If you’re buying a new Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), you should definitely have an understanding of how everything works. Even though the terms GPU and graphics card are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing technically. We will review all the technical information and break it down in an easy-to-understand way for you. Keep reading to learn more.
Read more: 4 Things to Consider Before Buying a Graphics Processing Unit
A typical graphics card features a GPU chip welded to the circuit board and surrounded by memory units. This is integrated into the heat sink, cover, and fan to create the actual graphics card.
Companies like AMD and Nvidia use multiple GPU templates in each generation to create different models and customize specifications as needed. The assignment of a GPU template often follows a system where the lower number in the specifications sheet indicates a larger and more powerful template. For example, Nvidia’s RTX 4090 flagship graphics card uses the AD102 GPU, while the RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 Super use the AD103 GPU. The latest GPUs use smaller manufacturing processes to deliver more performance in the same actual space.
The computing units in the GPU are often referred to as cores. However, this is misleading, as the cores of the GPU do not correspond to the physical cores of the Central Processing Unit (CPU). Graphics processing units contain thousands of small cores or processing elements, which are assembled into groups and then into computational units.
These computing units are classified differently by each GPU manufacturer – Stream Processors (AMD), Xe Cores (Intel), and CUDA Cores (Nvidia). Faster GPUs have a higher number of CUDA Cores (Nvidia) or Stream Processors (AMD) compared to slower models. However, these specifications are only comparable within the same generation and the same manufacturer.
Video Random Access Memory (VRAM) is a specification that almost every PC user is familiar with. VRAM is the memory available on the graphics card to store the framebuffer, texture information, and other graphics data.
If your game settings and video resolution use up all the VRAM of your graphics card, it can lead to graphics errors and performance drops. In addition to VRAM size, there are other critical specifications such as memory type (e.g., GDDR6 or GDDR6X), memory bus width (384-bit, 256-bit, or 128-bit), and memory bandwidth (in gigabytes per second).
Like the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) also has a clock rate for both the GPU and the memory. The core clock rate refers to how fast the GPU processes instructions. On the other hand, the memory clock rate determines how fast the memory (VRAM) is in sending or receiving data to or from the GPU. In general, the following applies:
The higher the core clock rate and memory clock rate of a graphics card, the better the performance. You can also change the core clock rate and memory clock rate, known as overclocking.
Just like the CPU, the Graphics Processing Unit has a maximum power consumption, referred to as TGP (Total Graphics Power). The TGP value indicates the maximum power that your graphics card may consume during operation and is measured in watts. TGP is an indicator of how much power your graphics card exhausts and also provides information about the expected temperature of the GPU during intense gaming or other tasks that require intensive GPU usage.
FP32 or Floating-Point Single Precision is a mathematical method to measure the theoretical performance of a GPU. It refers to the number of floating-point operations a GPU can perform in one second and is measured in TFLOPS.
FP32 is useful for comparing different GPUs, even across generations, although the method doesn’t cover all aspects of performance. Other specifications such as supported PCIe generation and compatibility with graphic application interfaces like DirectX, Vulkan, and OpenGL are also important, especially for designers or developers.
Software features like Nvidia’s DLSS, AMD’s FSR, and Intel’s XeSS differ in performance and game support. So, make sure to check which upgrade technology and version your GPU supports.
When purchasing a new graphics card, always consult reliable sources for tests and realistic standards to make an informed decision. Check the performance numbers in the games and applications you intend to use. Consider looking at Reddit posts, YouTube benchmarks, and reviews from trustworthy publications.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and has been translated and localized from German.
