{"id":381,"date":"2022-03-21T16:26:03","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T16:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-698089-2344727.cloudwaysapps.com\/2022\/03\/21\/8-graphics-card-specifications-explained\/"},"modified":"2023-06-28T07:13:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T07:13:51","slug":"8-graphics-card-specifications-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/8-graphics-card-specifications-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Graphics Card Specifications Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76b927f elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content\" data-id=\"76b927f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-content.default\">\n<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A graphics card is the PC component responsible for rendering graphics to the display. It takes the graphical tasks away from the CPU and RAM, making them perform other tasks quickly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most peomaple use the terms graphics card and GPU interchangeably (including us), but it\u2019s not technically correct. GPU, or graphics processing unit, is just one of many components inside a graphics card, including its own RAM and circuit board.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A graphics card\u2019s main job is to receive data from the CPU and send output to the monitor. Needless to say, a graphics card is the most critical factor when it comes to PC gaming and can make your experience from average to awesome. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But graphics cards also have many use cases outside gaming, including 3D processing, machine learning, deep learning, video encoding, crypto-mining etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But as is the case with other components, all graphics cards are not the same.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\">\n<p class=\"toc_title\">Table of Contents <span class=\"toc_toggle\">[<a href=\"#\">hide<\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"toc_list\">\n<li><a href=\"#8_Graphics_Card_Specifications_Explained\">8 Graphics Card Specifications Explained<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#1_Stream_Processors_and_CUDA_Cores\">1. Stream Processors and CUDA Cores<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#2_Core_Clock_Speed\">2. Core Clock Speed<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3_VRAM\">3. VRAM<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#4_Memory_Type\">4. Memory Type<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#5_Memory_Bandwidth\">5. Memory Bandwidth<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#6_Thermal_Design_Power_TDP\">6. Thermal Design Power (TDP)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#7_Power_Connectors\">7. Power Connectors<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#8_Display_Output_Ports\">8. Display Output Ports<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"8_Graphics_Card_Specifications_Explained\">8 Graphics Card Specifications Explained<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In this article, we\u2019ll talk about the key factors that differentiate one graphics card from the other and which factors you should pay attention to while making a purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"1_Stream_Processors_and_CUDA_Cores\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Stream Processors and CUDA Cores<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you have ever looked into AMD and Nvidia\u2019s GPU specs-sheet, you\u2019ll see these two terms: Stream processors and CUDA cores.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Named as such by AMD and Nvidia, respectively, they both refer to the same thing and indicate how powerful your GPU is.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Just as a processor consists of multiple cores, a GPU consists of hundreds of pixel processors that help perform operations more efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, in practice, you cannot compare two GPUs based on their stream processors and CUDA cores because both Nvidia and AMD have unique GPU architectures.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"2_Core_Clock_Speed\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Core Clock Speed<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The pixel processors we discussed above operate at a clock speed, just like CPU cores. For those who don\u2019t know, clock speed refers to the number of operations these cores perform in one second and measured in MHz.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like stream processors\/CUDA cores, the clock speed can\u2019t be used for comparison between two GPUs due to various other factors. But all other things being equal, the higher clock speed will result in better performance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Graphics cards have a base clock and boost clock frequency. The base clock speed is the minimum speed cores operate at. And boost clock frequency is the speed they can reach during heavier workloads.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like CPUs, graphics cards support overclocking, meaning you can increase your clock speed slightly to get more juice out of it. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But this can also result in more power consumption. So make sure you have a spacious case and a capable PSU for this purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"3_VRAM\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. VRAM<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">VRAM stands for Video RAM and is the memory inside your graphics card. It stores all the graphical data and acts as a buffer between the GPU and the processor. More VRAM is always better as there will be space to store more data at one time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But it also makes a graphics card more expensive. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s important to decide the amount of VRAM you need beforehand because you can\u2019t upgrade it later, as you do with regular RAM.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How much VRAM you need depends on the games you play and the resolutions at which you play them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For 720p gaming, 2GB VRAM is enough. But if you want to go 1440p or 4K, you\u2019ll need at least 8-12 GB, depending on the game title.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"4_Memory_Type\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4. Memory Type<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like conventional RAM, VRAM comes in different types, and these types play a huge role in how well it performs. Gaming graphics cards come with different versions of GDDR memory from 1 to 6, such as GDDR5, GDDR5X, GDDR6, etc. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The GDDR6 is the most common memory type these days and is founded in the latest RTX 30 and AMD RX 6000 graphics cards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some flagship GPUs, such as RTX 3080 and 3090, feature the latest GDDR6X memory. It\u2019s twice as faster as its predecessor (GDDR6) but will take some time before coming in lower-tier cards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On the other hand, anything older than GDDR5 is too old and should be avoided.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"5_Memory_Bandwidth\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5. Memory Bandwidth<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Memory bandwidth reflects the overall speed of your VRAM. It indicates how quickly your GPU\u2019s VRAM can be accessed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Since it indicates the maximum amount of data the memory bus can handle at one time, it is one of the important specs to look for in a graphics card.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Many times, you don\u2019t find this value in a GPU\u2019s spec sheet. In that case, you can find it by using the formula below (for only GDDR5X and GDDR6 graphics cards):<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Memory Bandwidth = Effect Memory Clock x Memory Bus Width \/ 8<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In turn, The effective memory clock can be determined by this formula:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Effective memory clock = Memory Clock x 2 x 4<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The new RTX 3060 comes with a memory clock of 1750 MHz. Using the above formula, we can figure its effective memory clock out to be 14 Gbps. Now we can plug this value into the first equation and find the memory bandwidth, which in this case is 448 GB\/s.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"6_Thermal_Design_Power_TDP\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6. Thermal Design Power (TDP)<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Like a processor, a graphics card also comes with a TDP rating that indicates how much power it will consume and the heat it will generate in that process. The TDP ratings among graphics cards can range widely from 75W-80W of GTX 16 cards to as high as 350W for RTX 3090. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A high TDP can affect your power supply. While you can use a 450W-500W PSU for GTX 1650\/1660 cards, Nvidia recommends at least a&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/pcbuilderz.com\/best-psu-for-rtx-3060-ti-3070-3080-and-3090\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">850W PSU for a single RTX 3090<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As a general rule of thumb, make sure to have a well-ventilated case with a good amount of airflow if you plan to use a high-TDP card.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"7_Power_Connectors\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">7. Power Connectors<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Low-end graphics cards get their power from the PCIe x16 slot of the motherboard where they\u2019re plugged. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But this slot can only provide up to 75W power. That\u2019s why premium cards get power directly from the PSU through 6-pin and 8-pin power connectors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The new RTX 3000 GPU consume a lot more power compared to their predecessors. This led Nvidia to release a new 12-pin power connector with their cards. Thus, when buying a graphics card, make sure it\u2019s compatible with your PSU and vice versa.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"8_Display_Output_Ports\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">8. Display Output Ports<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Monitors come with a variety of options when it comes to connectivity. Older displays used to come with VGA and DVI-D, while the newer models feature the HDMI, DisplayPort, and even USB-C in some cases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That\u2019s why graphics cards come with different display output ports so that you can utilize one that\u2019s compatible with your monitor.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A graphics card is the PC component responsible for rendering graphics to the display. It takes the graphical tasks away from the CPU and RAM, making them perform other tasks quickly. Most peomaple use the terms graphics card and GPU interchangeably (including us), but it\u2019s not technically correct. GPU, or graphics processing unit, is just [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/381"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/381\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gearlush.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}