Do the differences between them matter?
Why Are There Different Manufacturers, Anyway?
AMD Radeon graphics cards have a similar variety of suppliers.
But within the same specific card design, almost all of them have the same capabilities.
The reason is the somewhat unique business-to-business relationships in the GPU market.
They also sell to third-party graphics card manufacturers like EVGA or Sapphire.
There doesn’t necessarily need to be a middleman seller.
NVIDIA manufactures Founder’s Edition cards itself and sells direct.
What’s the Difference Between Manufacturers' Cards?
All the different card manufacturers get the GPUs from the same place: NVIDIA and AMD.
But when selling to consumers, it’s crucial that you differentiate your product based on price or features.
There isn’t a lot of wiggle room in the retail prices.
Suppose one company goes significantly lower than the others.
So consumer-focused brands will differentiate in other areas.
Some might offer blower coolers or open-air coolers.
Some will make their cards shorter to fit in more compact cases.
Some will have a go at make their cards stand out with flashy-looking fans and lights.
Which Changes Really Matter?
So, which of these changes actually do matter?
Well, the card’s length is important, especially if you’re looking for something high-end.
If your case is too small to hold the card, it doesn’t matter how fast it is.
Another change that can significantly alter performance is extra RAM.
Some cards can accommodate additional GDDR RAM modules, and secondary manufacturers will install them directly onto the PCB.
That can result in a considerable boost to performance and load times.
Extra RAM isn’t possible on every card.
A card from a more reliable manufacturer is desirable.
(You’ll want to keep your proof of purchase either way.)
Some, like EVGA, XFX, and Zotac, even have “lifetime” warranties with registration.
you’re free to usually find the warranty terms for the card directly on the sale page.
It should help you make a more confident decision.
