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    Question About Nvidia GPU Model #s

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by meyer0095, Apr 3, 2011.

  1. meyer0095

    meyer0095 Notebook Guru

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    This is probably a very stupid question, but how exactly do the Nvidia GPU model numbers work? At first, I just assumed higher number, meant better card, mostly because I was just looking at the 460M, 470M, and the 485M. Recently I heard about 540M which is significantly worse than the 485M, so now I am just confused :p

    Is there any actual system behind the numbers?

    Thanks
     
    meyer0095, Apr 3, 2011
    #1
  2. Richteralan

    Richteralan Notebook Evangelist

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    for example: 540M


    the first digit from left: 5
    is the generation number

    the second and third digits from left: 40
    is the class number

    So in your case,

    485M although is previous gen (not really) but is a higher class than 540M.

    So the second and third digits are more important generally than the first digit from the left.
     
    Richteralan, Apr 3, 2011
    #2
  3. Texanman

    Texanman Master of all things Cake

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    Just in case you also ever wonder about ati's scheme its very simular

    for example 5830
    first number is generation
    2nd number is class where 8 is usually "gaming" grade
    then last 2 numbers are just higher the better
     
    Texanman, Apr 3, 2011
    #3
  4. lozanogo

    lozanogo Notebook Deity

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    Actually the 3 last digits actually goes the higher the better, not only the last 2. :D
     
    lozanogo, Apr 4, 2011
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  5. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    And with ATI last digit is pretty much usually just a 0.
     
    HTWingNut, Apr 4, 2011
    #5
  6. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    As said before, the last 2 digits on nVidia cards is what matters unless you go quite a few generations back. I'd get a 540M over a GeForce 9600M but between a 285, 485 or a 540, the obvious choices are in order 485, 285, 540.

    And yup with ATI the last number is a 0 in almost every case.
     
    tijo, Apr 4, 2011
    #6
  7. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    nVidia used to use ATI's scheme and vice versa. I'm sure once they get to 9's again they'll switch again, lol.
     
    HTWingNut, Apr 4, 2011
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  8. Bo@LynboTech

    Bo@LynboTech Company Representative

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    there is a laptop gpu comparison chart over at notebookcheck
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M - Notebookcheck.net Tech
    all the gpu's on that site are listed in order of performance, and split into classes.

    Their forum isn't as good as this one though :)
     
    Bo@LynboTech, Apr 4, 2011
    #8