I need help understanding NVIDIA video card numbers

[Krampus]

I want to know if the Geforce 9800GT is a good enough card to run Mass Effect 2. Here's what it's system requirements are:

"Video Card: 256 MB (with Pixel Shader 3.0 support). Supported Chipsets: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 or greater; ATI Radeon X1600 Pro or greater. Please note that NVIDIA GeForce 7300, 8100, 8200, 8300, 8400, and 9300; ATI Radeon HD3200, and HD4350 are below minimum system requirements."

Does card quality not increase with the series numbers?


I'm running my 9800 with intel core 2 quad, 6g ram, and WIN 7 in a year old stock gaming rig if it helps.

Thanks

 

[vasanth_bvk]

1st digit indicates the series
2nd digit tells how fast the card is. (higher number = better card)

So you need to have higher number in those digits. your card is a good card

 

[bystander]

The Geforce 9800GT is above minimum spec's. It was a top tier card in it's series.

As far as I'm aware, the higher the number within the series, the faster the card. Often times the higher number of the previous series is as fast or faster than the newer series.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

1st number = generation
2nd/3rd number = tier and power within the generation
GS = lowest
GSO = lower
GT = semi-gaming, regular/high tier
GTS = gaming, slightly better than GT
GTX = gaming, delineates highest end

9800GT

9 = 9x00 generation
8 = highest tier
GT = regular/higher tier
GTX260
GTX = highest tier
2 = 200 generation
60 = mid tier

GTX280
GTX = highest tier
2 = 200 generation
8 = high tier

GTX285
GTX = highest tier
2 = 200 generation
8 = high tier
5 = above the GTX280

GTX295
GTX = highest tier
2 = 200 generation
9 = highest tier
5 = highest power of the high tier

 

[sabot00]

SE/LE - Very low, most often on the 300 or less of an series (7300, 6200)
GS - Low
GSO - Below GT but above GS
GT- Standard/Normal
GTS - Good
GTO - Usually a cut GTX, High
GTX - Very high
Ultra - Usually an OC'd GTX
GX2 - 2 GPU's

Usually you'll only have 4 on the 800 of an series (6800, 7800, 8800)
8800GT, 8800GTS, 8800GTX, 8800 Ultra

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

http://www.semiaccurate.com/2010/01/03/nvidia-mobile-3-series-lose-dx101/

 

[justinxtreme]

Ok simple...

On models with number before lettering.... ex. 9800GT

_xxx This number identifies what generation this card belong to. Usually the higher the better technologies it has like 40nm fabrication process vs 90nm resulting in a less power using card and faster. Also things like DirectX 10 support.

x_xx This number identifies mainly the range of the card and how powerful it is. Usually the higher the better. A x100-x400 is considered low-range and are usually integrated graphics. A x500-x700 are usually considered mid-range cards and x800-x900 are usually considered highest and the best in it's class.

xx_x This number usually is 0 except for the GeForce 7 series with the 7950 cards. Of course same rule applies the higher the faster but not by much though.

xxxx ___ (Optional) These letters identify how powerful it is. GE and GS are considered low-end, GSO are considered mid-low end and can play games at smooth framerates, GT are considered Mid-High end and can usually be overclocked to run as fast as a GTX which are High end. basically it's obvious... use the letters and see if which one is nearer to Z lol. The nearer the faster and better usually.

Anyways the order for cards where the letterring goes before the numbering ex. GTX 280

The nearer to Z the lettering is the better and faster.

GT are usually integrated and are not that powerful despite the GT naming. It usually has 128-Bit Memory Interfaces which will limit the card's capabilities to use it's memory at maximum.

GTX are the best cards around.

the numbering goes.... the same as the other one except without the fourth number.

So a GTX 280 is a lot more powerful than a GTX 260.

Simple...

 

[sabot00]

Ok simple...

On models with number before lettering.... ex. 9800GT

_xxx This number identifies what generation this card belong to. Usually the higher the better technologies it has like 40nm fabrication process vs 90nm resulting in a less power using card and faster. Also things like DirectX 10 support.

x_xx This number identifies mainly the range of the card and how powerful it is. Usually the higher the better. A x100-x400 is considered low-range and are usually integrated graphics. A x500-x700 are usually considered mid-range cards and x800-x900 are usually considered highest and the best in it's class.

xx_x This number usually is 0 except for the GeForce 7 series with the 7950 cards. Of course same rule applies the higher the faster but not by much though.

xxxx ___ (Optional) These letters identify how powerful it is. GE and GS are considered low-end, GSO are considered mid-low end and can play games at smooth framerates, GT are considered Mid-High end and can usually be overclocked to run as fast as a GTX which are High end. basically it's obvious... use the letters and see if which one is nearer to Z lol. The nearer the faster and better usually.

Anyways the order for cards where the letterring goes before the numbering ex. GTX 280

The nearer to Z the lettering is the better and faster.

GT are usually integrated and are not that powerful despite the GT naming. It usually has 128-Bit Memory Interfaces which will limit the card's capabilities to use it's memory at maximum.

GTX are the best cards around.

the numbering goes.... the same as the other one except without the fourth number.

So a GTX 280 is a lot more powerful than a GTX 260.

Simple...

There's no GE, it's:
SE/LE < GS < GSO < GT < GTS < GTO < GTX < Ultra < GX2

Rarely can you OC a GT into a GTX, as the GTX usually has more SP's/ROP's/TMU's, it's like trying to OC a C2D into a C2Q.