The world of PC gaming is often seen as a costly hobby, demanding the latest and greatest graphics cards to enjoy modern titles. But what if you could tap into a different kind of power, a card originally designed for professional workloads, to fuel your gaming sessions? This is the intriguing scenario explored by a user who repurposed an NVIDIA Tesla M40, a datacenter GPU, for gaming in Windows 11. Let’s delve into their experience and discover how you might also squeeze unexpected gaming performance from this unconventional hardware.
Windows 11: A Game Changer for M40 Compatibility
Initially, the user faced challenges with their M40 when using it as a primary GPU. Custom BIOS flashing issues and driver conflicts were hurdles in older Windows versions. However, Windows 11 has seemingly smoothed out these wrinkles. The operating system now handles the M40 much more gracefully in WDDM (Windows Display Driver Model) mode. This eliminates the need for complex workarounds for basic functionality, making the M40 a more “plug-and-play” option than before.
One significant improvement in Windows 11 is the enhanced control over GPU assignment. Previously, on Windows 10, the user had to rely on the integrated GPU (iGPU) for low-power tasks to fully utilize their CPU’s potential. Windows 11, however, introduces a feature allowing manual selection of a preferred GPU for specific applications. This means users can now leverage the full power of their CPU alongside the M40 for gaming, a feature that was not readily available in standard Windows 10. While manual game assignment is still necessary, the performance gains make it worthwhile for enthusiasts seeking to maximize their hardware.
Hardware Configuration and Performance Insights
The user’s setup involves a dedicated gaming GPU history, moving from a high-end 1080 Ti to an M40 as a temporary primary, and eventually incorporating a 3080 while relegating the M40 to a secondary office PC. This journey highlights the M40’s role as a capable interim solution. To further enhance their multi-GPU configuration, they added a Quadro K410, a low-end professional card, to handle display output and potentially offload some tasks from the M40.
In this dual-GPU setup, the M40 takes the primary x16 PCI-e slot, with the K410 in the secondary slot, both running at x8. Cooling, often a concern with powerful GPUs, is addressed with an adapted cooler from an older 780 Ti, demonstrating resourceful hardware modification. The user appreciates ASUS motherboards for their fan control integration based on GPU temperature probes, showcasing attention to detail in thermal management.
While the M40 isn’t designed for cutting-edge 4K gaming, it proves capable at 1440p resolution, especially when paired with a secondary display GPU like the K410. However, newer games at 4K resolution might push the M40 beyond its limits. Notably, the user observed that “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” (SOTTR) would only run in DX11 mode, potentially due to multi-GPU complexities. Despite this, NVIDIA Control Panel (NVCP) functionality remains accessible because of the Tesla/Quadro combination, offering driver compatibility that might be absent with mismatched consumer and professional GPUs from different generations.
Sharpening, VRAM, and Unexpected Observations
Exploring the nuances of multi-GPU setups, the user noticed that NVIDIA Sharpening is processed by the display GPU (K410 in this case), not the rendering GPU (M40). This is evidenced by increased utilization of the K410 when sharpening is enabled in NVCP, even when the M40 is under heavy load. This behavior mirrors how Intel’s CMAA (Conservative Morphological Anti-Aliasing) functions with integrated graphics, where the iGPU handles post-processing effects.
Interestingly, overriding Anti-Aliasing (AA) settings in NVCP did not show the same increased load on the K410, suggesting that not all post-processing effects are offloaded in this manner. Furthermore, the user was surprised by the efficiency of 512MB of VRAM on the K410 when solely used for display output, indicating that a dedicated display GPU can be beneficial even with limited VRAM.
VBIOS Flashing and Price Considerations
The user experimented with flashing different VBIOS versions, including Titan X and 980 Ti VBIOS, onto the M40, but without success. While custom BIOS modifications created with Maxwell BIOS Tweaker were accepted, flashing VBIOS from cards with different chip names proved impossible, possibly due to limitations in available NVFlash versions or inherent hardware restrictions.
Finally, the post touches on the pricing of M40 cards. Initially affordable, their prices have risen, approaching that of a used 980 Ti. The user notes that a 980 Ti might be a more desirable option at the same price point, but their M40 was acquired at a budget-friendly $118, highlighting the initial appeal of these professional cards for budget-conscious gamers.
Conclusion: Is the M40 a Viable Gaming GPU?
The user’s experience demonstrates that the NVIDIA M40, while not a conventional gaming GPU, can be repurposed for gaming in Windows 11, especially for budget-oriented builds or as a stopgap solution. Windows 11’s improved GPU handling and manual assignment feature significantly enhance the M40’s usability for gaming compared to older operating systems. While manual game assignment and potential DX11 limitations exist, the M40 offers a unique avenue to explore gaming on professional hardware, especially for those willing to experiment and optimize their setup. For gamers seeking raw power at the lowest possible entry price, and comfortable with some technical tinkering, the M40 in a Windows 11 environment presents an intriguing, if unconventional, option.
