Recent reports indicate that NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4010 GPU has made its debut not through official channels, but rather on various online marketplaces in China. This development has sparked interest, primarily due to the nature of the product being more of a modified GPU than a standard release.
GeForce RTX 4010: A Modified Model with Unexpected Driver Support
Modifications of GPUs are prevalent in certain markets, particularly in China, where enthusiasts are known for their innovative customizations. These modifications can range from simple PCB changes to the adaptation of mobile GPU architectures for desktop environments. Recently, the YouTube channel Budget-Builds Official showcased a GeForce RTX 4010 GPU, which, intriguingly, is not an official NVIDIA product but rather a modified variant based on a different GPU architecture that will be revealed shortly.
This particular model appears to be produced by an unofficial AIB partner named Shenzen Bitland, a company that specializes in repackaging and manufacturing various hardware components. Upon inspection, the GeForce RTX 4010 features a compact, single-slot design with a blower-style cooling fan, indicating it is aimed at users with limited space requirements. This GPU seems to be a budget-friendly option for Chinese consumers, tailored for low-profile computing tasks.
During testing with GPU-Z, it became apparent that the application struggled to identify the RTX 4010, confirming its unofficial status in NVIDIA’s product lineup. Nevertheless, it was encouraging to find that the driver support was robust, functioning seamlessly right out of the box. According to the parameters revealed by GPU-Z, this GPU is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory and boasts a bandwidth of 96 GB/s, reinforcing its positioning as a low-end GPU.
In a series of performance benchmarks, Budget-Builds Official ran tests using popular applications like 3DMark and gaming titles including Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077. The performance was surprisingly acceptable, especially given that the drivers were not optimized. Average frame rates hovered around 20-30 FPS across various games, a commendable result considering the specifications of the modified unit.
In an unexpected twist, this so-called GeForce RTX 4010 is actually based on NVIDIA’s RTX A400 Ampere workstation GPU. The specifications align closely with the findings from GPU-Z, indicating the seller made enhancements to clock speeds, pushing them up by an additional 200 MHz for improved performance. This modified WeU was acquired for £80, a relatively affordable price considering the options available in the Chinese market. Notably, this type of GPU has gained traction among OEM system builders.
Ultimately, the emergence of this “counterfeit”GPU serves as a reminder of the dynamic landscape surrounding graphics cards. While its performance appears satisfactory, caution is advised when considering such products; prospective buyers should ideally stick with officially sanctioned NVIDIA GPUs to avoid the pitfalls often associated with third-party modifications.
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