who makes graphics cards

atopork · 09-18-2007, 12:34 PM

A friend of mine told me he had read somewhere that there are only two factorys that make graphics cards and ship them out to other factorys eg XFX, ASUS, EVGA. He says that these other factorys then put there own stickers coolers and flash there own bios on them. Does anybody know if this is true???

b1gapl · 09-18-2007, 12:39 PM

Well there are two main graphic card companies. And they are Nvidia, and ATi (Owned by AMD). I'm sure there are other graphic card companies, but they're not well known, and they don't compete with either Nvidia or ATi.

atopork · 09-18-2007, 12:42 PM

What he was try to say was that a leadtek one is the same as a evga he is trying to that there are exacly the same card just flashed with diffrent bios and diffrent cooler on them.

But why the big price diffrents??

b1gapl · 09-18-2007, 12:51 PM

Oh yea, that's true. Every 8800GTS is the same, just a different company sticker on it. The prices vary because of competition. There are a lot manufacturers out there. The only main difference between all these cards, is the look and the warranty service of the manufacturer.

atopork · 09-21-2007, 09:55 AM

So realy when buying a graphics card you might aswel buy the cheapest brand around as it is the same card as the better brand.

turtile · 09-21-2007, 01:03 PM

Some of the boards are different as well as the cooling too. The main concern is the warranty.

Nvidia/ATI just design the chips and work with a major board manufacturer in order to come up with a reference design for the board.

veedubfreak · 09-21-2007, 03:00 PM

Every card isnt "exactly the same" persay, they are built on the same chipset and board specifications. The main difference as turtile said is going to be the warranty you get with them and the cooling. For example, most cards come with a 3 year warranty, evga gives you a lifetime warranty if you register the card, but only to the person who purchased it. Other cards can transfer the warranties. But for the most part, a gts from one company is going to perform roughly 99% identical to a gts from another company.

CrazeD · 09-22-2007, 12:03 AM

Also, some manufacturers overclock the cards and sell them for more money.

gurusan · 09-22-2007, 12:25 AM

The cards aren't all the same...but they follow the same reference design.

For example every 8800GTS has the same cooler (except the AC3S of course)....but EVGA and XFX may source their fans from 2 different companies.

Nick · 09-23-2007, 08:16 PM

dont clock speeds vary say from an XFX8800GTS to a EVGA8800GTS?

09-18-2007, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
atopork Newb Techie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 34	who makes graphics cards A friend of mine told me he had read somewhere that there are only two factorys that make graphics cards and ship them out to other factorys eg XFX, ASUS, EVGA. He says that these other factorys then put there own stickers coolers and flash there own bios on them. Does anybody know if this is true???

09-18-2007, 12:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
b1gapl Commander SMod Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 11,804	Re: who makes graphics cards Well there are two main graphic card companies. And they are Nvidia, and ATi (Owned by AMD). I'm sure there are other graphic card companies, but they're not well known, and they don't compete with either Nvidia or ATi. __________________ Recommended PC Components Guide Potentially the longest thread in history!! Tech-Forums Official 3DMark06/05/03 Top List

09-18-2007, 12:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
atopork Newb Techie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 34	Re: who makes graphics cards What he was try to say was that a leadtek one is the same as a evga he is trying to that there are exacly the same card just flashed with diffrent bios and diffrent cooler on them. But why the big price diffrents??

09-18-2007, 12:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
b1gapl Commander SMod Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 11,804	Re: who makes graphics cards Oh yea, that's true. Every 8800GTS is the same, just a different company sticker on it. The prices vary because of competition. There are a lot manufacturers out there. The only main difference between all these cards, is the look and the warranty service of the manufacturer. __________________ Recommended PC Components Guide Potentially the longest thread in history!! Tech-Forums Official 3DMark06/05/03 Top List

09-21-2007, 09:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
atopork Newb Techie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 34	Re: who makes graphics cards So realy when buying a graphics card you might aswel buy the cheapest brand around as it is the same card as the better brand.

09-21-2007, 01:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
turtile Wizard Techie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Delaware Posts: 3,441	Re: who makes graphics cards Some of the boards are different as well as the cooling too. The main concern is the warranty. Nvidia/ATI just design the chips and work with a major board manufacturer in order to come up with a reference design for the board. __________________ Intel Prescott 3.0 Socket 478 40x2 RAID 0 Maxtor + 40GB & 120GB 160GB Seagate in Vantec NexStar 3 Enclosure ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe LG DVD-ROM NEC DVD-RW DL 1GB Corsair PC3200 GeForce 5700 256MB DDR

09-21-2007, 03:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
veedubfreak Representing Deutschland Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,254	Re: who makes graphics cards Every card isnt "exactly the same" persay, they are built on the same chipset and board specifications. The main difference as turtile said is going to be the warranty you get with them and the cooling. For example, most cards come with a 3 year warranty, evga gives you a lifetime warranty if you register the card, but only to the person who purchased it. Other cards can transfer the warranties. But for the most part, a gts from one company is going to perform roughly 99% identical to a gts from another company. __________________ Gaming Rig Mountain Mods UFO Intel Q6600 g0 3.6ghz 1.4v Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme 2x2gb Ocz Reapers@ 4-4-4-12 HIS 4870 Crossfire DFI LT x38 (i killed it) Corsair 750TX 24" Acer + 24" Soyo new 3dmark06 score to come when i get the board back

09-22-2007, 12:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
CrazeD Master Techie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 2,554	Re: who makes graphics cards Also, some manufacturers overclock the cards and sell them for more money. __________________ Need website help? PM me!

09-22-2007, 12:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
gurusan Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,766	Re: who makes graphics cards The cards aren't all the same...but they follow the same reference design. For example every 8800GTS has the same cooler (except the AC3S of course)....but EVGA and XFX may source their fans from 2 different companies. __________________ :: Antec P182 :: Asus P5Q Deluxe :: Intel Q6600 @ 3696mHz :: :: Thermaltake Toughpower 750w :: HD4850 512mb 820/1125 :: :: 4gb OCZ @ 1155mhz 5,5,5,15 :: 120.3+D4+XSPC Edge+Maze4 ::

09-23-2007, 08:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nick minus m926 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sidlesham Posts: 2,960	Re: who makes graphics cards dont clock speeds vary say from an XFX8800GTS to a EVGA8800GTS? __________________ nIcK

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
ddr1 ddr2 graphics cards	noob21	Building, Buying, Upgrading for General PCs	3	09-13-2007 06:33 AM
Graphics Cards?	M0rga	Everything Laptops	10	09-03-2007 03:35 PM
Dual graphics cards	ChiliPalmer	Building, Buying, or Upgrading High Performance PC Systems	3	07-27-2007 08:27 PM
Direct x10 in New Graphics Cards	objecterror	Building, Buying, or Upgrading High Performance PC Systems	14	06-24-2007 02:18 AM
Graphics Cards	AZNRockThis	Buy/Sell/Trade and Hot Deals	0	04-14-2007 05:22 AM