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Home » Knowledge Base » A Simple Guide to Graphics Card Hierarchy
A Simple Guide to Graphics Card Hierarchy

A Simple Guide to Graphics Card Hierarchy

by Donald Fleming - Last updated February 23, 2021

Have your friends been posting about their offense and defense moves in Overwatch on social media? Or do you suspect them of talking about The Witcher III in a private group on Facebook?

Well, FOMO is huge on that one.

Because we know how not owning a Windows PC with an amped-up GPU and memory can affect your psychology. It hurts. But help is here – in the form of a detailed graphics card hierarchy that you can consider to upgrade your gaming system.

You may be a Grand Theft Auto V veteran but today the world is where the trend is. So here is a quick look at the top tiers of the current-generation GPUs that money can buy.

Time to upgrade your rig…

The Importance of GPU

Contents

  • The Importance of GPU
  • The Graphics Card Hierarchy
    • How to Select the Best Graphics Card and Upgrade?
      • Three Factors to Consider
    • Legacy GPU Hierarchy
  • Different Tiers of GPU
      • Legend
  • Understanding the 5-tier GPU Hierarchy
    • Tier 1 GPUs
    • Tier 2 GPUs
    • Tier 3 GPUs
    • Tier 4 GPUs
    • Tier 5 GPUs

GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit, which enhances the imaging and video rendering quality in the gameplay. Together with your computer’s RAM and other parameters, this video memory elevates your gaming experience by rendering images, loading them faster, and making them look like real life. Have you ever wondered how Rockstar Games replicates the critical expressions of a character or the minute details of a setting in Red Dead Redemption? Well, that’s where the GPU comes in.

This is true for any game you play – from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to Fallout 4 to the recent fad among pro gamers, Overwatch.

The Graphics Card Hierarchy

GPU Hierarchy

It is obvious that any gamer would want to experience the greatest gameplay. Whether it is Virtua Cop II or Battlefield 1. Therefore, we have listed down the five different tiers of graphics cards.

American tech company Nvidia is the leading player in the GPU industry. Their GeForce line of graphics cards, with its CUDA cores, is one of the most popular and bestselling gaming products around the world. No wonder that the top GPU model in tier 1 of our GPU hierarchy is a Nvidia GeForce model.

While Intel is busy shifting gears (both with its GPUs and processors), AMD (with its Steam Processors) has come close to at least trying to dethrone Nvidia from the #1 position. But, has it, though? Let’s check out in the GPU tiers below.

But, first, here are some basics.

How to Select the Best Graphics Card and Upgrade?

The easiest way to find out if your current system specifications are enough and if you can play that game is to use the CYRI (Can You RUN It?) tool by System Requirements Lab. (Go on! Check if you can really play Fortnite Battle Royale or PUBG in your computer!)

This will give you a bird’s eye view of how your system fares compared to the what the developers of the games think are minimum/recommended specification requirements.

You will find that the GPU is one of the most common limitations for playing such games. Of course, processor clock, system memory (RAM), and monitor resolution matter. But video memory is what new games gasp for when compared with their older cousins.

For example, just compare GTA: Vice City with GTA V and you will notice that graphics is one of the biggest improvements in the latter. To render such improved graphics for an open world game like GTA, the engine requires a lot of video memory. And that is where GPU comes into the picture.

Three Factors to Consider

While selecting or upgrading your graphics card, there are a few points you must consider. They are as follows:

  • Upgrade only if you are moving up from tier 4/5 to tier 2/3. There is no point in moving from tier 4 to tier 3 because the changes will be negligible. You may not even be able to play the game that you desired in the first place (at least not as efficiently as it is meant to be)
  • Look at all the parameters. Fortnite, for example, is recommended to be played on a system with 8GB RAM, Intel Core i5, and with a video card that is equivalent to Nvidia GTX 660 (minimum). This means that just bumping your video memory is not enough. You need to look at other parameters as well
  • Look at the price difference. It is obvious that as you go higher in the hierarchy, the price shoots up. In cases where you are looking at upgrading your entire system, putting everything on your video card is improvident

According to our experience, you must ponder over these three factors before taking the plunge. However, if you already have, let’s get down to business.

