For mining
Graphics cards specially designed
for cryptocurrency mining(BitCoin, Ethereum, etc.). In this case, it is not just a theoretical possibility to use a graphics card for mining (
many “regular” graphics cards have this possibility), but an optimized design, originally developed taking into account the specifics of the process. Some of these models may be mining-only and may not have video outputs at all.
Mining is the process of "mining" a cryptocurrency by performing special calculations. The technical features of the process are such that in order to achieve maximum efficiency, it is necessary to parallelize the calculations as much as possible. It is thanks to this that graphics cards turned out to be very convenient for mining: the number of individual cores (and, accordingly, parallel computing) in modern GPUs is in the hundreds. Initially, such an application was abnormal, and to transfer the graphics card to the mining mode, one had to resort to various tricks; however, in light of the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies, many manufacturers began to produce video adapters specifically designed for this application.
GPU model
A GPU is a type of graphics processor that determines the fundamental performance characteristics of a video adapter. Today there are two main manufacturers -
AMD and
NVIDIA. Intel has also entered the leadership race with its
Intel Arc line of discrete graphics.
NVIDIA:
GeForce GT 1030,
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti,
GeForce GTX 1060,
GeForce GTX 1070, etc. (all related to
GeForce 10 series),
GeForce GTX 1630,
GeForce GTX 1650(
SUPER),
GeForce GTX 1660(
SUPER,
Ti),
GeForce RTX 20 series, namely
GeForce RTX 2060(
SUPER),
GeForce RTX 2070(
SUPER),
GeForce RTX 2080(
SUPER,
Ti),
GeForce RTX 3050,
GeForce RTX 3060,
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti,
..."/list/189/pr-42256/">GeForce RTX 3070,
GeForce RTX 3070 Ti,
GeForce RTX 3080,
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti,
GeForce RTX 3090, GeForce
RTX 3090 Ti,
GeForce RTX 4060,
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti,
GeForce RTX 4070,
GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER,
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti,
GeForce RTX 4 070 Ti SUPER,
GeForce RTX 4080,
GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER,
GeForce RTX 4090, as well as professional
Quadro.
AMD:
Radeon RX 400 series,
Radeon RX 500 series as
Radeon RX 550,
Radeon RX 560, Radeon RX
570, Radeon RX 580,
Radeon RX 590, Radeon RX 5500
XT,
Radeon RX 5600 XT,
Radeon RX 5700,
Radeon RX 5700 XT,
Radeon RX 6400,
Radeon RX 6500 XT, Radeon RX 6600,
Radeon RX 6600 XT, Radeon RX 6650 XT,
Radeon RX 6700 XT, Radeon
RX 6750 XT , Radeon RX 6800,
Radeon RX 6800 XT,
Radeon RX 6900 XT,
Radeon RX 6950 XT,
Radeon RX 7600,
Radeon RX 7600 XT, Radeon RX 7700 XT, Radeon RX 7800 XT,
Radeon RX 7900 XT,
Radeon RX 7900 XTX,
Radeon RX 7900 GRE,
Radeon RX Vega 56,
Radeon RX Vega 64,
AMD Radeon VII and professional
FirePro.
Knowing the GPU model, you can find detailed information on it (special specs, reviews, reviews, etc.) and evaluate how suitable this board is for your purposes. It is worth noting that in video cards from third-party brands, the characteristics of the graphics processor may differ slightly from the standard ones (and often in the direction of acceleration and improvement).
Memory bus
The amount of data (bits) that can be transferred over the graphics card's memory bus in one cycle. The performance of the graphics card directly depends on the bus width: the higher the bit width, the more data the bus transfers per unit of time and, accordingly, the video memory runs faster.
The minimum bit depth for modern video cards is actually
128 bits, this figure is typical mainly for low-cost models. In mid-level solutions, there are indicators of
192 bits and
256 bits, and in advanced models —
352 bits,
384 bits and more, up to
2048 bits.
