Reference cards

[ChrisD.]

I keep seeing "reference card" being mentioned.

What does it mean?

 

[Ginger-Menace]

the reference card bit is when gfx makers use the reference pcb that nvidia/ati used in tests i think, meaning all the resistors and memory are in the same place

 

[Harty]

i refer to reference clocks as an unoverclocked cards stock clocks

 

[setter]

It can also apply to coolers, some manufacturers prefer to add their own coolers.

 

[ChrisD.]

So reference just means as ATI/nVidia made it. So like OEM item?

So if someone said reference part, it means standard, is someone says non reference, it means added/changed by the card maker?

 

[Surveyor]

It's the design of the printed circuit board initially produced by the GPU manufacturer (AMD or NVIDIA).

Usually when a new GPU is launched all the graphics card manufacturers (Asus, MSI, Sapphire, XFX, HIS etc,) will use this reference design for their cards so they're basically all the same.

After some time some manufacturers will design their own printed circuit board and coolers and these are non-reference designs.

 

[ChrisD.]

It's the design of the printed circuit board initially produced by the GPU manufacturer (AMD or NVIDIA).

Usually when a new GPU is launched all the graphics card manufacturers (Asus, MSI, Sapphire, XFX, HIS etc,) will use this reference design for their cards so they're basically all the same.

After some time some manufacturers will design their own printed circuit board and coolers and these are non-reference designs.

Thanks, explains it perfectly.