080p with High Graphics. Interestingly, MX150 obtains a higher score than that of GTX 950M and shows why it’s such a great deal. However, in real-world performance, GTX 950M may perform better and give a higher FPS in games.

    Gaming Performance Review

As we are done with the specifications and benchmarks, let’s move onto the real-world gaming performance.

GTA V Average FPS

Grand Theft Auto V will give around 30-35 FPS at 1080p and High Settings. So, you’ll have to either lower down the graphics settings or the resolution to achieve 60 FPS. In fact, the FPS will easily cross 100 at 720p resolution and high graphics settings. So in most of the games, it will be up to you whether you prefer video quality or smoother gaming experience.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Average FPS

There will be no point to switch to lower Settings on CS: GO. Enjoy Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at 1080p and High Settings!

Rise of the Tomb Raider Average FPS

Rise of the Tomb Raider could manage only 30 FPS with 940MX at low preset and HD Resolution. With MX150, you can play this game at a much better FPS on 720p or can stick with 30 FPS of Full HD Resolution.

Fortnite Average FPS

Fortnite runs like a piece of cake on MX150. On Medium Settings at 1080p, you’ll easily manage to get more than 75 frames per second. Even PUBG works awesome on this GPU!

    Final Words & Recommendations

For more than a year, GeForce 940MX ruled the mid-budget segments Laptops and now it’s time for the Nvidia GeForce MX150 to do the same. It can run every game at HD resolution with a good FPS and a majority of games at Full HD Resolution with a slightly lower FPS. Unless you can increase your budget and get a GTX 1050 Laptop, this one is the best you can have in a mid-budget Gaming Laptop.

For gaming, it will still be a better idea to get a gaming PC instead. For even a lesser price, one can assemble a GTX 1050 Ti Gaming PC that will give a lot better gaming performance. Or for almost half the price ($350), you can get a GT 1030 PC which will perform slightly better than an MX150 Laptop.

List of Laptops that have this GPU:

• MSI GV62 7RC
• Acer Aspire E5 576G 5762 
• Acer Aspire 5 A515
• Asus Vivobook N705UN
• Mi NoteBook Air 2017
• HP Envy 13