GPU clock speed
The frequency of the graphics processor of the graphics card. As a general rule, the higher the frequency of the GPU, the higher the performance of the graphics card, but this parameter is not the only one — a lot also depends on the design features of the graphics card, in particular, the type and amount of video memory (see the relevant glossary items). As a result, it is not unusual for a model with a lower processor frequency to be more performant of two video cards. In addition, it should be noted that high-frequency processors also have high heat dissipation, which requires the use of powerful cooling systems.
Max. resolution
The maximum resolution supported by the graphics card — that is, the largest image size (in pixels) that it can display on an external screen.
The higher the resolution, the clearer and better the picture is. On the other hand, with an increase in the number of pixels, the requirements for computing power and, accordingly, the cost of a graphics card increase. In addition, do not forget that you can only appreciate the full benefits of high resolutions on monitors with the appropriate characteristics. On the other hand, in the graphics settings, you can set lower resolutions than the maximum; and a good resolution margin means a good overall performance margin.
As for specific values, the actual minimum for modern video cards is 1600x1200, but higher rates are much more common — up to
Ultra HD 4K and
Ultra HD 8K.
Passmark G3D Mark
The result shown by the graphics card in the test (benchmark) Passmark G3D Mark.
Benchmarks allow you to evaluate the actual capabilities (primarily overall performance) of a graphics card. This is especially convenient in light of the fact that adapters with similar characteristics in fact can differ markedly in capabilities (for example, due to the difference in the quality of optimization of individual components for joint work). And Passmark G3D Mark is the most popular benchmark for graphics adapters nowadays. The results of such a test are indicated in points, with a higher number of points corresponding to better performance. As of mid-2020, the most advanced graphics cards can score over 17,000 points.
Note that Passmark G3D Mark is used not only for general performance evaluation, but also to determine the compatibility of a graphics card with a specific processor. The CPU and graphics adapter must be approximately equal in terms of the overall level of computing power, otherwise one component will “pull back” the other: for example, a weak processor will not allow a powerful gaming graphics card to unleash the full potential. To search for a video adapter for a specific CPU model, you can use the list "Optimal for AMD processors" or "Optimal for Intel processors" in the selection of our catalog.
HDMI
The number of HDMI outputs provided by the graphics card.
HDMI is by far the most popular interface for high-definition video and multi-channel audio (it can be used for video and audio at the same time). This connector is almost standard for modern monitors, in addition, it is widely used in other types of screens — TVs, plasma panels, projectors, etc.
The presence of several outputs allows you to connect several screens to the graphics card at the same time — for example, a pair of monitors for organizing an extended workspace. However, there are never more than 2 HDMI ports in video cards — for a number of reasons, for several screens at once, in this case it is easier to use other connectors, primarily DisplayPort.
DisplayPort
The number of DisplayPort outputs provided by the graphics card.
DisplayPort is a digital media interface similar in many ways to HDMI, but primarily used in computers. The specific capabilities of this interface depend on the version (see below), but even in the most modest modern version of DisplayPort, it allows at least 4K at 60 frames per second and 5K at 30 fps. Another interesting feature of this standard is the ability to daisy-chain multiple screens to one port (“daisy chain” format).
In light of the latter, we can say that the number of DisplayPort outputs corresponds to the number of screens that can be connected directly to the graphics card, without using a daisy chain. Such a connection may be required, in particular, for monitors that do not support daisy chaining. If such a mode is supported, the maximum number of screens will be at least twice as high as the number of connectors. However, it is worth considering that the resolutions supported by the video adapter itself may not reach the maximum capabilities of the DisplayPort version used.
Stream processors
The number of stream processors provided by the graphics card.
A stream processor is a separate part of the GPU, designed to execute one shader at a time. Shaders, in turn, are small programs responsible for creating individual graphic effects (for example, surface gloss, glare on the surface of water, motion blur, etc.). Accordingly, the more stream processors provided in the design, the more shaders the graphics card can simultaneously execute and the higher its computing power. However, in general, this is a rather specific parameter, relevant mainly for professional developers, modders and enthusiastic gamers.
