GTX, RTX and Radeon: graphics cards explained

The graphics card is the most important part of a gaming PC. But the names are confusing: GTX, RTX, RX, Ti, XT and a jumble of numbers. This page explains what they mean, so you can read a PC advert with confidence.

The graphics card (also called the GPU) draws every picture you see in a game. The stronger it is, the better games look and the more smoothly they run.

NVIDIA: GTX and RTX

NVIDIA is the biggest maker of gaming graphics cards. You will see two families.

• GTX is the older family. The last new GTX cards came out in 2019. They have no ray tracing hardware and no DLSS. They can still play many games, but they are getting old now.
• RTX cards came out from 2018 onwards. They have ray tracing hardware and DLSS.

Ray tracing is a way of drawing light, shadows and reflections so they look real. DLSS is upscaling: the game draws a smaller picture, then sharpens it to fit your screen, so it runs more smoothly.

How to read the numbers

Take an RTX 5070 as an example. The number has two parts.

• The first digits (50) are the generation. A higher number is newer.
• The last two digits (70) are the tier. This tells you how strong the card is within its own generation.

Ti at the end means a stronger version of the same card. So an RTX 5070 Ti is stronger than an RTX 5070.

AMD: Radeon RX

AMD makes Radeon graphics cards. Their names work in much the same way. Take an RX 9070: the first digits are the generation, and the last digits show the tier. XT at the end means a stronger version, just like Ti on NVIDIA cards.

AMD's upscaling is called FSR. It does the same job as DLSS.

Intel Arc

Intel also makes graphics cards, called Arc. They are less common in gaming PCs, but you may see them.

VRAM: the graphics card's own memory

VRAM is memory that sits on the graphics card itself. It holds the textures (the pictures painted on everything in a game).

• 8GB: fine for many games at 1080p.
• 12GB: more room for higher settings and 1440p.
• 16GB: plenty of room for sharp screens and detailed newer games.

More VRAM helps, but it is not the whole story. A stronger card with less VRAM can still be faster than a weaker card with more.

Comparing cards from different generations

This is where people often go wrong. A bigger number is not always a better card. A newer card with a lower tier can match an older card with a higher tier. So a new 60 card might keep up with a 70 card from a few years ago.

The rule is simple: check the generation AND the tier. If you are not sure how two cards compare, ask us. We would rather explain than have you guess.

For other words on PC adverts, see our gaming PC jargon buster. To match a card to your screen, read 1080p, 1440p or 4K. If you are thinking of putting a new card in an old PC, read upgrade or replace?

Questions people ask