The NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU is an entry-level discrete graphics solution for thin-and-light laptops. Paired with an Intel processor, the MX150 brings better support for gaming, photo or video editing, and some other tasks.

But it turns out that not all GeForce MX150 GPUs are created equal.

NotebookCheck recently noticed that there are two different versions, and one offers up to 25 percent better performance than the other… although it also uses more power.

It looks like NVIDIA quietly offers two variations of the MX150. Both have same basic specs including 2GB of GDDR memory and 384 unified shader cores. But one has higher clock speeds and a higher TDP than the other.

NVIDIA GeForce MX150 1D10

  • GPU clock: 1469 MHz
  • Boost clock: 1532 MHz
  • Memory clock: 1502 MHz
  • TDP: 25W

NVIDIA GeForce MX150 1D12

  • GPU clock: 937 MHz
  • Boost clock: 1038 MHz
  • Memory Clock: 1253 MHz
  • TDP: 10W

In other words, there’s a tradeoff: the 1D12 variant should help you get longer battery life, but at the cost of performance.

What’s strange is that NVIDIA and PC makers don’t market things that way. In fact, they don’t seem to market it at all: the only way to know for certain which GPU you’re getting is to buy a laptop and run an app like GPU-Z for yourself, or wait for websites to compile a list. NotebookCheck has some results to get us started:

  • 13.3 inch Lenovo IdeaPad 32013KBR – 10W
  • 13.3 inch HP Envy 13-ad006ng – 10W
  • 13.3 inch Asus Zenbook UX331UA  – 10W
  • 13.3 inch Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air (2018) – 10W
  • 13.3 inch Asus Zenbook UX330UN – 10W
  • 14 inch Asus Zenbook UX430UN  – 25W
  • 17.3 inch HP Envy 17-ae143ng – 25W
  • 15.6 inch Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 – 25W
  • 15.6 inch MSI PLS62 – 25W
  • 15.6 inch Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro – 25W

Right now, NotebookCheck notes that the lower-power solution seems to be found only in 13.3 inch laptops, with the more powerful GeForce MX150 GPU being used in notebooks with 14 inch and larger screens.

It’s unclear if that means all 13.3 inch laptops with MX150 graphics have the lower power solution, or if all laptops with the 10W variant are 13.3 inches or smaller. But there does seem to be a trend.

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5 replies on “Some NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPUs are slower than others”

  1. Well this news sucks balls. I was so set on buying the HP Envy 13 because of its portability but also the MX150 that could handle basic 3d modeling/architectural visualization programs. My dream shattered (for now).

    Would you know if there’s GPU TDP info on the newer HP Spectre x360 13?

  2. Confirmed my Xaiomi Mi notebook has a 1D12. However I brought up gpu-z and my core clock went to 1594, and memory to 1252. So apparently, it clocks up past what the higher end one does? I haven’t modified or overclocked it.

  3. I Suspect this is probably the MAX-Q version of the MX150.
    (You know, the lower power versions of the Mobile chips for better efficiency).

    Just wish it was marketed as such….

  4. For video cards I remember nVidia’s numbering system to be very confusing, with at least one instance where the same card had two completely different numbers. So I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that they also have two that are different things with the same number. 😉

    I’d add if Samsung used this device they would use both in the same product without any disclosure.

  5. Maybe even companies didn t figure that out, except if they read Liliputing 🙂

Comments are closed.