NVIDIA has introduced an entry-level GeForce 5-series GPU that is, it seems, targeted at folk who currently use integrated graphics on their PCs.
The GeForce GT 520 GPU, launched yesterday, completes NVIDIA's anachronistic low-end line-up, but don't expect the DX11 card to be a powerhouse of a graphics chip.
Based on the all-new GF119 die and comprised of 48 shader processors, 8 texture units and 4 ROPs, allied to a 64-bit memory bus out to 1GB DDR3 memory, the specifications are actually some way below that of the last-generation GeForce GT 430.
Indeed, NVIDIA's own performance comparison shows it to be no faster than a near-three-year-old GeForce 9500 GT. That takes some doing, folks.
But this 29W part is more about multimedia performance and movie playback, we reckon, and NVIDIA duly obliges with an HDMI 1.4a output for some 3D lovin', along with a half-height form factor for HTPCs.
As this is a first-step upgrade from integrated graphics, pricing needs to be keen. We're hearing a $60 (£45) retail price, which seems to be a little steep, especially as AMD is busy readying its own entry-level Radeon 6000-series GPUs.
