Supported NVIDIA Maxwell Cards (Proprietary Driver) - ZFEbHVUE/Batocera-CRT-Script GitHub Wiki
✅ Supported NVIDIA Maxwell Cards (Proprietary Driver)
⚠️ Important: NVIDIA support in Batocera for CRT use is limited and only works with the proprietary NVIDIA driver.
Only the Maxwell Architecture (1st and 2nd Gen) has been tested and confirmed to work with 15kHz output.
📌 Overview
While AMD remains the preferred GPU vendor for CRT users due to full Switchres API support and open-source driver patches, select NVIDIA Maxwell GPUs (using the proprietary driver) can work reliably for 15kHz output using this CRT script.
However, this compatibility is not guaranteed long-term. NVIDIA may remove support for older GPUs at any time.
🧠 Technical Notes
- Only works using NVIDIA’s proprietary drivers.
- nouveau (open-source) driver is not supported for 15kHz use.
- Use arcade_15 or generic_15 monitor profiles for best results on consumer CRTs.
- 15kHz output works via VGA, DVI-I.
✅ Known-Good Cards
These GPUs from the Maxwell 1.0 and Maxwell 2.0 family have been tested by the community and confirmed to output 15kHz using this CRT script:
✅ Supported NVIDIA Maxwell 1.0 (GM10x) Cards
These GPUs are based on the Maxwell 1.0 architecture and confirmed or likely to support 15kHz CRT output via VGA or DVI-I, depending on the specific model and manufacturer implementation. Check for a physical analog output (blue VGA port or DVI-I with four analog pins).
| GPU Model | Output Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce GTX 745 (OEM) | DVI-I, HDMI, VGA | OEM variant with analog outputs |
| GeForce GTX 750 | DVI-I, HDMI, VGA | Many models confirmed with DVI-I & VGA |
| GeForce GTX 750 Ti | DVI-I, HDMI, VGA | Most variants support analog out |
| GeForce GTX 750 Ti Black Edition | DVI-I, HDMI | Check specific board revision |
| GeForce GTX 760 Ti OEM | DVI-I, HDMI | OEM card based on GM107; supports DVI-I |
| GeForce GTX 860M | VGA (Laptop) | Depends on laptop; often has VGA out |
| GeForce GTX 870M | VGA (Laptop) | VGA available on many systems |
| GeForce GTX 880M | VGA (Laptop) | Found in many Clevo/MSI with VGA out |
| GeForce GTX 950A | VGA (Laptop) | OEM variant; some units confirmed with VGA |
| GeForce GTX 960A | VGA (Laptop) | Often found in business laptops with VGA out |
| Quadro K2200 | DVI-I, DP | DVI-I present on reference design |
| Quadro K2200D | DVI-I, DVI-D | Variant with full dual-link DVI support |
| Quadro K620 | DVI-I, DP | DVI-I present on many retail models |
| Quadro K620M | VGA (Laptop) | Found in mobile workstations; check OEM design |
| Quadro K2200M | VGA (Laptop) | OEM mobile GPU; VGA on some workstation laptops |
| Quadro M500M | VGA (Laptop) | Mobile workstation GPU with VGA output confirmed |
| Quadro M600M | VGA (Laptop) | Present in Lenovo/Mobile HP workstations with VGA |
| Quadro M1000M | VGA (Laptop) | Check OEM laptop for analog VGA |
| Quadro M2000M | VGA (Laptop) | Mobile workstations with VGA output present |
🔍 Excluded (No analog output / headless GPUs):
- NVIDIA NVS 810
- NVIDIA Quadro K1200
- NVIDIA Tesla M10
- NVIDIA GRID M3-3020
- NVIDIA GRID M10-8Q
- NVIDIA GRID M40
➡️ Always verify your specific card model and manufacturer layout for VGA or DVI-I support before purchase or testing.
