Graphics card & GPU video card comparison - Versus (2025)

FAQs

Is a GPU better than a graphics card? ›

Discrete Graphics Processing Unit

However, for more resource-intensive applications with extensive performance demands, a discrete GPU (sometimes called a dedicated graphics card) is better suited to the job. These GPUs add processing power at the cost of additional energy consumption and heat creation.

Most people don't need a dedicated graphics card and are fine using the iGPU built into their computer's CPU. But a dedicated GPU is a must for demanding gaming and GPU-enhanced tasks like video editing, graphic design, and AI projects.

A graphic card shows the picture with a better resolution and even supports 3D animation. A video card is used to display the visual items on the computer screen. They are used for gaming purposes. They are used for video editing and multimedia projects.

Signs You Should Upgrade Your Graphics Card

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.

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. In contrast, the CPU's role is on core processing tasks.

When comparing the features of the GTX and RTX, the RTX series is undoubtedly superior. Ray tracing, which replicates the realistic interaction of light with objects, and DLSS, which employs artificial intelligence to upsample images from lower resolutions to higher resolutions, are built into RTX cards.

Nvidia's graphics segment is comprised of: The GeForce GPUs for gaming and PCs, the GeForce NOW game-streaming service and related infrastructure, and solutions for gaming platforms. The Quadro/NVIDIA RTX GPUs for enterprise graphics design. Virtual GPU (vGPU) for cloud-based visual and virtual computing.

Which graphics card is best for gaming? Simply put, if you're looking for the absolutely best graphics card for gaming then the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the card to go for. Its power and performance beat out any competitor.

The best graphics cards at a glance

Nvidia RTX 4080 Super: The best GPU to pick up if you have a 4K gaming monitor. AMD RX 7900 XTX: An excellent alternative to the RTX 4080 Super. AMD RX 7900 GRE: The best graphics card AMD has released this generation. AMD RX 7700 XT: A great value-focused GPU for 1440p gamers.

The amount of RAM (memory) is crucial. When you have more RAM than you need, the system bottleneck will be in the CPU or GPU. But when RAM is limited, the computer will likely start to depend significantly on the hard drive and cause massive slowdowns.

Do you need to upgrade the motherboard when upgrading a GPU? ›

Yes. Just get a new GPU that is compatible with your motherboard (and fits inside your computer case) and plug it in. Note that there are some caveats to that: your power supply may not be powerful enough to run the new GPU, in which case you'll need a new power supply as well.

Most graphics cards have a functional lifespan ranging from 3-5 years on average before needing an upgrade. However, aspects like usage frequency, cooling solutions, maintenance, and the specific model all impact how long your GPU can last before showing its age.

By working together, the cores deliver massive performance when a processing task can be divided up across many cores at the same time (or in parallel). The GPU is an integral component for modern gaming, enabling higher quality visuals and smoother gameplay. GPUs are also useful in AI.

Graphics card memory amount: Critical. For 1080p gaming, an 8GB may still suffice, but we'd really prefer at least 12GB or more. 4K gaming cards should generally have 16GB to be safe. 6GB cards from prior generations are really starting to struggle now.

Throw scalpers into the mix, who capitalized on demand from gamers and cryptocurrency miners, and it's easy to see why GPUs were so expensive. Simply put, graphics cards were hard to find because the demand was much higher than the supply. Now, with higher stock levels and lower demand, it's a whole different story.

A CPU can never be fully replaced by a GPU: a GPU complements CPU architecture by allowing repetitive calculations within an application to be run in parallel while the main program continues to run on the CPU.