Is your NVIDIA GPU nerfed?

Buyers Beware!!! Your laptop might be running a nerfed version of nvidia GPU.

It is not too long since when AMD baited consumers with a two different versions of the Radeon RX560 GPU, one version being the nerfed version of the other but with the same name which made it impossible for the usual buyer to differentiate between them. Now it's nvidia which has silently pulled of a similar stunt by releasing another version of their MX150 GPU silently which has a significantly lower performance than the exactly same named older version of GPU.

OEMs are packing in with their devices the lower performance version of the GPU without even specifying the same in any form of markings or specification details on the product. The only way by which the consumers can actually check whether it is the original version of the GPU or the nerfed version is by running benchmarks.

The lower performance version has a significantly lower TDP of 10W as compared to the 25W TDP of the actual version of GPU. The 10W TDP version goes by the device ID '1D12' while the actual 25W TDP version has the device ID '1D10'. The device ID though is different but, the fact that it can only be accessed by viewing the details of the hardware through a software like CPU-Z, is what makes it a shady move by the company.

The lower TDP version also has boost clocks and memory clocks which are much lower too, only to fit the 10W TDP threshold. The 10W TDP version GPU is clocked at 937MHz as compared to the 1469MHz clock rate in the higher TDP version of the GPU. This amounts for about 36% dip in the performance of the former.

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While, it is not uncommon to have different variations of the same product with different performance values but not to mention that clearly to the consumers through proper model naming and markings is more like throwing dust in one's eye. Manufacturers like AMD and NVIDIA which have a great reputation must avoid such kind of moves and rectifying these kind of issues must be their top priority.

So, next time you plan to spend your hard earned money on a laptop, make sure to check the detailed model numbers of the parts used, for you never know whats hiding beneath the bed!! Let us know what are your thoughts on this one in the comment section.