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NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£20
  • VRAM: 1 GB
  • Memory bus width: 64 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 29 W

NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.4

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.0

Technical Score

10.0%

7.3

User score

Poor
3.0

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

1.4

Memory

12.0%

6.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.4

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.6

Design

4.0%

3.9

Connectivity & Media

Poor
7.3

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

10

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Very good
  • 6.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.9
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    ?

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 7.1
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.8
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.2
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    10

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • nvidia-geforce-gt-520-oem
nvidia-geforce-gt-520-oem

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is an entry-level graphics card based on the 40 nm Fermi architecture, featuring 48 CUDA cores and 1GB of DDR3 memory on a 64-bit interface. Designed as a low-power replacement for integrated graphics, it operates with a core clock of 700 MHz and a memory bandwidth of approximately 10.67 GB/s, though some retail variants feature slightly higher speeds up to 810 MHz. Its main advantages include a very low 29W TDP that requires no external power connectors, a compact single-slot or low-profile design ideal for Home Theatre PCs (HTPCs), and support for DirectX 12 (feature level 11_0) and NVIDIA PhysX. However, it suffers from significant performance limitations, often performing slower than older mid-range cards like the GT 430, and its DDR3 memory bus creates a major bottleneck for modern multimedia or gaming tasks.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

1.4

Memory

12.0%

6.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.4

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.6

Design

4.0%

3.9

Connectivity & Media

3.0
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a technical score of 2.99 points, which is lower than that of 97.7% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

10

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

7.3
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a user score of 7.3 points, which is lower than that of 86.8% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
1.0
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 55.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.4

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

5.4
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.4 points, which is lower than 92.1% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

?
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

134.4 TFLOPS
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM delivers 134.4 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is higher than that of 99.5% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

1 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has 1 GB of VRAM, which is less than 98.5% of graphics cards and equal to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

DDR3
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

DDR3
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM uses DDR3 memory, which is older than on 98.3% of graphics cards and equal to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

64 bit
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM uses a 64 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 97.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.6% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

14.4 GB/s
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM reaches 14.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 99.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

2.0
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports PCIe 2.0, which is older than on 98.4% of graphics cards and equal to 1.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

12
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports DirectX 12, which is older than on 92.7% of graphics cards and equal to 7.1% of graphics cards.
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

N/A
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

2
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports up to 2 displays, which is fewer than 98.1% of graphics cards and equal to 1.9% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

?
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

0
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM offers 0 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 98.1% of graphics cards and equal to 1.9% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

N/A
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

?
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

29 W
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a TDP of 29 W, which is lower than that of 98.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

29 W
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM draws 29 W under peak load, which is lower than 98.8% of graphics cards and equal to 0.2% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

?
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

29 W
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a board power limit of 29 W, which is lower than that of 99.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

?
Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

145 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is 145 mm long, which is shorter than 98.9% of graphics cards and equal in length to 1% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

68 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is 68 mm tall, which is shorter than 99.5% of graphics cards and equal in height to 0.1% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

1 slot/s
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM occupies 1 slot/s, which is slimmer than 96.6% of graphics cards and equal in width to 3.4% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM vs the average graphics card

  • 86.5% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (29 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (29 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.29 W vs 215 W
  • 140.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is shorter than the average graphics card (145 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is shorter than the average graphics card (145 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.145 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 4x larger L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (128 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
    What it is: Total size of the GPU’s L2 cache memory
    When it matters: When cache size can help the GPU feed data faster in demanding scenes.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (128 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.128 MB vs 32 MB
  • 59 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is shorter than the average graphics card (68 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
    When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is shorter than the average graphics card (68 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.68 mm vs 127 mm
  • 86.8% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (29 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
    What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
    When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (29 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.29 W vs 220 W
  • 1 slot/s slimmer design
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (1 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.
    What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
    When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (1 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.1 slot/s vs 2 slot/s
  • 26.5x cheaper
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is cheaper than the average graphics card (£20 vs £530).
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is cheaper than the average graphics card (£20 vs £530).£20 vs £530
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • Better FP64 ratio
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:12 vs 1:64).
  • 5.82x higher compute throughput
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a higher compute throughput than the average graphics card (134.4 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 4x larger L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (128 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 86.5% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (29 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 86.8% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (29 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
  • 86.8% lower peak power draw
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower peak power draw than the average graphics card (29 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a peak power draw of 220 W.
  • 140.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is shorter than the average graphics card (145 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
  • 59 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM is shorter than the average graphics card (68 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 1 slot/s slimmer design
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (1 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.

Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 39 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (1 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 57.8% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (810 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 176 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (8 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 98.3% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (6.5 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 99% lower pixel rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (1.6 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 62 fewer ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (2 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 99.5% lower FP16 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower FP16 performance than the average graphics card (0.2 TFLOPS vs 29.5 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP16 performance of 29.5 TFLOPS.
  • 4,304 fewer FP32 units
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (48 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 192 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (64 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 96.8% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (14.4 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 90.5% slower memory speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (1,800 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 50% smaller L1 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (64 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • Older GDDR version
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM uses an older GDDR version than the average graphics card (DDR3 vs GDDR6).
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Older PCIe version
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (2 vs 4.0).
  • No FSR support
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM does not support FSR, the average graphics card does.
  • 11 older
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,012 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older DirectX version
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports an older DirectX version than the average graphics card (12 vs 12 Ultimate).
  • Older OpenCL version
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.1 vs 3.0).
  • Older shader model
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (5.1 vs 6.8).
  • No sampler feedback
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 98.7% fewer transistors
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (292 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • 3 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (0 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • 2 fewer displays supported
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • No AV1 decoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older HDMI version
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (1.3a vs 2.1).
  • Older HDCP version
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 2.3).
  • 2 fewer monitors per output type
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • 35 °C higher load temperature
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a higher load temperature than the average graphics card (102 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • 9 °C lower thermal ceiling
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (102 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • No backplate
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • 192 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (64 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (64 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.64 bit vs 256 bit
  • 39 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (1 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (1 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.1 vs 40
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.40 nm vs 5 nm
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.1 GB vs 12 GB
  • 57.8% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (810 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (810 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.810 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 176 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (8 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (8 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.8 vs 184
  • 98.3% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (6.5 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (6.5 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.6.48 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 96.8% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (14.4 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
    What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
    When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (14.4 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.14.4 GB/s vs 448 GB/s
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design

Graphic comparison of NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
1 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM?

  • Low power consumption (rated at 29W), requiring no external power connectors
  • Compact single-slot design, often available in low-profile versions for small cases
  • Native full-size HDMI output with support for high-definition audio and video
  • Excellent for media playback (HTPC) due to PureVideo HD and VDPAU support
  • Generally quiet operation, with some models offering passive cooling solutions
  • Provides a modest upgrade over integrated graphics of its era

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 OEM?

  • Extremely low gaming performance, struggling with even basic 3D titles at low resolutions
  • Outperformed by older, similarly priced entry-level cards like the GT 240 or HD 4650
  • Limited feature level support for modern APIs (DirectX 12 feature level is only 11_0)
  • Slow DDR3 memory and narrow 64-bit memory interface bottle-neck performance
  • Active fan models can be surprisingly noisy or run warmer than passively cooled competitors
  • High performance-per-watt deficit because it provides so little actual output

Video reviews

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