Characteristics of a high-brightness laser-diode end-pumped CW and passively Q-switched Nd:GdVO₄ laser ware studied. Using KTP as the intracavity frequency doubler, 119 mW green output power was obtained at a pump power of 881 mW, corresponding to a optical-to-optical efficiency of 13.5%. Passively Q-switched operation was realized using Cr⁴⁺:YAG as the saturable absorber. Stable pulses with pulse duration of 116～24 ns and repetition rate of 500 KHz～1.8 MHz were generated.