✅ Supported NVIDIA Maxwell 2.0 (GM20x) Cards
These GPUs are confirmed or likely to work with 15kHz output via VGA or DVI-I (analog capable outputs). Cards lacking analog outputs (e.g. HDMI/DP-only) are not included.
| GPU Model | Architecture | VRAM | Outputs* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce GTX 950 | GM206 | 2 GB | DVI-I, HDMI, DP | Dual-slot, good support |
| GeForce GTX 950 Low Power | GM206 | 2 GB | Varies (OEM) | Check for DVI-I/VGA |
| GeForce GTX 950 OEM | GM206 | 2 GB | DVI-I (some) | OEM design varies |
| GeForce GTX 960 | GM206 | 2/4 GB | DVI-I, HDMI, DP | Widely compatible |
| GeForce GTX 960 OEM | GM206 | 2/4 GB | Varies | OEM-specific |
| GeForce GTX 970 | GM204 | 4 GB | DVI-I, HDMI, DP | Highly recommended |
| GeForce GTX 980 | GM204 | 4 GB | DVI-I, HDMI, DP | Excellent choice |
| GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GM200 | 6 GB | DVI-I, HDMI, DP | Powerful CRT setup |
| GeForce GTX TITAN X | GM200 | 12 GB | DVI-I, HDMI, DP | Enthusiast-level |
| GeForce GTX 965M | GM204M | 2 GB | Varies (Laptop) | Not for desktop use |
| GeForce GTX 970M | GM204M | 3/6 GB | Varies (Laptop) | Not for desktop use |
| GeForce GTX 980M | GM204M | 4/8 GB | Varies (Laptop) | Not for desktop use |
| GeForce GTX 980MX | GM204M | 8 GB | Varies (Laptop) | Rare |
| GeForce GTX 980 Mobile | GM204M | 8 GB | Varies (Laptop) | MXM type |
🎨 Quadro Series (Maxwell 2.0)
| GPU Model | Architecture | VRAM | Outputs* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadro M2000 | GM206 | 4 GB | 4x miniDP | ⚠️ No analog outputs |
| Quadro M2200 Mobile | GM206M | 4 GB | Varies (Laptop) | MXM, no analog |
| Quadro M3000 SE | GM204 | 4 GB | Varies | Check if analog present |
| Quadro M3000M | GM204M | 4 GB | Varies (Laptop) | Mobile workstation |
| Quadro M4000 | GM204 | 8 GB | 4x DP | ⚠️ DP-only |
| Quadro M4000M | GM204M | 4 GB | Varies (Laptop) | Mobile workstation |
| Quadro M5000 | GM204 | 8 GB | 4x DP | ⚠️ DP-only |
| Quadro M5000M | GM204M | 8 GB | Varies (Laptop) | Mobile workstation |
| Quadro M5500 Mobile | GM204M | 8 GB | Varies (Laptop) | High-end laptop GPU |
| Quadro M6000 | GM200 | 12 GB | 4x DP | ⚠️ No analog outputs |
| Quadro M6000 24 GB | GM200 | 24 GB | 4x DP | ⚠️ No analog outputs |
* Output availability may vary by OEM vendor or board partner. For analog support, look for cards with:
- DVI-I (not DVI-D)
- VGA output (rare)
- Analog-capable DisplayPort to VGA adapters (unsupported on NVIDIA Linux drivers)
📌 Exclude Tesla Maxwell (Mxx) cards — these have no video outputs and are not suitable for CRT use.
➡️ Always verify your specific card model and manufacturer layout for VGA or DVI-I support before purchase or testing.
⚠️ Not Recommended
- Kepler or older (GTX 600/700 series): Inconsistent results, even with patches. Avoid.
- Pascal (GTX 10xx), Turing (16xx/20xx), Ampere (30xx): Not supported. These require newer driver branches that do not support legacy modelines or 15kHz output.
- Laptop GPUs: Often have muxless display routing or no analog output; results may vary.
📖 Notes
- Most GTX desktop cards include DVI‑I ports, providing analog VGA support via a passive adapter. Some smaller or ITX single‑slot models may have DVI‑D only, so check your specific PCB layout.
- Laptop GPU modules (e.g., Quadro M3000M) do not provide analog outputs on the card itself; they rely on the laptop’s integrated VGA/DVI port :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
- According to NVIDIA documentation, any DVI‑I port carries analog signal and can be adapted to VGA .
🗨️ Final Thoughts
🎯 Recommendation: Prefer AMD for long-term and full feature support, especially if you want the Switchres API.
NVIDIA Maxwell cards can still be a good short-term option if you already own one, or if you're building a system on a budget and find a known-working model.
📝 These cards work more by "luck and legacy" than by design — use at your own discretion.