GPU Chipsets?? Help!

[Rylo100]

Hello and welcome,

 

Thank you for clicking on my thread. I am a new PC builder and wanted to know the basics on GPU Chipsets along with some main questions that I have about them.

 

So, what are the basics? All I know is that there are brands and name that correspond to a graphic card.

 

Now, If I get a card that is not brand name, but has my wanted chipset, does it still have the same features?

Let me explain my situation here. As I said, I am a new PC builder. While not most people's main purpose for building their own system, mine is DirectX 12 support. On Nvidia's (or GeForce's) page (link), there are a few GPU that I guess natively support DX12. I am currently looking MSI's GeForce GTX 1060 (link). PCPARTPICKER's website says it has the chipset of GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, which is on Nvidia's list that I linked above (could you please double-check for me please ). Does that mean that my selected card will have the same native features as the original GTX 1060?

 

Thank you so much,

Rylo100.

[Tobonator]

Here's the low down: companies like Asus, gigabyte ect buy the rights to produce video cards based around and incorporating gpu's (what you call chipsets) designed by companies like nvidia and amd. The MSI card you are looking at has the same processor as nvidia's first-party 'reference design', and will preform slightly better due to msi's aftermarket cooling system. Card's from msi and their competitors often have MORE features than the nvidia's and amd's 'defaults', being tuned faster or having nice extras like fans that don't spin when the gpu is under a certain temperature.

[djmoney]

I Live in the Nvidia world mainly because I understand it.  So my response will be around what I know Please someone else match with an AMD version as I would like to know.  

as Tobonator noted there 2 chip makers Nvidia and AMD (previously ATI)  they make reference cards as a recommendation to the card manufactures like MSI ASUS ect.  They can then do one of 3 things,  1 - Make the exact same thing as the reference card.  In Nividia's last generation (10XX) this was called a founders edition.  2 - they can make a reference board but put a custom cooler on it.  3 they can go full custom, with a custom board and cooler.  In the last 2 examples these can be overclocked from the manufacture b/c the cooler can keep the GPU cooler.  This is why you can find a GTX 1080 from $500 - $1000.  It all has to do with the R&D the Manufacture had to put in to the card.  That is why some people like MSI or EVGA ect they believe in the design or just the looks.

 

Now Decoding the Nvidia GTX nubers.  the first number or 2 numbers now that we are in the 10s is the generation.  1000 series 900 series 700 series.  The second 2 numbers are the model level of the card.  50 60 70 80.   Think about the first number(s) being like the year of a car and the last 2 being the model.  1050 is not > 980 because the 980 was a high end card from the previous generation and the 1050 is a low end card from this generation.  Just like a 2016 toyota 4 runner is a much higher end car than a 2017 rav4.  but just like a 2017 civic is a better car than a 1990 Lexus is250 a 1050 is a better card then a 780.   The latter example is mainly if you decide to go to the used market.  Not many 700 series cards on the market anymore.  

 

Extra side note Nvidia Likes to make ti versions of video cards as well.  these are improved versions of that model of card.  They can be worth the extra money but often when they hit the none TI prices drop.  Just an FYI the 1080 ti is supposed to drop tomorrow for a cool $700 USD

 

If you want to go the Nvidia route I would go to Nvidia's site and figure out what level of card you want between the 1050 1050ti 1060 1070 1080 1080ti then start to look at the different manufactures.  

  

Personally I plan to get one of the GTX 1080ti as I have 165Hz 1440p monitor.  

 

If you need to compare just search 10xx VS 10xx and you will find someone somewhere comparing them.    

[djmoney]

TLDR :

 

a 1060 is a 1060 is a 1060 as far as the computer sees it.  MSI 1060 and a EVGA 1060 will have the same features in game.  

[Walkure]

Here's a rough explanation :

 

A 1060 6GB no matter what brand it's from, will have the same chipset and features provided by nvidia. Brands and their various different versions differ in other ways, from coolers to I/O to VRM. But the chipset, and whatever nvidia implements in it, is always the same.

[Rylo100]

Thank you so much Tobonator, djmoney, and Walkure! You guys have answered my questions and more. I really appreciate the great community on this forum!