Legacy GPU Hierarchy

Nvidia GeForceAMD Radeon
Titan Xp ($1,368 On Amazon)
Titan X (Pascal) ($1,599 On Amazon)
GTX 1080 ($597 On Amazon)
RX Vega 64 ($1,099.99 On Amazon)
GTX Titan X (Maxwell)
GTX 1070 Ti ($469.99 On Amazon)
GTX 1070 ($487.94 On Amazon)
980 Ti ($450 On Amazon)
R9 295X2
R9 Fury X
GTX Titan Black
GTX 980 ($399.99 On Amazon)
GTX 690
R9 Fury
R9 Fury Nano
GTX Titan
GTX 1060 ($358.97 On Amazon)
GTX 970
GTX 780 Ti
GTX 780
RX 580 ($311.99 On Amazon
RX 570 ($239.99 On Amazon)
RX 480
RX 470 ($349.99 On Amazon)
R9 390X ($699.99 On Amazon)
R9 390 ($540 On Amazon)
R9 290X
R9 290
HD 7990
GTX 770
GTX 680
GTX 590
R9 380X
R9 380 ($240 On Amazon)
R9 280X
HD 7970 GHz Edition
HD 6990
GTX 1050 Ti ($216.48 On Amazon)
GTX 960 ($289 On Amazon)
GTX 670
GTX 580
R9 285
R9 280
HD 7950
HD 7870 LE (XT)
HD 5970
GTX 1050 ($139.99 On Amazon)
GTX 950
GTX 760
GTX 660 Ti
RX 560 ($149.99 On Amazon)
RX 460
R7 370
R9 270X
R9 270
HD 7870
GTX 660
GTX 570
GTX 480
GTX 295
R7 265
HD 7850
HD 6970
HD 4870 X2
GTX 750 Ti
GTX 650 Ti Boost
GTX 560 Ti (448 Core)
GTX 560 Ti
GTX 470
R7 260X
HD 6950
HD 5870
HD 4850 X2
GTX 750
GTX 650 Ti
GTX 560
HD 7790
HD 6870
HD 5850
GT 1030 ($89.99 On Amazon)
GTX 465
GTX 460 (256-bit)
GTX 285
9800 GX2
RX 550 ($79.99 On Amazon)
R7 360
R7 260
HD 7770
HD 6850
GT 740 GDDR5
GT 650
GTX 560 SE
GTX 550 Ti
GTX 460 SE
GTX 460 (192-bit)
GTX 280
GTX 275
GTX 260
R7 250E
R7 250 (GDDR5)
HD 7750 (GDDR5)
HD 6790
HD 6770
HD 5830
HD 5770
HD 4890
HD 4870
GTS 450
GTS 250
9800 GTX+
9800 GTX
8800 Ultra
R7 250 (DDR3)
HD 7750 (DDR3)
HD 6750
HD 5750
HD 4850
HD 3870 X2
GT 730 (64-bit, GDDR5)
GT 545 (GDDR5)
8800 GTS (512MB)
8800 GTX
HD 4770
GT 740 DDR3
GT 640 (DDR3)
GT 545 (DDR3)
9800 GT
8800 GT (512MB)
HD 7730 (GDDR5)
HD 6670 (GDDR5)
HD 5670
HD 4830
GT 240 (GDDR5)
9600 GT
8800 GTS (640MB)
HD 6570 (GDDR5)
HD 5570 (GDDR5)
HD 3870
HD 2900 XT
GT 240 (DDR3)
9600 GSO
8800 GS
R7 240
HD 7730 (DDR3)
HD 6670 (DDR3)
HD 6570 (DDR3)
HD 5570 (DDR3)
HD 4670
HD 3850 (512MB)
GT 730 (128-bit, GDDR5)
GT 630 (GDDR5)
GT 440 (GDDR5)
8800 GTS (320MB)
8800 GT (256MB)
HD 5550 (GDDR5)
HD 3850 (256MB)
HD 2900 Pro
GT 730 (128-bit, DDR3)
GT 630 (DDR3)
GT 440 (DDR3)
7950 GX2
HD 7660D (integrated)
HD 5550 (DDR3)
HD 4650 (DDR3)
