Quadro

Quadro is a brand name used by Nvidia for a family of professional graphics processing units (GPUs) designed for workstation workflows such as computer-aided design, digital content creation, and scientific visualization. Quadro GPUs are distinguished from consumer GeForce cards by drivers certified for professional applications, features aimed at accuracy and stability, and often higher memory capacities and ECC memory options.

Over its history, the Quadro line has included generations such as Quadro FX, Quadro NVS, and the modern Quadro RTX series. The RTX generation introduced hardware-accelerated ray tracing (RT Cores) and AI-accelerated workflows via Tensor Cores, along with large frame buffers and high memory bandwidth to support complex CAD models and visual effects tasks.

In the early 2020s, Nvidia began rebranding professional GPUs under the NVIDIA RTX umbrella for professional visualization, with products like the RTX A6000 and RTX A5000 marking a shift away from the Quadro branding. The underlying hardware and drivers remained focused on stability, ISV certifications, and optimized performance for professional software, while the branding emphasized RTX technology.

Software compatibility for Quadro/RTX workstations centers on ISV certification and driver support. NVIDIA Studio drivers and other ISV-certified driver packages are tested with software such as AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, CATIA, Maya, 3ds Max, Houdini, and other CAD and digital content creation applications, ensuring reliability for professional users.

Other uses: In Italian, quadro means square; the term can appear in contexts outside Nvidia’s branding.