Reference Cards - How Can You Tell?

[Aderes Devorah]

Hi all

I am at a loss as to how people are able to say whether certain graphics cards are reference or not.

The stuff I have read elsewhere on the Net has not helped at all. People either tell the ones asking the question that, "That's Ref." or "That's not Ref.", or talk about reference cards being the basic ones that all the others are based on (which I know) and that all of the others (Gigabyte, ASUS, etc) are not reference... Well, who makes the reference cards?

Please feel free to use ANY card out now you wish to. My card is below, but take your pick.

The reason is so I know where to look for reference watercooling solutions in the future.

Thank you in advance.

Best

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[oldestgregg]

Reference cards are non custom cooled cards (one tiny fan at one end) and are released first.

Sorry just re-read that - Nvidia or AMD and Gigabyte,MSI,etc, fit their own coolers and make modification I think. Basically Gigabyte make ref and non ref cards for example. Sorry again if I have mis-understood your question and if m as usual, I am wrong I would very much like to know the truth also

 

[Thracks]

"Reference" cards follow the designs we (AMD & NVIDIA) put forth to the letter: same capacitors, same regulators, same board layout, etc. etc.

AMD and NVIDIA both have limited production capacities to physically manufacture their own reference designs, which is intended to supplement a larger volume from our partners when a new product launches. Over time, board partners can begin modifying these designs with different components to achieve different ends: new thermal profiles, different form factors, cost reductions, etc.

But when a new graphics card first launches, the reference design is the only one with the engineering, validation and testing to be a fully retail product.

 

[Jakus]

Yeah, generally You need to look closely at any card in question and compare it to the "first released " and normally re badged by many vendors cards.

Depending on your interests regarding cooling, board layout and clocks if the certain areas are the same as the first released model we refer to them as reference..... ie, ref clocks, ref cooler etc

Some times a quick look at the available bioses at Techpowerup will allow you to see cards using the same bios which would normally mean they are the same card ( can help when pictures are not available)

Forgot, normally reference card runs are at the same factory with just different stickers and boxes added at the end !

 

[Aderes Devorah]

That's great. Many thanks.

I started getting curious when looking at people going for Crossfire and SLI options, then taking a look at my 7950 and mobo. It was a WTF moment (as the kids would say) because if I did that additional cards would be below floor level! I realised that people are watercooling, and I could look at that if I have additional 7950s in the future.

Anyway, thanks again.

 

[Aderes Devorah]

Yes. As I said to the AMD rep. below:

That's great. Many thanks.

I started getting curious when looking at people going for Crossfire and SLI options, then taking a look at my 7950 and mobo. It was a WTF moment (as the kids would say) because if I did that additional cards would be below floor level! I realised that people are watercooling, and I could look at that if I have additional 7950s in the future.

Anyway, thanks again.

 

[LtMatt]

Lol i see Thracks has fallen foul of the signature rules.

I bet this place has been a bit of a shock for him coming from oc.net where pretty much anythng goes.