Think fast!
You’ve got a choice between picking up a brand new GeForce 9200 or a GeForce 8800. They’re both the same price. Time is running out, you have to act now! Which do you choose?!
You probably picked the 9200 right? After all, a higher number should mean greater performance! Well, enjoy your paper weight. You got ripped off. This brings me to our very first point:
Know what model numbers mean.
Model numbers on graphics cards are actually very confusing to the outsider looking in. In the GeForce series, The first number recognizes the series, and the second number recognizes the tier in that series. So consider the original example. Between the 8800 and 9200, the 9200 is the more recent series, but the tier is terrible. The performance of the lower tier cards are generally marketed to people looking to replace on-board (A.K.A. generally lousy) graphics while the higher tier cards are marketed at gamers and those looking for higher performing graphics. This same number scheme also appears in ATi cards, but in a different way. With ATi cards, the first two numbers generally indicate the series, while the last two numbers indicate tier.
Know how to compare cards.
This can get confusing, though. Sometimes cards can be very close in performance while having greatly different model numbers. Also, there will be times where you’ll want to compare cards of two competing companies and the numbers will become completely useless. A good way to compare cards is to simply do a bit of research. You’ll generally find exactly what you need with a simple search of “card A vs. card B” on any given search engine. Don’t be afraid to do a bit of asking around on computer geek forums, either. We’re surprisingly friendly, I promise.
Know the manufacturer.
Here’s one more tip before you go:
Another confusing aspect of graphics cards comes into play when considering manufacturers. I used to assume that all ATi cards were manufactured by ATi and that all nVidia cards were manufactured by nVidia. I was very wrong. Many different companies can gain the ability to build nVidia’s cards or ATi’s cards. When it comes to considering a manufacturer, always do your research. If you’re browsing TigerDirect or NewEgg (two fantastic places to buy graphics cards, you can forget BestBuy) and you find two Radeon HD 6750 model cards and one costs significantly less than the other, you may want to be wary of its manufacturer. Not all cards are built alike.