Main things to look for in a Graphics card.

[RamboFB]

I need a new graphics card and I am trying to learn a bit more about what to actually look for. I understand some of the numbers such on-board ram and speed of that ram, obviously more is better and faster is better.

What are other key things should I look for and how do they affect the performance?

 

[AiiR]

Know what your budget is, look at cards that fall into your budget, compare benchmarks online and see if the performance is what you need.

 

[Padraig]

Get one with more than 4gb of vram games often consume up to 6-8gb on ultra. Look at core count and tdp get lower tdp higher performance cards like the 1070. Most of all just see how much you got to spend and see whats there then check benchmarks. Remember buying the fancy glowing ASUS "custom" card for a extra 100 pounds instead of Standard asus card with a good cooler wont give you anymore performance just make the card look cool. Mainly just look at benchmarks unless you find GPU specs entertaining.

 

[RamboFB]

Know what your budget is, look at cards that fall into your budget, compare benchmarks online and see if the performance is what you need.

Get one with more than 4gb of vram games often consume up to 6-8gb on ultra. Look at core count and tdp get lower tdp higher performance cards like the 1070. Most of all just see how much you got to spend and see whats there then check benchmarks. Remember buying the fancy glowing ASUS "custom" card for a extra 100 pounds instead of Standard asus card with a good cooler wont give you anymore performance just make the card look cool. Mainly just look at benchmarks unless you find GPU specs entertaining.

That's fair enough. Thanks for the help.

 

[loftie]

It's not always easy to compare different GPU architectures from the same or different brands. When looking at the same series of cards, I'd probably go in this order for importance.

1. More cores
2. Faster core speed
3. More memory
4. Faster Memory

Generally, higher tier cards have more cores, then you'll have overclocked versions that'll be faster with a higher clock speed. There are situations where lower tiered cards with less cores can overclock and run faster than higher tiered cards at stock speeds (less so these days AFAIK, with maybe the exception of a titan?). More memory is better generally, but only up to the point that it's required i.e. if a game only needs 3GB VRAM there won't be a difference between a 4/6/8GB cards, but the one with a higher memory clock, if everything else is the same, will perform better. However, if a game uses 7GB VRAM, you're gonna run into performance issues on the 4 and 6GB cards, regardless of the clock speeds on their memory.

Nvidia use less cores, but have higher core frequency, AMD have more cores and lower core frequency.

Currently, off the top of my head,

580 ≈ 1060 6GB (1060 3GB is a different card, not just less VRAM)
Vega 56 ≈ 1070
Vega 64 ≈ 1070Ti/1080

AMD currently uses more power, more power equals more heat, so they'll output more heat. Doesn't mean they'll run hotter, that depends on the cooler. Generally, best place is to look at reviews, I'd go with Hardware Unboxed/Techspot or techpowerup as they both go through a large amount of games. These will give you a rough idea of where the type of card you're looking at will slot in, e.g. a 1070 or a 580. Then do some googling for a review of the model you're looking at to make sure the cooler isn't crap and it doesn't get noisy.

There's also been the introduction of adaptive sync tech - this keeps the frames monitors refresh rate in sync with your frames. AMD has Freesync, Nvidia has GSync. Neither use the others tech, but you can run either graphics card on any screen with enabling this tech - so for example you can buy an Nvidia GPU and use it with a Freesync screen, just Freesync won't be active.

If any of the above is wrong, I'm sure someone will chime in and correct me!

 

[WantoN]

Better to just be aware of the tier differation from each brand ie . *70 and *80 and look at benchmarks.

Be aware of your budget, and the performance you want relative to your monitor.

Cuda cores / shaders, clock speeds, power delivery etc all count, but these are things that you pick up over time, predominantly when selecting your new gpu.

Come to the forum with a budget, details on your monitor and rig, and the people here will guide you towards what’s suitable, and will help you understand why; in this you’ll pick up what the different specifications mean.

 

[RamboFB]

It's not always easy to compare different GPU architectures from the same or different brands. When looking at the same series of cards, I'd probably go in this order for importance.

1. More cores
2. Faster core speed
3. More memory
4. Faster Memory

Generally, higher tier cards have more cores, then you'll have overclocked versions that'll be faster with a higher clock speed. There are situations where lower tiered cards with less cores can overclock and run faster than higher tiered cards at stock speeds (less so these days AFAIK, with maybe the exception of a titan?). More memory is better generally, but only up to the point that it's required i.e. if a game only needs 3GB VRAM there won't be a difference between a 4/6/8GB cards, but the one with a higher memory clock, if everything else is the same, will perform better. However, if a game uses 7GB VRAM, you're gonna run into performance issues on the 4 and 6GB cards, regardless of the clock speeds on their memory.

Nvidia use less cores, but have higher core frequency, AMD have more cores and lower core frequency.

Currently, off the top of my head,

580 ≈ 1060 6GB (1060 3GB is a different card, not just less VRAM)
Vega 56 ≈ 1070
Vega 64 ≈ 1070Ti/1080

AMD currently uses more power, more power equals more heat, so they'll output more heat. Doesn't mean they'll run hotter, that depends on the cooler. Generally, best place is to look at reviews, I'd go with Hardware Unboxed/Techspot or techpowerup as they both go through a large amount of games. These will give you a rough idea of where the type of card you're looking at will slot in, e.g. a 1070 or a 580. Then do some googling for a review of the model you're looking at to make sure the cooler isn't crap and it doesn't get noisy.

