How do I interpret the numbers on moder GPUs?

What in the heck do the numbers mean on modern gpus? Particularly the number in the tens place on amd cards (76x0).

I fell out of the hardware loop last time I went all-out on gameing laptop. That notebook (the asus in my sig) had geforce 6800 in it.

Back in those days, the first number, in the the thousandth place (6xxx), was the series number (as it is today). The second number x8xx gave you an idea it's performance relative to other cards with in that series. For example, 6100 through 6300 were integrated 6000 seris gpus, 6600 was "performance grade" (good for gaming, but at lower quality) and the 6800 was the "high end" of the 6000 series (plays games at significantly higher settings). When a new series came out (in this case, the geforce 7000 series), the performance level on the new cards was a step up for all the grades of cards within that series. The "performance grade" cards from the 7000 series (7600) were around as powerful as the "high end" cards from the 6000 series.

But nowadays amd also puts numbers in the tenths place. We have 6470s and 6620s and 6670s. What does it all mean?

 

Its just another division same as the performance relative to other cards you mentioned. So a 68XX > 67XX and a 677X > 673X, watch out for the 7670m which is worse than a 7730m... for example. Its just another division within the same cards within the series.

Bigger numbers usually has better performance

 

per individual digit placement.

7 > 6, 6 > 2, 3 < 5

77 > 66, 76 ? 67

760 > 560 > 540 > 535, 760 ? 670

5850 > 4850 > 4770, 5850 ? 4890, 6750 ? 7650

This is how math works to graphics card companies. Good luck.

 

You have it correct. Things remain like that. First number is generation, the rest are relative performance in general. The third digit in AMD cards also means relative performance within that particular segment. If 7700 is mid range, you have mid-low 7750, mid-mid 7770 and mid-high 7790. Just an example. But nowadays we have so many segments...So it's best to guide segments by price

Nvidia reset their number after they reached the 9000 series. AMD will most likely do the same with the HD series after hd9000 if they ever decide to go that far. They should reach HD9700 and reconquer the GPU world, just to repeat past success.

 

Usually the only number that mattered to be sure if power was above previous gen, was the second number, so infact the HD5850 was >HD4890 for quite a margin.

Everything was so clear and happy, until.... freaking HD6000 series, with their HD6800 being inferior to HD5800s. But they seem to be back on track again.

 

So would an HD 7520 be more powerful than the 4650 in my current laptop and if so, by about how much?

 

Check out this website

It looks like the 4650 is still faster, though barely.

 

All cards from the same series, wether its Nvidia or AMD, increase the performance the higher number you get. Example:

GTX 680M > 675MX > 670MX > GT 650M
7970M > 7870M > 7850M

However, a card from a different series can beat a higher number from a different series. Example:
GT 650M > GTX 560M
7970M > 6990M

 

Wait until you try to figure out Intel's new numbering scheme...

 

Hopefully, you know after reading this thread that you certainly cannot evaluate this using only the names of the chips.

 

how about the nVidia GT and GTX series? I know that GTX is more powerful, but what's their difference? (GT660 and GTX660..... confuse)

 

GTX really is just supposed to mean SLI capable, but there have been GT SLI GPU's, just look at the Lenovo Y400/Y500 with SLI GT 650m's.