Graphics card & GPU video card comparison - Versus (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a graphics card and a GPU? ›

Graphics cards are not built into the computer itself; they are interchangeable cards. A graphics card comes complete with a GPU. The GPU is the main component on graphics cards. It exists alongside other components like video RAM (VRAM) for video memory, ports (such as HDMI or DisplayPort), and a cooling component.

Both the GPU and CPU are important, but the GPU has a more significant impact in most cases. Modern games are graphically demanding, and the GPU handles all graphics rendering and processing needed to display modern games.

Tools and benchmarks are programs that test and measure the performance and quality of your graphics card. They can help you compare different graphics cards based on their scores, ratings, or results. Some of the most popular tools and benchmarks include GPU-Z, 3DMark, and UserBenchmark.

Similarities between GPUs and CPUs

You can think of them as the brain of a computing device. Both of them have similar internal components, including cores, memory, and control units.

You need a dedicated GPU for graphics-intensive gaming, editing video, and mining Bitcoin. However, for more general purpose use, such as web browsing, most work-from-home jobs, and more basic gaming, you can get by with CPUs with integrated graphics.

A clear sign you need to upgrade your graphics card is if you no longer receive driver updates for upcoming games. Most GPUs have a driver support life of around 5-8 years; any GPU beyond that time will lose support concerning performance for future releases.

The GPU's clock speed is an indication of how quickly it can process the graphics information before sending it to the monitor. It's one of the specifications of a graphics card that increases with price. Lower-end GPUs have slower clock speeds while higher-end GPUs have higher clock speeds.

AMD generally leads in frame rates, but Nvidia leads in ray tracing. Both AMD and Nvidia do a good job of ironing out compatibility issues and performance issues for games. It's impossible to declare a winner—both graphics card drivers break and unbreak as software gets updated and patched.

While GPUs can process data several orders of magnitude faster than a CPU due to massive parallelism, GPUs are not as versatile as CPUs. CPUs have large and broad instruction sets, managing every input and output of a computer, which a GPU cannot do.

Does it matter what GPU I buy? ›

Match your monitor resolution. Many mainstream cards are sufficient for gaming at 1080p resolutions at between 30-60 fps, but you'll need a high-end card for 4K resolution or 1440p monitors, including ultrawide options. That goes double if you want to use high in-game settings on the most demanding titles.

Today, it is no longer a question of CPU vs. GPU. More than ever, you need both to meet your varied computing demands. The best results are achieved when the right tool is used for the job.

Alongside AMD, Nvidia is one of the main providers of GPU hardware for both individual computer hobbyists as well as data centers and large-scale server operations.

While GTX GPUs can provide decent performance for certain data science tasks, RTX GPUs are better equipped to handle the demands of modern AI and deep learning workloads. Their enhanced compute capabilities, larger VRAM options, and improved compatibility make them the preferred choice for many data scientists.

In addition to speed and processing power, a suitable graphics card can also improve the visual quality of what is displayed on the screen. Modern graphics cards are capable of processing complex textures, shadows, and lighting effects that make games and movies look much more realistic and detailed.

The hardware is known as a computer graphics card (also called a video card, graphics device, display adapter, graphics processing unit, or GPU), and the software is called a graphics driver. Both are essential to making the images on your screen come to life.