There's also been the introduction of adaptive sync tech - this keeps the frames monitors refresh rate in sync with your frames. AMD has Freesync, Nvidia has GSync. Neither use the others tech, but you can run either graphics card on any screen with enabling this tech - so for example you can buy an Nvidia GPU and use it with a Freesync screen, just Freesync won't be active.

If any of the above is wrong, I'm sure someone will chime in and correct me!

Thanks for taking the time to write such detail, it is really appreciated.

Better to just be aware of the tier differation from each brand ie . *70 and *80 and look at benchmarks.

Be aware of your budget, and the performance you want relative to your monitor.

Cuda cores / shaders, clock speeds, power delivery etc all count, but these are things that you pick up over time, predominantly when selecting your new gpu.

Come to the forum with a budget, details on your monitor and rig, and the people here will guide you towards what’s suitable, and will help you understand why; in this you’ll pick up what the different specifications mean.

Yes I have done that.

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/looking-a-for-a-new-card-for-under-300-max.18823878/

I am trying to learn more about it so I can make my own decisions and hopefully help other people.

Thanks for your time.

 

[opethdisciple]

Heat, noise, relative performance at your resolution as well as 8Gb of vram.

Power use is another but to me personally not as important as the above.

 

[WantoN]

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/looking-a-for-a-new-card-for-under-300-max.18823878/

I am trying to learn more about it so I can make my own decisions and hopefully help other people.

Yes, but what I’m saying is you don’t need all that information to make a decision. For instance a GPU with a lower memory throughput can outperform one with a higher throughput. When making a decision all you need to know is performance vs price in relevant benchmarks, what you level of performance you require to utilise the potential of your monitor, and budget. Perhaps tdp if power consumption is a concern (especially if your PSU is underpowered / old).

The little details are picked up over time as you read and discuss. Reviews, videos and articles are especially useful for that.

If you’re particularly interested in understanding the workings of GPUs, here’s a good basics video two articles, and an oldie-but-goodie myth buster piece :

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jzFnxdAX3Cw
https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-nvidia-cuda-834095

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Specs-Explained-Video-Card-463/

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-stream-processors-gpus-70990.html

https://www.tomshardware.co.uk/graphics-card-myths,review-32882-5.html

I’d imagine after going through the above you’ll be up to scratch with gpu technology. Hope this helps.

 

[RamboFB]

Yes, but what I’m saying is you don’t need all that information to make a decision. For instance a GPU with a lower memory throughput can outperform one with a higher throughput. When making a decision all you need to know is performance vs price in relevant benchmarks, what you level of performance you require to utilise the potential of your monitor, and budget. Perhaps tdp if power consumption is a concern (especially if your PSU is underpowered / old).

The little details are picked up over time as you read and discuss. Reviews, videos and articles are especially useful for that.

If you’re particularly interested in understanding the workings of GPUs, here’s a good basics video two articles, and an oldie-but-goodie myth buster piece :

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jzFnxdAX3Cw
https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-nvidia-cuda-834095

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Specs-Explained-Video-Card-463/

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-stream-processors-gpus-70990.html

https://www.tomshardware.co.uk/graphics-card-myths,review-32882-5.html

I’d imagine after going through the above you’ll be up to scratch with gpu technology. Hope this helps.

It certainly does, some very good info here. I thank you for that.

 

[varkanoid]

Least you've only got two choices of manufacturer

 

[WantoN]

Least you've only got two choices of manufacturer

Three by 2022 I’d the rumours are to be believed

 

[LeMson]

I need a new graphics card and I am trying to learn a bit more about what to actually look for. I understand some of the numbers such on-board ram and speed of that ram, obviously more is better and faster is better.

What are other key things should I look for and how do they affect the performance?

Whilst performance of card is high on the list also consider the following:

Look at warranty and the RMA process if you need to use it, not all manufacturers are equal. Sending it to a domestic address with hopefully a quick turn around beats sending it off to Hong Kong for a month lol

Look at a card teardown online youtube etc and an explanation of what the cooler on the card cools, some have massive coolers that hardly touch anything, others have weedy-er looking coolers that touch everything and boss the beefy looking cooler.

Size of card and size of case you are putting it in.

 

[Jed Shields]

I'd stress warranty. I had a Sapphire 390X that died after 2 years and 1 month. 1 month past warranty. Gutted. That's an expensive per annum cost... Even worse is that I've been waiting months to get a replacement because GPU prices are outrageous at the moment.

 

[Nasher]

Something most people don't look in to is the quality if things like VRMs on the card. That can affect how long they last :/

 

[iB CoMpL3XiTy]

RGB

 

[TNA]

RGB

+1

 

[RamboFB]

Thanks everyone for helping. I appreciate it very much. Bench marking seems to be the main thing from a reliable source, look at games you want to play and take it from there. Warranty of course.

I have been reading about some of the numbers, actually quite interesting how graphics card work.

Thank you