Apple M3 Pro 18-Core GPU vs GeForce4 MX 420 PCI

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the rankingnot ratednot rated
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
ArchitectureCelsius (1999−2005)no data
GPU code nameNV17 A3no data
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date6 February 2002 (22 years ago)31 October 2023 (1 year ago)

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA coresno data18
Core clock speed250 MHzno data
Number of transistors29 millionno data
Manufacturing process technology150 nm5 nm
Texture fill rate1.000no data
ROPs2no data
TMUs4no data

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizeno datamedium sized
InterfacePCIno data
Width1-slotno data
Supplementary power connectorsNoneno data

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeSDRLPDDR5-6400
Maximum RAM amount64 MBno data
Memory bus width64 Bitno data
Memory clock speed166 MHzno data
Memory bandwidth1.328 GB/sno data
Shared memoryno data-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors1x VGA, 1x S-Videono data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX8.0no data
OpenGL1.3no data
OpenCLN/Ano data
VulkanN/A-

Pros & cons summary


Recency 6 February 2002 31 October 2023
Chip lithography 150 nm 5 nm

Apple M3 Pro 18-Core GPU has an age advantage of 21 year, and a 2900% more advanced lithography process.

We couldn't decide between GeForce4 MX 420 PCI and Apple M3 Pro 18-Core GPU. We've got no test results to judge.

Be aware that GeForce4 MX 420 PCI is a desktop card while Apple M3 Pro 18-Core GPU is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420 PCI
GeForce4 MX 420 PCI
Apple M3 Pro 18-Core GPU
M3 Pro 18-Core GPU

Comparisons with similar GPUs

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Community ratings

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3 2 votes

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3.1 169 votes

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Questions & comments

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