X1950 XTX
GT 530
GT 430
7900 GTX
7900 GTO
7800 GTX 512
X1900 XTX
X1950 XT
X1900 XT
GT 220 (DDR3)
7950 G
7900 GT
7800 GTX
HD 7560D (integrated)
HD 5550 (DDR2)
HD 2900 GT
X1950 Pro
X1900 GT
X1900 AIW
X1800 XT
GT 220 (DDR2)
9500 GT (GDDR3)
8600 GTS
7900 GS
7800 GT
HD 7540D (integrated)
HD 6550D (integrated)
HD 6620G (integrated)
R5 230
HD 6450
HD 4650 (DDR2)
X1950 GT
X1800 XL
9500 GT (DDR2)
8600 GT (GDDR3)
8600 GS
7800 GS
7600 GT
6800 Ultra
7480D (integrated)
6530D (integrated)
6520G (integrated)
HD 3670
HD 3650 (DDR3)
HD 2600 XT
X1800 GTO
X1650 XT
X850 XT PE
X800 XT PE
X850 XT
X800 XT
GT 520
8600 GT (DDR2)
6800 GS (PCIe)
6800 GT
6480G (integrated)
6410D (integrated)
HD 3650 (DDR2)
HD 2600 Pro
X800 GTO2/GTO16
X800 XL
6800 GS (AGP)6380G (integrated)
6370D (integrated)
X1650 GT
X850 Pro
X800 Pro
X800 GTO (256MB)
8600M GS
7600 GS
7300 GT (GDDR3)
6800
X1650 Pro
X1600 XT
X800 GTO (128MB)
X800
9400 GT
8500 GT
7300 GT (DDR2)
6800 XT
6800LE
6600 GT
HD 6320 (integrated)
HD 6310 (integrated)
HD 5450
HD 4550
HD 4350
HD 2400 XT
X1600 Pro
X1300 XT
X800 SE
X800 GT
X700 Pro
9800 XT
9400 (integrated)
9300 (integrated)
6600 (128-bit)
FX 5950 Ultra
FX 5900 Ultra
FX 5900
HD 6290 (integrated)
HD 6250 (integrated)
HD 4290 (integrated)
HD 4250 (integrated)
HD 4200 (integrated)
HD 3300 (integrated)
HD 3200 (integrated)
HD 2400 Pro
X1550
X1300 Pro
X700
9800 Pro
9800
9700 Pro
9700
FX 5900 XT
FX 5800 Ultra
X1050 (128-bit)
X600 XT
9800 Pro (128-bit)
9600 XT
9500 Pro
G 310
G 210
8400 G
8300
6200
FX 5700 Ultra
4 Ti 4800
4 Ti 4600
Xpress 1250 (integrated)
HD 2300
X600 Pro
9800 LE
9600 Pro
9300M GS
9300M G
8400M GS
7300 GS
FX 5700, 6600 (64-bit)
FX 5600 Ultra
4 Ti4800 SE
4 Ti4400
4 Ti4200
X1050 (64-bit)
X300
9600
9550
9500
8300 (integrated)
8200 (integrated)
7300 LE
7200 GS
6600 LE
6200 TC
FX 5700 LE
FX 5600
FX 5200 Ultra
3 Ti500
X1150
X300 SE
9600 LE
9100
8500
FX 5500
FX 5200 (128-bit)
3 Ti200
3
9250
9200
9000
FX 7050 (integrated)
FX 7025 (integrated)
FX 6150 (integrated)
FX 6100 (integrated)
FX 5200 (64-bit)
Xpress 1150 (integrated)
Xpress 1000 (integrated)
Xpress 200M (integrated)
9200 SE
2 Ti 200
2 Ti
2 Ultra
4 MX 440
2 GTS
7500
2 MX 400
4 MX 420
2 MX 200
256
7200
7000
DDR
LE
SDR
Nvidia TNTRage 128

