How To Decode Nvidia/Radeon Graphics Card Models.

Buying a new graphics card for you computer can be difficult if you don't know what you are looking for. This article will hopefully clear up any confusion you might have.


Normally with the latest graphic cards available, Nvidia GPU's come with 3 digit numbers and Radeon has 4 digit numbers. The 1st number is the generation of the card. For example, the Nvidia GT 530 would be part of the 500 series. Newer generation means more features and abilities (example from 500 to 600 series, the newer series would have a bunch of improvements/modifications from its predecessor). The same applies for Radeon the only difference being Radeon cards would have 4 numbers

The 2nd number is the relative speed in the lineup. So an Nvidia GT 520 would be 500 series and a 2 (low) end for speed. An Nvidia GTX 660 would be in the 600 series and 6 (mid-high) range for speed. An Nvidia GTX 690 would also be in the 600 series and 9 (very high end) for speed.

So if you compare a GT 640 to a GT 580, the GT 640 is a newer model with some nice upgrades from the 500 series but isn't a very fast gaming card (low middle). The GTX 580 is one series older but still top end card so would easily crush the GT 640 in terms of performance. Even a GTX 480 which is 2 generations old, but again high end for speed would totally destroy the GT 640.

[NOTE THAT THIS ONLY APPLIES FOR RADEON]
The 3rd digit is usually a 0 or 5. Between a 7900 and 7950 it usually means a newer revision. Same generation, same high end speed, but the 7950 got a revision over the 7900.

For Nvidia, GT, GS, GTX, GTS, etc are used to denote differences between fairly similar cards. Usually GT is base, GTS is better, GTX is extreme, and Ultra is high as they go. GS and GTS were used in older cards but nowadays the graphics cards only use GT GTX and GTM (for laptops only),