Which AMD GPU manufacturer is the best?

[RobertM525]

I've always been a Nvidia guy and have had great luck with EVGA, but I really don't know a ton about AMD manufacturers. Considering reliability in particular, which brand of AMD GPU manufacturer is the best?

(There was an older poll on this from like 5 years ago, but it's rather outdated, so I figured a new one wouldn't be a bad idea.)

After answering the poll, feel free to explain why.

 

[2wenty]

There's no true answer to this question. Asus has always produced very good GPUs (both AMD and NVidia) but they tend to be a tad expensive. Gigabyte, same thing but they usually offer some pretty good factory overclocks at reasonable prices. MSI Lightning cards are great quality, and MSI has its own overclocking software (nothing too important, but always something to be considered). Sapphire Vapor-X and Dual-X cards usually have a very good reputation, and can be overclocked well. Really, every GPU manufacturer offers something different, and don't forget to consider customer service and warranty etc. Also, some things I said before apply to multiple manufacturers, just to confuse you a bit more, but generally cards that are recommended often by users on this forum are good choices.

 

[RobertM525]

There's no true answer to this question. Asus has always produced very good GPUs (both AMD and NVidia) but they tend to be a tad expensive. Gigabyte, same thing but they usually offer some pretty good factory overclocks at reasonable prices. MSI Lightning cards are great quality, and MSI has its own overclocking software (nothing too important, but always something to be considered). Sapphire Vapor-X and Dual-X cards usually have a very good reputation, and can be overclocked well. Really, every GPU manufacturer offers something different, and don't forget to consider customer service and warranty etc. Also, some things I said before apply to multiple manufacturers, just to confuse you a bit more, but generally cards that are recommended often by users on this forum are good choices.

Like I said, the foremost considering I'm looking at is reliability. I'd be willing to give up some performance or pay a little more if it yields a more reliable video card (as I tend to go years without replacing my GPU). XFX's warranty is confidence-inspiring, but I've heard people say very good things about Sapphire, too.

Still, I recognize that this is an opinion, and that's why I went with a poll. Short of some good empirical data about the failure rates of the GPUs made by various brands, I'm taking all of this with a grain of salt.

 

[2wenty]

Well, I'd say reliability is mostly based on the luck of the draw, it may be the silicon inside the chip that hasn't been manufactured perfectly which can lead to a shorter lifespan, or the manufacturer's production isn't perfect, or perhaps the design of the card isn't perfect. If we take a 7970 for example, the Sapphire Vapor-X card in terms of cooling shows very little difference to that of XFX's Double D design, they just offer different warranties/designs etc. If you want a reliable card (still using 7970 as an example), take a card which has good recommendations here (less so on Newegg), such as XFX, Sapphire, Gigabyte, Asus or MSI. Reliability and lifespan is mostly down to what stress you put it under, and the manufacturing process and testing of the GPU itself. Some may produce artifacts the first second you use it, others may die for no particular reason.
NVidia and AMD only make the GPUs and provide a reference design which is then sold to separate companies for manufacture. So long as you get a card produced by a trustworthy manufacturer and a good warranty, you'll be fine. I believe the most common difference between one card lasting 5 years and another card lasting 5 weeks is what has occurred in the manufacturing process of the making of the card, rather than the card design (reference or non-reference) by the companies that sell the cards to consumers.
Asus, Gigabyte, Sapphire, XFX, MSI are all good.

 

[Tman450]

I prefer XFX. i think they have the sexiest card design, and the double lifetime warranty is nice. i've only hadd good experiences with their customer service. But you really can't go wrong with any of the big-name manufacturers. i mean, XFX, Sapphire, ASUS, ZOTAC, HIS, gigabyte, even Club3D.

 

[tadej petric]

ASUS for sure!

 

[lloydloo]

I really like Sapphire. They have nice coolers and overclock pretty well.

 

[tadej petric]

I really like Sapphire. They have nice coolers and overclock pretty well.

Lol. I use cards to play games, not to watch them! And every card overclocks good if you know best way for that specific card.

 

[lloydloo]

Lol what i meant to say with nice coolers means that they keep the card cooler than other brands.

 

[tadej petric]

Lol what i meant to say with nice coolers means that they keep the card cooler than other brands.

I find ASUS and Gigabyte cooler cool better.

 

[sanilmahambre]

I had sapphire ............I have sapphire.........I will have sapphire