Different Tiers of GPU

This list has been updated with the current-generation GPU models available in the market.

There are five tiers in total, with the topmost tier i.e. tier 1 denoting the best of the best. None of your friends will dare look you in the eye if you get this. There’s no game on planet Earth that will not run in your system if you get any of the tier 1 GPU. Our favorite is the Titan V.

Following tier 1 are the high-end, mid-range, budget, and entry-level models. These are pretty self-explanatory and their positions are dictated by their price and video RAM. Here goes…

TierVideo CardVideo RAM
Tier 1 – Best of the BestNvidia GeForce Titan V12GB HBM2
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti11GB GDDR5X
Nvidia GeForce Titan Xp12GB GDDR5X
Tier 2 – High-endNvidia GeForce GTX 10808GB GDDR5X
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Ti8GB GDDR5
Nvidia GeForce GTX 10708GB GDDR5
AMD Radeon RX Vega 648GB HBM2
AMD Radeon RX Vega 568GB HBM2
Tier 3 – Mid-rangeNvidia GeForce GTX 10606GB GDDR5 (also in 3GB)
AMD Radeon RX 5808GB GDDR5 (also in 4GB)
AMD Radeon RX 5708GB GDDR5 (also in 4GB)
Tier 4 – BudgetNvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti4GB GDDR5
Nvidia GeForce GTX 10502GB GDDR5
AMD Radeon RX 5604GB GDDR5 (also in 2GB)
Tier 5 – Entry-levelNvidia GeForce GT 10302GB GDDR5
AMD Radeon RX 5504GB GDDR5 (also in 2GB)

Legend

If you are new to these terms, let us give you a brief rundown.

GeForce and Vega are GPU series by the respective manufacturers. High bandwidth memory (HBM), is an interface technology first used by AMD in their hugely popular Fiji GPUs. Its highlights are low power consumption and small form factor. It’s a direct competitor of the GDDR5 (double data rate for graphics) technology. HBM2, GDDR5, GDDR5X are just newer generations of these technologies.

Understanding the 5-tier GPU Hierarchy

The five tiers listed above are based on their performance, video RAM, framerates, and price. We also took other minor parameters such as clock speed and the number of ports to bifurcate them.

Tier 1 GPUs

Tier 1, also known as the “enthusiast” tier or crème de la crème of GPUs, is swarmed by none other Nvidia video cards. All three provide powerful performance at 60 FPS and seamless rendering. If you are into ultra 4K (and even 8K) and VR, then these are the ones to go mad about.

Compared to Titan Xp, the Titan V provides at least 5x more power and performance. Name a game and you will be able to play with both of them, with the only difference that in Titan V, you will be stuck to your couch for weeks. These are clearly intended for professional gamers and enthusiasts because the price tag is not for the faint-hearted. But, is it worth it, though?

If you have an equally beasty monitor and system memory, hell yes, it is worth it.

Tier 2 GPUs

Now let’s get the basics right: HBM2 is more expensive than the DDR technology, which is why AMD has made an entry here. The main difference between tier 1 and tier 2 GPUs is the ability to play in 4K resolution. You can definitely try doing that but at the cost of lower frame rates.

There are five options to choose from here, and even if you keep an eye on your wallet, these are affordable models. If you ask us, the Vega 64 is the most popular among millennial gamers. We wonder why?!

Tier 3 GPUs

Turn the resolution a notch lower to 1080p and you enter tier 3. You can still render 2K resolution but then be ready to compromise on the frame rate. It should be noted that you can still play all possible games using these video cards. The difference will be in the quality of the images.

Nonetheless, these are some kinks in “the most popular GPUs across the globe” mostly because they can run any game in question and not cost you a fortune. Do the prices still seem on the higher bit? Check out the last two tiers.

Tier 4 GPUs

The good part is that you can still play Fortnite Battle Royale using this GPU because we tested it on our Windows 10 system and we couldn’t stop playing. The better part is that none of these costs a fortune and are possible all in your budget even if you plan to get that Thrustmaster flight stick you love.

But if you are on a tighter budget, we don’t want you to go home disappointed. Here are two great options…

Tier 5 GPUs

30 FPS guaranteed in even the most addictive online multiplayer games. And that is enough of a promise to help you make a decision. If you are a casual gamer, you should choose either of the Nvidia and AMD model and be done with it.

Owning an entry-level GPU is not bad, especially if you are looking to upgrade to a console. Now that PS5 is just around the corner, why not?

Even as we mourn the death of TotalBiscuit and get ready for an ugly lawsuit between Fortnite and PUBG developers, we must not lose heart. We must look at improving our game and for that, we need high-performing GPUs. We hope this short guide and overview has given you more idea as to where to spend the money.

So, choose your machine and fire up your hero. Do you like Tracer enough?

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